The Best 16 Tourist Attractions to Visit and Things to Do in Piran

August 26, 2022 Mustafa Natalwala 2219 Views

Piran is a town in Slovenia situated on the southwest coast of the country facing the Adriatic Sea. Some of the best things to do in Piran, Slovenia include exploring coastal attractions, experiencing scuba diving, admiring medieval architecture, enjoying boat cruises, and relaxing with a salt spa. It is one of the 3 major towns of Slovenian Istria. It is considered the most beautiful coastal town in the country owing to its quaint architecture and its seaside location. The majority of the best places to visit in Piran are situated along the coast including beaches, nature reserves, coastal cliffs, waterfront promenade, pier, and port.

The region is known to have been occupied by Illyrian Histri tribes who were farmers and hunters. There are not many things to see in Piran concerning this part of the region’s history. Around 177 BCE, the region was taken over by the Roman Empire. After the Romans, it was occupied by the Byzantine Empire, the Republic of Venice, the Austrian Empire, and the French Monarchy. Even these periods have left behind but a few Piran tourist attractions. It was ceded to Italy after the first world war. In 1991 it became a part of Slovenia.

Some of the best historical Piran attractions hail from the medieval period. This includes the town’s fortification, churches, and parts of the old town. Piran is also well known for being the birthplace of composer and violinist Giuseppe Tartini, after whom the central square of the city is named.

The town also has a long and storied history of salt production. People can still visit salt reserves and processing units as part of Piran sightseeing. The markets of the town sell a variety of salt and salt products, which make interesting souvenirs.

The town is also quite famous for scuba diving tours. There is a museum celebrating the history of underwater activities in the town. It is among Piran’s must-see places for those who want to experience the world under the surface of the ocean. You will get to witness marine life, corals, and wreckages if you venture to the ocean for a dive when you visit Piran.

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Table of Contents

The Best 16 Tourist Places to Visit in Piran, Slovenia

1. Tartini Square (Tartinijev trg)

This square is considered the historic heart of the city. The public square is surrounded by historical buildings and monuments. This is among the best places to visit in Piran to begin your tour. At the center of the square stands a statue of Giuseppe Tartini, a composer, and violinist born in Piran. You will need 30 minutes for this square.

I suggest you should go for a Guided Walking Tour of Piran with Local Food and Wine Tasting.

2. Piran Old Town

The charming old town of Piran has a lot to offer. The cobblestone streets, old buildings, markets, restaurants, and statues create a unique vibe. It is the center for some of the best things to do in Piran, Slovenia and you will need a couple of hours to explore it.

I suggest you should go for a Guided Tour of the Old Town of Piran.

3. Medieval Walls of Piran (Piransko obzidje)

The medieval walls of the city date back to the 7th century. You can basically complete Piran sightseeing as you tour these walls. The walls also have amazing viewpoints facing the city and the ocean. You will need 2 hours or so to explore the ancient walls.

4. Waterfront Promenade

The waterfront is a great route for a leisurely walk with a cool ocean breeze soothing your senses. The promenade has beaches, ocean views, port, and stone sculptures. The mermaid sculpture on the route is among the most beautiful things to see in Piran, Slovenia. You will need an hour or so to explore the promenade.

5. Church of St. George & Bell Tower (župnijska cerkev sv. Jurija v Piranu)

The history of this church goes back to the 12th century, but the current structure was built in 1614. The church exhibits Venetian renaissance architectural style. The tower of the church is one of the most popular Piran tourist attractions. You can climb up the tower and ring the church bell. It is also one of the best spots for beautiful city views. You will need 30 to 45 minutes from Piran’s travel for this church.

6. Franciscan Monastery / Piran Minorite Monastery (Minoritski samostan sv. Frančiška v Piranu)

This Minorite Monastery dates back to the 14th century. Guiseppe Tartini received his early education in music at this monastery. It is also known among Piran attractions for its quaint architecture. You will need half an hour for this place.

7. Boat Cruise

When you are in a coastal town, you must venture out and explore the ocean. You can pick from a variety of boat options to explore the ocean and enjoy the pleasing view of the town and the sea. The boat cruise is one of the top things to do in Piran. You will need about an hour for this experience.

I suggest you should book a Slovenian Coast Vintage Boat Tours in Piran.

8. Nature Reserve Strunjan

This nature reserve sits between Simon Bay and Strunjan Bay on the Adriatic coast. The park opens to the Gulf of Trieste. People come here to be with nature and enjoy hiking, camping, and beach activities. You will need 2 to 3 hours from Piran travel to explore this park.

9. Piran Beaches

There are 3 types of beaches in Piran. You get a rocky shoreline, pebbled ocean bank, and sandy beach. Some of the best Piran beaches are Fornace, Portoroz, Moon Bay, St. Bernardin, Cape Seca, and Fiesta. You can enjoy some leisure time at the beaches, go swimming, play sports or pump the adrenaline with adventure sports. You can easily spend a couple of hours at any of the beaches when you visit Piran.

10. Piran Lighthouse

Situated at the end of the waterfront promenade, this cute red lighthouse is among Piran must-see attractions and one of the most photographed monuments of the city. You will need 15 to 20 minutes for this lighthouse.

