How to Take a Day Trip to Piran from Ljubljana
I almost didn’t go to Piran, actually.
When I was in Slovenia, I planned instead to visit both Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle, a highly recommended double-duty day trip. But then, I had a moment of real talk with myself: Karissa, you don’t actually like caves!
Still, I wanted to see another piece of Slovenia. And you know what I do like? Tiny coastal towns, of course.
Given that Slovenia has only 30ish miles of coastline, there aren’t actually a ton of tiny coastal towns on offer. But that’s okay, because there is a magnificent one: Piran.
Red roofs, vibrant blue water, a perfect square lined with pastel-colored buildings, city walls, a climbable bell tower, sunbathers and divers and swimmers and sailboats and paddle boarders galore, countless cafes — Piran is perfect.
In this post, learn all about how to experience Piran for yourself by taking a day trip to Piran from Ljubljana.
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase or a booking through one of these links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting In Old Cities in this way!
TIP: This map contains the locations discussed in this blog post. To save it to your own Google Maps account, click the star next to the map’s name. You can then find and use the map from your Google Maps app by going to “Saved,” then “Maps.”
Taking the Bus from Ljubljana to Piran
Obviously, if you rent a car during your visit to Slovenia, you can simply drive to Piran.
But I recommend taking the bus to Piran! It’s easy and inexpensive — here’s how to do it.
Buying Bus Tickets
The easiest way to purchase bus tickets to Piran is on the Ljubljana bus station’s website, which specifically sells bus tickets between Ljubljana and other destinations in Slovenia and Europe.
To buy a bus ticket on the website, simply search for “Ljubljana bus station” as the place of origin and “Piran” as the destination and select your desired date.
TIP: Notably, though bus tickets in Slovenia often have a specific departure time printed on them (and you will need to select a departure time to purchase one on the website), your ticket does not guarantee you a seat on that bus. Instead, it simply allows you to travel between the designated locations on the day indicated.
However, if you purchase your bus ticket on the website, you will need to print it in order to use it, as the buses don’t accept electronic tickets. If you don’t have access to a printer during your visit to Slovenia, you can have your tickets printed for you at the bus station on the day of your journey. (This is what I did.)
You can also purchase bus tickets in person at the bus station. You’ll find Ljubljana’s bus station here, in a small building across from the train station. (NOT within the train station, as I initially tried.)
Bus tickets from Ljubljana to Piran can be very inexpensive — I paid just €7.50 total for the round-trip journey — but the exact price you pay will depend on the day you travel. For the cheapest bus tickets, plan your day trip for a weekend, when tickets are substantially discounted.
Riding the Bus to Piran
The attendants in the bus station will tell you where to wait for the bus to Piran. When it arrives, board and choose any seat.
The bus to Piran takes at least 2 hours, so I recommend starting early in the morning to maximize your time in Piran! I took an 8 am bus from Ljubljana, and the bus arrived in Piran at about 10:30.
Arriving in Piran
The Piran bus stop is beside the coast just south of the marina. Walk north from the bus stop (to the right, when facing the sea), and you will shortly be in the heart of town.
Top Things to Do in Piran
Here are the best things to do during a day trip to Piran.
Relax in Tartini Square
Piran’s main square, Tartini Square, is a gorgeous place to enjoy a coffee while people-watching and appreciating the Venetian architecture all around you.
On one side, there’s a glimpse of the marina, with its tiny red and green lighthouses and plethora of sailing masts.
On another, St. George’s Cathedral and its bell tower stand high above the town and the square.
Everywhere, it seems, there are cafes with outdoor seating under the shade of canopies or umbrellas.
And yes: like much of Piran (which is just across the Adriatic Sea from Venice), Tartini Square bears a distinct resemblance to Venetian architecture. This is because, for five centuries (until 1797) Piran was in fact part of the Republic of Venice.
Climb the Bell Tower
Speaking of Venice, be sure to take a good look at Piran’s bell tower: does it look familiar? That’s because it was modeled after the campanile of Venice’s Basilica di San Marco.
Though it’s a good bit shorter than Venice’s bell tower, the bell tower is Piran is still worth a visit.
