Did you know Green Slovenia has several Mediterranean seaside alternatives to the Ljubljana Christmas market experience you might have been planning, reading or dreamed about.. but you don't even have to decide between either the Coast or the Capital at Xmas as both are just 30 mins in opposite directions from the Lodge!

Well, the largest of those seaside towns is Koper, probably best known, if known at all, as a port where thousands of Med cruise ship guests are dropped off every summer to get a very brief taste of what Green Slovenia has to offer before the huge boat chugs off again to the next port.

the old fish market could be described as centre de la ville..

A few years ago the town splashed out half a million Euros or so on a spectacular Christmas light show to attract winter visitors and they did an amazing job!

We decided to zip down again this year and revisit the Koper Xmas lights on a very pleasant mid December afternoon..

We parked easily next to the old town by the waterside and then had a bit of a stroll around, taking coffee in one of the many cafes along the seafront as we waited for the sun to set and those twinkling lights to come on..

beautiful winter sunset on the costa del Slovenia..

You might have heard about nearby Piran as that "drop dead gorgeous Pearl of the Adriatic Ventian seaside town" or maybe the quietly stunning Izola just a few KM along the coast from Koper, but over the years, we have also discovered a few of Koper's little secrets to make it well worth visiting..

And a stroll along the promenade at Christmas time here would be one of our recommended Koper experiences too.

Indeed a Christmas visit to Koper gives you some lovely different options for your limited winter break hol time.. In Koper you will also get a little Xmas market, some stalls and those lights, but a much warmer mediterranean winter vibe and totally different atmosphere compared to chilly Ljubljana!

Koper has a long, long promenade with several man made beaches too..

In Ljubljana the fairy lights hang beautifully on bushy Christmas trees, in Koper they are wrapped around thick, tall palm tree trunks!! So if you ever wanted to experience such MASSIVE contrasts available just a few KM apart then Green Slovenia really does have everything that is magical about Europe in one little pocket rocket of a country!

The thing that makes Koper special is it used to be an island a long time ago and the shallow sea was used to harvest salt, where the now, frankly, quite ugly, new town has been built..

the palm trees are lit up and it is very easy to stroll around the Old Town and relax..

BUT the medieval Venetian old town is lovely and really worth exploring if you know where to go! It sits right next to the warm, salty Adriatic sea with a long prom snaking around this red tiled roofed quarter in one direction to the modern port where the massive cruise ships dock AND the other way towards pretty Izola and Piran!

Rumour has it Napoleon had to delay invading Russia as his troops were enjoying the delights of Koper so much and that extra week spent here by the sea meant a later week arriving in the harsh Eastern winter and certain defeat..

the Venetians were also here and the Lion with the open book shows they were welcomed in without a fight..

You can get a feel of that magnetic Mediterranean attraction here too with the big old town with lots of little side streets to explore. There is a grand central square, (a little like St Mark's Square) with a beautiful Venetian tower, stunning churches everywhere and lots of those little alley ways!

The cruise ship traffic here is really TINY compared to Venice and in many years of popping down here, we have seen how, ACTUALLY, this has been a big unexpected benefit to Koper from the point of view of OTHER visitors to Koper.. You!

several car parks right along the seafront next to the old town..

You see the old town has been beautifully spruced up and Slovenia's biggest seaside town now really does have lots of lovely little restaurants, cafes and shops, many there to cater for the cruise ship passengers, so YES.. Koper is swarmed by tourists for just a few hours when a cruise ship docks.. but here is the thing.. the streets are empty and gift shops still full at other times when there is no cruise ship, including the Christmas period we are writing about now!!

So you see this REALLY is a genuine alternative OR companion to Ljubljana for your special Christmas wonderland adventure to Green Slovenia!

the main light show is in this little park near the ice skating and the merry go round..

The Xmas "Zoo Light Show" is in a cute little park, close to the old market and we also found a small fish restaurant there to try the Slovenian version of "fish & chips".. Calamari and chips, delicious!!

Another little Christmas market area with wooden stalls and Gluhwein is behind the impressive old fish market arches.. (you can also find the monument dedicated to Napoleon's ill fated visit around here too, if you look)!

Napoleon woz ere.. the little guy's troops landed here at Koper on the way to Russia..

There are also 2 mini ice skating rings and one is by the shoreline with a stunning "Cote d'Azur style"" view out to sea that might make you want to pinch yourself cos you know you are somewhere that reminds you of being in Europe, but can't quite believe you are really here in little old Green Slovenia!

Well, we were treated to a very pretty winter sunset with the orange horizon glowing out to sea as the the lights came on and Koper was transfomed into a Christmas fun park by the sea. 

the closest you will get to a fish & chip supper here in Koper sur mer..

Lodge guests can easily drive the short 30 mins north east ( much more fun and greener to take the train from Postojna) to sample the Ljubljana Xmas market and the delights of this stunning European mini capital city at Christmas..

But now you know, maybe you might also seriously consider another 30 min drive south west to the Slovenian Riviera and an evening wandering under the fantastic new lights in Koper!

Hard to believe this is Green Slovenia in the winter, but these are real palm trees baby..

And how about this.. Why not spend a full festive day by the coast taking in the delights of an empty winter Piran or enchanting Izola and then rock up to Koper in the evening for a bit of shopping and the XMAS lights!

If you want to know some more secrets about Koper and particularly the old town, then please check out our "Secret Places to Visit" tip about KOPER..

Santa or Coca Cola man as he is known here also makes an appearance for the little ones..

Merry Christmas from White Slovenia, indeed a white Xmas is extremely unlikely in Koper, 30 mins from the Lodge.. possible but not common in Ljubljana, 30 mins from the Lodge, but far more likely in Bled and the Slovenian Julian Alps, just 60 mins from the Lodge.. wow, what a country!

old town centre, Izola, Costa del Slovenia..

And also here below are some other photos taken from the Christmas Park in Izola, (our fave place by the sea).. The central park with a bandstand has been turned into a colourful ice skating rink, but the harbour and old town streets have been spared the razzamatazz with a more traditional relaxed lighting!