Portorož is the largest Slovenian seaside resort, stretched out along the bay between Bernardin, Lucija and Seča. Its name comes from the Italian Portorose, which means the port of roses, and it acquired its present appearance with the development of spa tourism. Along the main promenade stand hotels, restaurants, parks and bathing areas, among which the former Palace Hotel stands out architecturally, built during the flowering of the Adriatic resorts under Austria-Hungary.
The spa tradition of Portorož is based on the natural factors of the nearby salt pans. Sea water, brine and salt-pan mud are used in thermal and wellness programmes, and the historical link between the spa and salt-making is revealed by the Sečovlje and Strunjan salt pans. In the Landscape Park The Sečovlje Salt Pans besides the salt fields there are preserved canals, embankments and buildings connected with traditional salt production, and the area is also important for birds.
The coastal path links Portorož with the former Bernardin monastery complex and the medieval Piran. On the other side of the bay lie Lucija, the marina and the Seča peninsula, where in the Forma viva park a collection of stone sculptures is exhibited in the open air. The former Parenzana railway line runs through a tunnel between Strunjan and Portorož and continues towards Sečovlje and the Istrian hinterland.
At sea, swimming, sailing, rowing, paddleboarding and boat trips are widespread, and the marina is one of the central nautical centres of the Slovenian coast. Portorož also has a congress tradition, and the Portorož Auditorium hosts concerts, theatre performances, festivals and other events. Gaming has been part of the resort's tourist offer since its early development.
In the restaurants fish, seafood, Piran salt, Istrian olive oil, truffles and the wines of Slovenian Istria interweave. Because of its thermal programmes and events Portorož is alive outside the summer season too, while the proximity of Piran, the salt pans and the Istrian villages extends a visit far beyond the central beach. Browse the accommodation by the sea, choose a restaurant and discover the activities in Portorož, Piran and the salt-pan hinterland.