Praetorian Palace
Titov trg 3, Koper, Slovenia, 6000
The elegant walls of the Praetorian Palace are among Koper’s most recognizable landmarks, with commanding views across Tito Square. Gothic, Renaissance, and Venetian styles mingle in the ornamented facade, but the building’s not just a museum display. Inside are a tourist information office, mayor’s office, conference rooms, and a venue for getting married.
The basics
You can check out the exterior of the Praetorian Palace by simply strolling by—an outdoor table at a Tito Square café is the perfect place to enjoy the view over a cup of coffee or Istrian wine. The Praetorian Palace is also an included stop on many tours of Koper, from flexible hop-on hop-off excursions to bus tours, walking tours, and tours by private vehicle. To explore the inside of the Praetorian Palace, book a guided tour at the onsite tourist office.
Things to know before you go
The palace was built (and rebuilt) across centuries and is great for architecture buffs.
Interior tours have limited departure times. If you want to join one, ask early in the day.
There are several souvenir shops nearby.
How to get there
The Praetorian Palace is located on the southern edge of Tito Square in the old town of Koper and is accessible via the street Trubarjeva ulica. Some public parking is located nearby—at Trg Brolo and Ljubljanska cesta—but the old town’s narrow streets are best explored on foot, and some areas are closed to traffic entirely.
When to get there
Koper bustles all summer when festivals bring extra energy to the Slovenian coast. In August and September, chamber music lovers flock to the Tartini Festival, and the Sweet Istria Festival in September is all about local sweet treats. The palace looks incredibly picturesque for Christmas when a sparkling holiday tree illuminates Tito Square.
More palaces in Slovenia
Castles and palaces abound in Slovenia, a small country with big architectural hits. Perhaps the most famous is the cliffside Predjama Castle, but Bled Castle—which sits high above the famous Lake Bled—has spectacular views and a fairy-tale tower. Ljubljana Castle looks out across downtown Ljubljana, with grandiose stone walls and a clock tower to match.
Travel Like an Expert with AAA and Trip Canvas
Get Ideas from the Pros
As one of the largest travel agencies in North America, we have a wealth of recommendations to share! Browse our articles and videos for inspiration, or dive right in with preplanned AAA Road Trips, cruises and vacation tours.
Build and Research Your Options
Save and organize every aspect of your trip including cruises, hotels, activities, transportation and more. Book hotels confidently using our AAA Diamond Designations and verified reviews.
Book Everything in One Place
From cruises to day tours, buy all parts of your vacation in one transaction, or work with our nationwide network of AAA Travel Agents to secure the trip of your dreams!