Lake Ptuj, the seaside of a town without a sea

Swimming, sailing and kayaking in summer

When the heat builds, the lake turns into a beach. The tourist board talks of sunbathing on Ptuj’s own beach, and the nearby spa offers sailing, canoeing, kayaking and pedal boats in the warmer months. You can also walk along the Drava or just sit and watch the birds.

If you’d rather see the town from the water, the Čigra sightseeing boat follows the Drava between Ranca harbour, the Ribič inn, the spa and Markovci. It takes up to 20 passengers, children up to 12 ride free, and the whole boat can be hired for €100. It doesn’t run in bad weather or high water, so ask about the season’s timetable.

Birds: more than 230 species

Because more than 230 species nest in the protected area around it, some of them rare and endangered. Visit Ptuj mentions cormorants, common terns and black-headed gulls, and says birdwatchers come from across Europe to see them.

That changes how I see the place. It isn’t just a summer beach but one of the best spots in eastern Slovenia to get the binoculars out, and a natural stop if you’re interested in the lakes in Slovenia beyond Bled and Bohinj.

Walks along the shore

The tourist board reckons the finest view of Ptuj is from the bridge over the Drava, and that’s where the riverside walks begin. Heading down towards the lake there are spots to lie in the sun or watch birds, the town park offers shade on hot days and in autumn the town vineyard turns gold and red. Beside the spa there are tennis courts and an 18-hole golf course with water hazards.

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Getting there from Ptuj old town

From the old town, cross the bridge over the Drava. I’d cycle, using the Pecikl city bikes, which are free after a €1 sign-up, or start from the spa, which suggests that very ride. Before you go, head up to Ptuj Castle to see the lake behind the rooftops, and afterwards finish with a thermal soak. If you come in February the lake takes a back seat to Kurentovanje, but a winter walk along the shore has its own appeal.

The Ptuj seaside, a lake made by the Drava

Lake Ptuj isn’t natural. It formed when the River Drava was dammed beside the town. One tourist board page calls it Slovenia’s largest man-made lake, another its largest permanent lake. It spreads across the Drava plain to the southeast of Ptuj, with the town and castle as a backdrop.

If you are short on time, see the best tours in Lake Ptuj and pick one that fits your day.

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