A day trip to Piran, Slovenia, from Poreč

Just across the border, on the short Slovenian coast, Piran sits on a narrow peninsula with the sea on three sides. Its main square, red roofs and church on the hill look so Venetian that you may forget you have crossed into another country. It is one of our favourite days out from Poreč.

Getting there

Piran is about 60 km from Poreč, roughly an hour by car. Drive north via Novigrad and Umag or via Buje, cross into Slovenia, and follow the coast through Portorož to Piran.

The border. Croatia joined the Schengen area in 2023, so there are no routine passport checks between Croatia and Slovenia. You must still carry a valid ID card or passport, and police can carry out spot checks.

Vignette. Slovenian motorways and expressways require an electronic e-vignette, linked to your number plate and bought online in advance. If you stick to the ordinary coastal roads to Portorož and Piran, you do not need one. Check the official DARS website for the latest rules before you travel.

Parking. Piran’s old town is closed to visitors’ cars. Use the large parking garage at the entrance to the town and take the shuttle bus or walk along the seafront (about 15 minutes).

What to see

Tartini Square

The oval Tartini Square (Tartinijev trg), once the inner harbour, is the heart of Piran. It is named after the violinist and composer Giuseppe Tartini, who was born here in 1692, and his statue stands in the middle. Around it are the town hall and the Venetian Gothic Venetian House, with its lion and a carved inscription.

St George’s Church

Climb the lanes to the hilltop church of St George, the parish church of Piran. Its free-standing bell tower is modelled on St Mark’s in Venice, like the one in Rovinj. The terrace beside the church has wide views over the sea to Italy and Croatia.

The town walls

Above the old town, a stretch of medieval walls with battlements can be climbed for the best panorama of Piran’s roofs and the bay. Bring a few coins or a card for the entry fee.

The Punta and the seafront

Walk to the tip of the peninsula, Punta, with its lighthouse and small church, and swim from the rocks if the weather is warm.

Eating in Piran

Seafood is the thing: grilled fish, calamari, mussels and sardines at the restaurants along the seafront. Prices are in euros, as in Croatia. Read our seafood guide.

Combine it with

• Portorož, the resort next door, for a beach walk.
• The Sečovlje salt pans, on the way back near the border, a nature park where salt is still made by hand.
• On the Croatian side, stop in Umag or Novigrad for dinner. See our Novigrad guide.

Tips

• Go early: the garage and the square fill up in summer.
• Check opening hours and fees for the walls and bell tower before you go.
• Carry ID for everyone, including children.

From the villas

From Villa Duga, Villa Bina or Villa Cvita Domenica, Piran is about an hour’s drive. It also fits on the Parenzana route, the old railway that once linked Trieste with Poreč along this coast.