
18 Unforgettable Things To Do In Piran | Slovenia’s Coastal Gem
Nestled on the stunning Adriatic Sea, Piran is a picturesque gem on Slovenia’s coastline, full of rich history and vibrant culture. As you wander its narrow, cobblestone streets, you’ll be enchanted by its Venetian architecture, cafes and restaurants with lots of fresh seafood and hand-made pasta, the mesmerizing views from its ancient walls, and the glittering Adriatic Sea on its coast. Whether you’re exploring its charming squares, indulging in tasty cuisine, or soaking up the sun on its shores, Piran promises an unforgettable experience with many things to see and do. This post explores its must-see attractions and hidden treasures of this coastal paradise!
Unforgettable Things to Do in Piran
Climb The Walls of Piran
Climbing the old Walls of Piran are one of the top things to do here and the best place to get a view of the town and the sea. For just a few euro, you can climb its various levels, walk along their length for incredible views, and admire the ancient stonework.

There have been walls here protecting Piran since the 7th century, back when this town consisted of four quarters on the peninsula: Miljska, Stolnina, Misana, and Grad. As the town expanded, new walls were built. The Walls of Piran are the best preserved and date back to Venetian times.
From a distance, they look like part of a magnificent, ancient fort, yet they are only walls with stairs, landings, and fortified towers topped with medieval-looking merlons.
To get here, walk uphill from the old town, or park at Garage Arze and walk over (have euro coins for the parking machine). The lot is small, but I think it rotates quickly as I got lucky and found parking here twice.
See Piran From the Hilltop
The second best place for a great view of the city and the sea (and a free one) is located on Oljcna pot road, just east of the Walls of Piran.
This spot is located on Oljcna pot road between the Walls of Piran and Garage Arze.

There are a few benches on the edge of the hill that provide a great view. Make sure to walk past the benches a little for the best views before coming back to rest or have a picnic there. It’s best to walk here as the road is very narrow and parking is for locals only.
The best thing about this view is it’s free (except for parking). It’s also not widely known, so not busy!
Climb The Bell Tower
The third best view in Piran is the view from the Bell Tower of Saint George’s Church on the right side of the peninsula. If this bell tower looks familiar, it’s a smaller scale version of the San Marco Campanile in Venice (which is just 2 hours away by car and 3 by ferry).
The weathervane at the top of the bell tower is in the form of Archangel Michael, while the one at the top of the bell tower in Venice is of Archangel Gabriel.

The bell tower was under scaffolding when I was here, but still open to climb the rickety old stairs to the top for a panoramic view of Tartini Square, the Walls of Piran, and the Adriatic Sea. You can see all the way Croatia to the south and Italy to the north.
It costs a few euro to enter (cash only). The steps are very narrow, especially near the top, so don’t climb this if that makes you nervous. The bell can also be quite loud when it rings and you are at the top.
See Saint George’s Church & Baptistery
On the seaward side of the Bell Tower is the Church of Saint Gorge, named after Saint George. He is the town’s patron saint, thought to have saved Piran when it was hit by a violent storm. The church dates back to the 12th century, but has been rebuilt and renovated in Renaissance architectural style.
The exterior is a popular space to walk around, as it offers panoramic views of the Bay of Trieste. Especially near sunset as the sun casts a golden glow on the church. The door to the church was open to see inside, but we were not allowed to enter. It’s still worth a visit, however, to see the beautiful wooden ceiling, the colorful frescoes, and sculptures, which include art of Saint George slaying a dragon.
On the west side of the Bell Tower is also a small, octagonal baptistery that you can look into from the doorway.
Visit Cerkev Marije Zdravja
At the tip of the Peninsula of Piran is an old church and lighthouse called Cerkev Marije Zdravja. It was originally built in the 14th century and reconstructed in the 17th, when the church was renamed Our Lady of Health Church.
This was once an important point of defense, a beacon for sailors, and a religious site. Today you can climb the bell tower for a view and visit the small museum to learn about its history (for a few euro).
See The Mermaid Sculpture
After visiting Cerkev Marije Zdravja, walk along the coast back toward the town to see a mermaid sculpture carved into the rocks. Unfortunately, I don’t know much information on who sculpted it or why.

Explore Tartini Plaza
Tartini Plaza is the main plaza of Piran. This was once a small harbor, but the Venetians filled it with sand and built it up to create a marketplace in the heart of the old town. If you’re wondering how this plaza got its unusual name, it’s named after Slovenian violinist Guiseppe Tartini.

