Introducing Koper’s Old Town
Koper is the largest town on Slovenia’s Adriatic coast and the 6th-largest city in Slovenia, with a population of around 25,000. It is recognised as one of the oldest towns in Slovenia. The main attraction in Koper is its well-preserved medieval city center called the Old Town. Five centuries of Venetian rule are almost impossible to ignore here, especially while strolling along the narrow streets past imposing palaces and monumental architecture.
Koper’s Old Town Review
Koper is a uniquely beautiful town with a fascinating history going back to the times of the Middle Bronze Age, 1500 years B.C. and its well-preserved and very picturesque Old Town is definitely a tourist attraction worth visiting. It dates back to the Venetian era and has a number of impressive old buildings and former palaces to take a look at, a couple of lovely squares to walk through, a few interesting museums to visit, the 54-metre high bell tower to climb for some great views of the town and the surrounding area, the cathedral to explore around, and the many small narrow streets to stroll along. Of course, there are also a variety of eateries and bars to relax in.
All in all, the Koper Old Town is a lovely place to stroll around and people watch while taking in all the history and striking architecture of this quaint well preserved Old Town. Start with Koper’s well-stocked Tourist Information Centre located in the Praetorian Palace in the centre of the Old Town on the main Tito Square. The friendly multi-lingual staff will gladly give you some info as where to go based upon how much time you have and free brochures and maps can be found for pretty much everything there is to see and do in the Old Town.
Koper’s Old Town is also manageable for those in a wheelchair. The area is flat and very easy, including the surrounding streets. There are cobblestones in the square, but entirely manageable, and most of the streets leading away from the square are paved. The one drawback is that very many of the shops and museums have a big step up to the door and no ramps. The same for some of the streetside restaurants and cafes which are on a dais. But don’t let that stop you, if you are a wheelchair-user with a companion you’ll see and enjoy plenty!
Koper’s Old Town Pictures
View our image gallery with 10 high-resolution photos that prove you have to visit Koper’s Old Town!
Elevated view of Koper’s Old Town. (Image by Jaka Ivancic)
The Tito Square is a picturesque and historic square in the heart of Koper’s Old Town. (Image by Jost Gantar)
Carpaccio Square is another lovely square in the Old Town in Koper. It is decorated by the Column of St. Justine and the capital shaped well. There is also the Carpaccio house which is said to be the birthplace of the famous painter Vittore Carpaccio. (Image by Jost Gantar)
Atmospheric Cevljarska street, a narrow commercial street for pedestrians, runs south from the Tito Square. (Image by Jost Gantar)
Street view in Koper’s Old Town. (Image by Jost Gantar)
Historic buildings with red-tiled roofs in Koper’s Old Town. (Image by Jost Gantar)
A lovely view from the Bell Tower of the Old Town with the harbor and modern part of Koper with Semedela, Markovec and Zusterna in the background. (Image by Jost Gantar)
Koper’s Old Town with the bell tower of the St. Mary’s of the Assumption Cathedral. (Image by Jaka Ivancic)
Another photo of Koper’s Old Town with the Bell Tower and richly decorated Christmas tree in festive December. (Image by Jaka Ivancic)
The richly decorated Tito Square in the heart of Koper’s Old Town. (Image by Jaka Ivancic)
All photos provided by Slovenia.info!
