Piran is probably the most beautiful of Slovenia's coastal towns, placed on a small piece of land plunging into the sea. It feels more like an Italian coastal town, and for good reason: Piran was part of the Venetian empire from the late 13th century to the end of the 18th century.

An ancient coastal town with a picturesque old town core. Of all the towns on the Slovene coast, Piran as a whole has the most original town architecture, with a partly preserved town wall with seven mighty towers, a symbol of the past power and pride of the city.

What to see:

Tartini square Beautiful oval-shaped main square, with a statue of the famous violinist Giuseppe Tartini. This was once the marina, but after it silted up it was paved over with marble.

Venetian House Red building on Tartini square, a fantastic example of gothic Venetian architecture and the oldest building on the square. Built by a rich Venetian merchant to house his mistress, spot the inscription between the upper windows: it says Lassa pur dir, or "let them talk". The most beautiful building in this square, dates back from the first half of the 15th century, with a typical balcony and window trifora in Venetian Gothic style.

The picturesque background of the square is rounded off by the cathedral on a hill with a fine view of the Bay of Trieste.

Church of St. George (Cerkev sv. Jurija) The inside is quite beautiful and the hill it is located on provides a view of the city and harbor. The Church of St George gained its present Baroque appearance in the first half of the 17th century when the famous bell tower was completed, a copy of St. Mark’s campanile in Venice. Behind the Renaissance facade is concealed a rich interior with altars and picture canvases from the Venetian school of the 18th century, a wooden sculpture of St George on his horse and St Nicholas, the patron of sailors. The eight cornered Baroque baptistry next to the church with a built-in pre-Romanesque plaited relief is also worth mentioning. 

As an old town, Piran also has a number of other churches which conceal valuable historical and art objects. The most beautiful city well is situated in 1st May Square, built in 1776 and ornamented with sculptures of goddesses and mythical beings.

Sergej Mašera Maritime Museum, Cankerjevo nab 3, +5 671-0040 Open 9AM - 12PM and 6PM - 9PM, Tu-Su during July and August; 9AM - 12PM and 3PM - 6PM, Tu-Su, the rest of the year. Has several exhibits that tell the story of Piran's maritime history and culture. Piran Town Museum contains valuable art works and archeological, historical and ethnological exhibits with special departments for seamanship, fishing and the history of the Piran saltworks, as well as a department where the famous violins and manuscripts of Tartini are housed. Piran is the seat of Coastal Galleries of Slovenia, which has become one of the most important exhibition centers of international and domestic art in recent years. And last but not least, the rich sea aquarium in Piran is well worth a visit.

What to do:

Explore Piran's narrow streets, watch the sunset over the Adriatic sea from a bar terrace.

There is no beach as such, but you can swim in the sea from the many piers scattered about. There is a diving school on the northern side of the town if you want to explore the clear Adriatic Sea.

Climb to the top of the city walls to take in the view of the peninsula. Climb up the rickety stairway to the bell tower on St George’s church for views of Croatia and Italy. Walk along the coastal path from the Church of St. George to Fiesa (about one kilometer each way).

Portoroz

The name means "Port of Roses", but it has been also called Portobeton ("Port of Concretefor it’s rather too many giant concrete hotels and casinos. You can find a nice stretch of beach, comparatively cheap food and easy access to the rest of the coast. This tourist center offers an abundance of entertainment, relaxation and cultural satisfaction for tourists of all ages with its beaches, hotels, restaurants, sports facilities, and especially its casino. The Portoroz Marina is said to be the best equipped on the Adriatic and  is a starting point for many yacht cruises on the Adriatic.
The health spas in Portoroz and Strunjan offer their services to tired travelers.

Izola

Izola is an ancient Mediterranean town with a lively history on the Slovenian coast. The old part of the town rests upon what once used to be an island - that's where it's name comes from. In Latin, 'isola' means 'an island'.
The fishing tradition is nowadays still present in Izola's tourist programs and cuisine. The local specialities include olive oil and home made vine. Positioned on the northern part of the Istra peninsula and having its own Marina the city remains one of the leading centers of nautical tourism.

Nightlife:

Piran doesn’t have much in the way of nightclubs, but it is close to the other Slovenian coastal towns of Portorož and Izola which offer a lot of fun.

Useful information:

Access by car: traffic in Piran is limited. You can park your car at the big Parking Place Fornace before Piran or in the Garage House Piran above the city. A free bus runs every 15 minutes from Fornace to the center of Piran. The only way to get around is to walk, but it's probably only 30 minutes maximum from one end to the other.