Laško combines a brewing tradition dating back to 1825 with the Savinja and an Old Town rich in layers of history. Paths lead uphill to views of the town, river and hills. This gives you a range of themes to explore as you plan your trip: brewery experiences and local cuisine, historic buildings, and walks and nature.
Brewing tradition and regional cuisine
The brewery tour in Laško takes you through active production facilities and ends with tastings of selected beers and non-alcoholic drinks. It’s a way to discover the long history of brewing through today’s production. Since 1964, the Pivo in Cvetje Laško festival has been a fixture for several generations. Each year, the festival includes a showcase of Slovenia’s musical creativity; dates and programme vary from year to year.
Another way to explore regional specialities is the HoneyBrew-Laško tour. This hands-on experience brings together thermal springs and Laško beer with Chef Marko Pavčnik’s cuisine and honey specialities. The thermal springs around Laško and Rimske Toplice have temperatures of 34 to 38 °C and contain 370 to 430 mg of dissolved minerals. During your stay, you can therefore consider culinary experiences and the spa and health-resort tradition as distinct but connected themes.
Discover the Old Town and its history
Valvasorjev trg, Orožnov trg and Aškerčev trg shape the Old Town’s distinctive appearance. Orožnov trg features a depiction of Medusa, considered evidence that the Laško area was already inhabited in Roman times. A statue of Gambrinus stands by the bridge over the Savinja leading to the old town centre: it depicts the “King of Beer” and thus connects with the local brewing tradition.
The parish church of St Martin is considered one of Slovenia’s most important Romanesque buildings and has ten Baroque altars. Its bell tower, central nave and ribbed vault are original features dating from the 12th and 13th centuries. The Weichselberger Manor brings together other periods: the Renaissance building dates from the 16th century, while its arcades are architectural features from the 19th century. Today, the building houses the Laško Library.
At the Laško Museum, the permanent exhibition “Laško – A Journey Through Time” traces the story from prehistoric times to the present. Another exhibition is dedicated to the brewing industry and the spa and health-resort traditions of Laško and Rimske Toplice. The museum is open to individual visitors; check visiting hours before your visit. The Laško Cultural Centre also offers performances, seasonal programmes, concerts and exhibitions. It has been a centre of cultural life in Laško for several decades; its programme may change with the seasons.
Walks, views and nature
The A8 Spa Trail is described as an easy circular route. It starts and ends at Thermana Laško, runs along both banks of the Savinja and is 3.4 km long; the walking time is approximately 40 minutes. The route also includes a 2 km test trail and an outdoor fitness area. Check the signage and access before setting out; route details may change if the trail is modified.
Other trails offer different highlights. The B2 Trail follows the boundary of the old market town of Laško and recalls the former boundary walk that locals made to secure their territory. The A7 Hum Trail passes the Prižnica, Prepadna udorina and Blaževa skala viewpoints, as well as a rest area with an information board about the flora. A path along the Old Town walls leads uphill to Tabor Castle and its summer garden; from there, views stretch across the old town centre, the Savinja and the surrounding hills.
For a nature-focused perspective, the Gračnica Valley is in the area around Laško and within the municipality of Laško. It is part of the European Union’s NATURA 2000 network. The valley is home to rare and endangered plant species, habitats for endangered animals along marshy riverbanks, and rare birds in wet meadows. The named town trails, the circular route along the Savinja and the valley offer different ways to enjoy your stay, so you don’t have to limit your plans to just one theme.
Discover more destinations: Radeče, Svibno, Trobni Dol, Rimske Toplice.
Go to the main travel overview: Laško.
