Piran (Slovenia) is a small town located on the Adriatic coast, surrounded by the Gulf of Piran. The city stretches along 30 km of coastline and is located near Croatia and Italy. The small territory of the city is home to a wealth of historical cultural and architectural monuments.
General information
Aesthetic pleasure covers tourists on the way to Piran. The road goes around the rock, from which a beautiful view of the city opens up — snow-white yachts, azure water and bright roofs of houses.
The settlement is located on the Istria Peninsula, where the atmosphere of Venice and Italy is everywhere.
It’s interesting to know! The shape of the city on the map resembles a frog.
The city of Piran in Slovenia has an interesting geographical location: the distance to the border with Croatia is 7 km, and the distance to the border with Italy is 23 km. From the resort town, you can drive to the city of Trieste, the Istria Peninsula (Croatia), and explore the Slovenian coast. The town has a total area of 0.7 square kilometers and a population of just under 4,000 people.
The name of the city has Greek roots and means “fire” in translation. The peninsula juts out deep into the sea, and in the past, lights were lit here to serve as a landmark for ships.
Today, the resort has earned the title of a museum city, as it preserves unique examples of architecture from various historical periods, including the Illyrians, Celts, Goths, Byzantines, Romans, and Slavs. The city is predominantly influenced by Venetian architecture, as it was once part of the Venetian Republic. Locals often refer to Piran as a miniature Venice.
It is important to know! In the city, it is quite difficult to find a place to park a car, and almost all parking spaces are paid – 3€ per hour. The best option is to leave your car in a parking lot located outside the city limits and walk around Piran.
What to see
Tartini Square
The main attraction of Piran in Slovenia is the central square, which is perfectly circular and is named after the Italian violinist Tartini. There is a monument to the musician in the square.
Unlike many European attractions, it is quite calm and quiet. The center of Piran is located near the embankment, there are many restaurants and cafes, music plays in the evening, and the buildings are beautifully illuminated. Nearby is the Church of St. George, so vacationers on the square enjoy the beautiful bell ringing every hour.
Many tourists note that this place gives the impression of being in Italy. This is primarily due to the fact that noble Venetian families built their homes here.
An interesting fact! The square has a circular shape, and there is an explanation for this. In the past, it was a lagoon, where the water did not circulate and became stagnant. The city authorities decided to close the lagoon and create a square in its place. A fortress wall was built around the lagoon, and instead of demolishing it, they created arches and apartments. Many local residents still live in these apartments today.
Fortress wall
It’s enough to walk 7-8 minutes up from the previous attraction, and you’ll have an amazing view of the city and the sea. The highest point of the city is located slightly higher. The entrance to the fortress walls is paid – 2€ (free for children under 14), but the views are worth the money. Vacationers pass through the turntable, so it is advisable to have metal coins with you.
The road to the top is quite steep, and it leads through narrow streets that are intertwined like a serpentine. To preserve your memory of the city, stop along the streets and capture the scene before your eyes in a photo. Trust me, there won’t be two identical photos in your album.
Important! There is a parking lot near the fortress walls, but it is exclusively for local residents. There are no payment machines, and tourists who leave their cars will be fined.
You can leave your car at the tourist parking lot, which is located half a kilometer from the fortress.
St. George’s Church
Another unique attraction of Piran is the ancient temple, the bell tower of which was built by analogy with the Venetian bell tower of San Marco. Of course, the building was reconstructed and thus preserved. Today, everyone can climb up here and see the views.
The climb to the temple is quite intimidating, as you first have to walk through narrow, cobblestone streets, and then climb the old, wooden steps that creak suspiciously under your feet.
A few recommendations:
- It is better to climb the bell tower on a sunny day, when you can see the coasts of neighboring countries;
- be sure to stock up on comfortable shoes;
- it is best to try to climb to the top by the end of the hour, when the bells ring without one minute of each hour;
- the most beautiful photos from the bell tower are taken at sunset;
- Admission to the attraction is paid at a rate of 2€.
Private tours
If you want to hear the fascinating history of the city from a wonderful guide, take a tour of Piran. You can book two tours:
- morning view;
- In addition to exploring the city, the evening tour includes wine and dinner at one of the restaurants with a sunset view.
This private tour is perfect for tourists who want to explore the city in one day. In this case, the guide will suggest the best and most interesting route. These walking tours are designed for small groups.
