This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Izola.
Izola (or Isola, which is Italian for island) is the second-largest city of the Slovenian coast, located between Koper and Piran. It is an old fishing city with rich history that not only offers several beautiful beaches, but also the largest marina in the country.
If you are interested in checking out historical and architectural sights, you certainly do not want to miss late Baroque The Besenghi degli Ughi Palace, the Church of St. Maur, Manzioli and Lovisato palaces, Trg Padlih Square, and Šalet Tunnel.
As mentioned earlier there are a couple of lovely beaches to take a swim -- particularly well known is Simonov zaliv (Simon's Bay). And if you are looking to do some sports or recreation, there are plenty of different options like beach volleyball, mini golf, tennis, gyms, and water sports, as well as some charming cycling and walking routes. In case exploring the sea is your thing, you can even take a trip with one of the panoramic boats, rent a motorboat, or go scuba diving.
The city is also known for holding numerous culinary and culture festivals throughout the year. Some of the biggest are Fishing Holiday; Festival of Fish, Wine, and Olive Oil; and Kino Otok (Isola Cinema).
Since the location of the city is good, other nearby cities like Koper, Piran, and Portorož are quite easily accessible. Worth visiting along the way is Strunjan, a small town, located between Izola and Piran/Portorož. From there you can take a walk through the old Valeta tunnel, a former narrow gauge railway similar to to Šalet tunnel in Izola. It is closed for traffic and the walk takes only around fifteen minutes, which really makes it a great shortcut for going from Strunjan to Portorož.
As far as accommodation goes, you can certainly find a couple of decent Izola hostels, although the city is mostly dominated by hotels.
Written by local enthusiast for Izola hostels
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