Slovenia offers countless possibilities for sailors too - the 47 km long coastline is home to some charming little towns built in the Venetian style, modern marinas and picturesque harbours. Slovenia is a very environmentally friendly country.

You can also liven up your boating holiday with other activities such as sea kayaking, fishing (you can purchase a trip from a specialised agency) and diving (the sea between Piran and the Strunjan Nature Park is bursting with life and rare fish species). You might also enjoy rafting or white-water kayaking, horse riding, a trip to karst caves (Škocjan Caves, Postojnska Jama), a walk or bike ride (there are a lot of marked hiking and cycle paths here, some leading along the coastline), or a hike to Triglav National Park.

Thanks to the high mountains surrounding Slovenia on all sides, its weather is greatly influenced by seasonal and local factors. Over the summer, a mild wind from the NW blows along the coastline with a force of up to 4 on the Beaufort scale (BFT). Daytime thermals work well here - that is, a regular and strong northwesterly wind (a daytime breeze or the Mistral), starts blowing at around 10:00 in the morning and continues through the day before abating at sunset. A katabatic wind (a cold, nocturnal wind that descends from the mountains into the valley) is typical for harbours in the northeastern part of the Adriatic Sea. During stable weather, this happens every day between 21:00 in the evening and 02:00 in the morning, and from 05:00 in the morning to 07:00 in the morning. 

In the summer, the Sirocco (southeasterly wind) or Bora may also occur. However, they do not normally last for more than 2-3 days. The Sirocco, unlike the Bora, will almost never exceed 7 BFT. The Sirocco is mostly cyclonic in nature and easy to predict (signs of an approaching Sirocco include a calm sea, light and variable wind, darkness on the horizon towards the south, increased temperature and humidity, and a gradual drop in pressure). The Tramontane (N) and Libeccio (SW, W) winds are extremely dangerous and unpredictable. They often occur when temperatures are high in summer and temperatures above the mountains at around 1 km above sea level are around zero. They bring with them very bad weather, zero visibility, and a wind of about 45 kn. In summer there are also thunderstorms, but they are usually over quickly. 

Average temperatures during summer are 22°C–25°C, though temperatures sometimes rise as high as 31°C. Despite Slovenia being in the northern part of the Adriatic, the sea is lovely and warm in the summer. The bay is not very deep, so the water in the sea warms up easily. 

In spring and especially in autumn, the wind is very unstable and often accompanied by powerful thunderstorms. The dangerous Bora mainly blows here in winter. It is associated with stormy weather and can blow for up to 14 days. It blows from the NE (the direction is influenced greatly by the shape of the coastline) and can reach speeds of up to 100 kn. The Bora blows strongest in the Gulf of Trieste. Just as the Bora is frequent in the summer, the Sirocco (a strong south to southeasterly wind) is frequent in winter, blowing from North Africa. From October to May, this wind blows frequently, longer and with a greater force, up to 9 BFT. Because the Sirocco blows a long distance over the sea, it can create large 3-4 m waves. This creates dangerous locations off the Northern Italian coastline. 

Piran is a picturesque Medieval town built in the Venetian style. The town is not too big and walk through the historical centre will take you about two hours. It is an enchanting maze of winding streets lined with numerous cafés. Peace and tranquillity radiate from the walls of the ancient houses. It is impossible to get lost, because all of the little streets lead directly to the sea. Sooner or later, the maze will take you to the waterfront where there is a nice promenade. There are also several lively squares and pubs where you can have a delicious lunch and a pleasantly bitter local beer called Laško (which tastes like Pilsner). The dominant feature of the town is the Church of St George with a bell tower reminiscent of St Mark’s Square in Venice. A beautiful view can be enjoyed after climbing up the wooden staircase of the bell tower. The price of admission is a nominal EUR 1.

Not far from the harbour is the main square, Tartini Square (Tartinijev trg), named after Giuseppe Tartini, its most famous native. He is renowned the world over as the composer and violin virtuoso who composed the 'Devil's Trill'. Inland, massive walls encircle the town, built in the 7th century to protect the city from enemies. The climb to the top of the walls is well worth it. You will be rewarded with a gorgeous view of the city and the entire Gulf of Trieste. If visibility is good, you will also see the facades of the Dolomites or the peak of Triglav in the Julian Alps. Olive groves and grapevines are spread out across the adjacent hills. There are no beaches in Piran and you can only really sunbathe on the large rocks. Not far from the harbour is an aquarium and naval museum. The museum is home to a fascinating sailing exhibition with models of various ships and navigational devices, nautical uniforms, paintings by sea-painters, various ship facilities, photographs taken on board ships, fishing tackle, and more. Your camera is sure to fall in love with this most Italianate of Slovenian cities.

