Should you visit Piran or Rovinj?

Honest answer: Piran and Rovinj are both beautiful former Venetian towns on the Istrian coast, and if you can, you should see both, they are only about an hour apart. If you must choose: pick Piran (Slovenia) for a smaller, quieter, more intimate old town, and Rovinj (Croatia) for a larger, livelier town with more restaurants and a bigger buzz. Since Croatia joined the euro and the Schengen area in 2023, you can drive between them with the same currency and no border queues.

What do Piran and Rovinj have in common?

More than you would expect. Both were part of the Republic of Venice for centuries, both have a tall bell tower modelled on St Mark's Campanile in Venice, and both have that same maze of narrow stone streets and red roofs above the Adriatic. If you love one, you will very likely love the other.

How are they different?

• Size and mood. Piran is small and calm; you can cross it in fifteen minutes. Rovinj is bigger and busier, with more nightlife and a longer restaurant scene.
• Country. Piran is in Slovenia, Rovinj in Croatia. Same euro now, so no money to change.
• Crowds. Rovinj is one of Croatia's most photographed towns and can be very busy in peak summer. Piran stays a little quieter.
• Craft and souvenirs. Both have artists; in Piran, everything at Nika Horjak Ceramics is made on site by hand, in glazes named after local places.

Can you visit both?

Yes, and it is the best plan if your trip allows. By car it is roughly an hour between them along the Istrian coast, with no border checks. Many travellers base themselves for a few days and day-trip to the other, or string both into a wider Istria road trip.

If you come to Piran

Nika Horjak Ceramics is at Goriška ulica 2 in the old town, two minutes from Tartini Square. If you are planning the Slovenian side, our guides to one day in Piran and Piran or Portorož will help. Too short a stop to shop in person? The online shop ships insured, worldwide.