12 great things to do in Piran, Slovenia

Piran, a breathtaking medieval town along Slovenia’s Adriatic coast, captivates visitors with its charming old town, Venetian-style architecture, lively harbour, and crystal-clear waters.  Offering a perfect blend of culture, history and seaside relaxation, there are countless must-see sights and things to do in Piran, for every kind of traveller.

We spent three days exploring Piran (known locally as Pirano) as part of a 2-week road trip itinerary through Slovenia, following a week exploring the lakes and mountains .

In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to make the most of your own visit to Piran, from top attractions and must-see landmarks to accommodation and places to visit.  Read on for our essential guide to the best things to do in Piran, Slovenia.

Piran is a coastal gem on the Adriatic Sea, on the western edge of Slovenia.  It is easily accessible from major Slovenian cities like Ljubljana (a 1.5-hour drive) and nearby countries, like Italy and Croatia.  Once part of Italy, Piran still bears a distinct Italian influence, evident in its architecture, cuisine, and culture.

Slovenia only has a sliver of coastline, stretching 29 miles (47 km) along the Istrian coast.  Along with Izola and Koper, Piran is one of the three main beach towns located on the Slovene Riviera, but is considered by many as the most picturesque.

One of the best ways to start exploring Piran is with a scenic walk along the coastline to Cape Madonna. This beautiful seaside stroll leads to the westernmost tip of the Piran peninsula, offering stunning views across the Adriatic Sea.

For a picturesque route, follow Pusterla (on the northern side), where you’ll pass important landmarks like the Church of St. George and Punta Beach, a popular spot for swimming and sunbathing.

Although Piran is home to many beautiful churches, the Church of St. George (also known as Piran Cathedral) stands as the crown jewel of this coastal town and is one of the top attractions in Piran.  Set on a hill overlooking the town, Piran Cathedral is one of the best viewpoints in Piran, offering sweeping views over Piran’s rooftops and the Adriatic coastline.

Originally restored in the 16th century in the Renaissance style, this Venetian-inspired masterpiece features elegant marble pillars, an intricately painted ceiling, and an overall grandeur that reflects the town’s rich Italian heritage.

You can access the church through its museum entrance or simply admire its splendour through the wrought-iron gates.

Beside St. George’s Church stands its striking bell tower, a smaller replica of the San Marco Campanile in Venice.  For even better views, you can climb the 146 wooden steps to the top, and look down over Piran and the Istrian coast.

Be prepared for a narrow staircase, but the views make it well worth the climb!

Although Piran doesn’t have sandy beaches, it has plenty of scenic spots for sunbathing and swimming along the coastline. Sunbathers often spread out along the water’s edge, from loungers on the main promenade to lying on the rocks, enjoying both the sun and sea views.

One of the most popular beach areas is Punta  Beach, located near Cape Madonna.  Although the beach is made of concrete and rock, it has a jetty for sunbathing, showers, and easy access to the water.  The area is close to several bars and restaurants, making it perfect for a laid-back beach day in Piran.

We chose to use the beach near Fiesa, just a 10 minute-walk from Punta Beach.  This was really close to our apartment, so ideal for us.

This pebbly stretch of beach offers calm, crystal-clear waters, ideal for a family swim.  However, I recommend taking water shoes to make getting in and out of the water more comfortable.

As you reach the southern tip of the Piran peninsula, you’ll come upon the historic Piran Lighthouse, a symbol of the town’s rich maritime heritage.

Piran was once a bustling trading port, and this lighthouse, constructed in 1617 atop the old city walls, served as a guide for sailors navigating the peninsula’s coastline.

The Piran Lighthouse complex includes three buildings: the lighthouse itself, the lighthouse keeper’s quarters, and a church with a bell tower.  In summer, visitors can climb the lighthouse for views of the surrounding coastline.  Admission is €3 per person.

The Riva Prešeren is Piran’s lively seaside promenade along the lower edge of the peninsula, stretching all the way back to Tartini Square.

It’s a good area to head to, if you’re looking to grab something to eat.  You’ll find a variety of excellent restaurants, especially popular among seafood lovers.  There’s also several Italian restaurants, bars, and cafés with outdoor seating, offering perfect spots to relax and enjoy the waterfront ambiance.

At the heart of Piran lies Tartini Square (Piazza Tartini), an Italian-inspired piazza you’re bound to pass through as you explore the town.  Named after the Italian violinist Giuseppe Tartini, who was born in Piran in 1692, the square proudly displays a bronze statue of the composer at its centre.  Music fans can also visit Casa Tartini, his birthplace, which is also in the square.

