Your guide to Moon Bay, the best beach in Slovenia

Moon bay is nested along the Slovene coast of the Adriatic sea in the Strunjan Nature Park. The Moon Bay beach is often referred to as the most beautiful beach in Slovenia, and we couldn’t agree more!

Moon Bay in Strunjan is a favourite among locals and travellers alike for its pristine natural beauty and its crystal clear waters. Moreover, Moon Bay beach is just enough of a walk away from civilisation that it never gets too crowded.

 

Strunjan Nature Park

We can’t talk about Moon Bay Slovenia without talking about Strunjan Nature Park which spreads from Pacug, just outside of charming Piran, all the way to Podbelvedere, just outside of Izola and encompasses an area of 428.6 hectares stretching from the Pine Trees Avenue and into the Adriatic sea.

Strunjan Nature Park is one of the most biodiverse places in the Adriatic.

This nature park is also the longest stretch of natural seashore in the Northern Adriatic between Gradom in Italy, and Savudrija in Croatia (130 km).

 Read next: Your guide to Piran & the best things to do in Piran

In Nature Park Strunjan you’ll find salt pans, salt meadows, mediterranean bush walks, 4 kilometres of shore and beaches with impressive 80 metres high cliffs rising above them, and endless stretches of vineyards and olive tree orchards.

Throughout the park there is a network of walks and trails to help you explore and take in the views. They are a fabulous way to get out in the nature year round and we love coming here on a sunny winter day. Although it is too cold to swim, the bays and the park itself are still beautiful. You can explore Strunjan and visit Moon Bay yourself, or as part of a tour. Book this tour of the Slovene Coast that not only includes Strunjan and Moon Bay, but also shows you the stunning surrounding Slovenian coastal villages.

Strunjan Salt Pans

The Strunjan salt pans were once part of the Piran salt fields. The Strunjan salt pans are the northernmost and smallest salt pans in the Mediterranean. Salt is still beeing produced with traditional methods, just as 700 years ago.

Book this wonderful tour of Strunjan Nature Park to learn more about the salt making process, the flora, fauna and the nature park itself.

Moon Bay Beach

Easily one of the best beaches in Slovenia, Moon Bay is an absolute must when on the Slovene coast! This untouched sliver of the Slovenian riviera with the gorgeous pebble beach, clear blue waters and an impressive cliff rising above it, is something you’ll fall in love with.

Swimming in Moon Bay is an experience you don’t want to miss out on!

Keep in mind that this is a wild beach with no facilities so you will need to bring with you anything you think you might need; water, snacks, sun beds, umbrellas etc. While walking around with a sun bed isn’t exactly fun, we do recommend you bring some sort of matt as the pebbles aren’t very comfortable to lie on.

Getting to Moon Bay Slovenia

It is not possible to drive to Moon Bay but there are several walking paths that will lead you there either from Strunjan or Belvedere near Izola.

Stick to these walking paths when exploring the Nature Park and visiting Moon Bay to help preserve the nature and for your own safety and the safety of others. The erosive processes are constantly at work and that there is a possibility of rockfall.

It is recommended to wear water shoes or good walking sandals as flip flops are not suitable footwear for the walk.

 Read next: Your guide to the coast of Slovenia & hinterlands

 

Getting to Moon bay from Strunjan

You can drive, take the bus or taxi to Strunjan from any town on the coast of Slovenia. If you drive park at the carpark behind Strunjan Beach, see this map. You can also walk from Piran to Strunjan which is a beautiful 4.5 km long coastal walk and it takes just over an hour to complete.

Once in Strunjan you have three options for reaching Moon Bay beach:

• Along the coast: From Strunjan Beach turn right and walk along the coast, under the cliff. It is a 30 minute walk along the rocky shore to Moon Bay. Parts of this walk are submerged during high tide which isn’t necessarily an issue in summer but attention should be paid to tides in winter.
• Mediterranean bush walk: From the car park entrance cross the road and head towards hotel Svoboda. At the end of the car parks you’ll head onto a gravel road that then turns into a walking path through the bush. This path leads to the top of the cliff and just after the White Cross you’ll take a left onto a marked path down the cliff. It is a 20 minute walk to the cross and another 10 minutes to descend to the beach.
• Via the church: This is probably the fastest access to Moon Bay. From the car park walk back roughly 250 meters and take the steep road closed for public access by car. Soon you’ll walk past a chapel and a church up top. Walk past the car ramp and continue onto the gravel path which leads towards the White Cross where you turn right. Soon you’ll see a marked path leading down the cliff. It is a 15 minute walk to the cross and another 10 minutes to descend to the beach.  

Getting to Moon bay from Belvedere & Podbelvedere

If you’re coming from Izola or Koper you can also access Moon Bay from the other side but keep in mind that the walk is a little longer than from Strunjan.

• From Belvedere: From Camp Belvedere continue down Dobrava road through the olive grooves at the top of the cliff. Soon after you get back onto the tarmac road, the road makes a sharp turn left and you’ll see a walking path that continues straight which is where you need to go. Soon you’ll see a marked path leading down the cliff to Moon Bay Beach. It is a 35 minute walk to the beach from the camp.
• From Podbelvedere: Drive down to the coast to the carpark under Belvedere. From here turn left and walk along the coast over the rocky shore. The first bay you’ll get to is Bele Skale beach, then you’ll walk around Cape Ronek before you reach Moon Bay beach. This walk takes about 45 minutes and it is an additional 5 minutes from Simonov Zaliv or an extra 15 minutes from Izola town. Parts of this walk are submerged during high tide which isn’t necessarily an issue in summer but attention should be paid to tides in winter.

Where to stay

Strunjan is the closest place to Moon bay and a popular beach destination and you can choose from several accommodation options in the park but if you prefer to stay in a town, then Piran, Portoroz and Izola are the best options.

 

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