Koper, a pretty, authentic town on the Slovenian coast

My top tips for visiting Koper, a lively little town on the Adriatic.

The town centre of Capodistria (the Italian name for Koper) has all the charm of an Italian town. You can wander through a multitude of small pedestrianised streets, admiring the old Venetian-inspired buildings on the corners. They are often decrepit. The town has not been transformed into a tourist centre, and its many narrow streets have preserved all their authenticity. That’s why I like it so much.

Allow half a day to visit Koper!

For an enjoyable and successful visit, you’ll need to combine:

a walk to explore the narrow streets and hidden courtyards of the medieval town.
a dip in the Adriatic at the beach at the end of the town centre
a meal and an ice cream or coffee on the terrace (or better still, all three!)

Here you’ll find my top addresses in Koper, 4 must-see monuments and 3 great ideas for summer activities.

Journey from Koper to Ljubljana

51 minutes by car
100 km on a beautiful motorway
1h22 by bus – €10
2h20 by train – €14

Koper: a pretty, lively and sunny town!

With a population of 47,500, Koper is the largest town on the Slovenian coast. It’s also the closest coastal town to Ljubljana. I often go there with my bike on the train or by bus. To write this article while I was there, I stayed in Koper for four nights again so that I could explore the town from top to bottom and identify the new good addresses of the moment.

To wit: I find that Koper is an ideally located base camp for visiting the south-western part of Slovenia, in particular the entire Slovenian coast and the caves. These are very interesting areas of Slovenia to explore. In short, Koper is a smart and strategic location for a successful trip to Slovenia. Think about it when you plan your itinerary.

Koper, a large Mediterranean village and a supervised pebble beach

In Koper, the pedestrianised streets lead to small squares, cafés and old churches. Italy is only a few kilometres away. Walking through Koper, you might think you were in Italy, with the cloths on the windows, the doors left open onto the alleys, the scooters… The walls are decrepit and not everything is clean, but I think that’s part of the charm of Koper Capodistria.

Koper’s low tourist density is a real plus.

The old centre of Koper is authentic and has not been denatured by mass tourism. The shops are for the locals and not the tourists, which is much better in my opinion. This is the authentic Slovenia that I want you to discover in the articles on this site. The small shops will seem old-fashioned with their Yugoslavian feel. However, even if their shop windows seem unattractive, they are interesting because they are representative of authentic Slovenia. Go in! Keep your eyes peeled. In the main street there are shops selling Slovenian brands such as Alpina shoes and Rogaska crystal.

As you wander through the streets of Koper, you’ll find small cobblers, picture framers, watchmakers and old-fashioned cafés, as if you were in an old village in Italy!

Tip: Visit all the pedestrianised streets in Koper

The shopping and pedestrian streets you should visit first are :

Tip : If you have a little more time on your hands and love old streets, you should definitely lose yourself in the many pretty alleyways to the west of the Old Town. This is an area with no small shops where no tourists set foot.

Let me explain: because of the way the shops are spread out, tourists tend to completely ignore this large western half of Koper. This is a pity, as there are plenty of pleasant old pedestrian streets to wander around. Remember that tourists miss out on a large part of the old town.

In this part of Koper : You’ll find pretty, colourful streets like the ones in these photos. You’ll also find a large number of small, authentic local bars. These are best visited during the day.

Authentictip: Have your morning coffee or an evening drink with the locals in these typical little bars hidden away in these alleyways. You’ll find that in the morning, the whole city is out on the terraces. Join in with the locals! If you’ve come to the Slovenian coast in search of authenticity and local culture, you’ll be best served in Koper.

What is there to see in Koper?

The magnificent medieval square

The three pedestrian shopping streets I’ve mentioned all lead to Koper’s magnificent central square, Place Tito.

Admire Koper’s magnificent medieval square

On Tito Square, there’s a bell tower whose 203 steps you can climb for €5 (too expensive in my opinion). From the top of this tower, you’ll have a great view of the city, the Gulf of Koper, the large freight port and the hinterland.

You can also explore Tito Square:

The Cathedral of the Assumption (take a look inside and look particularly on the right-hand wall to admire the large painting by Vittore Carpaccio, an excellent Italian painter of the Venetian school)
The entrance to a Mercator supermarket where you can do your shopping.
A 15th-century Praetorian palace
You’ll also find the Loggia café in the square under beautiful arcades (pictured above with the children going to the beach), but it’s not a place I’d recommend for discovering the rhythm of the city, as I’ve found that the locals don’t go there.
The door of the tourist office where you can pick up tourist brochures on the Slovenian coast and a map of Koper.

