Even though the Slovenian seaside is rather small, with only 47 km of coastline along the Adriatic Sea, there are some nice places to visit in the area. The biggest highlight and one of the most beautiful places to visit in Slovenia is Piran, a charming town located at the end of the picturesque peninsula.

It took me way too long to include the place in my Slovenia itinerary and visit Piran, but when I eventually went there, I was under the town’s charm right away. I enjoyed every single moment there, whether I was exploring the Old Town and all Piran attractions or sitting with a cup of coffee, watching the world go by and planning what to see in Piran next.

For such a small town, there are surprisingly many things to do in Piran, and in this article, I’m sharing all the best ones with you. Read this Piran travel guide and get ready to visit this wonderful place.

Where is Piran, Slovenia

Piran, a small town of just under four thousand inhabitants, is located on the Slovenian coast of the Adriatic Sea, near the border with Croatia. Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, is located 120 km away from Piran, and Koper – the largest city in the region – is 18 km away.

Is it worth visiting Piran, Slovenia?

Definitely! The town is just the prettiest, with rows of winding lanes, red rooftops, and plenty of historical landmarks you don’t want to miss. For centuries, Piran was under Venetian rule, and still today, you can see numerous remnants from that period. This is, in fact, one of the best preserved medieval towns along the Adriatic Sea, and it might feel like the town has stopped there when you wander around the Old Town.

But there are more reasons to visit Piran. Not only is the town lovely, but you can also find more attractions within walking distance of the center. Since this is a seaside destination, you can also find some decent beaches if you want to relax.

And, of course, Piran is an excellent culinary destination, especially if you enjoy seafood. For such a small town, Piran offers a lot of things, and everyone should find something interesting there.

How to get to Piran

You can reach Piran by road or sea (from Italy, Venice and Trieste). If you drive yourself, you need to leave the car in the parking lot outside of the restricted Old Town area, and you can use a free shuttle bus to get to the very center of the town.

If you use public transport, there are plenty of buses connecting Piran with nearby places like Koper, Portoroz, or Izola, as well as direct connections with Ljubljana. You can check the bus schedules and prices here. On the weekends and holidays, you can expect big discounts on public transport tickets (up to 75%).

How many days are enough for visiting Piran

You can easily explore Piran Old Town in one day only, but it’s worth staying there a bit longer. This way, you can enjoy the town and its surroundings to the fullest, wander around in the morning with hardly any people around, and admire the stunning sunsets that Piran is known for.

Where to stay in Piran

Since Piran is a popular tourist destination, there are many accommodation options to choose from. Here are the recommended ones:

• Art Hotel Tartini (8.7/10)
• Hotel Piran (8.9/10)
• Hotel Zala Piran (9.4/10)
• and many more!

How to get around Piran

The town is small enough that you can easily walk to all the major Piran landmarks. If you would like to visit places a bit further away, like the salt pans, but don’t want to walk, you can take the local bus for a small fee.

Things to do in Piran

And finally, here are all the best things to do in Piran.

Wander around the Old Town

You can start your trip to Piran by exploring the Old Town. It’s a pure pleasure to wander around winding lanes and get lost in the maze. This is one of the best-preserved historical areas along the Adriatic Coast, and you might be surprised by the kind of gems you can find there.

Be sure to pay attention to details and look up when wandering around. Since Piran has been part of the Venetian Republic for a few centuries, you can see some remnants from that period, especially the famous Lion of Venice.

But that’s not all you can discover in this picturesque part of Piran. There are colorful houses, stone steps, archways, and more! This is the best place to escape crowds in Piran and still enjoy this beautiful town.

You can also explore Piran Old Town with a guide. Here are the recommended, highly-rated tours:

• Piran Walking Tour with Local Wine and Food Tasting
• Piran Old Town Walking Tour

Enjoy Tartinijev trg

The heart of the Old Town in Piran is Tartinijev trg – the main square named after the famous violinist Giuseppe Tartini, whose statue is located right in the middle of the place. Until the late 19th century, this area was still a marina where fishing boats moored, but eventually, the small harbor was built over, creating a pleasant square.

This is where you will find some of the most important and beautiful buildings in Piran – the town hall and the courthouse, both built at the end of the 19th century, as well as St. Peter’s church, originally from the 13th century (renovated in 1818).

There are some nice cafes around the square, so the best place to enjoy the vibrant Tartinijev trg is to sit down in one of them and observe the world go by over a cup of coffee.

Visit the Old Square

Even if Tartinijev trg is the most popular square in Piran, there is one more interesting place you shouldn’t miss. The Old Square (or Trg 1. maja, the 1st of May Square) has been the center of local life since the 13th century, and still today, it’s a popular hang-out place for both locals and tourists.

Besides a few nice restaurants on the square, you can find an old well from the 18th century, guarded by two sculptures of law and justice. The fountain was placed here after a severe drought; in the past, it used to collect rainwater from the gutters. Still today, you can see the hand pump that was used on the well.

Walk all the way to the end of the peninsula

Piran has a very picturesque location, occupying a small peninsula with crystal-clear waters of the Adriatic Sea all around. When exploring the Old Town, be sure to walk all the way to the end of the peninsula. The place is not as frequently visited as the rest of the town, but you will also find some nice landmarks there.

