Do you know that Slovenia has a shoreline alongside the Adriatic Sea? If the reply is not any, do not feel too dangerous; lots of people do not know this about Slovenia!
However Slovenia does have slightly sliver of shoreline, simply 29 miles (47 kilometers) lengthy, squeezed between Trieste in Italy and the northern a part of Croatia. It is on the Istrian Peninsula, which is definitely shared between these three international locations. And it is 100% value visiting!
Inside Slovenia’s stretch of the Adriatic coast (typically referred to as the “Slovenian Riviera”), there are three essential cities that folks go to: Koper, Izola, and Piran. Piran sits on the very tip of Slovenia’s slice of the Istrian Peninsula, and is the smallest (and arguably most gorgeous) of the three cities.
I’ve needed to go to Piran since I first noticed photographs of it greater than a decade in the past – and it was even higher than I imagined! Which is why I am telling you to test it out, too.
The place is Piran?
Like I discussed above, Piran is a small city located on the far western level of Slovenia’s shoreline on the Istrian Peninsula. It is positioned roughly 1.5 hours from the capital metropolis of Ljubljana, 2 hours from Lake Bled, and a couple of.75 hours from Maribor. (Slovenia is not very massive; nothing is tremendous far-off!)
The city is constructed on a small peninsula itself, and is surrounded by the Adriatic Sea within the Gulf of Trieste.
What makes Piran particular?
Should you’ve seen photographs of Piran earlier than, you may need thought that it appears an terrible lot like Italy. And you would be proper! This a part of Slovenia has been a part of a number of empires all through the ages, together with the Byzantine, Roman, Venetian, and Austrian ones. It was a part of the Venetian Empire the longest, although (500+ years), and people influences are those that also stay.
You may discover purple rooftops, slender streets, and even a near-replica of the Campanile (bell tower) of St. Mark’s in Venice (in Piran, it is the bell tower on the Church of St. George).
Up till the tip of WWII and the formation of Yugoslavia, Piran was principally inhabited by folks of Italian heritage, and Italian was the primary language spoken right here. There was a big Istrian–Dalmatian exodus after WWII, although, when many individuals left the realm moderately than keep in Yugoslavia.
In the present day, Slovene is probably the most dominant language present in Piran – although you will nonetheless hear loads of Italian, too!
When to go to Piran
The very best time to go to Piran is within the late spring, early summer season, or fall. (Could, June and September are all glorious months to go to Piran.)
Being on the Adriatic and having a Mediterranean local weather, Piran can get fairly sizzling in months like July and August, which make them not-so-ideal in my guide. The summer season months are additionally the busiest tourist-wise in Piran, although town doesn’t see large crowds or cruise ships, so “busy” is relative right here.
How you can get to Piran
It’s potential to succeed in Piran by bus from Ljubljana, however it will possibly take as much as 3 hours and isn’t probably the most handy. Trains do not run to Piran; the closest you will get by practice is to the city of Koper additional as much as coast.
One of the simplest ways to get to Piran is by automobile. Renting a automobile in Slovenia is pretty straightforward, and the drive from Ljubljana to Piran is just about 1.5 hours. BUT you will not have the ability to drive your automobile into Piran itself – hold studying!
(You too can technically get to Piran through a ferry from Venice, Italy on choose days through the summer season months – however I am guessing most individuals discovering this publish aren’t going to be arriving by ferry. It’s an possibility, although!)
The place to park in Piran
Should you’re driving to Piran (which is what I did and what I might advocate), there’s one extraordinarily necessary factor it is advisable to know: the middle of Piran shouldn’t be open to non-local visitors. That implies that, as a vacationer, you can not drive your automobile into town heart, even for those who’re staying in a single day.
The simplest technique to get into the middle of Piran for those who’re self-driving is to park at a storage simply exterior of city and take a free shuttle into town heart. The storage that is the simplest to park at is GH Amfora, marked as Garažna hiša Fornače (Storage Fornače) on Google Maps.
This massive 7-story coated parking storage is positioned on the entrance to Piran and prices €2.60 per hour as much as 10 hours (in case you simply need to go to Piran for a day), or €26 for twenty-four hours. (And also you pay in your approach out, so take your ticket with you.)
