In this Piran guide, we will briefly introduce the little Slovenian jewel, explain why you should visit it, what to do and see, where to stay, and give some helpful insider tips. So, stay with us if you’d like to learn more.
©By Pedro Szekely from Los Angeles, USA – Piran, Slovenia, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45999760
Our website includes affiliate links. So, remember that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. Please read our legal disclaimer document for more information about our Affiliate disclaimer and other disclaimers like the Fair-Use disclaimer.
Why should you visit Piran?
Piran is a charming town on Slovenia’s coastline, nestled on a narrow peninsula. Its rich cultural heritage, influenced by the Venetian Republic, makes it hard not to fall in love with Piran. Like Venice, the tightly compacted apartment buildings and narrow alleys add to its charm. That’s why we have decided to write this Piran Guide for you in the first place.
That’s why we in this Piran Gudie encourage you to explore this beautiful place for at least a day or longer.
How to get to Piran
This Piran guide will briefly show you how to get to this fantastic town and how to move around. Everything is easy. However, a few insider tips don’t harm anyone, right?
By air
You have many options here. You can fly to Ljubljana Airport (about 150 km from Piran), Trieste (around 45 km), Venice (about 210 km), or Pula in neighboring Croatia (around 120 km).
From Aiport to Piran
The easiest way to get to Piran is to rent a car or book a shared ride (like Goopti, for instance). Click here for valuable offers. Public transport is also an option. However, you will have to combine train and bus rides. Although this is a cheaper alternative, it can be time-consuming. So, if you don’t have much time, we recommend the first option.
Note: Piran Guide recommends checking Omio to find the most optimal transport options to and from the city.
By Ferry
During the high season (May to September), a ferry connects Piran and Venice once a week. Learn more here.
By Tour
If you do not have a rental car, you have other options for visiting Piran from nearby towns in Slovenia and Italy. One option is a tour from Ljubljana, including an afternoon visit to Piran, where you can enjoy the beautiful sunset views of the coast. Additionally, suppose you are staying in Trieste, Italy. In that case, you can take a highly-rated tour that includes Piran, Koper, and Izola.
Where to stay in Piran
There are lots of choices. However, especially during the peak season, prices skyrocket. That’s why we in this Piran Guide suggest you stay outside the city. Perhaps in Portorož, Izola, or even in Lucija. Public transport is efficient and affordable. That’s why you will have no trouble getting to the town. Ultimately, we suggest testing your choices and remembering that the cheapest option isn’t always the best. Not only that, it isn’t always the most affordable. For instance, if you stay in a cheap apartment inland, without public buy connections, you will have to add car rental costs, plus parking places cost. So, always choose according to your preferences. So, now that you are prepared, let’s look at some valuable options here.
Things to do in Piran
Tartini Square
Piran’s Tartini Square is a focal meeting point named after Giuseppe Tartini. The oval space features magnificent buildings, including the Town Hall, Court House, Council Buildings, and private apartments. At one end stands a statue honoring Tartini (1896). The square comes to life at night, especially in summer, as people gather at surrounding restaurants and enjoy the open space.
©Creator: Ali Eminov/Flickr
Visit St George’s Church and enjoy the views.
St. George’s Church is a historic site towering above Piran, with a stunning view of the Gulf of Trieste. It was built in the 12th century and renovated over time. Visitors can explore the inside of the church, including a small museum. The marble altars, the organ, and the artwork in the baptistry are all worth seeing. The Belfry is a smaller version of the one in Venice and offers excellent views. Just beware of the bell, which chimes every 15 minutes!
©Shutterstock
Walk on the Piran city walls and enjoy the views.
The city walls above Piran could have been started as far back as the 7th century, but today, they provide tourists with a great view of the town and the sea beyond.
The eight defensive towers name the different sections of Piran. Visitors can walk along several wall sections (for an entry fee!), but beware—the area is pretty narrow, and headspace is limited in some places!
©italianspoon.com.au
Try some local food.
