November in Slovenia, the month of new wine

St Martin’s Day, November wine from west to east

11 November is St Martin’s Day, the big new-wine feast, and Slovenia celebrates it in every wine region. In 2026 Maribor marks it that day with five days of wine and food at several venues in the centre, in the city of the world’s oldest vine. In the west, Šmartno, Brda’s fortified village, holds its festival on the 7th and 8th, with a St Martin’s hike on the Sunday, and Štanjel in the Karst has its Wine Festival from the 5th to the 8th. Koper stages Altroke in its palaces on the 14th, and Velenje and Moravske Toplice join in too. Which region makes what is explained in Slovenian wine.

November Gourmet in Ljubljana

The capital gives the whole of November to food with November Gourmet, which according to the official calendar fills the month with culinary events, workshops and menus for every budget, from street food to Michelin stars. On the 19th and 20th the Cankarjev dom hosts the Slovenian Wine Festival. Nearby in Kranj, the underground wine trail beneath the old town, running in the last third of the month, is one of the country’s most popular wine events. And on the 27th at 5pm the Christmas lights go on in Prešeren Square. If you’re in the capital, see things to do in Ljubljana.

November weather

November drops to 6.8°C in Ljubljana on the official averages, 6.1°C in Maribor and 10°C at Portorož, still the mildest. In the Alps, Rateče drops to 2.3°C and Kredarica to -3.3°C. The west is wet, 111 mm in the capital and 137 mm at Postojna, while the north-east is drier, 57 mm at Maribor. Month by month, see Slovenia weather.

Once your dates are set, check which hotels are still free in Maribor before prices climb.

15 November, winter equipment

From 15 November winter equipment is compulsory in cars, according to the FCDO, so the car needs winter tyres or chains on board. Bled Castle now closes at 6pm, Vintgar Gorge is shut until April and the Vogel cable car wasn’t due to run again before December. On the coast, Strunjan’s persimmon festival, from the 13th to the 15th, is a good excuse for a trip to the sea.

Holidays and working days

1 November, Remembrance Day, is work-free. The 10th, Science Day, and the 23rd, Rudolf Maister Day, are national holidays but working days. From the last week of the month the country switches into Christmas mode, as I explain in Slovenia in December. September, October and November compared are in Slovenia in autumn.

If you would rather have a local show you round, book a guided tour in Maribor and choose by the reviews.

Once your dates are set, check which hotels are still free in Maribor before prices climb.