Where to Go:

Portoroz

© Kempinski Palace Portoroz

Portoroz is the ideal vacation destination if you look for an alternative to typical travel hot spots like Italy or Greece at the end of summer and want to soak up the sun one last time. The city convinces with beautiful beaches, hotels by the sea and a natural environment, where you can enjoy the peace and quiet. As a seaside resort and spa, Portoroz was already popular over a hundred years ago, when the coastline turned into one of the most prestigious resorts of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Forma Viva Sculpture Park. © Fabian Sindelar

To this day, the coastline is known for its spa and luxury hotels, as well as beautiful and clean beaches. Gamblers can try their luck in one of the casinos of Portoroz, and spend their winnings right back on the shopping street on the beach. Tip: If you are less into casinos or shopping you can take an idyllic walk at sunset through the Sculpture Park Forma Viva south of the town. Works by 20th-century sculptors are displayed here among pine and olive trees. Admission is free.

Piran

© Fabian Sindelar

Continuing north along the coastal road brings you to Piran, a well-preserved medieval town with charming Venetian-influenced architecture. The promenade by the sea offers wonderful views over the water and is lined with a variety of good restaurants serving freshly caught seafood.

The city wall of Piran at sunset. © Fabian Sindelar

Here you can stroll through the many picturesque alleys and discover charming stores. From the city wall near the steeple of St. George Cathedral you have a breathtaking view over the city and the sea.

Salt fields

Charming fishing boats adorn the landscape, salt fields can be seen behind them. © Fabian Sindelar

South of Portoroz, time seems to stand still: Here you'll find impressive salt fields, where, today, salt is extracted from the sea just as it was centuries ago. In the charming bays, old sailing boats lie at anchor. Tip: at the Secovlje Salt Works there's also a museum where you can learn all about the history of salt extraction in Istria.

Where to Stay

Hotel Slovenija - LifeClass Hotels & Spa

© Hotel Slowenija LifeClass Hotels & Spa

At Hotel Slovenija - LifeClass Hotels & Spa you'll find the perfect balance between comfort and relaxation. This 5-star hotel by the sea was renovated only a few years ago; especially the luxury rooms with sea view create a pleasant feeling of vacation. The hotel's open and light-filled rooms invite you to enjoy the sun and the sea to the fullest.

© Hotel Slowenija LifeClass Hotels & Spa

The private hotel beach, Meduza Beach Club, is equipped with comfortable beach beds and large umbrellas. Ladders take you from the stone beach into crystal-clear water. Another restaurant and a bar on the beach provide refreshments after swimming.

© Fabian Sindelar

Several restaurants offer varied taste experiences. The Salina restaurant with sea view, which can be booked on request, cooks exclusively with local products, including the special salt from the region. At the Istrian Bistro & Tapas Bar, on the other hand, guests can embark on a culinary journey through the Mediterranean. In addition to cuisine, the hotel has an excellent and very large spa offer, offering both thermal water baths and heated sea water swimming pools. In the Sea Spa and several centers for holistic health and wellness offer every guest can enjoy.

Hotel Slovenija - LifeClass Hotels & Spa
Obala 33, 6320 Portoroz, Slovenia
Tel: +386 5 692 50 20
Web: lifeclass.net
Price: Doubles incl. breakfast from € 152 per person

Kempinski Palace Portoroz

© Kempinski Palace Portoroz

Kempinski Palace Portoroz is a 5-star luxury hotel with a lot of history. Opened as early as 1910, it exudes the charm of the Danube monarchy. The hotel has retained this nostalgic flair even after extensive renovations. In the Crystal Hall you can dine as in the days of the emperor, and in the Sophia restaurant guests can indulge in Istrian dishes à la carte, prepared with local products. The restaurant is also recommended by the Michelin Guide. Or you can enjoy coffee and cake in the historic hotel park at the Forma Viva coffee house.

© Kempinski Palace Portoroz

For total relaxation, there's an extensive well-being program at the Rose Spa, with beauty treatments or massages equipped with local products based on organic olive oil. Those who crave sporting activities can work out in the gym. Afterwards, you can go for a swim in the heated indoor or outdoor pool and reward yourself with a freshly squeezed juice or a cocktail at the pool bar. If you prefer the sea, you can also head straight to the hotel'sprivate beach and feel the warm sand between your toes. A pure summer feeling is guaranteed!
Tip: The Kempinski Palace Hotel also offers a day spa for non-hotel guests or day guests.

© Kempinski Palace Portoroz

Kempinski Palace Portoroz
Kempinski Palace Portorož, Obala 45, 6320 Slovenia
Tel: +386 5692 7000
Web: kempinski.com
Price: Doubles incl. breakfast from € 300

Grand Hotel Bernardin

© Shutterstock

Grand Hotel Bernardin is among the largest hotels located directly on the beach of Portoroz, and is also one of the most comfortable. Conveniently situated between the beach path from Portoroz to Piran, guests are at the source of well-being here: the Paradise Spa has a wide range of saunas and massages, and in addition to the private hotel beach there's also a heated indoor pool with sea water. A special highlight: all rooms have a balcony with sea view. To satisfy hunger and thirst, guests can choose between two restaurants, a cocktail lounge and a café, as well as the terrace garden with a sea view.

Grand Hotel Bernardin
St. Bernardin Resort, Obala 2, 6320 Portoroz, Slovenia
Tel: +386 5 695 1000
Web: hoteli-bernardin.si
Price: Doubles incl. breakfast from € 318

Where to Eat

Restaurant Gostilna Ribič

© Fabian Sindelar

Behind the sculpture park Forma Viva and in front of the salt fields, surrounded by old trees, you'll find the traditional fish restaurant Gostilna Ribic. Locals as well as tourists have been visiting the charming restaurant for years. The daily catch in salt crust with grilled vegetables is especially recommended. It also appeared in the international restaurant guide 2023 by Falstaff.

Gostilna Ribič
Seča 143, 6320 Portorož, Slovenia
Tel: +386 (5) 6770790
Web: pan-restavracija.si

Read more: These are the quietest luxury villas in Istria.