Portoroz Holiday
Described by some as Slovenia's answer to the French Riviera, Portoroz is the country's premier seaside resort as well as being known internationally for its spas and health and fitness facilities. In many ways, what it has to offer is just about the opposite of the nearby medieval town of Piran. There are excellent beaches, a tremendous choice of land and watersports, waterfront bistros and restaurants, nightlife galore at the casino and dozens of lively bars, cafés and discos. Where Piran is old and proud of it, Portoroz is unashamedly young and modern, lively and thriving.
Its year-round health business revolves round a host of thermal pools and a bewildering variety of health and beauty treatments, with the largest Thai massage and beauty centre outside of Thailand.
There are several attractions on Portoroz's doorstep. The Secovlje salt pans, for years a staple of the local economy, are a botanists' paradise, as well as being a glorious location for an easy stroll. Not far inland are sleepy Istrian villages to explore and golf courses to try out. For something a bit different, you can visit Lipica, the home of the famous Lipizzaner white horses, or the magical caves at Skocjan and Postojna. Venice is only a catamaran ride away for a fantastic day trip.
Beaches
One of the main attractions at Portoroz is the beach, or rather beach after beach after beach... stretching up and down the coast from the town known to the locals as the 'Port of Roses'. No matter where you're staying, the beach will be close by and you'll be hard pressed not to spend time there!
Shopping
As a modern seaside resort, Portoroz has the full range of shops the visitor to upmarket resorts has come to expect. Don't look for any particular bargains, although prices are generally lower than in Western Europe and pretty much the same variety of goods is on offer.
Nightlife
When it comes to nightlife Portoroz is probably the best place in Slovenia for the young and beautiful to let their hair down and party as far into the night as they like. Not too much in the way of the traditional and staid, but discos, dance halls and lively bars and cafes catering to an international clientele out to have a good time.
Local Specialities
Portoroz provides a fantastic selection of cuisine, ranging from a variety of top class international restaurants at the main hotels to scores of local outlets where the main speciality is seafood, and the outstanding Slovenian wines such as Teran, Refosk, Merlot, Cabernet and Barbera, and two vintage white varieties, Malvazija and Rebula. Local specialities include prsut (smoked ham) with olives, fish salad and various fruits of the seas including mussels, shrimps, molluscs and fish. Amongst the favourite dishes to look out for are fish brodetto, thorny oysters à la Trieste, shrimps à la buzara, ink fish risotto, and blue and white fish.