The Slovenian Coastline: Piran, Izola, Koper, and Portoroz

Although Slovenia is not exactly famous for its coast but rather for its cities like Bled or Bovec, the little country’s coast is stunning. The beaches of Slovenia stretch over 47 kilometres, where you can choose from charming cities such as Koper, Izola, Piran, or Portoroz.

We have long planned to gather information and tips on the Slovenian coastline to make your travel preparations easier. Let’s see what you need to know before setting off for your next vacation to the green country!

Compared to the Croatian, Italian and Greek beaches, the coast of Slovenia is much calmer and smaller. In the cities, you will find masterpieces built in Venetian style, you can get acquainted with the dishes of Slovenian cuisine and the famous hospitality of the locals. In the crystal-clear Mediterranean Sea, you can swim, snorkel, dive, or even go hiking and cycling along the coast.

Slovenia is ideal for summer holidays with younger children as well.

Cities of the Slovenian Coastline

• Piran
• Portoroz
• Izola
• Koper

Among these four, the most popular town is Piran, then Portoroz. In terms of their architecture, all four cities were built in a similar Venetian style. Strolling through the tiny streets, you can easily feel like you are walking in Italy or Croatia.

The cities are well connected, there are scheduled buses between Koper, Piran, Portoroz, and Izola. The buses depart every 20-30 minutes.

The Slovenian cuisine

The seaside cuisine will differ from what you would get in Bled or Bovec. All cities are famous for their fishery, so whichever you choose, you will mostly find seafood in the restaurants of each. Since Piran is the most popular of these cities, it is also the most expensive one.

#1 City of Piran

Medieval buildings make this city unique, and its narrow alleys and one-of-a-kind squares are hidden treasures you should explore while walking around. The arched peninsula stretching into the sea becomes a Mediterranean paradise in the summer.

Although Piran belongs to Slovenia, up until the mid-20^th century ,you would have heard more Italian than Slovenian words here. These days the Slovenian population has outnumbered the Italians, which means that the Slovenian language has replaced Italiano.

The hottest month of the year in this city in August, when the thermometer might show temperatures up to 29°C during the day. No surprise that most tourists choose this month to visit. The coldest month is January when the temperature drops to around 0°C.

Piran is the highest-priced town on the Slovenian coast. If you find the accommodation too pricy here, it’s worth checking out the town of Izola, which is located a little further north.

Beach

• Address: Prešernovo nabrežje 20, 6330 Piran - Pirano, Slovenia
• Type: pebble/sometimes concrete

Attractions...

Tartini Central Square

The main square of the city has been named after the violinist Giuseppe Tartini, who was born here. The space is surrounded by colorful buildings on three sides, and the fourth side is open towards the bay. Until the end of the 19^th century, the square was filled with water and was part of the original harbor. The square was rebuilt in 1894 when it got its new dazzling look which you’ll see today.

St. George's Parish Church

We can reach the St. George's Parish Church via the main square. The church lays on the hillside, offering a spectacular view of the coast and the city itself. If you are lucky and visit on a day when the air it particularly clear, you might even get a glimpse of the Italian and Croatian beaches too.

Walls of Piran

Slovenia, just like Hungary, has been exposed to attacks by the Turkish army countless times. At a time when Piran was still part of the Venetian Republic, a castle wall was drawn around the city to keep the Turks away. Today you can go up to this wall. You will get a striking view from the top of the wall, so the exhausting hike is definitely worth it.

#2 City of Portoroz

The city of Portoroz is definitely one of the main tourist attractions of Slovenia, it is visited almost as much as Dubrovnik in Croatia or Venice in Italy.

Its development began in the 19^th century when stylish hotels and guesthouses were first built in the area for wealthy European tourists. Portoroz International Airport is the main entry point to this region. Visitors don’t only come here to swim in the sea and enjoy the sun, but many decide for this city for gambling purposes.

Portoroz, where you can find one of Slovenia’s best beaches...

Unlike most beaches of Slovenia (which are covered in pebbles or rocks), this city is smooth and sandy. The water itself is crystal clear and completely waste-free.

One of the city’s most elegant hotels (Kempinski Palace Portoroz) can also be found on this bit of the coast. It was built during the days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and a lot of celebrities have also chosen this hotel during their stay in Slovenia. They began the construction of this building in 1908 based on the design of an Austrian architect, they opened it in 1910, then later it was declared a cultural monument in 1983.

Portoroz beach

• Address: Obala 16, 6320 Portoroz
• Type: sand

Mesecev Zaliv beach (Moon bay)

This beach is only known by a few, however, the view it offers is breathtaking. It is considered one of the jewels of the Slovenian coast and its gravel beach is surrounded by crystal clear deep blue seawater. It is not the easiest to get to, but the beautiful view by the beach will compensate you for all the trouble.

