Portorož and Piran are surrounded by salt pans on both sides. The high value of the famed salt enabled the rise of picturesque Piran in medieval times. In today’s cosmopolitan Portorož salt makes up a big part of the range of wellness services offered, which is regarded as one of the most comprehensive in Europe.
Slovenia's coastline is just over 42 kilometres long. Piran is a truly beautiful salt-producing town that is well worth visiting.
Slovenia’s Mediterranean and Karst
Portorož and Piran
Salt makers produce salt following a 700-year old procedure and still harvest it manually with traditional tools.
Slovenia is replete with surprising natural and cultural riches. Would you like to know what the must-sees in Portorož and Piran are?
Indulge in the salty experiences of Portorož and Piran Feel, taste, and discover the luxuriousness of salt, which has influenced the towns’ development throughout the centuries. Explore not only the charming town streets, but also the hills above Piran and the rich flavours produced from Istrian soil.
Learn about the life and work of salt-makers. Borrow a bike for free at the Park’s entrance, cycle to the Museum of Saltmaking and try our hand at harvesting salt. After finishing your work, take a guided tour of the museum. Upon returning to the starting point you will receive the bag of salt you harvested with your own hands.
MoreLearn about the life and work of salt-makers. Borrow a bike for free at the Park’s entrance, cycle to the Museum of Saltmaking and try our hand at harvesting salt. After finishing your work, take a guided tour of the museum. Upon returning to the starting point you will receive the bag of salt you harvested with your own hands.
MoreIf you love the sea and seafood, join one of the guided tours of the Fonda fish and mussel farm. You will find out why the Piran sea bass farmed at Fonda’s is so special and why it tastes so wonderful. Sailing along the coast, you will discover countless secrets of fish farming and the sea. Round your trip off with a unique sampling of Fonda delicacies.
MoreVisit the most romantic house in the most romantic town on the Slovenian coast. Tour the Venetian house (Benečanka) and learn about the story of the Venetian merchant, his love for a simple girl from Piran and the saying “Lassa pur dir”. Toast eternal love with premium sparkling wine on the terrace with breathtaking views over Tartini Square and enjoy the sounds of the famous Tartini’s violin.
MoreWhen in Piran’s hills, it is well worth visiting the family-owned Gramona Farm. In the olive grove spreading above the Sečovlje Salina Nature Park you can sample freshly grown delicacies, discover the secrets of tasting organically produced olive oil, which has garnered several awards, and take in the vistas of the Sečovlje salt pans.
MoreTruffle hunters and their dogs will guide you into the mysterious world of truffles. Together you will set out to the forest and to a concealed corner where, with a bit of luck, you will discover a fragrant truffle bulb among the tree roots. After the hunt, enjoy some home-made pasta called fuži with truffles and with a glass of local wine.
MoreJoin cyclists along the narrow-gauge railway called the Parenzana, which is one of the most popular cycling destinations in Europe. Stunning vistas along the route, including those overlooking the Strunjan and Sečovlje salt pans, will be ample reward for your cycling efforts. Upon conquering the route treat yourself to a seafood picnic on a boat.
MoreJoin cyclists along the narrow-gauge railway called the Parenzana, which is one of the most popular cycling destinations in Europe. Stunning vistas along the route, including those overlooking the Strunjan and Sečovlje salt pans, will be ample reward for your cycling efforts. Upon conquering the route treat yourself to a seafood picnic on a boat.
MoreTry stand-up paddle boarding in the most beautiful and most diverse part of the Slovenian coast, from Piran to Strunjan. You will take your boards around the Piran Punta and view the old town centre from the sea. The crystal water beneath the walls will accompany you all the way to Fiesa and the mussel farm, where the protected cormorant birds like to sit. After two hours of stand-up paddle boarding and conquering a 4.5 kilometre long route, take a rest on the coast of Strunjan.
MoreDon your hiking boots and explore idyllic villages hidden away from the daily hustle and bustle. You will encounter numerous gastronomic surprises on your way. This is a trip that you will carry around in your heart for a very long time thanks to the beautiful environment, kind people, idyllic villages and authentic Istrian flavours.
