Roman Amphitheatre of Pula
1 hAll agesDog-friendlyAll year
A 1st-century Roman amphitheatre with the outer ring complete and four unique towers, in the centre of Pula. €10; free in Advent.
Stay3–5 nights
Getting aroundCar almost essential
Best timeMay · Jun · Sep · Oct
CurrencyEuro (since 2023)
What to do
What to do in Istria
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
Rovinj Old Town and the St Euphemia Bell Tower
2 hAll ages · the tower, without vertigoAll year
A walk through Rovinj's old town and Grisia street up to St Euphemia, with a bell tower of about 58 m. Church free; tower €4.
Euphrasian Basilica in Poreč
1 hAll agesAll year, closed on Sundays and holy days of obligation
A 6th-century episcopal complex in Poreč, a World Heritage site, with Byzantine gold-ground mosaics. €10; closed on Sundays.
Plan the trip
Istria, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Istria
May, June and September: sea already warm, everything open and half the people of August. October brings white truffle to the interior. From November to March many coastal hotels, campsites and restaurants close.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
Istria your way
Choose how you're travelling and we'll tell you where to stay, how to get around, where to eat and which services you'll need. We only show the ways of travelling that make sense here.
The natural way to see Istria
With a car you combine coast and interior on the same day. Distances are short: almost everything is under an hour away.
90–140 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepRovinj for the coast, with…
- Getting aroundTolled Istrian Y (Bina Istra)…
- Where to eatTruffle konobas in Motovun
- ServicesPaid municipal car parks in…
Where to sleep
- Rovinj for the coast, with a garage if you can
- Motovun or Brtonigla for the interior and the truffle
Getting around
- Tolled Istrian Y (Bina Istra); ordinary roads free
- In Rovinj and Motovun park outside and go in on foot
Where to eat
- Truffle konobas in Motovun
- Fish of the day in Banjole, on the way to Kamenjak
Services
- Paid municipal car parks in Rovinj
- If you arrive via Slovenia, a €16 weekly e-vignette
Many campsites, no free overnighting
Istria is full of large campsites with waste disposal. Outside them you cannot sleep: overnighting in car parks and on beaches is fined.
50–80 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepArena Stoja, with a city…
- Getting aroundLeave the motorhome at the…
- Where to eatPula market for fish and…
- ServicesChemical waste disposal at the…
Where to sleep
- Arena Stoja, with a city bus to Pula
- Polari, 3.5 km from Rovinj; Arena Stupice, next to Kamenjak
Getting around
- Leave the motorhome at the campsite and go into Rovinj and Pula by bus or bike
- Motovun and Grožnjan: car parks below, narrow streets above
- Kamenjak charges motorhomes more: enter by bike
Where to eat
- Pula market for fish and cheese
- Inland konobas, at midday
Services
- Chemical waste disposal at the campsites
- Toll on the Istrian Y and the Učka tunnel according to vehicle category
With a tent, by the sea and under the pines
Istria's campsites accept tents and often have pitches in the shade of the pine wood. Wild camping is banned throughout Croatia.
40–70 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepArena Stupice, in Premantura, for…
- Getting aroundBuses between Pula, Rovinj and…
- Where to eatPula market and campsite supermarkets
- ServicesMost campsites open from April…
Where to sleep
- Arena Stupice, in Premantura, for Kamenjak
- Polari in Rovinj and Arena Stoja in Pula
Getting around
- Buses between Pula, Rovinj and Poreč several times a day
- For the interior, car or bike
Where to eat
- Pula market and campsite supermarkets
- A fish dinner in Banjole
Services
- Most campsites open from April to October
- No open fires in the fire season
The Parenzana and the interior by pedal
The old Trieste to Poreč railway line is now a 123 km track, with about 78 in Croatia. The stretch between Vižinada and Livade is the most rewarding.
80–130 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepHotel Kaštel Motovun, at the…
- Getting aroundMountain bike or e-bike: there…
- Where to eatKonoba Mondo in Motovun to…
- ServicesHire and transfers at the…
Where to sleep
- Hotel Kaštel Motovun, at the foot of the line
- San Rocco, in Brtonigla, with bike outings
Getting around
- Mountain bike or e-bike: there are stretches of loose gravel
- A light for the Motovun tunnel, 222 m long
Where to eat
- Konoba Mondo in Motovun to recover
- Water and something to eat: there are few bars on the line
Services
- Hire and transfers at the Poreč Bike Center
- Free Bike&Bus between Trieste and Poreč, weekends and holidays
Hotel Facing the Old Town and a Starred Table
Rovinj concentrates Istria's high-end offer, and the interior adds small hotels among vineyards.
