Koper.
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Overview

Koper (Italian: Capodistria) is Slovenia's only commercial port and one of its oldest towns with a very rich history.

Understand

Koper, the oldest town in Slovenia, developed on a rocky island with the Roman name Capris. Out of the three Slovenian coast cities (Koper, Izola, Piran), Koper has experienced the most numerous layout modifications. The reasons for that also need to be sought in the changes of various reigns and states, all of which marked the city with their specific traits and names. Koper was called Capris in Roman times, in the times of the pope Gregory I (599) Insula Capraria (“goat island”), Iustinopolis under the Byzantine Empire (between mid 6th and 8th centuries) and Caput Histriae (‘head of Istria’) by the Aquileia Patriarchs. The Venetians rendered that name into the Italian form, Capodistria. The Slovenian equivalent of the name is Koper.

The longest reign over the city was that of the Venetian Republic (1279-1797), when Koper experienced economic (trade, salt production) and cultural prosperity (painting, music). The Venetian period is still echoed by the city architecture; despite numerous modern interventions, it has preserved its medieval character, with the city of Koper being a member of the European Association of Medieval Cities. In the Middle Ages, Koper was an island surrounded by walls and connected with the mainland with a wood bridge in the direction of Škocjan. It was protected by a mighty fortress – Lion Castle, and surrounded by vast saltpans. Koper’s importance began to diminish in the 18th century, when Trieste was proclaimed a free port, which ended with the downfall of the Venetian Republic.

In the period from the 19th century to the First World War (i.e. from the Napoleonic Empire 1806-1813 to the Hapsburg Monarchy 1813-1918), Koper experienced numerous changes in the economic and social development. This period was marked by the reduction of the saltpans, which were entirely abandoned in 1912, and the changing layout of the city, which began to lose its island character. In 1825, a second road connection with the mainland was constructed (Semedela Road) followed by the coastal road in the middle 19th century, a sea connection with Trieste-Poreč and the railway connection Trieste-Poreč in 1902.

Under the Italian Empire, Koper entirely lost its island character by means of the draining of the deserted saltpans.

The time after the Second World War brought further changes. Until the final determination of the border with Italy through the signing of the London Memorandum in 1954, when it became part of former Yugoslavia, Koper was part of Zone B administered by the Yugoslav national Army, first belonging to the Julian March and from September 1947 to the neutral state called the Free Trieste Territory (FTT). As part of Yugoslavia, Koper experienced profound changes in its national structure. This also brought about new architectural interventions both in the city centre and its surroundings, especially in terms of huge development with the construction of the port.

Today, Koper is both a commercial and tourist city, continuing to develop its offer in terms of seaside resorts, nautical tourism, sports and shopping. It has also become a University City.

Get in

By plane The nearest airport is in Trieste ( - 64 km), with Pula ( - 102 km), Ljubljana ( - 124 km), and Venice airports (, - about 174 km) as options. The Trieste airport is not close to Trieste, but there are frequent train connections between them. Flixbus also provides scheduled service from Venice airport.

By car Koper has easy highway connections from Ljubljana and Trieste. There are no regular border immigration checks between Slovenia, Croatia and Italy, Croatia became a member of the Schengen agreement in January 2023.

Beware of the need for a Vinjeta (highway toll sticker) before driving on Slovenian highways! There is a fuel station immediately at the border where you can purchase one. Controllers are often stationed exactly after that station to issue heavy fines to violators.

Parking rules are enforced in the city, but some public lots are free on weekends and after-hours. If you get a traffic fine and do not have a European bank account to pay it, any Slovenian post office can make the money transfer for you for a very small fee.

By rideshare A locally-created website and app named Prevoz is the most widely used ride sharing site within Slovenia. This is often the fastest and least expensive way to travel to Koper from other parts of Slovenia.

The drivers can sell tickets on the bus but sometimes prefer if you pre-purchase it in the station. The journey takes between 20 and 40 minutes.

