-Europe.Slovenia.Piran-
Piran a western town on the Slovenian coast has a lot of character – I visited Piran fairly recently , earlier in the year and wondered why I have not done so earlier. If I had to compare the town , I would say it struck me as having a similar feel to Venice, just way less touristy. The Italian feel is not accidental as the Istrian Peninsula was under Roman rule a long long time ago.
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Table of Contents
Spending the day in Piran
Tartini Square
The smell of the blue sea greeted us as soon as we stepped out of the car at the garage. We took the shuttle all the time in sight of the coast. There is a bar entrance leading to the centre. In the heart of it all is the Tartini Square, a picturesque area with the City Hall in the foreground and the belltower of the Church of St. George in the background. On the Saturday that we visited there were a few open-air stalls for the locals to hawk their goods.
The square was named for Piran born Giuseppe Tartini, a violinist and composer of Italian descent. His statue stands on the square (see below) which has plenty of cafes and small eateries where people commonly have their cuppa while people watching. Narrow alleyways lead away from the Square.
Piran Harbour
Near to the Square is the harbour or marina where the smaller boats including fisher boats are docked.
Piran Waterfront
On the other side is the peninsula and waterfront where one can enter the blue water for a swim. The promenade is a nice walk with plenty of restaurant options. It can get crowded around meal times during high season.
Our Lady of Health Church
Originally named St Clement church , it was renamed to Our Lady of Health Church after the plague spread throughout this region. The church is small-ish but still worth peeking into.
St. George's Church
To get to the church from Tartini Square , head uphill through the cobbled stone path behind the red Venetian house. It is a 10-15 minute walk up – passing by small boutique hotels and shops.
The church has an entrance fee of 3 Euros and you get access to a museum housing religious artifacts. Watch out for a wooden carving of “The Crucified of Piran”.
Piran Bell Tower
The Bell Tower is eye catching for sure , not only because of towering over the Tartini Square but also its striking resemblance to the famous San Marco Campanile in the city of Venice. Standing next to the St. George’s church it is almost 47 meters high. At the very top sits the Archangel Michael acting as a functioning weather vane.
*Note: On our most recent visit on 15th of June 2024, the Piran Bell Tower is closed for renovations. I did not see a sign as to when it will re-open.
There is a small entrance fee to climb the 146 steps up and there you are rewarded with amazing views. *Tip: only cash is accepted- no credit cards
Piran Minorite Monastery
The spacious courtyard of the monastery had some Christmas decorations when we visited. The cloister provides shade for the walk around. The whole setup provides good acoustics making it a great venue to host music events.
Attached to the monastery is the Church of St Francis Assisi – inside are beautiful altars and stunning ceiling frescoes. We visited during the Christmas season and the altars were decorated
Piran Town Walls
This is the best spot to get the best overview of Piran with its peninsula. To get up there is another thing. It is a 400-meter hike uphill to get to the walls and then navigating a lot of steps to get to the top. Not suitable for people with mobility issues. The steps are uneven so appropriate walking shoes will help. A small entrance fee of 2 Euros to be paid at the turnstile.
*Note: Cash only
Piran First of May Square
This was previously the main square named Stari trg or Piazza Vecchia. The square is elevated and steps up is guarded by two statues, Law and Justice.
In the center of the square is a cistern built to counter the draught of 1775. Today the square is always busy due to the restaurants and wine bars in the surrounding buildings.
Check out the guided tours in and around Piran
Where we stayed in Piran
What we ate in Piran
We come to Piran pretty often and have different meals but I only will highlight ones that I myself have tried and recommend going to.
Fritolin Pri Cantini
I have a Slovenian friend who recommended the Fritolin Pri Cantini when I asked her about suggestions for nice food in the area. Naturally I googled it and it comes highly rated – and that was how we decided on our lunch venue.
We used google maps and navigated and I was surprised to find out that the restaurant is on the First of May Square. There were a few restaurants around – and apparently people just grabbed an available seat that is laid out on the raised platform or below. Someone came to get our drink order but they were from an adjoining restaurant.
As for the food – someone described it quite accurately as a hole-in-the-wall place – but boy was it busy! I went to the “counter” to place my order – I got a menu, ordered and they gave me a number. Next wait for the number to be called and they hang the number in fish cutouts overhead as well – when the order is ready.
It’s cash only for both food and drinks – we had to wait quite a while for the food as there were many customers there. Our order of fried calamari and polenta were big portions. Taste was good , but I have also tasted the same quality in other restaurants in the vicinity. Frankly, the price was not very low for a self-service place. I concluded that people liked the experience most of all.
Pavel Restaurant
There are plenty of restaurants at the seafront. We came across one after another and simply picked one. To be honest we based on the prices which were a little bit lower here.
We decided to splurge and share a fish platter. When it came, we were pleasantly surprised with the amount and how fresh the fish was. Additionally they provided fresh bread – dipped in the local olive oil makes a good appetiser. Unfortunately I did not stop to take a picture of our feast.
Getting Here and Parking
By Bus
There is a bus service from Ljubljana central to Piran and here is the link . Travel time is around 2 hours and the bus leaves almost half-hourly but on certain times of the day.
By Car
It is a 1.5 hour drive from the Ljubljana airport to Piran on the highway.
If you are there with a car be aware that parking is only available outside the historic center. There are 3 parking possibilities that I am aware of – Check this link for more parking options and prices.
1. Fornače parking garage – a 17-minute walk to the town center or take a free shuttle bus
2. Arze Garage House – above the town : it is a 9 min walk down to the town center
3. Fiesa parking – open air parking also for camping vans, is an 18 min walk to center.
Fiesa is of course the cheapest of the lot as it is open air. As for the two parking garages, be aware that it is quite narrow to drive and park.
*Tip: If you are staying at a hotel in Piran center, you should enquire about parking and how to drop off your luggage.
We parked at Fornače parking garage with the multi-level car park. There are already nice views from the higher levels.
Take the elevator down to the lowest level and exit the parking garage. There are clear signs to the free shuttle bus that will bring you to the historical center.
*Note: Remember to bring along your parking ticket as you will need it to open the door when you come back to get your car. The ticket payment machine is also at the exit. Credit cards are accepted.
There are signs for the shuttle and upon arrival you can check the time schedule for the bus. Otherwise you can also walk. It is a flat path to the center and nice views by the sea.
The Verdict
In conclusion, Piran is worth visiting either as a day trip or making it a base for a weekend trip. It reminds me of a smaller version of Venice, much in part due to the Belfry looking like a smaller version of San Marco. As proof of how much I liked my day out in Piran, I have my little photo reminder 🙂
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What's Nearby... (Day Trip Ideas)
I skipped Piran on my trip to Slovenia because I was going to Croatia after and decided to spend most time in the mountains and lakes of Slovenia, and the coast of Croatia. However, Piran does look like a pretty little coastal town and since you compare it with Venice, I’m sure its pretty awesome, minus the only negative of Venice, the crowds. Tartini Square seems to have a great vibe, would love to walk around and have some great wine and food in the patio restaurants.