300–600 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepGrand Park Hotel Rovinj, with…
- Getting aroundPrivate transfer from Pula airport
- Where to eatMonte, in Rovinj, with a…
- ServicesTruffle hunting with a truffle…
Where to sleep
- Grand Park Hotel Rovinj, with a spa and views of the old town
- San Rocco, in Brtonigla, for the interior
Getting around
- Private transfer from Pula airport
- Valet parking at the hotel: in Rovinj it saves the parking problem
Where to eat
- Monte, in Rovinj, with a Michelin star
- Truffle in the interior, in white-truffle season
Services
- Truffle hunting with a truffle family, by booking
- Spa at the hotel itself
Flight to Pula, Trieste or Venice and a Car round Istria
Istria is toured by car. Pula airport, 5 or 6 km from the city, receives seasonal flights, normally with a stopover from Spain; many travellers fly to Venice or Trieste and continue by hire car. From Trieste you cross a short stretch of Slovenia, with an e-vignette on its motorways: check the contract allows you to enter Slovenia and Croatia.
- Getting therePula airport (PUL), the peninsula's…
- Getting aroundHire car collected at the…
- Where to sleepArena Stoja, in Pula, if…
- ServicesPula airport, with a shuttle…
Getting there
- Pula airport (PUL), the peninsula's, with a shuttle to the city
- Trieste airport (TRS), a little over an hour from the north of Istria
- Venice airport (VCE), with more flights from Spain
Getting around
- Hire car collected at the airport, for the interior and the hill villages
- Coastal buses between Pula, Rovinj and Poreč; the interior has almost no service
- Bike for the Parenzana and the Poreč routes
Where to sleep
- Arena Stoja, in Pula, if you land at Pula and arrive late
- Rovinj, as a base for the coast and the Lim fjord
Services
- Pula airport, with a shuttle and bus to Rovinj and Poreč
- Rovinj car park, outside the old town
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights3
Who you're with
Istria for whoever you're with
A trip with a toddler is not the same as one with a teenager. Pick yours to see what works and what to bear in mind.
Romans, animals, truffle and coves
Istria works well with children of different ages: visits are short, distances too, and each day can end in the water.
- What works bestBrijuni: a 15-minute boat, a…
- Where to sleepLarge campsites by the sea…
- Where to eatPula market for a picnic
- Keep in mindThe beaches are rock: water…
What works best
- Brijuni: a 15-minute boat, a tourist train and a safari park
- Truffle hunting: the dogs hook children of any age
- The Pula Arena, one hour, with underground rooms
Where to sleep
- Large campsites by the sea: Polari, Stoja, Stupice
- Poreč and Vrsar, for price and for being in the centre of the peninsula
Where to eat
- Pula market for a picnic
- Inland konobas at midday, without hurry
Keep in mind
- The beaches are rock: water shoes for everyone
- Kamenjak has very little shade: parasol and water
- The Rovinj bell tower is not for small children
What to do as a family
Bike, rock and something to tell
To a teenager Istria gives a challenge on the Parenzana and freedom in the coves of Kamenjak. What bores them are afternoons of shops in the old town.
- What works bestThe Parenzana from Vižinada to…
- Where to sleepCamping Arena Stupice, at the…
- Where to eatFuži with truffle in Motovun…
- Keep in mindOn the Parenzana, a helmet…
What works best
- The Parenzana from Vižinada to Livade: 20 km of gravel, viaducts and a tunnel in the dark
- The Kamenjak coves, for swimming and exploring by bike
- Climbing the St Euphemia bell tower in Rovinj
Where to sleep
- Camping Arena Stupice, at the gates of Kamenjak
- A campsite with bikes for hire, so they can get around on their own
Where to eat
- Fuži with truffle in Motovun: the dish they will remember
- Fish of the day in Banjole, choosing from the tray
Keep in mind
- On the Parenzana, a helmet and a light for the tunnel
- The Arena has concerts in summer: check the programme
- In the August sun, no cycling at midday
What to do with teenagers
Kamenjak Coves, Brijuni and Rovinj with the Dog
In Istria the dog is welcome in more places than it seems: the Pula amphitheatre, Brijuni National Park and Cape Kamenjak admit it on a lead. For sleeping, Maistra accepts it in Rovinj, at the Polari campsite and at the Grand Park. At Brijuni it pays an entry fee and cannot go on the train.
