Best Dog-Friendly Hotels in Slovenian Coast and Karst

Before you go

What happens when you get there

The Portorož dog beach

Portorož has an official dog beach, run as Monty's Dog Beach & Bar at Obala 26, on the former Lucija beach below Hotel Metropol's outdoor pool. It has dog showers, shade, a play area and a bar, and entry, swimming and the showers are free. No opening dates are published, so check before an out-of-season trip.

Ordinary beaches

Dogs can't go on the main Portorož public beach, and the local tourist board says there are no restrictions on other public coastal areas in its own municipality. In Ankaran dogs may come onto Valdoltra, Sv. Katarina, Študent and Debeli rtič beaches with their owners but may not swim there. Swimming in Ankaran is at Sv. Jernej beach and at a marked section at the eastern end of the Adria Ankaran resort, which has no lifeguard. We could not confirm a dog beach or a beach rule for Izola or Koper, so ask locally.

Postojna Cave

Dogs are not allowed inside Postojna Cave or the other attractions in the park. They are welcome in the park grounds, and there are kennels in the shady part of the park near the EXPO Cave Karst, free for ticket holders and subject to availability. The park doesn't say how many kennels there are, so have a plan B on a busy day.

Predjama Castle and Škocjan Caves

We could not confirm a dog rule for either. Predjama is 9 km from the Postojna kennels and the park doesn't say whether there are kennels at the castle. Check with Postojna Cave Park about Predjama and with the Škocjan Caves park before you go, and don't plan on leaving a dog at either.

Lipica stud farm

Well-behaved dogs are welcome at Lipica and must be on a lead for the whole visit. The one exception is the covered riding hall where the show takes place, which dogs can't enter. So the restriction is the hall during performances, not the estate.

Salt pans and nature parks

At the Sečovlje salt pans dogs are not allowed in the Lera area, the northern working part with the main visitor entrance. The park says nothing either way about the southern Fontanigge part, where the salt museum is, so ask before you go. Strunjan Landscape Park publishes no dog rule at all, and we could not confirm one for the Parenzana trail.

Fees and size rules

EUR 20 a night at Hotel Jama up to 10 kg and EUR 45 over. EUR 25 a day at Haliaetum, Mirta and Neptun, EUR 27 per pet per night at the Metropol and EUR 35 per dog per night at the Palace. The Palace and Hotel Jama take any size, Neptun takes small animals only without giving a weight, and Grand Koper and Majerija publish no fee, so confirm both in writing.

One dog or two

Haliaetum and Mirta at San Simon take one dog per room. None of the other six hotels publishes how many dogs it will take, so say so when you book if you travel with two.

Best walks

The flat Portorož seafront promenade runs about 3 km round the bay past Bernardin to Piran, and the other way towards the Lucija marina. In Izola, the seafront path from San Simon bay reaches the old town and harbour in about 15 minutes, and the coastal path in the other direction heads towards Strunjan. In Koper, the harbour promenade runs along the seafront towards Žusterna and on to Izola. Inland, the Postojna Cave Park paths follow the Pivka river, the farm lanes at Slap run through the vineyards and orchards of the upper Vipava Valley, and the Lipica estate takes dogs on a lead.

When to go

Summer is when the coast works best with a dog, as the Portorož dog beach is built around swimming, showers and shade, and Hotel Jama's breakfast terrace is a summer arrangement. The dog beach publishes no opening dates, so check it is running before a trip in the cooler months. Postojna Cave is closed to dogs all year, so the season changes nothing there.