From afar, you can already see the Our Lady of Health Church, originally from the 13th century when it was dedicated to St. Clement, and it changed its name only in the 17th century after the devastating plague. Adjacent to the church is the Piran lighthouse, added here in 1872. This is also where you will find a quirky statue of the mermaid.

Another reason to come here is to see yet another vista of the town and the Adriatic Sea and to admire views of Piran and its surroundings from another perspective.

Visit Church of St. George

Located on the hilltop and towering above the Old Town is St. George’s Church, one of the most important historical places in Piran. Construction started in the 12th century, and the structure was finished in the 14th century. The current look dates back to 1637, when the church was renovated in the Baroque style.

Visiting the church is free of charge, but the opening hours can be a bit tricky. If it is opened, be sure to see the place inside, too, as its interior is packed with art masterpieces from the Venetian times, such as sculptures or ceiling paintings.

The square in front of the church offers lovely views of the Old Town and the Adriatic Sea.

Climb the church tower

Once you are done visiting St. George’s Church, don’t miss the 47-meter-tall bell tower adjacent to it. The tower might look familiar to you, as it is a replica of the San Marco Campanile in Venice.

For a small fee, you can climb to the top for some of the most amazing views of Piran Old Town, with Tartinijev trg right in front of you. You need to walk up some 150 stairs, but the views are definitely worth the effort.

Visit the City Walls

Another major Piran landmark with probably the best views of the town and beyond, the City Walls are located a short uphill walk from the Tartinijev trg.

The first defensive constructions were built here already in the 7th century, separating the town from the countryside and protecting Piran. The fortifications we can see and explore today date back to the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries and are in pretty decent condition, considering their age. There are also eight city gates that remain to this day; you can stumble across them when exploring the Old Town.

The northern section of the medieval city walls that is open to the public consists of four watchtowers, each of them offering a breathtaking panorama. You need to pay a fee to enter the walls; the best time to visit is shortly after the opening or around sunset for the best light and pictures. Just be careful when walking the walls as some stones might be uneven, and it can get slippery, especially after rain.

Visit the local cemetery

This might sound like a pretty morbid suggestion to some, but I think cemeteries can provide a good insight into the local history and culture. And since Piran cemetery is located only a short walk away from the city walls, you can include it in your sightseeing itinerary.

This has been a final resting place in Piran for over two hundred years. Some of the tombs and chapels are impressive with their architecture. Visiting this cemetery was like traveling back in time.

Enjoy the waterfront

When you finish visiting all the attractions in Piran, you can relax a bit and enjoy the waterfront. This is such a lovely area of the Old Town, with rows of boats in the marina, cafes, and restaurants lined along the pavement, and a summertime vibe so easy to enjoy. Since Piran is known for its beautiful sunsets, the best place to watch it is from one of the places along the waterfront.

Relax at the beach

If you enjoy swimming and would like to immerse yourself in the waters of the Adriatic Sea, there are some decent beaches in and around Piran, such as Fiesta Beach or Fornace Beach (both a bit away from the Old Town). You can even dip into the sea in the center as the seaside promenade has several places with concrete steps leading right into the turquoise waters.

Go beyond the Old Town

If you use the town as your base to explore the area or if you spend only one day in Piran, there are more interesting places outside of the Old Town that you can see.

Located some 4 km away from the Old Town you can visit Strunjan Salt Pans – one of the biggest natural attractions on the Slovenian coast, founded in the 8th century.

A bit further, you can reach Nature Reserve Strunjan, which is one of the most beautiful places in this part of the Adriatic Sea. The highlights here are picturesque cliffs, the highest one on the Adriatic coast, reaching up to 200 meters.

You can get to both the salt pans and Strunjan Nature Reserve on foot from Piran. The dedicated walking path is really pleasant, and you can go along the waterfront and through the lovely natural places.

If you are looking for options for day trips from Piran, there are a few good places not too far away, such as Izola or Koper along the Slovenian coast or the breathtaking Skocjan Caves further into the countryside. You can also cross the border and visit either Trieste in Italy or the Istria region in Croatia, which has amazing places like Rovinj or Pula.

Further reading

I published many articles about Slovenia that you might find useful when planning your trip there. Here are some of them:

• 21 Most Beautiful Places in Slovenia You Should Visit
• Slovenia Travel Guide – All About Visiting Slovenia
• Slovenia itinerary – places to visit in Slovenia in 3 – 10 days
• 21 Amazing Things to Do in Ljubljana, Slovenia
• 17 Perfect Day Trips from Ljubljana, Slovenia
• 13 Best Things to Do in Lake Bled, Slovenia
• 15 Great Things to Do in Maribor, Slovenia
• A Complete Guide to Visiting Skocjan Caves, Slovenia
• Velika Planina – the Underrated Highlight of Slovenia
• and more!

If you are looking for articles about a specific destination – check out the map with all the articles I’ve published (and their locations). You can also join my Facebook group about traveling in the Balkans and ask your questions there.

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