• Address: Strunjan 117, 6320 Portorož - Portorose, Slovenia
• Type: pebble

#3 City of Izola

Izola can be found 7 kilometers from the city of Koper. Maybe not too many of you have heard of it before, but that’s exactly what gives it its unique beauty and magical atmosphere. Imagine it as a small, romantic port city. Its name in Latin means island. Because of this, we can assume that the old town used to be an island itself. Due to its proximity to the sea, the city’s main industry is fishing.

You can find many cozy restaurants, cafés, and patisseries in Izola. If you like dishes made of fresh fish, then you must look for those restaurants in the old town that offer seafood. Besides trying all the local specialties, you also have the chance to visit various performing arts events, try horseback riding and sailing, or participate in little boat trips.

The city center is located in a relatively small area, so you can walk around it fairly quickly. In case you would like to discover the surroundings too, rent a bike or go by car.

Bele Skale beach, Izola

The name of this beach means white rocks, which basically refers to the flat stones laying along the coastline. The color of the sea is turquoise and emerald green.

There is no entrance fee, yet the beach isn’t overcrowded. Unlike many other Slovenian beaches, this is one of the few where you can still find spots without other tourists. The coast itself is mostly cowered in bigger pebbles, but do not expect a golden sand-covered beach.

• Address: Dobrava 5, 6310 Izola - Isola, Slovenia
• Type: pebble

Simonov Zaliv beach

If you are looking for a Slovenian beach that is covered in pebbles, then Simonov Zaliv is a great choice. Close to this blue flag beach, you will find a number of restaurants offering seafood specialties. Locals recommend this beach especially to those who come with small children, as there are playgrounds and other activities available for the little ones.

• Address: Plaza Simonov Zaliv, Slovenia
• Type: pebble

#4 City of Koper

The coast of Koper is basically a small water-side strip. It isn’t really known by tourists, but it is visited by a lot of locals. The fascinating landscape is complemented by the clear water and the magical Mediterranean atmosphere. The bay glistens with turquoise and emerald green colors.

The public transport in Koper is not only excellent but also affordable. The old town and the small alleys around it preserved their traditional character and remind us of the days of the Venetian Republic. The downtown area is so tiny that you won’t even need a map, you can simply walk around without getting lost.

If you like YouTube videos, check out the vlog of kataleRko to get a good sense of Slovenian coastal towns, or another longer video about Piran by Tomas Polasek.

Videos

If you like vlogs, take a look at the following videos about the Slovenian coastline.

Activities of Slovenian Coastline

#1 Boat trips around Piran

If you are staying at a hotel, they can definitely tell you more about which company to go on a boat trip with. According to the website of Subaquatic, a 1.5-hour cruise costs €10-15 per person on a glass-hulled ship.

Address: Sentjane 696320 Portoroz

#2 Parenzana cycle path

The cycle path begins in Trieste, then after leaving Italy it crosses through Slovenia all the way to Croatia. On the Istrian peninsula, you can see the view of small fishing villages, visit small towns with historical heritage and see the vineyards of Istrian wine. The cycle path passes through the following interesting locations:

• Trieste – old town, promenade, and castle
• Istrian Hills – villages on top of the hill and vineyards
• Piran – Venetian-style town
• Portoroz – Slovenia’s casino heaven
• Poreč – 6th-century basilica
• 2^nd Sečovlje salt distillery

#3 Coastline bike tour

If you would like to cycle through the Slovenian coastline but you have no bike, you can rent a bike, even with a guide. The tour starts in Bled, where the guide brings the bikes from, but you can also join the guide at the base (Koper). The day-long bike tour promises to be a pleasantly exhausting activity.

#4 Diving in Portoroz

If you are already on the Slovenian coast and visit Portoroz, it’s worth trying diving. It’s available for complete beginners as well. It’s an approximately 4-hour-long trip and costs €70 per person.

Intimacy is guaranteed by the fact that it is located in a natural reserve, so they don’t allow mooring of large boats. It is also interesting to mention that in clear weather you can even see the Italian coast, maybe even get a glimpse of Venice.

The Bele Skale coastline is a few kilometers from the town of Izola on the Slovenian coast. You can get to the shore by following the narrow path in the direction of the Ronek cliff.

What to do in rainy weather?

Visit the Shell Museum, Piran

If you want to try something new, drop by Piran’s Shell Museum. It’s a short activity, it takes only around an hour because the museum itself is quite small. It’s a nice way to pass time in bad weather.

• Address: Tartinijev trg 15 On The First Floor, Piran 6330 Slovenia

Visit the Skocjan Cave

The huge Skocjan Cave near the Slovenian coast is a great program for rainy days. Even if it doesn’t rain, I encourage you to go see it even on your way home, because the sight is really worth the 1-2 hour detour.

• Address: See Google Maps
• Distance: around 30-40 minutes
• Website