Destination Guides > Slovenia > Primorska

Primorska

After Ljubljana and Gorenjska, Primorska is the third most visited region in Slovenia. This province in western Slovenia is comprised of two distinct regions: the Soca Valley and Slovenia's tiny bit of coastline.

Bovec

This small town in the Upper Soca Valley is a popular spot for adventure sports including hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, canyoning, whitewater rafting and skiing. The Kanin ski centre near Bovec is a popular ski resort.

Practical Information

Tourist Information Centre Bovec

Trg golobarskih zrtev 8, SI-5230 Bovec

Tel (05) 3841 919

Website www.bovec.si

Open Mon-Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 9am-1pm

Coming & Going

There are frequent buses to Kobarid and Tolmin, particularly on weekdays; and also several buses a day to Nova Gorica, on the Italian border, and also to Ljubljana.

Accommodation

Adrenaline - Check Open Air Hostel Soca

Soca 38, Bovec, Primorska

Activities

Bovec is one of Europe's top centres for extreme sports with several companies that offer adventure activities. The rafting here is among the best Europe has to offer with gnarly rapids (graded I to VI) and first-class scenery. The rafting season is between April and October, although the best rafting is during the snow melting season (April-May).

Bovec Rafting Team (tel (05) 86 128; website www.creativ.si/h2sport/) runs canyoning, kayaking and rafting expeditions and during winter operates snow rafting.

Bovec Sport (tel (05) 389 63 50; website www.bovecsport.com) runs rafting trips (€25-38), canyoning (€35.50-120), hydrospeed €35) and tandem paragliding €85).

Soca Rafting (website www.socarafting.si) runs whitewater rafting (€27-40) and canyoning trips (€33.70-64).

Top Extreme (tel (05) 33 00 090; website www.top.si) runs a wide range of activities in and around Bovec. These include canyoning (€37-90) and whitewater rafting (€30-42). Top Extreme also operate a bungy jump site on the Solkan Bridge in the southern Soca Valley near Nova Gorica. Bungy jumping with Top Extreme costs €37). Adrenaline junkies can opt for the Extreme Week package that includes whitewater rafting, bungee jumping, kayaking, hydrospeed and canyoning for just €140.

Hiking

The region around Bovec has some excellent hiking trails including some good day hikes. One of Bovec's more popular walks goes to the Boka Waterfall southwest of town.

Kobarid

Ernest Hemmingway's novel, A Farewell to Arms, gives a chilling account of one of the bloodiest battles of the 20th century where hundreds of thousands of people died on the battlefields around Kobarid (which was then called Caporetto) in a little over two weeks of fighting in 1917.

Most people who visit Kobarid come here because of the town's war history and there is an excellent museum documenting the horrors of the battle on the Soca Front.

Practical Information

Kobarid Tourist Office

Gregorciceva ulica 10, Kobarid

Tel (05) 85 055

Coming & Going

There are frequent buses from Kobarid to Bovec and Tolmin and also several buses each day to Nova Gorica and Ljubljana.

Sights

Kobarid Museum

A visit to this museum is a must for anyone with an interest in Hemmingway's novel and war in general. The museum has excellent exhibits that illustrate the horrors of war while recounting the events of WWI, particularly the events that took place on the Soca Front.

Gregorciceva 10, 5222 Kobarid

Tel (05) 3890000

Website www.kobariski-muzej.si

Admission €4, students €3

Open Jan-Mar Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat-Sun 9am-6pm; Apr-Sep Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat-Sun 9am-7pm; Oct-Dec Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat-Sun 9am-6pm

In addition to the exhibits inside the museum, there is a 5km historical trail in the area surrounding Kobarid that takes you past many significant points of interest relating to the Battle of the Soca Front; these include:

Italian Ossuary

This Italian ossuary contains the bones of 7014 unknown Italian soldiers killed on the Soca Front. The chapel was inaugurated by Benito Mussolini in 1938.

Italian Defence Line

After passing the Italian Ossuary, the trail passes the remains of the Third Italian Defence Line where you can see trenches and gun emplacements dating from WWI. The trail also passes the picturesque Kozjak falls.

