Izola is a serene town nestled along the Slovenian coast, often overshadowed by its more renowned neighbors, Piran and Koper. This relative obscurity grants Izola a quieter ambiance, presenting itself as an ideal pitstop while exploring the enchanting region of Istria. Izola boasts stunning pebble beaches and the rugged panoramas of the nearby Strunjan promontory, elevating it to prominence as one of Slovenia’s premier beach destinations. Beyond its coastal allure, the town beckons visitors to savor delectable seafood dishes at its array of restaurants, renowned for their utilization of the region’s exquisite local catch of the day.
Exploring Izola offers a respite from the bustling crowds often found in more popular locales. Visitors can indulge in leisurely strolls along the waterfront promenade, admiring the quaint charm of the town’s architecture. For those seeking cultural immersion, Izola‘s historic center, characterized by its winding cobblestone streets and pastel-colored buildings, provides a glimpse into the town’s rich heritage.
What you will find in this guide to visiting Izola (Slovenia):
- Izola: Where It Is Located and Interesting Facts
- Best Things to Do in Izola
- Best Beaches in Izola
- Best Restaurants in Izola
- How to get to Izola
Izola: Where It Is Located and Interesting Facts
Izola is located in Slovenia, in the region of Istria, along the coast of the Adriatic Sea, making it one of the most popular Slovenian beach destinations. Izola is located between the famous towns of Koper and Piran, about 120 km from Ljubljana and just 20 km from Trieste (Italy).
Its origins date back to Roman times, who built the Haliaetum port southwest of the current old town, which is no longer visible today except at low tide. In the Middle Ages it came under the rule of the Venetians and the whole region became very important for the production and trade of olives, fish and wine.
Istria, and most of the towns on the Slovenian coast, including Izola, were occupied by the French and later by the Austro-Hungarians in the 19th century and until 1918, when the region was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy. During WWII, Izola was occupied by the Germans and after the war it was assigned to Yugoslavia, to then become Slovenia in 1991, after the Slovenian declaration of independence and the collapse of Yugoslavia.
Best Things to Do in Izola
The city center of Izola is located right along the coast, nestled on a small peninsula surrounded by the Adriatic Sea. Here you will find most of the attractions, while outside the city center there are miles of pebble beaches, cliffs and inevitable concrete platforms, which are popular during the summer season.
Besenghi degli Ughi Palace
Besenghi degli Ughi Palace is probably one of the most interesting attractions in Izola, located in the heart of the old town. It is a beautiful late Baroque period building, built between 1775 and 1781 by the architect Filippo Dongetti for the Besenghi, a wealthy local family.
The facade of the building reflects a classic Baroque style, with stucco decorations near the doors and windows, balconies and elegant blue painted iron railings. Look for the 13th-century lion statue located on the facade of the palace.
The interiors reflect the style of the facade, with refined decorations. On the first floor is the main hall with beautiful frescoes and a beautifully painted ceiling. There is also a beautiful library, which boasts a collection of over 3,000 books and rare manuscripts from the 16th and 17th centuries. Today the building houses a music school and the headquarters of the Italian culture association. It is also a popular wedding location.
Parish Church of St. Maurus
The Parish Church of St. Maurus is located at the northern end of the old town and is dedicated to the patron saint of the city, St. Maurus, protector of cobblers, coppersmiths and invalids.
The church dates back to the 16th century and was built on the site of an ancient church from 1356. Over the years it has undergone major renovations, the most recent in the 20th century.
Its style is mainly Renaissance Baroque, with a facade characterized by white stuccoes on a salmon-colored background. Inside, the church houses 10 altars, 15th-century Venetian art paintings and an ancient Callid organ, dating back to the end of the 18th century.
In front of the church is the bell tower, built in 1585 in a Gothic style, in the typical Istrian stone. It is 30 meters high from the top, which can be visited by climbing the 99 steps, you can have a nice view of the red tiled roofs of the city and the sea. However, if you find the church open, don’t miss the chance to take a look at its beautiful interior.
Manzioli and Lovisato Palaces
The Manzioli Palace is one of the oldest buildings in Izola and is located on the square of the same name, near the port. It was built in 1470 as a private residence, in a late Gothic style with influences of the Venetian style.
It takes its name from Tommaso Manzioli, who was mayor of Izola in the mid-15th century, as well as being an important character for the city as he contributed to its development and expansion, building the old port.
On the same square is another ancient building, the Lovisato Palace, which was the birthplace of Domenico Lovisato, a famous Italian geologist, explorer and patriot.
Both of these beautiful buildings were restored in 2003. Although they have been somewhat modernized from their original appearance, it is still possible to get an idea of their former glory.
Today they mainly host temporary exhibitions and on the first floor there is the Manzioli Wine Bar, a beautiful stone-walled venue that serves excellent wines accompanied by platters of local cured meats. In summer it is a great place for an aperitif, as they also have tables outside on the square.
Archaeological Park Simonov Zaliv
The Archaeological Park Simonov Zaliv is located outside the city center, and is a small archaeological park where you can find out more about Izola’s Roman origins.