Useful information! A private tour can be purchased on the first day of your stay in Piran, where you can get detailed information about the city and then explore it at your own pace.
City Library
There is a large collection of books and periodicals, but almost all of them are in Slovenian and Italian. Free Wi-Fi is available. Guests are greeted by attentive staff and comfortable facilities.
Holidays in Piran
Accomodation
In Piran, you can find accommodation for vacations of different levels. In high season, luxurious rooms in hotels cost an average of 250€. Accommodation in a hotel on the second line is cheaper, averaging 100-180€.
There is relatively budget accommodation in the city – hostels and guesthouses, private apartments. A room will cost from 55 to 130€.
The cost of accommodation depends on several factors:
- city district;
- comfort level;
- is the power on;
- seasonality;
- availability of additional services
Food
- Prices in an inexpensive cafe are 4-18€ per dish.
- A meal for two at an expensive restaurant costs 35-50€.
- Fast food – 4€.
You’ll have to pay 1-1.5€ for a cup of cappuccino and 1.5€ for a bottle of beer.
Beach
Most of the beaches in Slovenia, and Piran is no exception, are rocky and pebbly. The main feature is the rather inconvenient access to the water, which consists of concrete platforms and stairs. This makes it difficult and dangerous to visit the beach with children. However, the beach area is equipped with toilets and showers. For 10 euros, you can rent two sun loungers and an umbrella for the day.
Useful information! If you plan to relax on the beach and swim in the sea, be sure to bring special shoes with you, as standing on the pebbly seabed is uncomfortable and unpleasant.
For your information! There are some wild beaches near Piran, not many people are here, the water is clean, but you must have swimming slippers.
Weather and climate
The city of Piran has a humid subtropical Mediterranean climate. The summer months are comfortable and warm, while the winters are cool and rainy. The city is located at the latitude of the Crimean Peninsula, and the summer temperatures range from +23°C to +29°C. In winter, the temperature does not drop below 0°C. Snowfall is rare, and rain is more common during the winter months.
Useful information! Many tourists prefer to relax in Piran in early October. At this time, the city enters the velvet season. Swimming in the sea is cold, of course, but hotels specially heat the sea water in the pools.
Best months
The best time for a trip is summer. The comfortable temperature is between +26 and +30 °C, and precipitation occurs no more than 4 days per month. The sea water warms up to +25 °C.
The beach season in Piran lasts for four months, starting in June and ending in October.
We do not recommend visiting Piran for a beach holiday in September or November, as this is the wettest time of the year.
How to get to Piran
To Piran from Trieste
The Italian city of Trieste and the Slovenian city of Piran are only 37 km apart, making it easy to reach the latter. To reach the border, follow the SS202 highway. Then, take the N5 highway, which connects to the N6 highway.
It’s useful to know! Slovenian highways are paid, and you need to purchase a vignette to use them. The cost depends on the number of days.
It is most convenient to rent a car in advance. However, experienced tourists do not recommend driving to Piran by car, as it is difficult to find a parking place in the city.
By bus
It is much easier to get from Trieste to Piran by bus. The road takes 1.5 hours, but there are not so many flights provided. More flights to Piran goes from the small town of Koper (located between Trieste and Piran).
There are several bus stops in Trieste, so you can choose to leave at any of them instead of going to the bus station.
A bus ticket costs about 6€. You can buy a ticket on the arriva.si website, at the ticket office, or from the driver before departure. It is advisable to have small change with you, as passengers are not always given change.
There is a ferry service between Italy and Slovenia, but it is seasonal. Ferries run only in summer.
The journey takes about two hours, and it is better to check the ferry schedule at the seaport in advance. A ferry ticket costs 8€. You can buy it at the port ticket office.
To Piran from Ljubljana
- By bus. The journey from Ljubljana AP bus station takes about 2.5 hours, and the ticket costs 11-12€. The carrier is Arriva (arriva.si).
- By car. The distance between the cities is 119.4 km, and the journey takes 2 hours. You will need about 20€ to buy gasoline.
If you are interested in a resort in the usual sense of the word, feel free go to Portorož (15 minutes away) or Isola with a richer infrastructure. In Piran, there is peace and quiet, history and culture. There are no large numbers of shops and markets in the city, but museums, theaters, galleries are abundant, music is played right on the street. Piran (Slovenia) is suitable for leisurely walks and visiting local attractions.
