Introducing Piran
The charming coastal town of Piran is a medieval jewel on the Adriatic coast, situated at the cape of the peninsula on the northern side of Istria, with Italy on the horizon. Since being part of the Republic of Venice, it has a rich cultural heritage and the close Venetian influence is immediately apparent in its architecture with the narrow winding streets, houses huddled close together, rising in cascades, beautiful squares and churches and breathtaking sea views. Piran is actually one of the best preserved medieval sites in Europe, with a wealth of monuments and architectural gems, including the Venetian House, the Courthouse, the Town Hall and the Maritime Museum. A visit to a picturesque area of narrow streets in the historic town centre is like a trip to a life-size, open-air museum.
The social center of the town is definitely the Tartini Square. This oval-shaped marble square is an excellent spot to hang out, drink a coffee or beer in one of the many out-door cafes, devour your ice cream and look around for interesting spots to explore. In the middle there’s a larger-than-life statue of Giuseppe Tartini, a Piran-born and world famous violin player and composer. To the right is the red Venetian House which is a fine example of Venetian Gothic architecture. The Tartini Square is also the cultural centre of the town and hosts many concerts and cultural events throughout the year.
Yes, of course, there are beaches too in Piran. Not sandy ones, but those who are more interested in swimming in the sea, which is very clean, will be perfectly pleased with the cement beaches. When you’ve had enough of swimming and sunbathing, you won’t have far to go to find a good spot for lunch or dinner. Just head for the promenade which is lined with restaurants, cafes and ice-cream parlors. There is also an aquarium for younger visitors. The town is closed to traffic during the summer season (covered parking garages are available at town access points), so one can enjoy car-free promenade along the sea!
Essential to the experience of a small seaside town is the seafood dining. Here one can find an abundance of restaurants with fresh delights and spectacular panorama’s of the sea. Because Slovenia has such a varied history of being at the crossroads of central Europe, food is eclectic and tasty. Many dishes are a blend of Italian, German, Slovenian and Croatian elements. Thus one can experience excellent seafood pastas, delicious desserts and many fresh herbs and vegetables too.
Piran is well worth visiting, especially during the summer, spring and early autumn months, but possibly the best time to visit this charming coastal town is September and October when the number of tourists has dwindled, when the days are no longer stifling hot and when the sea is still nice and pleasantly warm. At this time of year, you’ll have the city almost to yourself. The summer months of June, July and August are best for water sports and activities, but particularly in August Piran is full of Italian tourists.
It’s said that once you have visited Piran you will never forget it.
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Overall Rating: The Tartini Square is a lovely square in the heart of the medieval walled Venetian town of Piran, the most famous town on Slovenia's 43-kilometre coast, which sits between Italy and Croatia. For a small town this is a wide open and quite large square. It's very Venetian in its white marble paving and surrounded by charming, Venetian buildings with wonderful architecture displayed. |
Overall Rating: The Church of St. George is the jewel on the crown of Piran. Originally built in the 12th century, its current structure dates from its expansion in the early 14th century, and its subsequent Baroque revamp in 1637. The church is beautifully decorated with frescos, marble altars and a large statue of St George slaying the dragon. |
Overall Rating: In front of the Church of St. George, built separate from it in 1608, is the iconic 46,45 metre-high bell tower. There are 146 steps that lead to the top of the bell tower that houses four bells and is capped with a pyramidal spire. At the top of the tower sits a weather vane in the form of the 3,6-metre-tall Archangel Michael. |
Overall Rating: Piran's Town Walls were built in various stages from the 7th to early 16th century and are one of the most famous attractions in the town. Originally the walls enclosed only the area west of the main Tartini square but between the years 1470 and 1534 expanded to include the entire peninsula. Sections of the wall and seven gates still stand throughout Piran, though the rest of it has been demolished. The walls themselves are great and quite impressive and you can climb to quite a height. The view however is the main reason to visit! |
Overall Rating: The Piran Shell And Snail Museum with its permanent exhibition the Magical World of Shells is one of the best and most interesting museums in Slovenia. It features more than 4,000 specimens of rare and unique mollusks from all around the world. You'll see some of the most unusual clams, sea urchins, crabs, sea stars, and much more, varying in sizes and shapes. |
Overall Rating: Piran’s maritime history is exhibited at the superb Sergej Masera Maritime Museum. Named after a famous Slovenian sailor from Gorica, the museum offers information on Slovene naval history, the Adriatic Sea, sailing, fishing, salt-making and much more. The bulk of the museum collections is housed in the wonderful 19th-century Gabrielli Palace, right at the waterfront near Tartini Square in the historic centre of Piran, but quite a few of its collections are also presented elsewhere. |
Overall Rating: If you are in Piran, try to take the time to visit this small, pleasant museum and make sure you attend the 3D movie to learn about the history of Piran. It will give you much more of an appreciation for this charming coastal town. |
Overall Rating: The Museum of Underwater Activities Piran is a small but very interesting museum that gives an excellent overview of the history of diving in the Adriatic Sea, exhibiting old deep-sea diving suits and helmets. Besides the collection of antique diving equipment, the museum also has several models of submarines and the uniforms of their crews on display. |