In our expertise, we did not have hassle discovering a parking spot right here on a day in June, however the parking spots are very tight, even in a smaller automobile.
There’s an elevator within the parking storage, nevertheless it doesn’t go all the way in which to the bottom stage the place you possibly can stroll to the free shuttle. Should you’re bringing baggage, simply remember that you will want to hold it up/down one flight of stairs. (Should you’re spending the night time in Piran, you may contemplate simply packing an in a single day bag and locking the remainder of your larger baggage within the trunk of your automobile.)
While you exit the storage on foot, observe indicators for the shuttle cease, which is down by the water (it is even marked on Google Maps as “Piran Free Shuttle Bus Cease”). The free shuttle runs from right here to Tartini Sq. in Piran each 10ish minutes, and from there it is simple to stroll all over the place in Piran.
NOTE: There’s a floor parking zone near Storage Fornače, proper subsequent to the water. This lot is reserved for Piran residents with parking passes, nevertheless, so do not attempt to park right here! The opposite parking storage possibility near Piran is at Garažna hiša Arze, which is an underground storage up a hill above town. It’s kind of cheaper to park right here, however fills up sooner and doesn’t provide a shuttle to city.
8 improbable issues to do in Piran
Okay so now you’ve got lastly arrived in Piran!! What is going to you do now?
Piran is a small coastal metropolis, with a inhabitants of round 4,000 folks. The primary a part of town solely covers 173 acres, or roughly .27 sq. miles (yeah, tiny!). However do not let its small measurement idiot you; there’s nonetheless a lot to do in Piran to refill your day.
Here is what I might advocate you do in Piran:
1. Stroll across the Previous City
The free parking shuttle will drop you off proper subsequent to Tartini Sq., the primary (truly spherical) sq. in Piran that is surrounded by a number of fairly buildings and cafe terraces.
The customer heart is right here, together with Casa Tartini, which is the birthplace of violinist Giuseppe Tartini (his statue can also be within the heart of the sq.). There is a small museum about him inside the home.
From the sq., you possibly can stroll by Piran’s Previous City, most of which is pedestrian-only and made up of slender streets that may positively make you’re feeling such as you’re in Italy.
2. Climb the bell tower on the Church of St. George
A fantastic viewpoint in Piran is simply exterior the Church of St. George. Subsequent to this church is its freestanding bell tower, which is the duplicate of the St. Mark’s Campanile from Venice. You may go to the church, and in addition climb 147 steps to the highest of the tower for about €2*.
*Be aware that they’ve begun renovation work on the bell tower in 2024. It is at the moment coated in scaffolding, and may not be accessible throughout restoration.
3. Climb the previous metropolis partitions
Should you like historical past AND nice views, then make your technique to a spot on the (Google) map marked “Walls of Piran“ (Obzidje Piran).
Fortified partitions started being constructed by the Venetians within the seventh century to guard Piran from invasion, and seven of the unique gates nonetheless stand in the present day all through town.
You may climb one small part of the previous wall above Piran city for the very best views!
The partitions are open day by day from 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. barring dangerous climate, and value simply €3 to go to. Simply word that if you are going to stroll right here from the city heart, it requires strolling up some steep streets!
(And if you would like the very best gentle for photographs, go within the morning! My photographs have been all taken within the late afternoon, and the sunshine was difficult.)
4. Stroll alongside the promenade
The primary a part of Piran is sort of shark fin-shaped, and a car-free seaside promenade goes all the way in which round it. It is on the map as Prešernovo nabrežje, named after beloved Slovene poet France Prešeren (you will discover issues named after Prešeren actually throughout Slovenia).
The promenade stroll presents up stunning Adriatic views and plenty of eating places with out of doors seating. And hold a watch out for sculptures proper within the promenade stones, together with probably the most well-known one in all a mermaid.
5. Go for a dip within the Adriatic
There ARE seashores close to Piran, however none inside the primary metropolis (the closest precise seaside is at Fornače, close to the place you catch the free shuttle from the parking storage). And Piran doesn’t have sandy seashores – they’re all pebble seashores.
However all alongside the promenade in Piran are areas the place you possibly can sunbathe and get into the ocean through ladders or stone steps. The water is beautiful and clear, so positively pack your swimsuit!
