Piran & The Coast

Slovenia’s Adriatic coast is just 46km long – but like the rest of the country punches well above its weight in the number and quality of attractions it offers. The main draw is Piran, a magnificent medieval Venetian town on a peninsula jutting into the Adriatic centred around the lovely Tartini Square and overlooked by an imposing and beautiful hilltop cathedral. The town is a compact maze of charming medieval streets and alleys and offers a good range of places to eat as well rocky beaches on the edge of town. A few kilometres from Piran in one direction is Izola another charming Italianate seaside town with the tiny picturesque village of Strunjan between the two with its beautiful coastal views and famous cliffs. A few kilometres in the other direction is Portorož, a cheerful town with all the trappings of a busy seaside resort. Further north the port of Koper is initially unappealing but actually conceals an attractive medieval old town that is well worth a visit. All along the coast you can find excellent Italian influenced cuisine and plenty of fresh seafood. Inland from the coast is wine growing country dotted with old Istrian hilltop villages, which often have views of the Alps and the Adriatic.