The old Venetian city of Piran is delightful, with a small and peaceful harbour, vibrant town square and buildings which have so many stories to tell. If you have been to other Venetian towns like Chania in Greece, or Nafplion in Greece, then you’ll love Piran.
There’s a small harbour, so fish is important in the local area, but their biggest export is salt, which is even used in the production of their chocolate. For those who like shopping there are some delightful shops in the city centre, and a few nice restaurants too. You could certainly stay here a few days and take in the delights of the area, although it can be busy in the summer according to locals.
Leaving the coast, we headed inland and the Italian border with a stop at the scenic Vipava Valley, now known at the home of Slovenian wine. The hilltop village where we stopped for a bite to eat, Vipavski Kriz was stunning, with Persimmon growing in small gardens, and cobbled streets leading around to the amazing viewpoint at the church. Although they don’t produce enough wine to export, it’s still as good as quality as you’ll find in Italy.
Although you could get to Bohinj, our next stop by road, we took the train (which included a short step over the border to Italy). With their railway network not exactly as advanced as ours, the train winds its way through the valley slowly with a scenic view by the river. This is certainly recommended, as the views are amazing – the train isn’t fast at all and it’s lovely to see the emerald colour of the river from the comfort of the train.
