Sunshine and sea air define Koper, Slovenia's main port town on the Adriatic coast, where palm trees line the waterfront and café terraces spill into lively squares. Although home to Slovenia's only commercial port, Koper's charming old town feels a world apart, with Venetian palaces surrounding Tito Square and the cathedral's bell tower rising above red-tiled roofs overlooking the Gulf of Trieste. Stone lanes lead to artisan workshops and quiet courtyards before opening onto the seafront, where swimmers cool off from bathing platforms, sailboats cross the gulf, and the marina is alive with activity. Beyond the town, the famous Parenzana Trail follows the route of a former narrow-gauge railway that once linked the towns and villages of the Istrian peninsula. Now repurposed as a scenic walking and cycling trail, it winds through olive groves, vineyards, forests and historic tunnels, offering a leisurely way to explore the countryside and traditional villages of Slovenian Istria. In the surrounding villages, traditional taverns known as konobas serve fresh seafood, local prosciutto, olive oil, regional wines and other Istrian specialities beneath shaded terraces.