The Piran city wall is one of the best spots for fantastic views and beautiful photos of Piran, unless you have a drone, of course. Although we have visited Piran countless times, it wasn’t until early April this year that we finally explored the wall. It was a wonderful spring day during Easter, with plenty of visitors, especially Slovenians and Italians. Given Piran’s proximity to Italy, the town attracts many day visitors.
If you’d like to learn more about the town of Piran, we have a separate blog post available here.
Piran Wall History
The city walls of Piran actually consist of three separate fortification lines built at different times throughout the city’s history. The earliest wall dates back to the 7th century and enclosed the original four streets of the town. Traces of its entrances can still be seen in Piran today. As the city expanded, the walls were gradually extended towards the southwest.
During the 13th century, when the city came under Venetian rule, it expanded and a second defensive wall was constructed.
During the final expansion phase, from the late 15th to the mid-16th century, a third defensive wall was built to protect the peninsula. This wall remains largely intact and can still be visited today.
Our Visit
When we were in Piran, we decided to walk up to the city wall from Tartini Square. We had never visited it before, so it felt like the perfect opportunity. It was spring, not too hot, and still outside the main tourist season, so there were no queues. I also wanted to take better photos of Piran from above.
From Tartini Square, it takes about 10 minutes to walk up to the city wall. Most of the route leads through Piran’s cosy, narrow alleys, and the entire walk is uphill. In spring it was no problem, but in summer it is easy to imagine it being quite sweaty.
If you are reading this in our app, you can select Walking directions from the upper-right menu to view a map with walking directions.
The entrance fee to visit the wall was €3 per person. When we visited, the opening hours were 10:00–16:00. During the summer months, however, the site stays open longer, from 08:00–20:00.
After paying the entrance fee, you climb a staircase to reach the first tower. From the top, there are fantastic views over Piran. We climbed two of the three towers in total.
How to Get to Piran
Piran is about 120 kilometers from Ljubljana and can be reached by car in approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. Most of the journey follows the A1 motorway. Piran is a car-free town, and only residents are permitted to drive in and out. Visitors should park outside the town. The best option is the Fornače parking garage.
From the parking area, shuttle buses run to Tartini Square.
If you are reading this in our app, you can select Show on map in the upper-right menu to get directions from your current location to Piran.
Where to Stay
Piran offers a wide range of hotels, apartments, and rooms to rent, as it is a popular tourist destination. Below is a selection of accommodations that we recommend.
- Art Hotel Tarini - Art Hotel Tartini is a small boutique hotel, ideally located right at the entrance to Tartini Square.
- Hotel Piran - Hotel Piran is located right on the beach in Piran, at the start of the Prešeren Embankment. It offers fantastic views over Piran Bay.
- Hotel Kempinksi Palace - A five-star luxury hotel in the nearby town of Portorož, dating back to the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy era.
- Villas and apartments - Piran is one of Slovenia’s most popular tourist destinations, with a wide range of private rooms and apartments available for rent.
Where to Eat and Drink
Piran and the nearby town of Portorož offer a number of excellent restaurants. Below is a selection, but don’t hesitate to try others, as most are of high quality.
- Tri Vdove - Restaurant Tri Vdove (Three Widows) has been a favorite for as long as I can remember, and I have visited it many times. It is a straightforward restaurant serving traditional Istrian seafood and is located on the Prešeren Embankment. The highlight is enjoying dinner while watching the sunset over the Adriatic Sea. To book a table, send an email to info@restaurants-portoroz.si or call +386(0) 5 673 02 90
- Stara Gostilna - Vecchia Osteria (Italian) is a hidden gem between the old houses of Piran and is mentioned in the Michelin Guide. The restaurant serves local Istrian dishes with a modern touch. To complement the meals, there is a large wine cellar with over 500 Slovenian and international wines, allowing you to find the perfect pairing. You can book a table here.
- COB - COB (Cooking Outside the Box) is located in the neighboring town of Portorož, in the upper part of town, offering a fantastic view of Piran Bay. The menu features both meat and fish dishes, focusing on local ingredients and traditional recipes. You can book a table on their website.