Tip : Drop in and ask at the tourist office if there are any free open-air concerts or events planned for the evening of your visit. Koper is a very lively town. Ask the same question about the other villages on the Slovenian coast: Izola, Piran and Portoroz. These events are always a success.

Push open the door of the cathedral on Place Tito

Koper Cathedral, whose current form dates from the 18th century, was on the same site in the 5th or 6th century. Details of its history and most interesting features can be found inside (that is, if you’re interested in this kind of historical information).

What to do in Koper

Your plan: Visit -> coffee -> ice cream -> swimming -> restaurant

Don’t come to Koper just to visit the city centre on foot. You need to come for a succession of great experiences. Take a coffee break, then visit the old town, have an ice cream on the terrace, go for a swim, a good restaurant… As elsewhere in Slovenia, you should combine several activities in the same place.

At the tip of the town, you’ll find a supervised municipal beach (mestno plaza Koper):

pebble beach with a lovely lawn
an excellent children’s play area
two floating platforms for diving.

Dive into the Adriatic at Koper!

Warning : Don’t plan to spend a day or even half a day on Koper beach, especially as the view of Koper’s deep-water port and its cranes unloading containers will not be to everyone’s taste. However, on a hot summer’s day, a dip in the Adriatic after exploring the city is a real bonus (don’t forget to pack a swimming costume).

Tip: You can also enjoy a coffee, either at the Cappuccino Krostola café on the beach, which is popular with the locals all year round (I love going there and I’m currently updating this article on the terrace), or relax on one of the many other terraces in the town centre, mingling with the locals.

There ‘s no shortage ofrestaurants in Kopereither . You’ll find them along the marina and in the main streets. In my opinion, Koper is the town on the Slovenian coast where you can eat the best food for a reasonable price.

Unloading containers after dark

Original activity : Right next to the central square, on the promontory ofUmarjev trg, when one of the huge ships is docked, you can watch the sweep of the port cranes. The unloading of containers from the huge ships that frequent the port of Koper is a mesmerising light show.

Tip: On your right, you’ll find a staircase leading to some pleasant hidden wooden benches from which to observe the harbour, but it’s best to stay as high up as possible on the promontory. You can also see the harbour during the day, but it’s at night that this dazzling scene of artificial lights becomes truly impressive.

Then head to the Krostola bar for a drink or an ice cream by the sea with the locals. Don’t take it at the counter. Order your scoop of two-flavoured ice cream for around €3 from the comfort of your own terrace, as is the Slovenian tradition.

Spend part of your holiday in Koper

Koper is sure to be a great place to spend your holiday, thanks to:

its small pebble beach
its many cafés
lively bars in the evening
the long marina promenade on warm summer nights…

Koper is an authentic and highly enjoyable holiday destination.

Koper is an excellent base camp for :

visiting the coast
slovenian caves
the Nanos hike
and even a day trip to Ljubljana.
The most beautiful hikes on the coast

If you’re staying in Koper :

Take the cycle path from Koper to Izola at dusk. With the gentle sea breeze, the sound of crickets and the scent of pine trees, pedalling becomes magical.
At the end of a summer’s day, you should head to the Src Bonifika park, where many locals meet up to do some sport in a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere. Your teenagers can take on the Slovenians in football, beach volleyball or basketball, or you can go jogging, play tennis or do some weight training while your young children play in the playground. Find out where else to go with children at the bottom of this article.

Visit the market

Every morning, the Koper market gets under way. You’ll find local produce (fruit, vegetables, honey, etc.) as well as five hidden fishmongers selling fish caught in the Adriatic. An excellent ice cream parlour is hidden away behind the market. Make the most of it! Everyone in town knows it.

A little secret fish market

In a small street right next to the market,I discovered a tiny fishmonger’s selling fish caught by Slovenian fishermen. The fishmonger’s opens at 7:30 and if you want to have a choice, it’s best to get there before 9am. So, if you’re staying in Koper, this is an excellent place to try the local fish.

Mevimar fishmonger’s : Rozmanova ulica 7

Taste the local fruit

At the Koper market, you’ll find all the fruit grown on the Slovenian coast, which enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate. I particularly recommend the delicious figs, which are very sweet at the end of summer, and in autumn, the incredible Slovenian persimmons, which are soft and very sweet (a different variety to the one sold in France, and a must-try in October and November).

How do I get to Koper and where can I park?

You can reach Koper by bus from Ljubljana or by car-sharing. It’s best to avoid taking the train (beautiful scenery but much too long a journey). If you arrive in Koper by car, it’s a bit confusing as the town is surrounded by a huge shopping area. If you’re only staying a few hours, park for free in a supermarket car park (even if you have to make a small purchase to get a parking ticket) and walk into the town centre.