Divaca & the Škocjan Caves

Of Slovenia's 7000 caves, the Škocjan Caves are considered the best, even though the Postojna caves in Notranjska province are larger.

Coming & Going

The caves are located 5km south of Divaca. Divaca is accessible from Ljubljana by bus and train. Public transport between Divaca and the caves is unreliable making it a difficult place for independent travellers to visit; however the bus driver may be able to drop you off near the entrance to the caves, as long as you are on a bus that continues past Divaca toward the coast.

Sights

Škocjan Caves

Classified as a World Heritage Site in 1986, the Škocjan Caves extend hundreds of metres underground and comprise 5km of passages and numerous waterfalls. Experienced guides conduct 1½ hour tours of the caves.

Škocjan 2, 6215 Divaca

Tel (067) 632840

Website www.gov.si/parkskj/

Tours Jan-Mar Mon-Sat 10am, 1pm; Sun 10am, 1pm, 3pm; Apr-May 10am, 1pm, 3.30pm daily; Jun-Sep 10am, 11.30am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, 5pm daily; Oct 10am, 1pm, 3.30pm daily; Nov-Dec Mon-Sat 10am, 1pm; Sun 10am, 1pm, 3pm

Koper

Koper (Capodistria in Italian) is Slovenia's (and Austria's) major port. Most tourists dismiss Koper as an industrial city, however it has a charming Venetian old town and receives far less tourists than other places on Slovenia's tiny coastline.

Practical Information

Tourist Information Centre Koper

Ukmarjev trg 7, SI-6000 Koper

Tel (05) 6632 010

Website www.koper.si

Coming & Going

Koper is connect by bus and train. The bus and train stations are situated next to each other, about 1km south of the old town.

There is a direct rail line to Ljubljana, which is 2½ hours away; however you need to change trains at Divaca if you want to travel to Croatia.

Buses are a handier transport option if you're heading somewhere other than the capital. Buses depart every 20 minutes or so to other destinations along the coast and there are also frequent buses to many destinations throughout the country. International bus services go to several destinations on Croatia's Istrian peninsula and also to Zagreb and there are also very frequent buses to Trieste in Italy.

Local Transport

Koper has a relatively good local bus network. Buses 1, 2 and 3 run between the old town and the bus and train station.

Accommodation

Dijaski dom Koper

Cankarjeva 5, 6000 Koper
Tel (05) 662 6250

Youth Hostel Port Koper

Ankaranska 7, 6000 Koper
Tel (05) 639 3260

Sights

Koper's main attractions are clustered around Titov Trg, the main square in the old town.

Praetorian Palace

The newly restored Venetian palace is Koper's main landmark. The 15th century building boasts an opulent interior and was originally the major's residence.

Titov trg, Koper

Tel (05) 6646 403

Cathedral of St Nazarius

By European standards there is nothing spectacular about this cathedral, however the 36 metre high belfry, also known as the City Tower, offers great views of the old town.

Titov trg, Koper

Cathedral open 7am-noon & 3pm-7pm daily; tower open 9am-1pm & 3pm-7pm daily

Piran

Piran (Pirano in Italian) is the nicest of the coastal towns that are geared towards tourism. It is an upmarket resort with a charming old town full of Venetian architecture and quaint narrow streets. Piran's popularity means that it can get very crowded during the peak of summer.

Practical Information

Tourist Information Centre Koper

Ukmarjev trg 7, SI-6000 Koper

Tel (05) 6632 010

Website www.koper.si

Coming & Going

The bus is the only way to get to Piran. There are departures every 20 minutes to other destinations along the coast and also buses to destinations throughout the country including Ljubljana and Maribor.

International bus services go to several destinations on Croatia's Istrian peninsula and also to Zagreb and there are around six buses a day to Trieste in Italy, although more frequent buses depart from nearby Koper.

If you're driving, it is best to park in one of the car parks just outside town as parking is difficult to come by and expensive in the town centre.

Accommodation

Alibi B14 Hostel

Bonifacijeva 14, 6330 Piran
Tel 031 363 666

Hostel Val

Gregorciceva 38a, 6330 Piran
Tel (05) 673 25 55