The design of the plaza is elegant, with its elliptical shape, sea views, the view of Bell Tower of Saint George and the fact that it’s surrounded by colorful Venetian houses. It’s still a popular marketplace, on select days, and is also used for festivals and performances.

Tartini Plaza also has shuttles that take visitors to and from parking, which is convenient as there’s not much parking nearby.
See The Venetian House Of Benecanka
One of the most charming houses on Tartini Square is the Venetian House Benecanka. This house is best known for its beautiful, gothic corner balcony. There’s a legend behind this house and the iscrption “Lassa pur dir”, which means let them talk. According to legend, the inscription was added by the Venetian Merchant who built the house in the 15th century for a beautiful Piranese girl to show his true love to locals gossiping about them.
The very bottom of this house contains a shop for products from the Salt Pans of Piran. There are also two suites available for rent on the upper floor. The Del Bello suite is named after the legendary Venetian merchant, while he Margareta suite is named for his love.
Wander The Cobblestone Walkways
Another one of the best things to do in Piran is to wander its windy, cobblestone walkways. As you do, you’ll see the colorful patchwork of houses, discover restaurants to try, shops to explore, and interesting architectural details. The walkways are windy, so it’s easy to get a little lost, but that’s also part of the fun.
Swim In The Sea
The beach area along the coast of Piran near old town is the swimming spot. The beach is cement to prevent erosion from the sea, but it’s still beautiful. You can find a few areas that have sand and small rocks west of the main swimming area, but it is mostly cement.
Visit Fiesa Lake
Fiesa Lake is a picturesque lake on the east side of the Piran peninsula, away from the touristy part of old town. This lush lake, surrounded by greenery, is popular for swimming, kayaking, and fishing with both locals and tourists.
You can walk here from Piran along the west coast of the peninsula. It takes about 20 minutes.
Explore Strunjan Park
If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of town and enjoy some tranquility, visit Strunjan Nature Preserve. It’s located on the peninsula northeast of Piran, between Piran and Izola on the coast (map of Strunjan).
There’s a lagoon called Stjuza to explore, teeming with biodiversity, you can walk along Moon Bay at the Cape of Strunjan along the sea to see 262’ Strunjan Cliff (80 m), swim at a beach, and see some functioning salt pans along with a salt pan house to learn more about its history.

I visited this park on a slightly drizzly day and still found the area to be very beautiful. There is a loop walkway, which is well marked. I parked near the lagoon and walked around it for a bit. Then I walked up along the cape to see Strunjan Cliff before returning to my car. It’s easy to spend a half day here, or even a full day if you want to experience it all.
See Portoroz
Portoroz, which means port of roses, is a small village on the west side of the Peninsula of Piran. The coast here is lined with cabanas and lounge chairs for sunbathing and there are many cafes and restaurants along the main street behind them. Although there is more beach area here than in Piran, and more sunbeds, it is still mostly a cement beach area.
Honestly, I was a little disappointed by Portoroz. It’s not as charming as Piran, and the restaurants, which did not seem as authentic as the ones in Piran, are located on the main drag. The water here also looks more like a lake than the sea as you can see over to the next peninsula.
To get here, you can walk along the coast from Piran, which takes about 40 minutes on a promenade by the sea. You can also drive, or take the bus from the Piran Bus Station.
Visit The Salt Pans
The Secovlje Salt Pans, near Portoroz, are one of the last manually farmed salt pans in the Mediterranean, where salt is farmed manually. These salt pans, which started as far back as Roman times, were historically important to the growth of the city.
You can take guided tours here and visit the Museum of Salt-Making.
There are various types of salt created here. There is Piran salt, which has more minerals and less of a salt taste that regular sea salt, fleur de sal, which is a more delicate, flakier salt, herbed salts, and course salts for use in beauty products.
If you don’t get a chance to visit the actual salt pans, there are shops in Piran to buy the salt products. One of the most poplar is the store in the ground floor of the Venetian House Benecanka.
Visit Izola
Izola is a charming little town nearby to visit. It sits to the north of Piran on the Adriatic coast. Originally a small fishing village, this town also has heavy Venetian influence from its days under Venetian rule.
You can wander the narrow, pedestrian streets of the old town and admire the historical buildings, look at the boats in its marina, or go swimming off the tip of the coast.

