Hello guys,

I feel like going to the sea today.
That’s a great opportunity to write about a city that I like.
I am going to show you Izola (->map), on the seacoast of Slovenia.

With about 17.000 inhabitants, Izola is one of the 4 biggest cities on the Slovenian coastline.
The city is touristy but not in the bad way.
Many tourists in Izola are actually Slovenians who love to go there and enjoy the sea in spring and summer.
There are also many tourists coming from Italy because the city is very close from the italian border.

All in all, I like the fact that the city is not completly packed with tourists from abroad.
When I go there, I hear a lot of people speaking Slovenian around me.
If you walk around, you will probably hear people speaking Italian as well.
There is a minority of italians (or people of italian descent) still living in Izola.
A rapid history course can explain that italian presence.
From the late 13th century to the early 19th century, Izola was a territory of the Republic of Venice.
After a very short periode of time (1805 to 1813) where the city became part of the Napoleon’s Empire,
the city became a part of the Austrian Empire (and then the Austro-Hungarian Empire) untill the end of WWI.
From 1918 to the end of WWII, it was attached to Italy.
After WWII, when the city had been attached to Yousgoslavia, most of the italians of who lived in Izola emigrated towards Italy.

The number one power of attraction of the city is its sea.
The seacoast in Izola is gorgeous.
We can walk along the sea or ride a bike for quite a while.

Once you’ll arrive at the roundabout, in the city center, you’ll be able to park you car in a nearby parking.
The parking is just next to the Marina of Izola.
If you don’t have a car, you’ll still  be able to go to Izola by bus.
There is a good bus network connecting Izola to koper, Portoroz and Piran.
The public transport company operating buses is named “Arriva“.

I like the cute little city center of Izola.
When the weather is nice, I enjoy sitting on a bench, in the little green space just next to a roundabout.
There are a few nice cafés, restaurants and shops in this little area.
By the way, the bus stop of Izola is just near the flowery roundabout in the picture below.

The real fun (for me) starts at the Marina of Izola.
I said Marina but I actually saw 2 Marinas.
The first one is quite big with a lot of boats.
The second one, a bit further , is much smaller but it has a lot of charm.
You’ll see a lot of bars and restaurants near those 2 Marinas.
Prices for drinks and food at Bars & Restaurants are actually quite affordable in Izola.
I recommend you to order a menu with fish if you go eat in one of those restaurants.
Since Izola is also a fishing port, it would be a crime not to eat a fresh fish in a fishermen’s town.

If you are hungry and wandering around near the marina of Izola,
I recommend you to eat fish at the restaurant “Gostilna Bujol“.
I did not know this place until a friend of mine strongly recommended me this restaurant.
The building and the decor is not flashy but my friend was not lying …
I have to admit that the food there was actually very good.

Let’s leave the Marinas behind us and keep on walking along the coastline.
After the pier, you’ll be walking on a very beautiful promenade which is at least 2 kilometers long.
At the beginning of it, you will see a nice little park between the Izola’s bell tower and the sea.
In this park, you’ll be able to see the sea on your left and the church’s bell tower on your right.
If it is very hot, it is the perfect place to get a cooler temperature under the trees.

If you have kids, there is a nice playground just between the sea and the park.
This playgroung is just next to the “Svetilnik” Bar/Restaurant.
At “Svetilnik“, you’ll be able to get a good drink at the terrace and watch the sea and the lighthouse.
This Bar/Restaurant is actually very nice and hip.
A lot of locals love to go there to get a drink or eat.
I like to go there even during the winter just to watch the sea while drinking a good tea.
The food and the drinks are good and the wifi works perfectly.

Walking along the red promenade (with red bricks on a ground) is a MUST. It is gorgeous there !
The locals love it, tourists love it, kids love it … and dogs love it.

If you want to do more than walking along the sea, I strongly recommend you to walk in the little streets and alleys in the old city.
Go near the Church’s bell tower and walk around randomly.
It is the oldest part of the city and the most interesting.
You will see a lot of very old houses and old buildings.

 

My tips for Izola:

1/ Walk along the sea on the red promenade.
2/ Walk in the old city near the little park and the church.
3/ Wander around the 2 Marinas.
4/ Sit on a bench in the little park (next to the roundabout), in the city center.
5/ Get a drink and relax at the Svetilnik bar/restaurant.
6/ Take a bus to go visit Koper, Portoroz and Piran.
7/ Go eat fish at the restaurant Gostilna Bujol not far from the Marina.
8/ Go see the Solidarity Monument.