Flanked on three sides by elegant Venetian-style buildings, Tartini Square serves as Piran’s lively hub, with people coming and going all day.  It is home to some of Piran’s key landmarks, including the Visitor Information Centre, the red Venetian House, and the Town Hall.

On one side, Tartini Square has several good restaurants and cafés and is another great place to grab a drink, relax, and enjoy a bit of people-watching.

For such a small town, Piran has a surprising selection of museums.

Near the port, you can explore unique attractions like the Magical World of Shells Museum, with shells from around the world and the Museum of Underwater Activities, which shows the history of diving.

Piran is also home to its own little Aquarium, which showcases local sea life.  With 140 species on display, including starfish, brittle stars, eels, sea horses, and a wide variety of fish, Piran’s Aquarium offers an educational glimpse into local marine life.

Admission is €7 for adults, with discounted rates available for families.

On the fourth side of Tartini Square lies Piran’s charming port.  This is a small, picturesque harbour is dotted with colourful fishing boats gently bobbing on the water.  It’s a delightful spot for a leisurely stroll.

Right next to the harbour, we found our favourite spot for ice-cream.  Piran Slaščičarna.  With a fantastic selection of flavours, it became our daily treat! (Though we’re certain other vendors in Piran serve great ice cream too!)

Piran has a quaint Old Town with a maze of narrow, cobblestone alleyways and tall pastel-painted houses with shutters.  It has an authentic feel with laundry hanging across the alleyways and cats peering from behind the shutters.

As you traverse the backstreets, you’ll discover small bars, and shops with artisan goods and souvenirs.

One of the best things to do in Piran is climb the old town walls, which sit on a hill overlooking the town.

They built the walls and defence towers from the 7^th century to protect the town from Ottoman invasion.  Today, several sections of the wall and seven preserved gates remain.  Visitors can climb the best-preserved section of wall, which is to the Southeast of the town on Morgoron Hill.

To get to the town walls, head past the Church of St George and follow  Ulica IX Korpusa Street uphill.  It is a steep ascent and will take about 10-15 minutes.

There is a small entrance fee of €3, which includes admission to all three towers.

You can climb up inside the towers and walk along the walls.  You’ll get amazing views over the red roofs of the Piran.  We went in the morning, when it was cooler, but you could go in the evening for amazing sunset views.

After your visit to the old town walls, it is easy to walk back down to the town centre.

If you are looking for a day trip from Piran, visit the nearby Sečovlje Salt Nature Park, where they’ve been using the same techniques to harvest salt for over 700 years.   In fact, the salt from Piran is so famous, it is used by chefs from across the world.

At the Piran salt pans, you can watch the salt panning process, visit the small museum, or pop in the gift shop for your own bottle of Piran salt.

The Sečovlje Salt Pans are about 5 miles from Piran and only take 15 minutes to get there.  If you don’t go, there are plenty of shops where you can buy Piran salt in town.

Another day trip from Piran is to the famous Škocjan Caves.   We visited on our way out of Piran on our route to Ljubljana.

Just 45 minutes’ drive from Piran, the Škocjan Caves is one of the world’s largest underground cave systems, with gigantic caves, subterranean rivers and waterfalls.  This natural wonder is so impressive and unique that it’s been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Slovenia.  It’s pretty spectacular and really worth a visit.

There are only two hotels in Piran, the Hotel Piran and the Art Hotel Tartini.  Both have an excellent central location near Tartini Square and fabulous reviews.

However, we wanted somewhere with parking, so chose the Sunrise Seaview Apartment, Fiesa, which was on a cliff top above the beach.  The Sunrise Seaview is air-conditioned and has a great outdoor living space, with a kitchen, table and loungers.  It was about 0.5 miles and an easy coastal walk to Piran centre.

If you want an apartment in Piran town centre, the Apartment Buena Vista Piran looks amazing.  However, you would have to leave your car in a car park outside of the town.

We spent 3 days in Piran, which gave us plenty of time to explore the town.  However, I loved the place and was really in no rush to leave.  We could happily have spent longer, wandering the alleys, chilling by the sea and enjoying a beer on the promenade.

As Piran is so small, you could probably see most of the sights in 2 days or as a day trip from Ljubljana.

The town centre in Piran is pedestrian-only, so you cannot take a car into the town centre.  However, parking is available just outside at the Fornače parking lot, with shuttles to the centre.

Luckily, Piran is very compact, so easy to explore by foot.  If you want to venture further afield, you can take a bus to the nearby towns.

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