Overall Rating: The Piran Aquarium was founded in 1964 and is now the biggest aquarium in Slovenia with its collection of more than 120 species and 25 aquarium tanks. It showcases a good selection of fish and invertebrates living in the northern Adriatic Sea. |
Overall Rating: The First of May Square, previously known as the Old Square, was the centre of Piran until the 13th century. It is surrounded by mainly baroque-inspired architecture as well as a few restaurants. art galleries and a great little wine bar. In the centre of the square, on a raised platform, there are a few eye-catching statues and a stone rainwater cistern which was built in the second half of the 18th century after the region suffered a severe drought. |
Overall Rating: The Church of St Francis Assisi dates back to the beginning of the 14th century, but has been enlarged and renovated over the centuries. The present interior dates back to the 17th century and the exterior is from the 19th century. Attached to the church is a Franciscan monastery with a splendid atrium, the cloister, which is considered by many as the most beautiful in Slovenia. In the monastery's basement there is a superb collection of paintings by various Venetian artists. |
| The accommodation options in Piran can be divided into five main categories: hotels, guest houses, B&Bs, apartments and hostels. |
The charming coastal town of Piran is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Slovenia, but being such a small town, there are not many hotels in Piran. Actually, there are only four of them. We've reviewed all of them so take a look and find out which one would best suit your needs, style and budget. |
Piran guesthouses are definitely a good choice for a place to stay as they are comfortable and wallet-friendly with owners who take an interest in their guests. Some guesthouses also offer a breakfast buffet in the morning that has quite a few choices and is usually very good value for money. Find out which guesthouses in Piran we recommend and why. |
Bed and breakfasts are a budget-friendly way of staying in Piran. In essence you get a room and usually also a private bathroom in someone's house, with breakfast included in the price. Take a look and find out which bed and breakfasts in Piran we recommend and why. |
Apartments are a great option in Piran as they are cheaper than a hotel room but more spacious, well-equipped, and with a kitchen to save money on eating out. But be careful, the rates and quality vary seriously, so always do a good research before you book an apartment for your stay! Here you will find the apartments that we think are the best ones in Piran right now. |
Hostels are the cheapest places to stay in Piran. Most spaces and amenities are shared, but even if you’re not up for the cheapest option - a bed in a dorm room - you can often get a basic private room for significantly less than the cost of a low-end hotel or privately rented room. Competition between Piran hostels has grown over the past five years and there are now some really good hostels in Piran. Find out which are the ones that we recommend and why! |
Piran Pictures
View our image gallery with 23 high-resolution photos that prove you absolutely have to visit Piran!
Four photos below by Dejan Hudoletnjak
A beautiful elevated view from the town walls.
Piran represents coastal Slovenia at its most charming.
The tiny but very pretty Piran harbor.
Next 2 photos below by Luka Esenko
The Tartini Square in the heart of the town.
Piran basking in the evening light.
Next 5 photos below by Daniel Tomanovic
A view from the harbour on a cloudy day.
A beautiful view from the harbour in the evening.
The Seaside Promenade is a perfect place to take a stroll, especially after a nice meal at one of the many great seafood restaurants in the Old Town.
Rocky waterfront overlooking Piran
The town juts into the Adriatic Sea on a peninsula shaped like a spear point.
Photo by Piotr Skrzypiec
Piran is a postcard-pretty coastal town on the Adriatic coast of Slovenia.
Next 2 photos below by Branko Cesnik
Perched on a long and narrow peninsula that juts out into the Adriatic Sea, Piran is an incredibly picturesque town that has managed to keep its relaxed historic charm.
Piran’s main characteristics are its inviting atmosphere, relaxed vibe, colorful pastel-colored houses and narrow streets.
Next 2 photos below by Erich Reisinger
A beautiful view from the small harbour towards the Tartini square.
To the right, you can see Italy and, to the left, you can see Croatia.
Photo by Jernej Leben
Another stunning night view from the harbour at night.
Next 2 photos below by Domen Dolenc
The stylish colored historic houses and a recognizable Venetian lighthouse tower.
In the morning, the harbour is often still, allowing picturesque reflections.
Next 2 photos below by Gregor Kacin
Picturesque, charming, quaint, sweet, laid-back and peaceful are all ways one could describe the tiny slice of Adriatic coastline occupied by Piran.
From the top of the walls you can look out over the whole town as well as over the Adriatic Sea.
Photo by Masa Vodenik
A rocky border lines the waterside.
Photo by Jure Kralj
A beautiful panorama.
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The charming coastal town of Piran is a medieval jewel on the Adriatic coast. It has a rich cultural heritage and the close Venetian influence is immediately apparent in its architecture with the narrow winding streets, houses huddled close together, rising in cascades, beautiful squares and churches and stunning sea views. |
The lovely square in the heart of the medieval walled Venetian town of Piran, the most famous town on Slovenia's 43-kilometre coast. For a small town this is a wide open and quite large square. It's very Venetian in its white marble paving and surrounded by charming, Venetian buildings with wonderful architecture displayed. |
Location of Piran on the map
Address: Tartinijev trg 1, 6330 Piran, Slovenia
Latitude and Longitude Coordinates: 45.528600, 13.568644
GPS coordinates: 45° 31′ 42.9600” N 13° 34′ 7.1184” E
Region: Littoral