The main shopping centre of Maribor is actually
still where it used to be the Middle Ages: in Gosposka
ulica.
From
the north, shops, different agencies, and workshops
follow one another along Slovenska ulica and Partizanska cesta to
the railway station, and stretch well beyond it. In the
location of the medieval town centre, the business and
shopping districts also extend along Jurciceva and Vetrinjska ulica and Grajski
trg (Castle Square).
To the west, the shopping area extends from Glavni trg (Main
Square) along Koroska cesta and ends in Vodnikov trg (Vodnik Square), with a picturesque outdoor food market, which
stretches to the Round Tower on the Drava.
At the right bank of the Drava, below the old
bridge, there is a group of smart shops. Shopping and
business areas have also opened up in new housing
developments, which expand from the city outwards.
Three large, centrally located department stores
carry a wide variety of merchandise for every taste. They
are Kvik, in Gosposka ulica; Merkur in
Vetrinjska ulica; and Modna hisa, in Partizanska
cesta; the latter also features a selfservice food shop
Emona. Additionally, there are a number of self-service
shops all over the city, along with discount stores.
There are many speciality shops and
quality delicatessens. Several small, privately owned boutiques,
antique shops, and art galleries (where art
works are for sale) enliven the city. These give a
special charm to the renovated river bank area Lent. One can reach this area from Glavni trg (Main
Square) by a number of narrow cobbled streets.
The many kiosks in the city centre, where one can
buy anything from books to fruit to flowers, make
browsing a genuine pleasure.
The food market on Koroska cesta is worth a trip.
Farmers and local gardeners sell their produce, craftsmen
their goods. A specialty here is the extensive collection
of wood products, and in autumn, wooden barrels.
Souvenirs are available in various department
stores, tourist agencies, stationary stores, and
tobacconists.