Italy–Slovenia Itinerary Advice (April 17 – May 6)

Piran for four nights in off/shoulder season is overkill. I’d say two nights max. You could justify leaving this as a day trip even. Trieste itself might prove a better home base for a couple nights. It has its admirers.

In Kobarid, highly recommend Apartma Mulino https://www.booking.com/Share-vnHbpai. Very comfortable place and the host is just one of the best dudes on earth.

Have you been to Venice before? If not, I would spend 4 nights in Venice. Venice is an amazing city with its canals, bridges, architecture, museums, churches, etc. It really is like no other. Don't forget that with 2 nights, you really only have one full day in Venice.

I haven't been to Piran but I've researched Piran and have read trip reports, and I do agree that 4 nights is overkill.

What are your plans for Ljubljana? Will you take day trips from there? Such as to Lake Bled? We spent 3 nights in Ljubljana and that included a day trip to Lake Bled. Ljubljana is a very pretty city with its interesting bridges, architecture and the lovely river running through it. However, there really aren't a lot of major sights there, so I think 3 nights would be better than 4 nights. So you could take a couple nights from Piran and give it to Venice, and/or take one night from Ljubljana and give it to Venice. I strongly believe you need more time in Venice unless you have already been there.

Looking at a map, I think it makes sense to go from Piran to Kobarid to Radovljica to Ljublana.

Thank you everyone! Yes I can see now that Piran to Kobarid to Radovljica to Ljub makes better sense. We will hire a car from Ljub to do this little road trip .
I have 4 nights in Piran and Ljub each as really just wanted to slow down, we have a wedding in Tuscany prior to this and then meet friemds in Paris for a cruise up the Seine.
I'll research Venice a little more now too to consider extending.
Really open to any suggestions so this is really helpful thanks.

Hi, AJ. Slovenia is great -- you will really enjoy your time there! Piran is great. I spent 4 nights there in 2019, but I was there during the annual Tartini music festival and Neptune's Baptism (when "pirates" from the maritime secondary school take over the town and initiate the new students by, among other things, chucking them into the sea). I agree that 4 nights would be a lot in Piran without something else going on during your time there. Further, I agree that Venice is worth more time if you have not been there in the past. I like 3 nights in Radovljica (with some Lake Bled time) and 4 nights in Ljubljana with possible day trips from there.

We will hire a car from Ljub to do this little road trip

I would consider picking up a car in Portorož or Koper (I did Koper) upon completing your time in Piran and making a stop at Škocjan Caves on your way to Kobarid. This site is gorgeous and quite amazing. When I entered one enormous cavern, I wanted to grab a staff and do my best Gandalf impression. It was one of my favorite things I saw during 25 days in Slovenia. Of course, you could drop the car in Ljubljana.

This forum has been so helpful!
I have not redone the flow and hopefully will work a little better. I know 4 nights as suggested is long but we reallu just want to chill out here, perhas visit the salt pans, do some walks etc.

Here is the update:
Castiglione d’Orcia – 3 nights
Bologna – 4 nights- could swap and give the suggested extra night to Venice
Venice – 3 nights bus to Potoroz and then onto Piran
Piran – 4 nights
Kobarid – 2 nights via Skocjan caves (pick up car in Koper).
Radovljica – 3 nights
Ljubljana – 4 nights
Fly to Paris

If you are looking for somewhere just to relax, I think Piran is a perfectly fine place to do that. It's a gorgeous town, and I could easily enjoy it for 4 days.

To see something truly unique in Piran, visit Nika at Nika's Tiny House. She turns driftwood into art, including scenes from Piran complete with tiny boats, tiny bicycles, and tiny laundry lines. https://nikastinyhouse.si/

A very nice place to stay that in 2019 was reasonably priced: https://mementopiran.com/en/memento-piran-eng/

For Venice, I recommend staying in the Dorsoduro district. It is much quieter and less crowded than the area around San Marco. We enjoyed our stay at Hotel Agli Alboretti. It's about a 1-minute walk from the Accademia Bridge and vaporetto stop. About a 20-minute walk to St. Mark's Basilica. And a 5-minute walk to Zattere along the Guidecca Canal where you can have drinks and cichettis (delicious snacks), overlooking sparkling blue water. If you take a gondola ride, board the Gondola in Dorsoduro at Campo S. Barnabba. Tell the gondolier you want to go down the back canals. The Grand Canal is mobbed with gondolas, vaporettos and other boats.

Thanks, Dave and kmkwoo!

We hadn’t actually looked at the Dorsoduro area before, but thanks to your tip, we’ll definitely check it out — it sounds just our style, a bit quieter but still close to everything.

Dave, yes, I follow Nika on Instagram her tiny houses are incredible! I make my own little driftwood houses too, using pieces I collect from Gaire Beach here in Sydney. There’s something really relaxing about turning driftwood into tiny cottages and boats. I can see why her Piran pieces capture so much of the town’s charm.

We’ve decided to stick with our 4 days in Piran to unwind and enjoy the seaside pace. It looks like the perfect spot to slow down a little before moving on. Thanks again for all the wonderful advice it’s been so helpful!

I love Piran (and I'm also originally from Australia so I do know a good coastline 😄). I agree you could definitely spend a good few days there relaxing - I'd only change plans if you want to actually be doing specific things all day every day. On my last trip I swam three times a day (not on your dates, though the Adriatic is a lot warmer than where I usually swim), ate lots of seafood and gelato, wandered around getting lost and finding new views, bought quirky souvenirs and took some amazing photos. Plus did some very scenic hiking between towns.

(Several attempts to see the salt pans have been unsuccessful due to the heat, but your dates are quite good for that. Plus there's the festival on April 23rd.)

Oh thanks snoozy! From what you hve said Piran is exactly what we are looking for a few days to chill.

One more thought for Piran. I don't know how many people are in your party, but I highly recommend spending a 1/2 day (or longer) with Saša, a local who has a classic Citroen car that he uses to take people to see interesting things in the area. It's more like hanging out with a friend than taking a tour. During my day with him, we drove by the salt pans, stopped in to visit some of his friends in their remodeled old stone house, did a wine tasting across the border in Croatia, ate a great lunch at a local place in Croatia. At least in 2019, his rates were super reasonable.

https://www.laganini.si/

Dave thanks heaps! I have just whatsapped him to do his tour- looks very cool! We have 2 of us and love the local feel of travelling. Thanks for the tip!
Anne :)

I am doing Italy and Slovenia April 5-May 12. Spending 2 full days in Piran and although delightful and am using it to slow down, I personally found it a stretch but I am more trips and sightseeing than relaxing on a beach or balcony. Not a foodie so don't need to take time out for long lunches or dinners and way to old for bars. After 60+ years of traveling, Bologna is one of my top cities and am going back to Venice for the 4th time in April and would highly recommend cutting Piran by at least one night if not 2 and add to Bologna and certainly Venice.

OP, just saw your update re: picking up your rental in Koper. That’s likely not necessary. Both Sixt and Europcar (perhaps other companies) can be picked up in Portoroz, which is a five minute local bus ride from Piran. Portoroz is kind of the gateway to Piran, all resorts and amenities. Getting your rental there is a simpler proposition than going to Koper.

Thanks awrzesinski. We,ve actually decided on Go Opti from Venice to Piran. for 4 nights, bus to Trieste for 3 nights, up to Radovlijca for 3 n ioghts then back to Ljubljana for 4 nights then fly to Paris to continue our trip.