Best Destinations for Shore Excursions from Koper
When your cruise stops in Slovenia, you should use that opportunity to explore the country. Koper is a great port of call for unique and exciting shore excursions.
On most shore excursions, you would only visit the town you’re stopping in. Here this would be Koper. But Slovenia is small and extremely diverse. Most destinations can be reached in two hours at most. That gives you an excellent opportunity to explore the top places in the country.
Let’s take a look at the locations with which you can’t miss with a Koper shore excursion.
Piran
If you want to know the number one location with the best balance of convenience and beauty, then the town of Piran is it. And that doesn’t mean it’s any less picturesque than any other destination on the list. In fact — some say it’s the most picturesque town in Slovenia!
Located on the short but sweet coast, less than half an hour away from Koper, you arrive in this romantic town infused with Venetian-style architecture. Check out the panorama from the Walls of Piran, find your way through the narrow streets with colorful buildings, and at the end of the day — sit at a cafe or restaurant with the sea breeze of the Adriatic in your hair.
The coastal town of Piran
Lake Bled
You’ve probably seen this picture before. A panoramic view of a lake with a lovely church island in the middle and mountains in the background. That’s Lake Bled, the alpine pearl of Slovenia.
Located a little bit further from Koper, a shore excursion to Bled takes around 8 hours if you want to experience most of it. So be sure to check if you have the time first. It’ll sure be worth it.
You will have the opportunity to visit the cute town at the doorstep of the Julian Alps, take a boat ride with the traditional “pletna” to the island, or explore Bled Castle, the oldest castle in Slovenia. And for a sweet end of the day, literally, don’t forget to try the local dessert, the Kremšnita (cream cake).
Lake Bled
Postojna Cave & Predjama Castle
Halfway between Koper and Lake Bled lies the Postojna cave. A nice compromise if you don’t have the whole day. And what a compromise it is — the shore excursion is not a bit worse than if you had unlimited time.
Postojna Cave is the most famous Karst Cave in Slovenia of which exploration starts with an underground train ride. After admiring all the wonders that nature created like stalagmites and stalactites, you will also have a chance to see a real “baby dragon”, a mysterious aquatic salamander that lives there.
After exploring the cave, your day of adventure doesn’t end. You can also visit the Predjama Castle, the largest cave castle in Europe. Admire this strange but inspiring view and try to discover the mystery of its lord, Erazem of Predjama.
The Predjama Castle
Lipica
Close to the caves and cave castles mentioned above, you can also find Lipica, one of the oldest stud farms in the world. While it’s not the only attraction the region of Karst (where Lipica is located) offers, it is certainly the most recognizable.
It houses the famous Lipizzaner horses which you’ll be able to meet on a guided tour around the estates. After meeting the stallions, taking a carriage ride around the farm, or even seeing them perform in the Lipica classical riding show, the fun will not end.
Karst is also a region of great food and wine, which you can taste just outside of Lipica on a stop in one of the traditional villages. I’m just gonna leave you with two things you shouldn’t forget to try — Karst prosciutto and Terran red wine.
Lipizzaner horses playing outside
The Capital City of Ljubljana
Last but not least, it’s the capital city of Slovenia, Ljubljana. Not the closest destination of all listed here to Koper, but closer than Bled, Ljubljana is a great place to visit for anyone who wants to experience the urban life of Slovenia.
Known as one of Europe’s greenest capitals, Ljubljana is an excellent destination where the rich culture and history of Slovenia show. Visit the Ljubljana Castle, or the Central Market with its open kitchen and try the many local delicacies.
While strolling through the narrow streets of the old town, don’t forget to stop at one of the many lovely bridges crossing the Ljubljanica River, especially the Dragon Bridge. And if you feel like you want to experience the city from a different perspective, catch a boat ride on the river. It will surely leave you with a unique experience of the picturesque Slovenian capital.
The Ljubljanica River and the old town of Ljubljana
Slovenia is in the palm of your hand
By now you can probably see that almost no location in Slovenia is too far for you to explore on a shore excursion from Koper. Everything from the mighty Alps and the mesmerizing Lake Bled, to something closer like the Postojna cave or the romantic coastal town of Piran.
To make your cruise as stress-free as possible, leave the logistic of planning the individual day trips from ports of call to someone else. You certainly don’t want to struggle with the slowness of public transport or the expensiveness of renting a car.
Visit Shore Excursions Koper and we’ll help you make your day in Slovenia the most memorable day of the cruise.
