Travel Information
Portorož is well connected to seven international airports within a two-and-a-half-hour drive. There is no direct rail link to Portorož itself, so most delegates arrive by airport shuttle, bus or car.
From Airports in Tokyo to Takasaki City
- Trieste – Ronchi dei Legionari (TRS), Italy – approx. 65 km, 1 h by road (the closest airport)
- Ljubljana Jože Pučnik (LJU), Slovenia – approx. 130 km, 1 h 30–1 h 45 by road (the national airport)
- Venice Marco Polo (VCE), Italy – approx. 185 km, 2 h 15 by road
- Treviso (TSF), Italy – approx. 200 km, 2 h 20 by road (low-cost carriers)
- Pula (PUY), Croatia – approx. 95 km, 1 h 30 by road
- Zagreb Franjo Tuđman (ZAG), Croatia – approx. 230 km, 2 h 45 by road
- Klagenfurt (KLU), Austria – approx. 200 km, 2 h 20 by road
Portorož also has its own small airport (POW) at Sečovlje, 6 km from the venue, used for general aviation and seasonal charter flights only.
Distances and journey times are indicative and should be checked when booking.
Recommended: GoOpti airport shuttle
The organisers recommend GoOpti, a Slovenian shared-ride transfer operator that connects all of the airports listed above directly with Portorož and Piran, door to door – from the terminal to your hotel. Booking is made online in advance:
Shared transfers are the economical option: you travel with other passengers on a flexible time window. Standard transfers offer a fixed pick-up time, and VIP transfers are private, door-to-door and for your party only.
- Prices fall the earlier you book – GoOpti fares rise as departure approaches, so reserve your transfer as soon as your flights are ticketed.
- The service operates 24 hours a day and monitors flight arrivals, which makes it the safest choice for early-morning or late-night flights, when public transport to the coast does not run.
- Booking requires your flight number, arrival time and the exact address of your accommodation in Portorož or Piran. You can book return transfers at the same time.
- Delegates arriving together are encouraged to coordinate and share a VIP vehicle, which is often cheaper per person than individual seats.
By car
Portorož is reached from Ljubljana on the A1 motorway and the H5/H6 expressway (approx. 1 h 30), from Trieste on the E751/H5 (approx. 1 h), and from Croatian Istria via the Dragonja or Sečovlje border crossings. A vignette (e-vinjeta) is mandatory for Slovenian motorways and can be purchased online before travel at evinjeta.dars.si; Italian and Croatian motorways use conventional tolls. Note that Piran’s historic centre is closed to traffic – visitors park at the Fornače car park and take the free shuttle bus. Parking in Portorož is chargeable; most hotels have garages.
By bus
Portorož bus station is a five-minute walk from the Faculty. Direct coaches run from Ljubljana (approx. 2 h 30), Koper (approx. 40 min), Trieste (approx. 1 h 30) and, seasonally, from Croatian Istrian towns; operators include Arriva and FlixBus. Timetables for the whole Slovenian network are searchable at www.ap-ljubljana.si and www.arriva.si. Local line 1/2 links Piran, Portorož and Lucija every 15–20 minutes.
By train
There is no railway station in Portorož. The nearest station is Koper, approx. 20 km away, with connections via Divača to Ljubljana and onwards to Vienna, Munich, Zagreb, Budapest and Venice. From Koper, buses to Portorož run frequently and take about 40 minutes; a taxi takes about 25 minutes. Timetables: www.slo-zeleznice.si.
By sea
In the summer season, catamaran services usually link Piran with Trieste and, on some routes, with Venice, which is a memorable way to arrive. Sailings are seasonal, and operators change from year to year, so schedules should be confirmed close to the date. Portorož and Piran also have marinas for delegates arriving by private boat.
Getting around during the conference
Everything you need is within walking distance: the faculty, the hotels, the beach promenade and the restaurants of Portorož, with Piran a 45-minute seafront walk or a short bus ride away. Local buses, taxis and a seasonal tourist train connect Portorož, Piran, Lucija and Strunjan. Field trips will depart by coach from in front of the faculty.
Indicative field trips and social programme
The academic programme will be complemented by visits designed for scholars of religious tourism and pilgrimage. The following are indicative and will be confirmed on the conference website:
- Guided walk through Piran: the parish church of St George, the Minorite monastery and church of St Francis, and the medieval town walls.
- The Marian sanctuary of Strunjan and the Strunjan Landscape Park.
- Sečovlje Salina Nature Park: salt-making as living heritage, ritual and identity.
- The church of the Holy Trinity at Hrastovlje and its Dance of Death fresco, with the old town and cathedral of Koper.
- Istrian olive oil, wine and gastronomy tasting, and the conference Gala Dinner in a heritage setting.
Accommodation places
Portorož offers a full range of accommodation within walking distance of the venue, from historic five-star hotels and thermal spa resorts to family guest houses, apartments and hostels; Piran adds boutique hotels in its medieval core. Preferential rates have been negotiated in a number of properties in Portorož and Piran, all within walking distance or a short bus ride of the venue. Destination information: www.portoroz.si and www.slovenia.info.
Please note that Portorož is a resort destination and late June is high season on the Slovenian coast. Delegates are strongly advised to book as early as possible, as rooms in Portorož and Piran sell out well in advance. Please also note
the following:
- Rooms under the conference code are held only until the release date; after that, availability and rates are subject to change.
- Minimum-stay requirements may apply in high season, and cancellation conditions are stricter than in low season. Please check the conditions carefully before confirming.
- The tourist tax and registration fee are charged separately and are not included in the quoted room rate.
- Delegates wishing to extend their stay before or after the conference should request the additional nights at the time of booking, as later extensions may not be possible.
- Parking is limited and chargeable throughout the area, and the historic centre of Piran is closed to traffic.
- Delegates arriving by car should confirm parking arrangements with their hotel in advance.
- Should the listed hotels be fully booked, further accommodation is available in Lucija, Strunjan and Izola, all within a short bus or taxi ride of the venue.
Delegates may reserve their accommodation directly through the EH/Eurotas central reservations office at booking@eh.si or +386 8 201 04 20. When booking, please quote the conference code IRTP. The code is valid when booking on the relevant hotel's own website, through the Eurotas booking system (link below), or through the central reservations office. Conference rates and booking conditions will be confirmed in due course.
Participating hotels:
- Boutique Hotel Portorose, Portorož — https://eh.si/en/hotel-portorose/
- Hotel Piran, Piran — https://eh.si/en/hotel-piran/
- Barbara Piran Beach Hotel, Fiesa, Piran — https://eh.si/en/hotel-barbara/
Booking system: