Piran

A Venetian-style old town on the Slovenian coast, where Tartini Square and the bell tower look out over the Adriatic and the Sečovlje Salina keeps a 700-year salt-making tradition alive.

Piran sits on Slovenia's roughly 46 km of coastline in the country's far southwest, an old town on a small peninsula jutting into the Gulf of Trieste. Ruled by the Republic of Venice for nearly five centuries, it is full of Venetian charm – red-tiled roofs, a bell tower and stone-paved lanes – and Slovene and Italian are both official languages.

Key areas: The old town centres on Tartini Square; climb the bell tower of St George's Church or the town walls on the hill behind for views over the whole town. Punta, the tip of the peninsula, is great for swimming and sunsets, and the harbour has a maritime museum and an aquarium. The resort of Portorož lies just to the east, with the Sečovlje Salina to the south; heading east along the coast you'll find the Strunjan cliffs, the fishing town of Izola and the port city of Koper, all linked by the Parenzana cycle route. Inland, Hrastovlje is home to the Dance of Death fresco.

Getting there: About 2.5 hours by bus from Ljubljana and about 1 hour from Trieste; in summer, fast boats run to and from Venice. Non-resident vehicles are banned from the old town, so park in the garage outside. Plan to stay 2–3 days.

Climate: May–Sep is best for the seaside and swimming, with the biggest crowds in Jul–Aug; spring and autumn are mild and good for cycling and hiking; winters are cool, with the occasional bora wind.

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