NOTE: It’s possible you’ll spy jellyfish within the Adriatic waters right here; in the summertime, they’re prone to be purple moon jellies, which should not have stingers highly effective sufficient to hurt people.
6. Eat dinner on a fishing boat
With its location proper on the Adriatic, contemporary seafood abounds at eating places round Piran. However if you would like a very distinctive eating expertise, make a reservation at Podlanica, an informal restaurant on a fishing boat in Piran’s harbor.
Not solely is that this location actually cool (stroll out to the tip of the pier whilst you’re right here), however the restaurant serves up THE freshest seafood. The menu adjustments day by day based mostly on what the homeowners went out and caught that day.
The boat’s web site says it is advisable to name forward to make a reservation, however we additionally noticed folks simply strolling up and being seated on the picnic bench-style tables. (Their quantity is +386 41 338 612, and we had luck simply sending them WhatsApp messages to make a reservation!)
7. Attempt orange wine on a rooftop
After dinner, there is not any scarcity of gorgeous locations to publish up for dessert or an after-dinner drink. You may persist with one of many eating places alongside the promenade to sip a glass of wine and watch the sundown, or you might head to a spot just like the rooftop of Resort Zala within the coronary heart of the Previous City.
Throughout the summer season (June-October), Resort Zala opens a rooftop sushi bar – however it’s also possible to simply get pleasure from cocktails, wine, and dessert.
A singular kind of wine you possibly can attempt right here is orange wine – which is certainly orange! Nevertheless it’s not made with oranges; it is constructed from white wine grapes, and the colour comes from the grapes being left involved with the grape skins for days, weeks, and even months through the fermentation course of. Orange wine is definitely one of many oldest kinds of wine on the planet, and is a specialty in elements of Slovenia.
Ask one of many bartenders at Resort Zala for an orange wine suggestion, as they’ve a number of on the menu.
8. Take a strolling + meals tour
Wish to mix some historical past, strolling, and meals into one expertise in Piran? Then there’s one good tour I might advocate: this Piran walking tour consists of town partitions and church buildings, and ends with a wine and meals tasting. It is an ideal night possibility in the summertime in Piran.
How lengthy do you want in Piran?
You may see all of the highlights in Piran in in the future – and one relaxed day, at that. Piran is a small metropolis, and all the key websites are pretty shut to 1 one other.
You may even squeeze all the pieces into half a day for those who simply need to keep for a pair hours and keep away from staying in a single day in Piran.
The place to remain in Piran
Should you DO need to keep in a single day in Piran, nevertheless, there are many beautiful resort and residence choices. (Simply keep in mind you could’t drive into Piran’s Previous City, so you will must stroll together with your baggage a bit for those who’re bringing it.)
I stayed at Hotel Zala (Second Life in Piran – Resort Zala), which is a boutique resort in Piran’s Previous City only a brief stroll from Tartini Sq.. (We did convey our small baggage on the shuttle from the parking storage, and had no subject rolling it to the resort from the sq.; it was a couple of 5 minute stroll.)
We actually favored Resort Zala’s location and general vibe, and the rooftop bar was beautiful within the night. I’d positively advocate it! (You can book a room here.)
Another resort choices in Piran embrace:
- Hotel Piran – A 4-star resort proper on the water that is very extremely rated.
- Art Hotel Tartini – Good resort proper off Tartini Sq..
- Memento B&B Piran – A brand new B&B possibility simply off Tartini Sq., the place most rooms have balconies.
Is Piran actually value visiting?
As somebody who had been dreaming of going to Piran for fairly some time, I used to be pleasantly stunned to seek out that Piran was even higher than I anticipated! It is a lovely small seaside city that is not overcrowded; you possibly can actually come right here and simply chill out whereas having fun with the great climate and good meals.
So sure, I completely assume Piran is value visiting, particularly from Could-October! You need not spend a ton of time right here (some folks would probably be pleased with a day journey; I used to be glad we stayed in a single day), however I do assume it is value including to your Slovenia itinerary.
Is Piran a spot you want to go to?
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Harmful Enterprise Journey Weblog. She has traveled to greater than 60 international locations on 6 continents from her dwelling base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and considerate journey by the US, Europe, and remainder of the world. Amanda solely shares ideas based mostly on her private experiences and locations she’s truly traveled!
