Good service and a nice location make Izola that popular with charter crews. Those who drop anchor here have an opportunity to get acquainted with the exciting history of the place. Many façades of the houses are still telling old stories.
General Info
One of the westernmost seaside resorts in Slovenia, Izola is located on the Adriatic coast of the Istrian peninsula, right in the Gulf of Trieste, where the weather is always lovely and the waters are always warm. So it’s no wonder that the crowds come here in large numbers year after year.
Fishing and winemaking constitute the main traditions in the region, the town being built on the fishing industry back in Roman times, hence the name Izola, coming from the Latin “isola” as in antiquity, the city stood on an island, but that gap was later filled in the 19th century using stone from the city walls.
Travel & Arrival
Because it’s part of Slovenia’s most prolific region, it’s only natural that Izola is accessible from any direction with relative ease. The closest airport is the one in Portorz, the country’s third largest international airport, which is just 12km from Izola. There is also an optional airport in Ljubljana, from where there are regular buses transports for groups.
The closest railway stations are the ones in Koper 10km away and the one in Trieste, 26 km away, but the sailors need not worry, the town is linked with most major cities across the country. By road, Izola is accessible via the E61 European road from Ljubljana, the E62, the E70 or the E57. Parking spaces can be found free of charge outside of town near the shipyard while in the city center there is paid parking.
Avant & Apres Sail
And like any old self-respecting town should, Izola likes to showcase its history to the masses curious enough to tear themselves from the lovely beaches and explore its streets. There are lots of museums like the Parenzana museum, the model ship museum, the street museum, as well as art galleries like the Alga art gallery, the Insula, the Krajcar or the Salsaverde.
As former fishing village, the restaurants in Izola are specialized in various types of seafood, from different species of fish to mussels and scallops. Among the local specialties you’ll find the gnocchi which is a pasta dish. enthusiasts will also enjoy the different selection of white and red wines, as well as the tasty ice cream served here in copious amounts for desert.
Though it can’t very well compare with Portoroz when it comes to the night time entertainment, Izola does offer some opportunities after dark, and some are really quite interesting, such as the historic wine bar located in a Venetian Palace. will also enjoy the nautically-themed Moby Dick bar. For a louder and more energetic time out, make sure to visit the Ambasada Gavioli, an electronic music club that is very famous in Slovenia for hosting the biggest parties. It’s located in the industrial district.
Events & Actions
Izola is perfect for those holidaymakers seeing an action-packed vacation, but also for those looking for just a peaceful getaway. There are three main types of events that go on in Izola year after year: cultural, religious and nautical. The cultural events are represented by the Film Festival which takes place in September while the nautical events are represented by the boat show, also taking placed in September.