-Europe.Slovenia.Izola-
Only very recently, we finally visited Izola on the Slovenian Coast. We drove by it often whenever we drop by to the other coastal towns such as Piran and Portoroz. I just did not get around to finding more about it until the weekend rolled around and swimming weather was forecasted. Living in landlocked Austria, we are still fortunate to be about 2 – 2.5 hours drive from the sea. Read on about how we spent a few hours in Izola.
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What we did in Izola
We were lucky to find a free parking spot in Izola. With the handy google maps , we made our way to the beach. On the way we came across some highlights.
The Church of St. Maurus and the bell tower
It would be difficult to miss the tower next to the church which is more than 30 meters high. No surprise that climbing up the 99 steps of the Tower gives a great viewpoint from the top.
The church itself has been around since 1356 but underwent many reconstructions to the church standing today.
Besenghi degli Ughi Palace
As we made our way down to the beach, we came across this beautiful palace facade. I found out later that it was built in late Baroque Venetian architecture. The inside apparently holds an installation dedicated to two preserved transcripts of the Divine Comedy. The palace is usually closed to the public but access is given when you take part in The Forgotten Secret of Izola experience
Swimming in Izola
From what I can tell , Izola is less crowded than its neighbours Piran and Portoroz. This is a good thing if you just want to actually swim. We simply went to Svetilnik Beach close to the center of Izola. There is a restaurant close by for getting some drinks and a children’s playground.
The beach itself is pebblestone combined with concrete areas and a wooden deck that people jump in from to get to the deeper waters. The water here is clear and inviting. There are other beaches around and I will definitely be checking them out on my next visit.
*Tip: For our four-legged buddies, there is a dog beach to the east of the Svetilnik Beach with fresh drinking water and a shaded area.
Marina and Harbour of Izola
Izola has a small harbour with residential and fishing boats. Next to it is the marina with 700 berths for visitors.
Izola Waterfront
Not surprising of coastal towns, there are restaurants and cafes to sit and enjoy the views while taking a nice lunch or coffee break. Views of the harbour are particularly nice.
Lunch at the Restaurant Morski
After a refreshing swim, time to enjoy some seafood – we went with Restaurant Morski which was by the harbour and had fair prices. I went with my usual seafood pasta and it was pretty good. The only thing was the smoking of the other guest was quite bothering when you are trying to enjoy a nice meal.
Admire the green countryside
From our vantage point at the beach, we could see a cliffside hill with a building at the top. I saw a road leading up to the building and thought that it could be a nice place to see some of the vineyards here. We found out that the building is the Izola General Hospital and we followed the road up there.
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Where to park in Izola
If you are there with a vehicle, parking is always a stress point especially for foreigners. Here is a very useful guide for parking possibilities and most importantly how much it costs.
*Note: Prices are different during the summer and winter times.
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What's Nearby... (Day Trip Ideas)
I’ve been to Slovenia before (it’s a gorgeous country), but never to Izola! I’d love to go back and see this coastal gem. I love being by the sea and spending time near the water.
I live in a lancdocked city, so I also find coastal places very inviting. I like the harbour, would love to explore that. It was good to know that they have a separate beach for pet parents. That pasta looks delicious for sure. The idea of just idling on the beach is such a wonderful right now, considering the humidity in Delhi.
I live in a landlocked city, so I also find coastal places very inviting. I like the harbour, would love to explore that. It was good to know that they have a separate beach for pet parents. That pasta looks delicious for sure. The idea of just idling on the beach is such a wonderful one right now, considering the humidity in Delhi.
Izola looks like a lovely place for a weekend trip from Austria. The beach and the swimming are not top-notch I would say, but the harbor and the marina look very nice. It seems there is some lush green backcountry too.
On the travel wish list! Would love to visit Slovenia but we have no idea where to start. It looks like Izola definitely is a lovely spot on the coast for a visit. I would certainly love that it is much less crowded to visit the beaches and enjoy the water sports. But eating with smokers close by would turn me off too!
I prefer places with fewer people, and Izola is perfect for a relaxing swim. The clear waters of Svetilnik Beach are ideal for a day by the sea. I love the tip about the dog beach. I am sure my dogs will love it there.
Slovenia is surely in my bucket list! Izola looks like a place I would like to visit. Beaches are so relaxing! I would definitely like to spend some time at The Church of St. Maurus and the bell tower. Climbing the 99 steps and enjoying the views from above sounds like a great idea – workout and feast for the eyes! 🙂
Izola looks like a great little town to explore in Slovenia. How lucky that you live only 2 and a half hours away from the there. I like the small town, it looks very charming. And I also like that there is a dog beach with shade and fresh water for our four legged friends. Do they organise boat tours from the marina?
Ooh! Izola looks like such a fun little town to visit, and I’m all for going to places that aren’t as touristy. I appreciate that you linked a guide to parking, too, as that can be an issue anywhere (even at home!). The restaurants seem really on point, and I’d be curious about the wine in that region. I’ve never been on the Slovenian Coast before, but I’ll make it a point to stop in Izola if I ever do!
This is actually my first time to hear about this town but it looks really charming. Happy to know that there is a dog beach since we usually travel with our furbaby. Thanks for the heads-up regarding the parking situation.