Koper’s Old Town on the map
Address: Titov Trg 1, 6000 Koper, Slovenia
Latitude and Longitude Coordinates: 45.548450, 13.729690
GPS coordinates: 45° 32′ 54.42” N 13° 43′ 46.884” E
Region: Littoral
 Koper or Capodistria as it is called in Italian shows two faces to the world: one is a modern, loud and busy industrial part of the city with the only commercial port in Slovenia. The other is the charming small Old Town with the lovely square of Titov Trg and late medieval and early Renaissance buildings, such as the Praetorian Palace, the Loggia Palace and the Cathedral of the Assumption built in Venetian styles. |
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 Overall Rating:  09/10 (Must-See)The main attraction in the seaside town of Koper is its well-preserved medieval city center called the Old Town. Five centuries of Venetian rule are almost impossible to ignore here, especially while strolling along the narrow streets past impressive old buildings and former palaces. |
 Overall Rating: 09/10 (Must-See)This quite sizeable town square is the first place you should head when exploring Koper. It dates back to the Venetian era and is home to several of the town's main attractions. |
 Overall Rating:  08/10 (Highly Recommended)For any visitor to Koper, the Praetorian Palace is a must see. It is located in the centre of the town on the main Tito Square and absolutely dominates the place. |
 Overall Rating: 08/10 (Highly Recommended)Koper's cathedral is located right in the historic city centre on the main Tito square and dates back to the second half of the 12th century when Koper acquired its own diocese. |
 Overall Rating: 08/10 (Highly Recommended)Set on the eastern side of the Tito square in the centre of old Koper is the 54-metre-high Bell Tower. If the weather is good, amazing panoramic views of the entire Koper area and beyond can be had by climbing 204 steps to reach the viewing platform at 43 meters. |
 Overall Rating:  07/10 (Recommended)With its impressive Gothic-style lancet arches, the 15th-century Loggia building stands on the northern side of the historic Tito Square in the heart of old Koper. Its ground-floor arcade is now a café. A side door leads to the first-floor Loza gallery. |
 Overall Rating: 08/10 (Highly Recommended)The rustic village of Hrastovlje, located in the hills above the coast, only a short 20-minute drive from Slovenia's largest coastal town Koper, is home to one of the country's most outstanding medieval treasures, the Church of the Holy Trinity. The church building itself is quite impressive, looking like a small, ancient fort, but what attracts most visitors to this little church is the famous Dance of Death fresco on the south wall. |
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 Overall Rating: 08/10 (Highly Recommended)Skocjanski Zatok Nature Reserve is an oasis of unspoiled nature on the outskirts of Koper, Slovenia's largest coastal town. It is one of the most beautiful protected areas in the country and permanent or temporary home to several hundred animal species, including 300 species of butterflies, 300 species of beetles, 38 species of dragonflies, amphibians, reptiles, and almost 250 species of birds which can be observed from newly built bird hides and an observation tower. |
| The accommodation options in Koper can be divided into six main categories: hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, apartments, farm stays and hostels. |
 Koper is the largest town on the Slovenian coast and the sixth-largest city in Slovenia. There are currently 5 hotels in the city, but the overall quality of the hotels is not that great, and at the moment there's only one hotel in Koper that we can really recommend. Find out which one and why! |
 Guest houses are a traditional form of accommodation in Slovenia for holiday makers and other travellers. They are a great choice for a place to stay as they are comfortable and wallet-friendly with owners who take an interest in their guests. There are more than 10 guest houses available in the Koper area, find out which are the ones that we recommend the most. |
 Opting for a bed and breakfast over other types of lodging is a great way to personalize your stay and get to know the locals. Bed and breakfasts feel like you are literally staying in someone’s house, because often you are. The advantage of a B&B is that the breakfasts are often home cooked meals that are prepared with love and attention. These meals are included in your room rate and are a great way to start your day. Find out which B&Bs in Koper we recommend the most, and why! |
 With all the comforts of home, apartments are a great choice for lodging during your trip to Koper. They are often more affordable and can be very comfortable places to stay. But be careful, the rates and quality vary seriously, so always do a good research before you book an apartment! |
 Hostels in Koper are the go-to option for travellers and backpackers who plan to spend very little of their time in their room and most of their time exploring Koper and the Slovenian coast. They’re also a great way to meet other travellers. Unlike a hotel, hostels are more communal in nature and that includes sharing a room with strangers, although often you can get a private room if you want to pay a little more. Find out which hostels in Koper we recommend the most, and why! |
 In recent years, farm stays are growing among a number of travelers looking to reconnect with fresh air, local and organic foods, and a more simple and authentic lifestyle on vacation. Farm stays are a form of accommodation on a working farm. Actual accommodations can vary from a room in a farm house, to a cabin or a guest cottage. Typical rates are similar to a bed and breakfast, and like a bed and breakfast, some offer delicious home cooked meals. Some farm stays also allow guests to participate in the daily activities on the farm if they choose. |