Use of Google Maps is recommended to follow your drive for the first time, and the Slovene buses are infrequent. Trieste city buses do not sell tickets on the bus, but they can be purchased with the nationwide Italian "MyCicero" app (Android/Apple), or at locations in Trieste. Make sure your ticket is validated/stamped after boarding.

. Flixbus operates here from/to Sarajevo. used for some inter-urban services and GoOpti airport shuttles. Flixbus operates here from/to Pula. .

Koper has bus connections with Ljubljana, Trieste, other Slovenian seaside towns, and Croatia. There are three scheduled inter-city bus companies: FlixBus and Črnja tours provide frequent international service, and Arriva white/blue buses provide domestic bus service along the Slovene coast with some international routes including Trieste. Nomago sometimes provides some regional inter-city services.

See the warning under 'Taxi' about drivers overcharging at the bus/train station.

The local city administration (in Slovenian) maintains a list of timetables and a map of the suburban bus lines to nearby villages in the Koper district up to the Italian border.

There are also hourly buses from Ljubljana listed at the Ljubljana bus station with many stops on the way.

By train The national railway company Slovenske železnice operates 5-6 daily trains from Ljubljana (2 h) and Maribor (4½ h). (Železniška postaja Koper) is close to the bus station and is about 1 km south the Muda Gate to the old city. There is no longer any direct train service to Trieste, but trains run a lazy route to Ljubljana a few times per day. See Slovenian Railways.

See the warning under 'Taxi' about drivers overcharging at the bus/train station.

By Taxi In general, Slovene taxis are less expensive than Italian taxis. Cammeo has a nice English-language app which helps with language barriers.

Beware of taxis waiting at the bus/train station.

Cammeo. Cammeo taxis in Koper, Slovenia.

Taxi Drift. Taxi Drift in Koper, Slovenia.

Taxi Laguna. Taxi Laguna in Slovenia.

Get around

Koper's Old City can easily be covered on foot.

There are a number local buses that can take you from the main bus station to the old city centre or the newer urban and industrial area.

It is not possible to buy tickets on the buses in Koper with cash, tickets can be paid with Visa and MasterCard credit cards. Other buses are available to surrounding areas (see Get In).

By bicycle The Slovenian coast has an excellent network of bicycle roads. Bicycles can be rented in a few places in Koper :

The tourist office on Tito square has 2 bikes

Izposoja Koles. Has a lot of different types of bikes. Helmets included in rental. Very helpful owner.

Talk

Slovenian and Italian are the official languages of the city, spoken by everyone. In addition to these two, Croatian/Bosnian/Serbian is widely understood. English is also spoken by the majority of the people.

See

Koper's main sight of interest is the Venetian-era old city, of which the main structures and squares have been fully renovated and restored. The main square (Tito square) is one of the nicest Venetian type squares in the Mediterranean.

The centre of the old city is Tito Square (Titov trg), an austere piazza surrounded by The Praetorian Palace, Loggia, Cathedral of the Assumption, Campanile, Foresteria and Armeria. From here, the cobbled Čevljarska ulica leads south to the Prešeren square with the De Ponte fountain and the old town entrance Muda gate, Kidričeva ulica leads west to the Marina, the old salt warehouse named Taverna and the Carpaccio square.

Pretorian Palace. Dating back to the 15th century and the only fully restored building in the plaza, this is Koper's symbol and it now houses the tourist office which offers guided tours of the Palace, including the city council meeting chamber and weddings room

Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The largest Cathedral in Slovenia containing famous paintings from Vittore Carpaccio, a renowned Venetian painter. Fully renovated, with much sacral heritage indoors.

Bell Tower (City Tower). Climb the bell tower for great views of the city and surroundings. Contains the oldest working bell in Slovenia.

Armoury and Foresteria Palace. Armeria is the former municipal armoury. The Foresteria, formerly known as Albergo nuovo, was used as reception and accommodation facilities for podesta’s (mayor's) guests. They were originally two separate buildings.

Loggia Palace. It was used as a debate club for all the townsmen, with their discussions considered by the city council as well.

