What You Need To Know

Piran Travel Guide

Embark on a journey through Piran with my travel guide, your go-to resource for unlocking the secrets of this coastal haven.

Piran Unveiled

Your Piran Travel Guide For Exploring Slovenia's Coastal Gem

Looking at a map, you wouldn’t think Slovenia has a coastline at first glance, since it’s mostly landlocked. You have to really, really zoom in to catch a glimpse of the 29-mile Adriatic coastline! Since it’s nestled in between Italy and Croatia, I knew that Slovenia would have beautiful waters since its neighbors are known for their beaches – and I only go in water that’s crystal clear! My trip was at the end of summer, so I also wanted to squeeze in some beach time, which is why I decided to head down to the coast.

There are three main seaside towns on the Slovenian coast: Koper, Izola, and Piran. I ended up deciding on Piran because it looked the most charming to me and is the most touristy.

Piran was once a part of Venice, which is why a lot of its architecture looks similar to the popular Italian tourist city. It’s known for its medieval architecture and narrow streets. Piran is very small, but I found it to be absolutely beautiful and charming. What I also found cool was that you can see Italy from it!

Vanessa's Insider Tips

My Travel Tips for Piran

Here are some helpful Piran travel tips to know before you go:

Discover Piran

My Recommended Itinerary for Piran Travel

You can see all of Piran within a few hours. However, if you have the time, I recommend spending more time so you can spend time at the beach! Here’s what I recommend for what to do in Piran:

Tartini Square:

This is the main square and heart of Piran. Colorful buildings surround the square on three sides, with the fourth opening up to the harbor. I spent my time walking around, window shopping, and enjoying some (okay, a lot) gelato.

Church of Saint George:

Go up the hill behind Tartini Square and you’ll find this church. While the inside of the church is nice, people mostly come up here because of the view it offers from outside.

Climb the Bell Tower:

To get the best view of Tartini Square, climb the 146 steps to the top of the bell tower. The bell tower is right in front of the Church of Saint George. Be warned though – the bell rings every 15 minutes!

Climb the Old Town Walls:

When Piran was a part of Venice, these walls were built to protect the Old Town. You can now walk the short stretch of these medieval walls. The entrance to the walls are higher up on the hill from the bell tower and church, so just keep walking. The walls are well preserved and easy to walk. And the view of course is the main reason to do this walk!

Wander around Old Town:

Walk around the Old Town and discover all the streets and alleys. One of my favorite areas was at the tip of Old Town peninsula, where a ton of restaurants are. This is where you get a good view of the Italian coastline also! Don’t worry about getting lost, it’s very small so it’s only a matter of time before you end up back in the main square.

Piran Beaches:

The reason I wanted to spend some time in Piran was for the beaches. I love love love the beach, and I’m very picky about what type of water I go in. Being on the Adriatic coast, I knew the waters on the Slovenian coast would be exactly what I wanted. I only went to two beaches in Piran, but there are some others.

Sun, Sea, and Sand

Best Beaches in Piran

Fornace Beach:

This one is south of the city center. However, it’s not a beach in the sense that there’s sand, but instead it’s on the concrete promenade. People lay their towels out on the concrete and either jump in or use the steps going down. To be honest, the concrete hurt my back and the waves were rough, so just keep that in mind!

Plaza pod Obzidjem:

I almost lost my toes walking down to this beach because of all the pebbles. It’s a pebble beach, so it’s not comfortable to lay on at all, so come prepared!