Secovlje Salina Nature Park
Parecag 290, Sečovlje, 6333
Covering the southern end of Slovenia’s brief coastline, Sečovlje Salina Nature Park is the protected area that covers the Sečovlje Salt Pans. The salt pans were worked for centuries using traditional methods, making them a valued part of Slovene Istria’s cultural heritage, while a vast array of bird species also call the park home.
The basics
There are different ways to approach a visit to Sečovlje Salina Nature Park. To learn about the traditional techniques used for harvesting salt, you can go to the Museum of Salt Panning and its visitor center. As for admiring the salt pans and birdwatching, they can be done on foot or by bicycle, riding along the narrow strips of land between the pans. It’s for this reason that the park is included on some cycling tours of the region, but you’ll also find private tours of the coast that include a stop at the salt pans.
Things to know before you go
Sečovlje Salina Nature Park has access roads at the northeastern and southwestern sides of the park, with no road connecting the two.
The width of many paths deeper into the park are very narrow and not suited to strollers or wheelchairs, but there’s much better access to the museum and visitor center.
An outdoor spa in the park, Lepa Vida Spa, incorporates the salt harvested from the salt pans into its thalassotherapy treatments.
How to get there
South of coastal destinations such as Piran and Izola, Sečovlje Salina Nature Park can be reached by taking the 111 road. The first exit for the park traveling southbound takes you to the main visitor center, whereas the exit for the museum is later, past Portorož Airport just before you reach the Croatian border.
When to get there
Visitors to Sečovlje Salina Nature Park who are curious about its history may want to visit during the warmer months, when the Museum of Salt Panning is open. Autumn can be another good time to visit, as some plants around the salt pans turn red at this time of year, providing a different view.
Other stops on Slovenia’s coast
It may not stretch along much of the Adriatic Sea, but Slovenia’s coast still packs in a lot of places to visit. History and architecture are on display in towns such as Piran and Izola, while the resort town of Portorož is there if you just want to relax. The seaside from Bele Skale Beach around to Strunjan Beach offers quiet beaches backed by impressive cliffs, and hiking trails to explore it all.
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