11. Magical World of Shells Museum

This museum has a collection of more than 4,000 shells. Almost everyone picks shells when they are at the beach. This museum will tell you more about what you have picked. It is among the most fascinating places to visit in Piran, Slovenia. It is surprising how each shell has a long story behind it. You will need about an hour to tour this museum.

12. Piran Aquarium (Akvarij Piran)

The aquarium has 140 species of aquatic animals including fishes, crabs, jellyfish, seahorses, seals, and more. The aquarium also has shows featuring some of the animals. It is among the most popular Piran tourist attractions for families. You will need 2 hours to experience this place.

13. Museum of Underwater Activities

This museum focuses on mankind’s efforts to explore the ocean world. It explores the history of scuba diving and submarine diving. If you planning to go for a scuba diving or snorkeling during Piran sightseeing, you must visit this museum. You will need about an hour to tour this museum.

14. Sečovlje Salina Nature Park

It is said that Piran is built on Salt. The salt reserves outside the city have been producing salt for ages. They use both modern and ancient methods to process salt. It is also among the most popular Piran attractions for a salt spa experience. You can also purchase different types of salt products from this place to take back as souvenirs. You will need an hour or two to explore this place.

15. Scuba Diving

The Gulf of Trieste offers some amazing diving sites. You can witness marine life, corals, and shipwrecks under the ocean. It is one of the most memorable experiences you can have from your trip to Piran. You will need at least an hour for this experience.

16. Tartini Square Market

This market is held on all days except Sunday. It is the perfect place to purchase souvenirs and enjoy local street food. You can also buy local produce and handicraft items at this market. It will take you 30 to 45 minutes to explore it.

If you are looking for more places to visit in Piran, Slovenia checks out the section below. We have compiled an exhaustive list of attractions and activities to enjoy in and around the city.

Things to do in Piran

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Piran

St. George’s Church
Walls of Piran
Sergej Masera Maritime Museum
Magical World of Shells Museum
Piran Coastal Galleries
Piran Minorite Monastery
Casa Tartini House Museum
Church of St. Francesco
Town Hall
Piranski Svetilnik Lighthouse
Museum of Underwater Activities

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Piran

Strunjan Nature Park
Moon Bay
Cape Seca
Jezeri v Fiesi
Mount Dragonja
Salt Nature Reserve

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Piran

Terme Portoroz Sea Spa
Akvarij Piran Aquarium
Mediadom Pyrhani
Slovene Riviera
Casino Riviera

Shopping in Piran

Istrian Market
Tartini Square Market

Beaches in Piran

Piran Fornace Beach
Portoroz Beach
Moon Bay Beach
St. Bernardin Beach
Cape Seca Beach
Fiesta Beach
Izola Beach
Bele Skale Beach

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure in Piran

Hiking
Swimming
Scuba Diving
Paragliding

Sightseeing in Piran

Tartini Central Square
Piran Old Town
Fiesa Footpath
Piran Waterfront Promenade
Plaza Simonov Zaliv
Bernardin Plaza
Platz des 1 Mai

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Piran

Fontana
Gostilnica
Neptun
Pavel
Pizzeria Batana
Pri Mari
Miralonda
Riva
Tri Vdove

Where to Stay in Piran?

Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range and Budget Hotels in Piran. You can check below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Piran.

Luxurious Hotels

Mid-Range Hotels

Budget Hotels

Custom Tours Package in Piran

How to Reach Piran?

By Air

Portoroz International Airport is situated 15 km away from Piran town. Though this airport only receives smaller flights. Other nearby airports for Piran travel include Trieste Ronchi Airport and Ljubljana Joze Pucnik Airport. You can get direct flights to these airports from cities in Europe and Asia. These airports connect to Piran by buses, cabs, and rental cars.

By Road

The nearest train station to reach Piran is Koper. Road travel is the easier option for most travelers. The town receives regular buses from Izola, Koper, Ljubljana, Trieste, Portoroz, Bernardin, and Lucija.

If you are planning to visit Piran by road, you should head for highway route 111 and exit to Koprska Cesta road. This road will take you directly to Piran.

By Water

You can get direct ferries to reach Piran from Venice.

Image Reference

Tartini Square (Tartinijev trg) – Dimitry Anikin / Flickr
Piran Old Town – Zsolt Hollósi / PixaBay
Medieval Walls of Piran (Piransko obzidje) – Miha Kukovec / Wikimedia Commons
Waterfront Promenade – Siggy Nowak / PixaBay
Church of St. George & Bell Tower (župnijska cerkev sv. Jurija v Piranu) – Dimitry Anikin / PixaBay
Franciscan Monastery / Piran Minorite Monastery (Minoritski samostan sv. Frančiška v Piranu) – Isiwal / Wikimedia Commons
Boat Cruise – Clemens Stockner / Wikimedia Commons
Nature Reserve Strunjan – Erin Johnson / Flickr
Piran Beaches – Paul Appleton / Flickr
Lighthouse – Art Novak / PixaBay
Magical World of Shells Museum –
Piran Aquarium (Akvarij Piran) – MarySloA / Flickr
Museum of Underwater Activities – antonio / Flickr
Sečovlje Salina Nature Park – Yerpo / Wikimedia Commons
Scuba Diving – Arhnue Tan / PixaBay
Markets of Piran – Selena N. B. H. / Flickr