Taverna Koper / St Mark’s storage. Ex salt storage, nowadays is the location of the most interesting event & music venue in Koper

Carpaccio House. 14th century house thought to be the home of the eminent Venetian painter Vittore Carpaccio.

Da Ponte Fountain. The biggest city fountain is a reproduction of the Rialto Bridge in Venice. It was commissioned in 1666 by podesta Lorenzo da Ponte.

Muda Gate. The Renaissance style Muda Gate remains the only preserved city gate out of the former twelve.

Fontico. 14th century Venetian style building was used as a warehouse for the grain given to the townsmen in times of bad harvest or war.

Church of the Holy Trinity, Hrastovlje The church boasts beautiful frescoes, an extraordinary achievement of Medieval iconography. The most famous is the depiction of the Dance of Death.

Defence tower, Podpeč This 11th century, defence tower is a popular tourist sight and one of the most enchanting beauty spots in Slovenian Istria. Škocjanski zatok Nature Reserve Stretching out over 122 ha, this is the largest brackish wetland in Slovenia. The area is home to countless birds and other animal species, such as Istrian cattle (boškarin) and Camargue horses. Church of St. Roch and St. Sebastian, Boršt According to some sources, the church dates back to the 13th century. It is decorated with fragments of Medieval frescoes and inscriptions in the Glagolitic alphabet. The Benko house, Črni Kal The Benko house is believed to be the oldest farmer’s house in Slovenia. It was built in 1489 by the masters Andrej and Benko of Sočerga. Coat-of-arms of the De’Cani family, Dekani The name Dekani is linked to the noble Cani family, also known as De’Cani, which originates from the town of Sulmone in Abruzzi, Italy. According to some sources, the De’Cani family owned the village as long ago as the 15th century, as there is a coat-of-arms of the Cani family with the date 1479 on the building at no. 185. Church of St. Nicholas, Gračišče Next to this late 18th century church, there is a white stone bell tower with a built-in stone plaque bearing an inscription in the Cyrillic and Glagolitic alphabet that reads: “I call the living, I mourn the dead.” Village architecture, Abitanti The fascinating architectural features of the protected buildings in Abitanti testify to the fact that this was once a very rich village.

Church of St. Michael, Tinjan Positioned on the edge of the village, the church building has a Baroque front; the entrance is through the large bell tower. The stone plaque built into the portal shows Christ on the Cross and the date 1704. The Krkavče Stone, Krkavče Believed by some to be 3000 years old, the stone is the oldest sight in the village. It is tall; on two sides, it features a carved image of what is probably a pagan deity. The Dragonja valley At 29 km long, the Dragonja is the longest river in Slovenian Istria. The river valley is well known for its diversity of plant and animal life. Today, it is a nature park popular with hikers, cyclists and nature enthusiasts. Marežganska Kanava, Marezige A beautifully preserved stone farmer's house and the main venue of the Refosco Festival and St. Martin's Day celebrations. There are three vines growing outside Kanava: Refosco, Malvasia and Žametovka, a descendant of the world’s oldest vine in Lent, Maribor. The Bardinc House, Lopar The building houses a local ethnology and history exhibition with a preserved farmer’s kitchen, fireplace and wine cellar. Rock shelters (“The Ears of Istria”) and natural bridge, Sočerga Above Sočerga, nature has carved out some beautiful rock shelters, also known as “The Ears of Istria”. The panoramic trail leads past three rock shelters to a natural bridge with a stone arch. Slavnik, Podgorje high, the hill of Slavnik is situated near the village of Podgorje. The summit of Slavnik offers beautiful views, with the Adriatic Sea, Italian Dolomites, Carnic and Julian Alps, Karavanks and even the Kamnik–Savinja Alps visible in clear weather. Strmec Castle, Socerb The Strmec Castle sits on top of a Karst cliff above the village. It was built in the 13th century on the foundations of an Illyrian settlement. Today, the castle is one of the most magnificent beauty spots in Slovenian Istria. Sacred Cave, Socerb According to a legend, the Sveta jama or Sacred Cave was the dwelling of St. Servulus, a Trieste martyr and saint who lived in the 3rd century. The front part of the cave with a natural stone altar still houses a church today – the only underground church in Slovenia. Church of the Immaculate Mother of God, village square and stone window, Šmarje The church was built in the village square in the 11th century. It was expanded and renovated in the 13th century. There is a bell tower next to the church with a built-in 9th-century stone window, the remnant of an older church that once stood in the same spot. The Supot waterfall and views The waterfall is at its fullest in the rainy season. The macadam road towards the Dragonja also leads past a smaer waterfall with a beautiful pool. Mediterranean herb garden, Manžan The Mediterranean herb garden at the Butul farm in Manžan is a unique experience. Walking through the garden is educational and relaxing at the same time. Cooking and herbal workshops can be organised by agreement.

