Most of Slovenia is landlocked, with the exception of a tiny sliver of land that stretches out to the Adriatic Sea. Called Slovenian Istria, there are three small coastal towns that dot this short but beautiful coastline: Koper, Izola, and our favorite, Piran. With a colorful main square, medieval walls, a bustling harbor, and lots of great seafood restaurants to choose from, Piran is one of Slovenia’s best small towns to visit.

A Quick Overview of Piran For 500 years, from 1283 to 1797, Piran was part of the Republic of Venice. After 1797, Piran bounced back and forth between Austrian, French, and Italian rule and in 1954 it became part of Yugoslavia. Since 1991, Piran is part of Slovenia. Until the mid 20th century, Italian was the official language. Much of the architecture and food in Piran have very strong Italian influences. If you look on a map, it is just a short drive to Trieste, Italy and not much farther away is Venice.

Best Things to do in Piran Visit Tartini Square (Tartinijev trg) Tartini Square is the main square in Piran. It is named after Guiseppe Tartini, an Italian composer and violinist, who was born here. On three sides, colorful buildings surround the square. The fourth side of the square opens up to the harbor. Until the end of the 19th century, the square was filled with water and this was part of the original port. In 1894, platforms were added and more buildings were constructed, forming the square as we see it today.

The Church of St. George Climb up the hill behind Tartini Square to visit the Church of St. George. Modeled after St. Mark’s Cathedral in Venice, this church is a great spot to get unique views over Piran and the coast. From the yard that surrounds the church, you can look down at the small slivers of rocky beaches that surround the old town. Off in the distance, you can see the Italian and Croatian coastlines.

Climb the Bell Tower For the best view of Piran, climb the bell tower. It is 146 rickety steps to the top and your reward is a 360° view over Piran, Slovenian Istria, Italy, and Croatia. This is the best spot to get an aerial view of Tartini Square. This tower is a great example of the Venetian influences on the architecture in Piran. The bell tower is a smaller-scale copy of the San Marco Campanile in Venice. It is located at the Church of St. George. Cost: €1

Walk the Medieval Walls of Piran While Piran was part of the Republic of Venice, these fortifications were built to protect the town from Turkish invasions. These walls date back to the late 15th century. For another unique view over Piran, you can walk this short stretch of medieval walls. It is an uphill walk to get here, and it can be very hot in the summer months, but it is worth it for this view. Cost: €2

Hours: 8 am to dusk

Wander through the Old Town The old town is a maze of narrow cobblestoned lanes and colorful houses, especially in the area between Tartini Square and the end of the peninsula. No maps are needed since it is small and compact. It won’t take long until you pop out onto a beach or wind your way back to Tartini Square.

Dine on Fresh Seafood The most popular item on the menus in Piran is seafood. Take your pick from a number of great restaurants in town. Pirat. This is where we ate lunch. They serve a wide range of seafood dishes and the portions are large. Pirat is located right along the harbor, just a few minutes walk from Tartini Square. Fritolin pri Cantini. Located in the maze of streets that make up the old town, this great budget restaurant serves delicious seafood dishes. This restaurant gets rave reviews and some people even say they had their best meal in Slovenia here. Casa Nostromo Restaurant and Lounge Bar. This is a pricier restaurant but it makes a great place for dinner and drinks. They have a great wine list and a wide range of seafood dishes.

How to Get to Piran Piran is a popular day trip from Ljubljana. From Ljubljana, you can take the public bus to get to Piran. It takes roughly 2.5 hours one way and buses leave hourly. From Trieste, the public bus takes 1 hour. Having a rental car is the most convenient way to get around Slovenia and the Istrian Peninsula. Here are driving distances and times from nearby destinations: Ljubljana, Slovenia: 120 km, 1.5 hours

120 km, 1.5 hours Trieste, Italy: 37 km, 45 minutes

37 km, 45 minutes Rovinj, Croatia: 80 km, 1.25 hours

80 km, 1.25 hours Venice, Italy: 200 km, 2.5 hours There may be additional time for border crossings if you are coming from Italy or Croatia. About Parking. Unless you are staying at a hotel that offers parking, you will not be able to park your rental car in town. There are two parking garages for visitors located outside of the old town. We parked at Garage Fornace and from here it was a 10 – 15 minute walk downhill into town (it will be an uphill walk on the way back to your car). Garage Arze is another option. By Ferry. Once a week during the high season (May to September), there is a ferry that connects Piran and Venice. Learn more here.

Nearby Spots to Visit Koper is another coastal town in Slovenia. It’s smaller than Piran with less to do. If you are short on time, Piran is the better of the two towns to visit. However, we did visit both Piran and Koper in one day as a day trip from Croatia. Strunjan is a nature park that is located just 2.5 miles from Piran. If you want to walk along the coastline, see plunging cliffs and visit more beaches, put Strunjan on your list. Where to Stay in Piran UPSCALE: Hotel Piran. This hotel has an excellent location, just 350 feet from Tartini Square. Rooms feature views of the city or the sea. There is a rooftop bar, a spa, and a beach right in front of the hotel. MIDRANGE: Art Hotel Tartini. This hotel was renovated in 2018. It is located on Tartini Square, has a rooftop bar, and a restaurant. BUDGET: Hostel Pirano. This hostel gets rave reviews for its location, cleanliness, and helpful staff. It is located just a few minutes from Tartini Square. Rooms can accommodate two to four people.