Here, in 900, the remains of an ancient Roman villa were discovered. Today it is possible to see the walls of the villa and the remains of the floor, as well as a faithful reconstruction of the original floor mosaics. It is still possible to see the remains of the path that connected the villa to the old Roman port, and traces of an ancient aqueduct.
The center organizes from time to time (ask on the spot) some guided tours, which provide interesting information on the finds and on the history of the town in Roman times.
Parenzana Museum
The Parenzana Museum is located in the city center and is dedicated to the old, legendary, narrow-gauge railway that connected Trieste and Poreč.
The railway was 123 km long, was inaugurated in 1902, and was the longest built by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Parenzana, however, which at the time was a very slow and winding railway operated with small steam locomotives, did not survive the growing competition from the faster buses, and in 1935 it was closed and dismantled at the behest of Mussolini.
Today Parenzana is one of the most beautiful and scenic cycle routes in Europe, and one of the most famous hiking trails in Slovenia. It is possible to travel easily, on foot or by bicycle, the more than 120 km of the original route, which wind through idyllic landscapes and rural villages.
The Parenzana Museum in Izola was opened in 2010 and tells the story of the railway line with interesting photographs, documents and models of the railway and its locomotives.
In addition, collections of local handicrafts are also exhibited, such as embroidery and lace, and some models of ancient boats, such as the Batana, a famous flat-bottomed fishing boat.
Strunjan Landscape Park
Between Piran and Izola lies the Strunjan peninsula, which is home to the Strunjan Landscape Park (also called Strunjan Nature Reserve), established in 1990 with the aim of preserving this wonderful area and its natural heritage, characterized by a rich flora and fauna, high sea cliffs and beautiful beaches.
Although the area is now very touristy and full of resorts and crowded beaches, it is worth taking long walks on the trails in the southwestern area of the promontory.
Among the best hotels and resorts in the area are the Bioenergy Resort Salinera Hotel and the Barbara Piran Beach Hotel & Spa, both boasting a good spa with world-class treatments and wonderful sea views. Also very popular is the Hotel Svoboda Terme Krka, which boasts an excellent restaurant, beautiful modern rooms and a fabulous spa with indoor and outdoor pools.
The Strunjan Landscape Park area also includes the scenic Strunjan Salt Pans. The area has been famous since ancient times for the production of salt, and even today these salt flats are perfectly preserved and protected as a cultural and natural heritage.
Best Beaches in Izola
Izola is a very popular beach destination in Croatia, especially the area around Strunjan Landscape Park, which boasts magnificent natural scenery and crystal clear sea.
Among the most beautiful beaches in Izola is Bele Skale, which means white stones, located slightly outside the city center, halfway towards Strunjan. The beach, as the name suggests, is pebbly, but still very nice and with a beautiful crystal clear sea. In the summer it can be very crowded.
Another very popular beach is San Simon Beach (Plaža Simonov Zaliv), located within walking distance of the city center, near the Archaeological Park Simonov Zaliv. It can be extremely crowded and chaotic in the summer, as it is very popular with the locals. It has parking nearby, beach volleyball courts and playgrounds with water slides. It is also possible to rent sunbeds and umbrellas.
Best Restaurants in Izola
Restavracija Hotela Marina
This elegant restaurant is located in the old town, a few steps from the harbor, and serves excellent seafood specialties, including delicacies such as oysters, tuna tartare, fish soups, scallops and mussels, as well as good seafood risotto, tuna steaks, mixed fried fish. The wine list is also good.
Restaurant Kamin
Located slightly outside the city center, on Dobrava St. (near road 111), it is a large, modern and fairly elegant restaurant, serving good fish or meat dishes, as well as soups and local specialties. It has a good wine list and boasts a beautiful terrace overlooking the sea.
Gostilna Sonja
This restaurant is located outside the city center, near the harbor. It serves excellent seafood specialties, such as octopus salad, cod on toast, fish soups, polenta with cuttlefish and much more. Meat dishes are also good, such as mixed grills and cutlets.
How to get to Izola
Getting to Izola by car
The best way to get to Izola and explore the beautiful surroundings and the wonderful region of Istria, with its timeless villages, wine routes and many gastronomic attractions, is by car.
Izola is located along the H6 expressway (vignette required) which connects all the major cities of the Slovenian coast and allows easy access to Izola from Koper or Piran.
The closest car rental companies are in Koper and Portorož, so if you want to rent a car and explore Istria then you might want to stop in one of these cities. Especially in the summer it is advisable to book in advance on reputable sites, such as Rentalcars or Discovercars.
Getting to Izola by Bus
Izola is connected with the main towns in the surrounding area. From Piran there is a local bus that also passes through Portorož. From Piran to Izola it takes about 30 minutes.
There are also local buses from Koper to Izola (about 15 minutes) and to Postojna (1.5 hours). To get to Izola from Ljubljana you can take a local bus (about 2 hours) from the Ljubljana bus station (Avtobusna Postaja Ljubljana).
There are also some international connections with Trieste (1 hour) and with the Croatian cities of Pula (4 hours), Rijeka (4 hours) and Rovinj (3 hours). From Trieste there are a large number of international connections with the major European cities operated by FLIXBUS.
Tips for your trip to Izola and Slovenia:
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