Izola is a fishing town with a modern marina and fishing which continues to play an important role in the present day. There is a shipyard there, and a fish processing factory. The fishing tradition is also reflected in the superb local cuisine. The restaurants offer exquisitely prepared fish and seafood. Every year in August, a large fishing festival takes place. If you take part, you will be able to try numerous different fish specialities, soups, and other delicious seafood dishes. 

In town, you can buy homemade wine and very high-quality olive oil directly from the makers (be on the lookout for Markočič Danilo and Moljk Dušan) or at the olive farms (Olive oil Ronkaldo—producers of an award-winning olive oil with a quality seal). The greatest number of sights can be found around the old harbour on the Big Square (Veliki trg). The town hall dates back to the 16th century and behind it in the lanes you’ll find the Manzioli Palace and Renaissance Lovisato Palace. A little further on is the Church of St Maura with a collection of rare paintings by Italian masters. If you have children, take them to the railway museum which has the largest collection of railway memorabilia in Europe - there is a railway with miniature locomotives and wagons, railway stations and stops. In the northwestern part of the peninsula there is a wonderful park with a pine forest leading to the town beach, which is open to the public. Those who love parties and music can relax in one of the local clubs or discotheques. 

Portorož is a relatively large marina offering more than 650 mooring berths. Connections to water and electricity are available at every berth. The marina offers a WiFi network, laundry, showers and WC, a shop with yachting equipment, technical services, a fuel station, a sail repair shop, supermarket, swimming pool and car rental services. Customs formalities can only be handled in Piran. 

Not far from the marina is a large sports centre (offering tennis, mini golf and basketball) and a go-kart track. Children can also enjoy horse riding here. North of the marina is the 1 km long sandy beach with its specially imported white sand, access to which is subject to an entrance fee. 

This part of the coastline was declared a nature reserve in 1990. It comprises of the 4 km of coastline between Piran and Izola. Moon Bay has wonderfully clear waters and a sandy beach with a Blue Flag award. 80 m high flysch cliffs (Strunjanski Klif) rise above the sandy beach, the highest cliffs of their kind on the whole Adriatic coastline. A sacred cross stands at the highest point to protect sailors. 

The reserve is home to the Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Our Lady, three luxury hotels with open-air swimming pools, and superb restaurants that will satisfy even the most discerning palette. Anchoring is prohibited throughout the entire nature park (more details can be found in 'Harbours, bays, and anchorages' in the Atlas of the sailor's guide, 888). This nature park is biologically diverse and its crystal-clear waters are home to many rare species of fish and corals. Combined with thermal springs and untouched nature, it is definitely worth a visit. 

In terms of food, there are countless restaurants along the coastline. Although most of them could not be described in superlative terms, they offer variety, and the food is both tasty and affordable. The true symbol of Slovenia is the unique Parma ham (prosciutto), which comes from the Karst area. Its tenderness and delicious flavour will be appreciated by all. Behind this success of this delicacy is a long tradition of well-fed pigs with their meat being dried in the cold Bora. It tastes best with freshly baked homemade bread and sheep’s cheese. To achieve the perfect harmony of flavours, it should be combined with a glass of Teran or Ranina.

Also worth trying are the traditional Istrian dishes such as trout in buckwheat flour, žlikrofi (stuffed ravioli with various sauces and meat), Carniolan sausages, ribe v šavorju (small, marinated fish), potica (a typical Slovenian cake), and Bledský krémeš or the superb dessert štruklji (every good cook in the Soča valley can prepare this wonderful dessert). 

Are you thinking about a yachting vacation in Slovenia? The solution is simple! Look for a boat in our online search engine or contact us by e-mail or telephone. 

If you are unsure how to go about choosing a boat, please don’t hesitate to call or write to us! We will gladly give you advice on how to choose a boat, where to sail, the route, and which guides and maps to use. You need a yachtmaster’s certificate to rent a boat in Slovenia. If you don’t have one, you can hire a professional skipper. We can arrange a skipper for you or you can hire one on location (but remember, you have to arrange this in advance).