Warning : Never leave your car in a supermarket car park for several days in a row.

For longer stays, use the other car parks.

The two good ice-cream parlours in Koper

There are two good ice-cream parlours in Koper, one on the main avenue and another hidden behind the market, which has become an institution. Don’t forget that in Slovenia, scoops of ice cream are huge and if you take two scoops, you’ll get the equivalent of three or four French scoops.

Do as the Slovenians do and order half scoops.

Enjoy an ice cream on the pleasant terrace of Kavarna Triglav, a Koper institution since 1957. You can order a two scoop ice cream from the comfort of the terrace or eat a slice of cake for €3. Kavarna Triglav is a good ice cream parlour.

Kavarna Triglav – Pristaniška ulica

Sadoledarna is Koper’s must-visit ice cream parlour. Hardly visible because it’s hidden behind the market in a car park, its shop front is always busy until the evening, with young and old choosing their flavours. Don’t forget to come here for dessert after a good meal or to take a break during your visit to Koper. There are so many flavours to choose from, you’ll have a hard time choosing.

Tip: Don’t eat your ice cream in front of the ice cream parlour – it’s a car park! Wait two minutes as you walk towards the sea. It’s much more pleasant to walk to the semedelska cesta quay, 80 metres away, facing the sea!

Sladoledarna – Pristaniška ulica 2 (behind the market)

Visiting Koper with children

If you’re coming to Koper with children, there are two places not to be missed. They are at the end of the large, boat-free promenade that you can see from the centre (here).

In two places, you’ll find these water jets whose size changes constantly and randomly. Kids love them, but you’re not supposed to dunk in them (go and rinse off in the seawater next door if your kids are playing with it).

You’ll also find this free trampoline area at the beach volleyball bar. In this café, you can have a drink while watching your children exhaust themselves on these trampolines and have a good night.

Places to go:

Beach volley bar – trampolines, café, children’s games, beach volley, showers, water jets…

Muzejski trg – luminous water jets.

Koper’s second beach

There is also a concrete beach with a small seawater pool on the other side of the bay at Zusterna (a short walk from the centre). The people of Koper go there with their children after work. It has an authentic Eastern European atmosphere and a view of the port, which some of you will hate, while others will appreciate this experience of local life, but it is also somewhat the worst supervised beach in Slovenia. This concrete beach is the opposite of a huge French sandy beach. Crowded in summer. So don’t expect too much or you’ll be (very) disappointed. (There is a charge for access to the inflatable structure in the background of the photo – €9 for 120 minutes).

A brand new beach

Tip: Since 2021, a new artificial beach has been built in front of Zusterna. With its small artificial pebble bays and showers, it’s more pleasant but not perfect, and you shouldn’t expect the standard of a fine sandy beach in France. You can sunbathe for an hour on the lawns (but don’t plan to stay longer than an hour).

A small museum of Tomos mopeds

In Koper, say Tomos and everyone will tell you they know. During the Yugoslav era, Tomos produced bicycles and motorbikes, and between 1959 and 1972, the company also assembled and sold Citroën cars for the Yugoslav market, including 2CVs with the Cimos factory! A small museum traces the adventure of Tomos motorbikes and you can see them here.

Tomos – Kidričeva 41 – €5 (Call beforehand: 386 41 75 32 32)

What you need to know before visiting Koper

Bear in mind that Koper is not as pretty as Piran. No town on the Slovenian coast can match the fabulous beauty of Piran.

The town of Koper is not designed for tourists, which means that the walls of the houses are faded and it is not an idyllic little Mediterranean village.
Nor will you find a touristy shopping street packed with tourists on a summer’s evening.
Koper is also a large port where container ships dock. You can sometimes spot them to the west of the town. If this ruins your day, don’t go to Koper. Otherwise, yes, I would advise you to go and stay there.

A secret café on Koper harbour

I discovered this café while cycling around Koper looking for original places. The café is located right in the heart of the port, right next to the boats in the slipway. In short, if like me, you like the activity of a port, this is the place to go for a coffee (if you don’t like container ships, don’t bother). This café is not far from Koper beach.

Secret bar – Enter the marina in Koper.

The little Agraria Koper shop

Just behind the market, adjacent to the excellent Sladoledarna ice cream parlour which I recommend, you’ll find the little Agraria Koper shop with excellent local produce, including fruit and vegetables from the Slovenian coast. You’ll also find honey and jam as well as charcuterie. Not everything is local and not everything is cheap, but it’s a good place to fill your trunk with good produce (parking right next door) and the Mercator supermarket is not far away to top it off.

Boutique Agraria Koper – Behind the market, also here as a “supermarket”.