MoreRelax at the unique outdoor wellness among the salt pan fields. Thalasso Spa Lepa Vida offers pampering with the bounties of the sea, which invigorate the body, restore its balance and energy, as well as nourish and regenerate the skin. Thalassotherapy uses natural products obtained from the Sečovlje salt pans, i.e. salt-pan mud and brine – “mother” water, salt, and sea water.
MoreRelax at the unique outdoor wellness among the salt pan fields. Thalasso Spa Lepa Vida offers pampering with the bounties of the sea, which invigorate the body, restore its balance and energy, as well as nourish and regenerate the skin. Thalassotherapy uses natural products obtained from the Sečovlje salt pans, i.e. salt-pan mud and brine – “mother” water, salt, and sea water.
MoreThe several centuries-old tradition of healing in Portorož has always been based on a holistic approach to treatment. LifeClass Portorož honours this tradition and constitutes the most comprehensive network of wellness centres in Europe. Visit the centres offering traditional Indian and Thai massages, pools with thermal prehistoric sea, and the Sauna Park and Thalasso Centre, and attend to your well-being.
MoreIndulge in unique pampering and perfect relaxation at the Paradise Spa Wellness Centre at Grand Hotel Bernardin. The scents of the Mediterranean, colourful views of the sunset, and smiles from the masters of traditional massages and their magical touches will conjure up a heavenly sensation of safety, comfort and relaxation amidst an environment full of artistic tales.
MoreExplore Portorož and Piran in the most original, boutique, and authentic way. Try something you won't find anywhere else. Select from a range of five-star boutique experiences boasting the Slovenia Unique Experiences mark.
Hear a story about a family of biologists, who decided to farm the best fish in the world. While sailing towards their ‘sea garden’, listen to their passionate and delicious story.
Slovenia is writing its green story, which can be felt at every turn.
Geographically, Portorož and Piran are situated between two nature parks, which facilitate the preservation of biotic and landscape diversity.
Visitors to the Sečovlje Salina Nature Park can borrow bicycles for free and head out to the Museum of Saltmaking and further on to view the salt pans.
Every year most of the bathing areas and the marina are awarded a blue flag, which is an international ecological symbol denoting the quality of natural bathing areas and marinas.
The Dragonja river valley and the Šavrin Hills in the Piran hinterland are a source of high-quality, locally produced vegetables and fruit throughout the entire year.
Piran sea bass in salt
The Piran sea bass in salt is one of the healthiest and tastiest ways of preparing sea bass, as this dish can be prepared without adding any fat. The sea bass is baked in salt, which protects the surface of the fish from direct heat, so the sea bass bakes nicely and evenly. This allows the fish meat to remain juicy, delicious and tenderly flavoured.
Get to know the story of Piran and Portorož through the images that mark these two towns the most. Discover the beautiful features of their hinterland and taste the noble treasures from the sea and Istrian soil.
Design your day-to-day itinerary. Select the destinations you want to visit and when you are planning to visit them.
Find a tourist guide that will present Slovenian cultural and natural heritage to you in more detail in your chosen language.
Would you like to stay a little longer and see and experience as much as possible? Then select suitable accommodation that is ideal for you in the nearby area.
Learn about the stories stemming from salt, carved in stone and hidden among the green vineyards. Descend into the karst caves, enjoy the beach, explore its hinterland with a diverse range of tastes and enjoy the view of the fertile landscape with a glass of top-quality vine.
Explore other parts of the Slovenian coast. The neighbouring town of Izola is only 10 kilometres away and takes pride in its rich fishing tradition and a wealth of Mediterranean tastes. Only 5 kilometres further away is Koper, a town of a hundred suns, where historical heritage is intertwined with the modern urban pulse. At the entry point to Slovenian coast, 22 kilometres away from Piran, there is Ankaran with its beneficial sea climate and the Debeli Rtič Health Resort. Continuing further towards inland Slovenia, you can explore the attractions of Karst. Only around a 50-kilometre drive away you will find Lipica, home to the oldest stables and the Lipizzaner horses, and the unique Škocjan Caves, which are part of the UNESCO natural heritage. While in Karst, visit the one-of-a-kind Postojna Cave and Castle Predjama.
This picturesque historical town with its own green surroundings is a bridge between the Karst and the Sub-Mediterranean world.
A green and healthy starting point to explore Slovenian Istria.
The world of underground wonders, stunning natural phenomena and unique tastes.
For more information visit the website of Portorož and Piran.
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