Two Days in Piran, Slovenia’s Coastal Paradise
Piran is a small city on the very tip of a peninsula. The hill that separates it from the rest of the peninsula creates a gorgeous contrast between the beautiful dense urban area and surrounding greenery.
View of Piran from the city wall remains
Unlike Koper, Slovenia’s other coastal city, which is more industrial, Piran seems devoted entirely to lazy tourism. And that’s a mighty good thing! We were supposed to only stay one night, but when it was time to check out and drive away, we just couldn’t bear to leave. So we spontaneously stayed one more!
Here’s how to maximize your two days there.
Day 1
Arrive in afternoon and stroll on shore-side the promenade taking in the views. Maybe do a small photo session at sunset…
Have dinner at Neptun (prior reservations likely required). It doesn’t have a view, but all agree, the food makes up for it.
Wander over to Mersii gelato for some criminally good dessert and a wall of signatures
That’s the level of devotion this place inspires!
Day 2
Start the day with a light and delicious breakfast at Caffe Neptun (relation unclear). It’s one of those rare places with a great view (of the harbor) and quality offerings. Oddly, it wasn’t too crowded even on an August Saturday morning, so you should be able to get a table
Wander the gorgeous back alleys that are very similar to Venetian streets, and stumble into pieces of old fort walls
End up at the old Piran castle wall, with views of the city, mansion-studded hills and stunning turquoise coastal waters
Pro tip: bring a glass of light wine to sip as you enjoy the stunning vistas
Take a swim at one of Piran’s beaches, especially on the northeast side like Fiesa beach, where the water strikes a greener shade of turquoise
Come back to the plaza — there is just the one — and grab a table to relax with some people watching, or buy some artisanal honey or schnapps from the stands
Have some smart looking seafood along the promenade during sunset. The better places require a reservation, but don’t expect Michelin star level cuisine. Maybe a photo session while you wait for the food?
Walk the night promenade (may be do a little fishing) and then go back to Mersii to try some of their other flavors. Don’t forget to enjoy the music being played all along the promenade by harp players, and singers. It really makes the atmosphere!
Day 3
In the morning, go back to Caffe Neptune… because why mess with perfection?
On the way out of Piran (perhaps after a farewell gelato at Mersii), visit a winery in Izola, one of Slovenia’s prettiest wine regions. We stopped by Korenika & Moskon on a friend’s recommendation and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. They even gave a grape and apple juice tasting to the kiddo.
Where to Stay
Piran is tiny, so book ahead of time for the best options. We had good luck with Booking.com as well as AirBnB. If you have heavy luggage, make sure you will be able to drive up to your accommodation.
Pro Tips
Piran is a (virtually) no driving town. You can drive in to unload yourself and luggage, and then drive out within 30 minutes to a parking garage outside of town. Ask your hotel or host for a ticket to prove you are staying the night.
If you end up in Piran with an electric car, you can charge it in the parking lot at the entrance near Obelisco de Fornace and get free parking at the same time for up to 4 hours. Of course you’ll probably need to sign up for a whole new app to use it…cause EV!
The town is small, very small. So, it’s OK to stay a bit further from the center. Just be aware of the fact that some streets are uphill and a lot of the buildings face each other…your airbnb may have no view other than a wall, and may be quite small. They are all damp due to the sea air…that’s just how it is. We thoroughly enjoyed our second AirBnB though, so ask us if you need a recommendation!
Also, definitely make dinner reservations ahead of time if you want the better places to eat!