Do

There is a public beach in the sea just west of the marina.

Football: FC Koper play soccer in PrvaLiga, the top tier. Their home ground is Bonifika (capacity 4000), 500 m south of town centre.

Bonifika sports complex also has basketball, a running track and tennis courts.

Near the industrial area of the Port of Koper (very close to the city centre), there is a natural park called Škocjanki zatok, which is a perfect place for enjoying the flora and fauna of this natural resort.

The path along the shore to Izola and Piran lends itself very well to skating, cycling or just going for a walk and enjoying the view over the water.

Rent a bike, ride to Piran and back. It can be done in one day.

Buy

There are several shopping centres, for example: Planet Tuš Shopping Centre , Mercator, Supernova and SPAR. There is also a big department store called Zeleni park where you will also find OVS store. In the city centre there are numerous offers.

Agraria Koper. Agraria Koper is a farmer's co-op supermarket selling high-quality products from local and regional producers. Produce, meats, honey, pastas, wine, and more. Something between a farmer's market and Whole Foods. It's definitely worth a visit if you want to cook yourself or bring some special treats home. There is also a much smaller location closer to the centre.

Eat

Koper has many taverns and restaurants, snack bars and local smaller taverns offering local food and wine, pizzerias, traditional Osmicas (farmers offering home made food and wine), sweetshops and tourist farms with traditional home made Istrian food.

When in Koper, do not leave without trying some typical Istrian goodies and other typical Istrian products. Also, you should definitely try some local olive oil from local oil providers. Istrian olive oil is reputed to have many positive effects on the body.

Fritolin. Inexpensive seafood restaurant serving mostly take-away with some outdoor seating. Fresh catch delivered daily from local fisherman and each item is served until sold-out for the day! Great calamari.

Anacur Döner Kebab. Typical Turkish restaurant locally known for the cheapest fresh pizza in town. Great for students and backpackers.

Avokado. Vegan & Vegetarian food. Takeaway with tables outside & across road.

Istrska klet Slavček. Small locally-owned restaurant serving regional home-style food and wines with indoor and outdoor seating. Good quality at moderate prices. Vojko, the owner, is quite friendly.

Miramar Bar and Bistro. Bar and restaurant serving fresh local seafood plates, wines, and cheeses. Mostly outdoor seating.

Oly Burger. The infamous Oly Burger is usually the last place open in town to get a drink (... also to-go). The food is OK but a little pricey. Bar stool seating.

Pizza 33. Largest local pizzeria. Large selection. Fast delivery available.

Restaurant and pizzeria na Škofijah.

Gostilna Belvedur. regional, often homemade food

Savor Mediterranean Cuisine and Wine Bar. High-end restaurant serving great food and drinks.

Drink

In Koper you will find a variety of bars and pubs with a various offer of styles and drinks, bigger and smaller wine cellars with rich local wine offerings.

Bar Cameral. Six draught craft beers plus coffee

Okusi Istre. Wine bar and bottle shop selling high-end Istrian wines, olive oils, and other local culinary products.

Sleep

Hostel Secret garden. Lovely little hostel of 20 beds spread over four rooms. Well air-conditioned and very clean, but the two bathrooms containing both showers and toilets can cause some queueing in the morning.

Koper Hotel. The only hotel in the old city.