Portorož

The long palm-lined promenade following the bay, flat and at sea level, punctuated by terraces, beaches and the marina. It is walked on the leash from end to end and continues to Piran along an easy coastal path.

At Lucija, Slovenia's first designated dog beach, where sociable dogs swim off the leash. Free entry, a play area, a shower and a bar with a dog menu; the public bathing beaches of Portorož, by contrast, ban dogs.

An open-air stone sculpture park on the Seča peninsula, more than 130 works since 1961 among cypresses and olives. It is visited on the leash and gives a superb panorama over Portorož Bay; little shade at the top in summer.

The Sečovlje Salina Nature Park, a living landscape of thousand-year-old salt pans and birds on the Croatian border. Dogs are allowed only on a short leash in the Fontanigge area, never at Lera; carry water as it is all flat and shadeless.

The resort's historic core, its grand Belle Époque hotels and thalasso spas born of the salt-pan brine. The treatment interiors do not admit dogs: walk yours on the flat seafront while a companion enjoys the spa, then swap.

A quiet loop of around two hours from Portorož onto the green Seča peninsula, past the marina, olive groves and sea views. The unpaved path is done on the leash; few fountains, so carry water in summer.