There are also many restaurants here, especially along the coast. Most offer a variety of delicious Mediterranean dishes. I had several plates of home-made pasta with fresh seafood while admiring the sea views here.
To get here, you can drive or take the bus from the Piran Bus Station.
Visit Koper
Koper is another charming coastal town in Slovenia, even farther north on the Adriatic coast. It has a very large port area, one for recreational boats and one for international containers. It also has a charming pedestrian core with historical architecture to explore and many restaurants serving delicious Mediterranean and fresh seafood.
To get here, you can drive or take the bus from the Piran Bus Station or Izola.
Visit The Lipica Stud Farm
The Lipica Stud Farm is a farm to breed the famous, white Lipizzaner horses. It was founded in the 16th century by the Hapsburgs to breed horses for both military and show purposes.
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The unique things about the Lipizzaner, is that they are born black or brown and turn white as they mature. These magnificent horses are associated with intelligence, elegance, grace, and classical equestrian arts, like performances at the Spanish Riding School of Vienna.
The Lipica Farm is located about a 50-minute drive northeast of Piran. They offer guided tours, which I highly recommend, and riding programs.
Visit Trieste, Italy
Trieste Italy also makes a great day trip from Piran. Here you can see the view of Trieste from old San Giusto Castle, ancient Roman ruins, eat incredible Italian food, including michelin restaurants as well as a stop at Eataly, drive to see 19th century Miramare Palace on the Gulf of Trieste, and much more.
Trieste makes a great day trip from Piran, taking only about 40-minutes by car. Of course, if you choose to indulge in some of its outstanding restaurants, it’s best to stay longer.
Where To Eat In Piran
Piran is loaded with some of the msot incredible Mediterranean food, home-made pasta and fresh seafood I’ve eaten in a long time. Some of my favorites are the following.
- Fritolin Pri Cantini is a fresh, fast food seafood spot, that you can’t miss. It’s tucked away in a quiet plaza near the coast. You place your order at the window and receive a number painted on a seashell. When your order is ready, they call your number. This place is a well-known secret so arrive before noon or dinner time. I ate the octopus and tomato salad below center.

- Rostelin is in the same square as Fritolin, but at the north end. This is a popular dinner spot with hime-made pasta, seafood, and more. Plus, you can see the pasta being made across the street. They don’t take reservations, so arrive early. I had the home-made pasta with shrimp below left. The puffs of cream on the side were amazing with the salty seafood goodness.
- Pavel also offers incredible dining with a focus on seafood, but on the seaside.
- If you want a seaside spot for drinks, coffee, breakfast, or little sandwiches, I recommend Cafinho. It’s doesn’t look like much from the outside, but the staff is friendly, food is good, and it has a grand view of the sea.
- Caffe Neptun is a causal coffee spot near the sea with a great atmosphere, good coffee, and a few other options like smoothies, toasts, sweets, craft beers, and cocktails.



Where To Stay In Piran
Although there are some budget freindly options in Piran, they are not very highly rated. I suggest splurging here as it’s not too expensive to get an amazing sea view here. I did, however, add one budget option that gets excellent reviews.
- I stayed on an Airbnb on the hill overlooking the old town of Piran. It means I had to walk up and down the hill every day, but I had an incredible views of the Adriatic Sea from my balcony that extended the entire length of the house. I could see Croatia to my left and Piran and Italy to me right. It’s called MiraMar – Extraordinary sea view apartment. It’s only avialable during peak summer month. Truly a lovely space and lovely host. It also includes a very rare parking spot.
- Benecanka Casa Venziana Piran is the charming old Venetian house at the corner of Tartini Plaza built by a Venetian for his love. There are two suites, one name after the Venetian, Del Bello, and one after his love Margareta.
- Seahouse Apartments are highly rated, 2 bedroom apartments with terrace sea views.
- Sunshine Ready is a budget option in the heart of the old town that gets excellent reviews. It’s a one bedroom apartment
- If you want something unique, stay in this tiny eco-cabin in the woods in Marezige, a few days of nature in sLOVEnian Istria, which is about a 20-minute drive away. I’ll be writing more about this place soon, but it’s a sustainable retreat away from it all.

Want More Of Slovenia?
Slovenia surprised me with its beauty. Its capital, Ljubljana, is an enchanting city and likely where you will fly in. It’s only an hour and a half drive from Piran. It has a medieval castle on a hilltop overlooking the old town, a riverside promenade with beautiful architecture and bridges to admire, interesting history, and a wonderful cafe culture.
Bled, is another must-see, although admittedly a little touristy due to its beauty. With stunning alpine Bled Lake, and fairytale-esque 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, hike Seven Lakes, or go canyoneering, rafting, and even skydiving. Bled is less than a 2 hour drive from Piran and about 40-minutes north of Ljubljana.
Safe Travels!
Julie
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