The fee to enter and climb Piran’s bell tower was €3 at the time of my visit (an increase from recent years, when it cost just €1! The climb isn’t bad, with 146 steps, and the views are wonderful. This is where you will find the best views of Tartini Square, and there are also lovely views of the sea (and the city of Trieste!) in the other direction and the rooftops of the town below you.
Warning, though: cover your ears if you plan to be in or on the tower at the top of the hour! Those bells are LOUD.
Visit St. George’s Cathedral (and More)
Of course, there’s more to St. George’s than the bell tower.
When purchasing access to the bell tower, you can choose to pay an extra €1.50 for access to the interior of the cathedral, a small archaeological museum, and a treasury.
After visiting, I didn’t think any of these sites were must-see, but the additional fee is so small that it’s not a waste of money if you have any interest in them.
Hike a Piran Circular Path
If you’re interested in hiking, consider the Piran Circular Paths — a collection of loop trails that can take you around
For the most part, the Piran Circular Paths are not a great option for people who are just taking a day trip to Piran from Ljubljana, as they require a lot of time and can take you a decent distance away from town.
But if getting some steps in is important to you, consider the 9-kilometer trail that will take you around Piran’s punta (the part of town that’s jutting into the sea) and into much less touristy areas of town. Find out more about this path here.
Take a Walking Tour
To learn more about the history and design of Piran, consider taking a walking tour. It’s always one of my favorite things to do in cities that are new to me, since it’s a great way to become familiar with a place and learn the most relevant context for the things you’re seeing.
In Piran, you can even take a walking tour that includes a local food and wine tasting — perfect! Check availability for the walking tour here:
Swim, or Sunbathe, or Both
As far as I could tell on the day I was in Piran, two of the most popular things to do in Piran are swimming and sunbathing.
And it’s for good reason — the blue-green water is gorgeous, and there are plenty of places to lay out a towel and soak up the sun. Swimsuit-clad people even filled up the rocks and concrete walls lining the punta.
Come to Piran prepared with a bathing suit and towel if this sounds good to you!
I didn’t bring a suit to Piran, so I wasn’t prepared to join the crowds sunning themselves along the rocks and jumping into the water below, and instead enjoyed a relaxing hour or two of drinking something cool and sweet in a cafe just beside the water.
Walk the City Walls
For the best views of Piran, head up to the city walls, which you’ll find to the east of the punta.
Entrance to Piran’s city walls costs €3, and it’s well worth it — there is really just one stretch of wall, but there are several levels, including towers that you can climb up. I spent about half an hour admiring the views from the walls.
Returning to Ljubljana
To return to Ljubljana, go back to the Piran bus stop and catch the next bus to the capital.
However, let me warn you against planning to take the last bus of the day.
As I said above, even if you have a bus ticket with a specific time on it, you’re NOT guaranteed a seat on that specific bus. If you plan to take the last bus of the day, and it fills up before you get there, you might be stuck in Piran overnight!
I’m speaking from experience here. No, I didn’t end up having to sleep in Piran, but I DID miss the 4:15 pm bus back to Ljubljana — the previous bus had been cancelled, so there were twice as many people trying to board the 4:15, and I couldn’t get a seat. The next bus (which was also the last bus of the day!) wasn’t until 6:50, so I ended up taking a 5:30 bus to Koper and transferring to a bus to Ljubljana there (where seats were also a crowded, wild free-for-all, by the way).
Leave space in your schedule for this kind of chaos, and don’t assume that you’ll be able to get a seat on the last bus of the day!
Final Thoughts on Taking a Day Trip to Piran
Piran was one of my favorite surprises during my travels in the Balkans. I loved it immediately and I’m already thinking about when I might be able to get back — hopefully for longer than a day trip next time!
Still, even if you aren’t able to stay overnight in Piran, it’s well worth the effort of a day trip from Ljubljana.
More Information About Slovenia
ITINERARY | Here’s your perfect itinerary for four days in Slovenia.
COSTS | Discover how much I spent for five days in Slovenia.
LJUBLJANA | Learn how to spend one day in Ljubljana, as well as 9 unusual things to do there.
LAKE BLED | Spend one day at the gorgeous Lake Bled.
pin this post
