10 Best Things To Do In Izola | Charming Coastal Paradise
Nestled along Slovenia’s picturesque Adriatic, Izola is an enchanting town with a rich history. Its name is derived from the Italian word Isola, meaning island, which it was until the 19th century. Ruled by the Venetians for around 400 years, you can see Venetian influence in its architecture and culture. Its history runs even deeper though as it was also briefly ruled by the French, the Austrian Empire, Yugoslavia, and has history dating back to Roman times. This former fishing village is now a vibrant coastal gem. You can explore the charming old town, filled with pedestrian streets lined with colorful townhouses, stroll along the scenic waterfront promenade, try a variety of fresh seafood at local restaurants, climb the bell tower for scenic views, or relax on sun-kissed beaches. This post covers the best things to do in Izola.
10 Best Things To Do In Izola
Walk the Promenade
The promenade of Izola is lined with palm trees swaying in the wind, inviting cafes, a rocky beach at its tip, the old fisherman’s port, and, of course, the marina. It’s a little over a mile long (2 km) and walking it is not only provides great coastal views, it’s a great way to get a feel for Izola.
The rocky beach at the tip of the peninsula is Svetilnik Beach, which is full of sunbathers on a sunny day. You can also look across the bay from here to the snow-capped Julian Alps when it’s clear. The Izola Marina is large, one of the largest on the coast, with around 1,000 boats and many cafes and restaurants.
Explore The Old Town
After waking the promenade, walk the pedestrian stone walkways of the old town to see the colorful, Venetian architecture with its Mediterranean flair.
You’ll discover homes, cafes, shops, galleries, and churches, along with Manzioli Sqaure and the bell tower at Saint Maurus Church, which you can climb for views of the town and the sea.
The old town of Izola is small, so wandering its streets will only take you 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how often you stop.
Climb The Bell Tower
Another one of the top things to do in Izola is to climb the bell tower at Maurus Church. This Gothic tower was built of Istrian stone in the 16th century. There are about 100 steps to a viewing gallery at the top by the church bells.
The viewing gallery is enclosed with screens, but the screens have little windows cut into them that you can open to take photos.
There’s a small fee to climb, but it’s on the honor system, so make sure to bring a few euro and put them in the box by the door.
Visit Saint Maurus Church
The church below the bell tower is Saint Maurus Church. Originally built in the 14th century, it has been rebuilt several times, in keeping with its original charm. It’s worth a quick stop inside to see its 10 altars and colorful frescos from the 15th century.
There’s an interesting legend to this church. One that is celebrated annually and immortalized in the coat of arms of Izola with a dove carrying an olive branch.
He legend is that many years ago, the townspeople took refuge in this church from an advancing fleet. Miraculously, a white dove flew from the church over the fleet as a large, misty cloud rolled in. The fleet followed the dove, thinking it was leading them towards land, when, in fact, it took them farther out to sea.
The dove, having saved the townspeople, returned to the church with an olive branch, symbolizing peace and safety.
See Palace Besenghi degli Ughi
Make sure to walk by Besenghi’s Palace, which sits near Saint Maurus Church, as it’s another highlight of the old town. This well-preserved building is one of the most important late Baroque buildings in Slovenia. It was built by the Besenghi family, a prominent local family, in the late 18th century. Its Baroque architecture, with its lavish, wrought-iron balcony and window covers, is very striking.
Today, the palace hosts the Izola Music School. If you want, you can enter to see the concert hall and its colorful frescoes.
Visit Manzioli Square
Also make sure to look for Manzioli Square in the old town, the main square of Izola. It was named after the former mayor of Izola, Tommaso Manzioli. There are two unassuming palaces in the square, Manzioli Palace, which is a 15th century Venetian-Gothic townhouse and Lovisato Palace, the historical building leaning against it on its left side. Lovisato gets its name from the scientist and geologist Domenico Lovisato, who was born here.
Today, Manzioli Palace sometimes has art exhibits and is the seat of an organization that advocates for citizens of Italian descent. There’s also a wine bar on the ground floor of the palace that serves coffee, drinks, and is known for its wide variety of excellent wines.
Walk Ljubljanska Street
Ljubljanska Street is the popular shopping street in Izola, also known as the street of artists. You can visit art galleries and studios, stop for a cup of coffee at caffe alle Porte or Bife pri kralju, where they also serve other beverages. Or, stop at the wine shop, Vinoteka 1001. Koprska Street, which runs parallel to Ljubljanska Street, is another great street to explore.
Swim At Simon’s Bay
The nicest beach close to Izola is at Simon’s Bay, about 1 mile (1.5km) southwest of the Izola Peninsula. It’s nicer than the beach at the very tip of Izola because there is some sand, although it’s still mixed with rocks. This beach also has a more secluded feeling as it’s tucked in a bay between two peninsulas rather than at the tip. In peak season, sun beds and umbrellas are available for rent.
There’s also a small archaeological site nearby with the ruins of a luxurious Roman seaside villa, dating back to Roman history here. It’s located on the east side of the bay.
Try Izola’s Delicious Food
Izola is full of unassuming little restaurants with incredible food at reasonable prices, so make sure to try a few.
- Morski Val was my favorite. It sits just beyond the big marina by the old fisherman’s port with views of the sea. It has a casual laid back feel with amazing seafood and pasta dishes. This place is never empty, which speaks to its quality and friendly staff.
- The restaurant at Hotel Marina is another great choice, a Michelin guide restaurant in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 (although because of this, it’s a little pricier). It offers a variety of fresh seafood, pasta, and beef dishes and also offers sea views.
- Svetilnik is a relaxing spot with a hip vibe and great food at Svetilnik Beach. You can get burgers, pizza, pastas, drinks, ice cream, and more on the wooden terrace overlooking the cape.
- Another great choice is Gostilnica Pizzeria, which serves pizza, pastas, seafood, and meat in a small comfortable spot in the old town.
See The View Of Izola From The Hilltop
Another one of the best things to do in Izola is to see the view of the town from the hilltop. Jagogje Viewpoint is located on Jagodje Street up near the freeway. There’s a place to pull off the road to park for a while and a few benches to sit at and admire the view.
This is a popular thing to do, so you’ll see the spot as you drive (or walk) by.
Want More Of Slovenia?
Another highlight on the Adriatic coast is Piran. Piran is a larger, more charming town than Izola, but also more touristy. Both are absolute gems and both are definitely worth visiting.
Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana, is another enchanting city and likely where you will fly in. It’s only about an hour and a half drive from Izola and Piran. You can explore its medieval castle on the hilltop overlooking the old town, walk the riverside promenade to admire its beautiful architecture and bridges, learn its history, and enjoy its delightful cafe culture.
Bled, is another must-see, although admittedly a little touristy due to its beauty. With stunning alpine Bled Lake, and fairytale-like Bled Castle soaring above it, it’s like walking into a postcard. It also makes a great base for the area as there is plenty of adventure nearby. You can explore Vintgar Gorge, hike Mount Triglav, the highest peak in Slovenia, hike Seven Lakes, or go canyoneering, rafting, and even skydiving.
Safe Travels!
Julie
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2 Comments
Paula Cullison
Great article. Looks and sounds inviting. I will check to see which are the best months for a visit.
Julie
Thanks Paula, Slovenia is a great place to visit!