Italian and Balkan traditions influence Piran’s cuisine. Many pizzerias and restaurants offer čevapčiči and pljeskavica. Seafood choices are abundant. Must-try dishes include Buzara with mussels, Sea bass in salt, Sardines in shavor, baccala, and Brodetto.
Take advantage of Istrian cuisine, which is influenced by Italian heritage. Must-try dishes are Fuži with truffles, Bobiči, Rizi-bizi, Ombolo, Kraški pršut.
Get lost in the medieval lanes.
The old town is a charming labyrinth of narrow cobblestoned lanes and colorful houses, particularly between Tartini Square and the end of the peninsula. It is small and compact, so no maps are necessary to navigate its streets. However, reaching a beach or retracing your steps to Tartini Square may take some time.
©tasteistria.com
The best day trips from the city
Note: For more information, please check out the best tours on Viator.
Visit the Sečovlje Salina Nature Park
Sečovlje Salt Pans is one of the last salt pans in the Mediterranean. Salt is obtained manually, the same way it was several hundred years ago. In summer, you can walk around the salt pans and see the salt-making process.
Visiting the salt pans is a great idea throughout the year. You can still observe the salt-making pools and visit the newly renovated and fascinating museum. Our favorite thing to do at the Sečovlje Salt Pans is to observe the sunset from there!
©hotelscombined.com
See other coastal towns.
Besides Piran, two other coastal towns in Slovenia deserve special recognition. They are Koper and Izola. Koper is Slovenia’s biggest city on the coast and the only port. Koper and Izola have magical Venetian-style old cores, and that’s why they are well worth visiting.
©yachtscroatia.hr
Tour the Istria Wine Region
Slovenia has many wine regions, allowing you to taste many wines while traveling. The Istria Wine region is famous for its white wine, Malvazija, and a robust red wine, Refošk.
The most extensive wine cellar in the area is Vina Koper, where you can buy many different wine bottles and other products made from the vine. Many smaller wine cellars can arrange wine tastings. If you are in the area, you must stop at Marezige Village, the only wine fountain in Slovenia.
©jost_gantar/visitkras.info
Visit Štanjel
Štanjel, one of the oldest settlements in the Karst, enchants visitors with its panoramic views. Built on the terraces of Turn Hill, the village features famous buildings.
©G.Murn/Visit Ljubljana
Discover Lipica Stud Farm
Lipica is the biggest Lipizzan stud (or Lipizzaner) farm in the world, home to over 300 white Lipizzan horses across 300 hectares of green space. It is the original stud farm of the Lipizzan horse breed and the oldest European stud farm breeding a single horse breed. Furthermore, it is a protected cultural landscape, one of the most significant in Slovenia. That’s why we strongly recommend visiting it.
©Backpacker in the world
Admire the Postojna Cave
The most visited tourist cave in Europe is where the proteus or olm offspring are hatching again. The cave railway has been operating at the cave for 140 years. Predjama Castle is located close to Postojna Cave and is the largest cave castle in the world. Most importantly, it is one of the world’s most beautiful underground systems, so we strongly recommend visiting it.
FAQs
What is the best time to visit?
The best time to visit Piran is during the warmer part of the year when the town comes alive, and you can fully experience its Mediterranean atmosphere. The peak of the high season is in July and August when thousands of people visit Piran daily. So, it can get quite crowded, and what’s more, the prices aren’t affordable then. That’s why we recommend visiting it in the shoulder season, especially in June and September, when the weather is warm and the crowds are smaller.
How long should you stay in the town?
We recommend one day if you’d like to see just some major attractions. However, if you want to mix things up, you can visit nearby attractions, like Secovlje or Isola. In that case, we recommend at least two or three days.
Is Piran Safe for Travelers?
Piran is a safe town with friendly locals and low crime rates. That’s why it’s an ideal destination for solo female travelers. So, you can explore the beautiful Adriatic town, even late into the evening, but stay alert and use common sense to ensure your safety.
Take a look at
References and sources:
Photo credits:
Feature photo credits: Shutterstock