For some reason, when I think of Slovenia and Croatia, I think of the countryside and not countries that have great beaches and coastal resorts. But these countries have some amazingly beautiful coastlines and they are "must see" stops on Mediterranean cruises.
A stop in Koper, Slovenia (formerly Yugoslavia) isn't on every cruise, but it is an option and on the cruise itinerary I have been looking at. Koper's old town is easy to walk around on your own. On
days when there are several ships in port, it is very crowded. The
center of the old city is Tito Square
(Titov trg). It's not in very good shape. Čevljarska ulica leads south and Kidričeva ulica leads to the
marina. Pretty simple. There are a few places you may wish to visit
in Koper. Koper was part of the Venetian Empire, so buildings
have the Venetian architectural style.
Praetorian Palace dates back to the 15th century and is fully-restored and
it's where you'll find the tourist office.
Cathedral of the Assumption, needs some major work, and may or may not be open when we are
there.
Campanile has the best views. You can climb 150 steps to the top of the bell tower for the
bargain price of only 2 euros. Remember, best views are at the top!
There are some great seafood restaurants in Koper. Okrepcevalnica are small places that serve inexpensive Italian food.
If you are a shopper, there are two shopping
centers: Mercator and Supernova.
There is also a big department store called Blagovnica Soča. Not sure how close to the dock these are, and
it's either a long walk or you'll need to go by bus or taxi. You'll also find a few shops in town where
you can get souvenirs like crystal or wine.
If you want the beach, check out Kopalisko Nabreze, next to
the marina. There are large grassy for sunbathing and an enclosed swimming
area.
If you're starting to see a pattern here...you are. Almost every stop has an "old town" close to the port. Of course, there are some great places and sites to see within an hour or so of the dock, too. If you are going to visit another area, best course of action is to start there first, and then work your way back to the old town area, because you are close to port and can get back to the ship faster than if you are an hour away.
Bored with Koper and want to see more of Slovenia? There is a HOHO bus that will take you to
three gorgeous seaside towns: Izola, Portoroz and Piran. It's not
the typical HOHO bus where you get on and off wherever you like. There is
a live guide on this HOHO bus. You stop briefly
in in Izola for pictures.
Piran is one of the most beautiful cities near Koper. It
too has Venetian architecture. Tartini Square is in the center of Piran
and named for the famous violinist, whose statue is in the center of
town.
You tour the Strunjhan Valley and stop in Piran for about 2
hours. Piran is
Finally, on the way back to Koper you stop (briefly) in
Portoroz, a resort town, or you may just see it from the bus.
I'm the visual one, and it's much easier to see how beautiful
the area is on video.
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