Izola

Izola: a fishing town between Koper and Piran

Izola lies on a peninsula between Koper and Piran and is the coastal town that has best preserved its fishing character. The name comes from the Italian word isola, meaning island, which tells you how the old core was once separated from the mainland.

For a visitor this is a quieter part of the coast, as it has neither the crowds of Piran nor the hotel rows of Portorož, while you can visit both within half an hour. If you are looking for the sea without the bustle and a dinner not aimed only at tourists, you will feel at home here.

The old town centre

The old core is densely built, with narrow streets running down towards the mandrač and painted facades lined up without order. Because of its position on the peninsula you soon get lost in it, which is actually the best way to see it, as you can return to the sea along any street.

The central point is the harbour with fishing boats, along which line up bars with a view of the moored vessels. Above the town stands the Church of St Maurus, which you reach in a few minutes and from where the whole bay can be seen.

The sea, the beaches and Simon's Bay

Bathing areas are laid out on both sides of the peninsula, with entries mostly by platforms and steps. The best known is Simonov zaliv on the western side, where the only truly sandy part of Izola's coast is and where you can enter the sea without steps.

In this very bay the remains of a Roman villa with its own harbour were discovered, now partly under water and marked with signs along the path. This means that on the same beach you can swim and walk past an archaeological site.

Fishing and the harbour

Izola lived off the sea for centuries, which has left traces in the town and in the cuisine. In the twentieth century the fish cannery employed a large part of the town, and its building remains part of the townscape and a good example of industrial architecture by the sea.

Today fishing is smaller, but the fish offer remains one of the reasons to visit; by the mandrač there are eateries with an emphasis on the daily catch, and it is precisely for this that many people keep returning to Izola.

The Parenzana and the hinterland

Above the town runs the Parenzana, a cycling route on the line of the former narrow-gauge railway that links Trieste with Poreč. The section above Izola leads through a tunnel and offers a view of the bay from above, and the climbs are gentle, because the line was built for a train.

If you drop down from the route into the hinterland, you soon find yourself among olive groves and vineyards, where there are farms with their own oil. You will find an overview of the routes among the cycling routes in Izola.

What to do in Izola?

In summer the day usually runs between swimming, a walk through the old core and dinner by the mandrač. For the active part you can choose the bike along the Parenzana, rowing along the coast or a boat trip to the neighbouring towns.

Out of season what remains are walks, fish dishes and a visit to the hinterland, which is at its finest then, and the town is at its most homely. You will find an overview of the offer among experiences in Izola.

Izola with children

For families the easiest choice is Simonov zaliv, as it is the only one with more sand and a gentle entry into the sea. Next to it there are shops and a dining offer, so for the basics you will not need a car.

In the afternoon a walk to the harbour, where you can look at the boats, works well, or a boat trip to Piran. In the rain the nearest solution is the aquarium in the neighbouring town.

Izola for two

As a couple a slower rhythm works well: morning at the bathing area, afternoon in the hinterland among olive groves and a fish dinner by the mandrač. It is precisely the last of these that visitors remember Izola for most.

For sunset you can climb up to the church above the town or walk along the coastal path towards Strunjan, from where a view of the cliff opens up.

What and where to eat in Izola?

The cuisine is distinctly maritime: fresh fish, shellfish, cuttlefish, seafood pasta and olive oil from the hinterland. To this belong refošk and malvazija, produced in the surrounding vineyards.

The offer is concentrated by the harbour and in the old core, where there are also smaller inns with a daily menu. You will find an overview among inns and restaurants.

Where to stay in Izola?

The offer is smaller than in Portorož, so arrange your accommodation in advance, especially for summer weekends. There is most of it apartments, which are scattered across the town and above the bay.

For a stay closer to the beach choose the area of Simon's Bay, and for quiet the hinterland above the town. An overview of the whole offer you will find under accommodation.

Where to go on a trip from Izola?

The nearest two are Koper with the largest old core on the coast and Piran on the other side of the bay, both within half an hour. Between them is also Portorož with a sandy beach and a hotel offer.

For a whole day move into the hinterland to the Karst or to Brda, where the sea gives way to wine and hills. A broader overview of the destination you will find under the Coast and the Karst.