- WalksPula amphitheatre: on a lead…
- Beaches and swimmingCape Kamenjak: dogs on a…
- Where to sleepCamping Polari, in Rovinj: with…
- Keep in mindAt Brijuni, without the train…
Walks
- Pula amphitheatre: on a lead and supervised; bring bags
- Brijuni, from Fažana: on a lead and €15 entry; not on the train, the exhibitions or the safari
- From the Polari campsite to Rovinj along the coastal path, on foot or by bike
Beaches and swimming
- Cape Kamenjak: dogs on a lead; the park asks for a secluded cove or dusk, not among bathers
- Camping Polari has a dog beach
Where to sleep
- Camping Polari, in Rovinj: with a supplement; beach and showers for dogs
- Grand Park Hotel Rovinj: accepts pets, with a supplement
Keep in mind
- At Brijuni, without the train, the guided visit with a dog gets complicated: consider the app ticket
- At Kamenjak, from mid-June to September cars pay an entry fee
What to do with a dog
Roman Amphitheatre of Pula
Cape Kamenjak, Coves South of Premantura
Brijuni National Park from Fažana
Where to stay with a dog
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're drivingin a campervanif you're campingif you're cyclingin styleif you're flying
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
Grand Park Hotel Rovinj
Why we like it: Opposite the old town, about 800 m on foot along the promenade. Garage and valet parking, which in Rovinj solves the biggest problem of summer.
San Rocco
Why we like it: A family stone hotel in a vineyard village in the north-west, near the Parenzana and 15 minutes from the sea. It organises bike outings round Istria and has its own restaurant.
Hotel Kaštel Motovun
Why we like it: Sleeping inside Motovun lets you see it without day-trippers, first thing and at night. The Parenzana passes at the foot of the hill. It closes in winter; this season it reopens on 1 March 2027.
Camping Polari
Why we like it: 3.5 km from Rovinj's old town, with pitches that start at the shore and climb into the pine wood. You reach the centre by the coastal path, on foot or by bike, or by bus from…
Campsite
Camping Arena Stoja
Why we like it: The campsite closest to the centre of Pula, on a peninsula with pines and rock for swimming. The city bus stops in front: you go to the Arena without moving the motorhome.
Campsite
Camping Arena Stupice
Why we like it: At Premantura, at the gates of Kamenjak: you enter the cape by bike without paying for a car. It is huge; ask for a pitch in the pine-wood area if you want shade.
Services for this trip
Areas, for any way of travelling
| Area | Who it's for | Average night |
|---|---|---|
| Rovinj | Charming old town, a good base for the coast and the Lim | High |
| Poreč and Vrsar | Families, large campsites, close to the Parenzana | Medium |
| Pula and Medulin | Flights, the Arena, Brijuni and Kamenjak | Medium |
| Motovun and the interior | Truffles, wine and hill villages, no beach | Medium |
Where to eat
Where to eat in Istria
From set lunch menus to Michelin stars. We mark the price level and what to order at each place.
Monte
What to order: one of its two tasting menus, Flora or Fauna, with produce from around Rovinj.
Next to St Euphemia · closed in winter until mid-April · book online
Fish of the day
Konoba Batelina
What to order: the house's fish starters (sardines in saor, eel pâté, octopus salad) and the fish you choose from the tray they bring to the dining room.
Dinners only, Monday to Saturday · book by phone · no cards accepted
Konoba Mondo
What to order: boškarin carpaccio, the Istrian cattle, with black truffle, and homemade pasta (fuži or tagliatelle) with truffle.
At Barbacan 1, next to the village gate · book in season
Takeaway and markets
Pula Municipal Market, Pula
Map
Everything on the map
The places to stay and services on the map are the ones for the way you travel. Turn on the layers you want and tap a point to see its details.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Nearby
Near Istria
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
45.44° N · 12.34° E
Veneto
By planeCar-free
44.88° N · 15.62° E
Lika
By carBy planeBy campervanCampingCar-free
44.49° N · 11.34° E
Emilia-Romagna
By planeCar-free
47.04° N · 12.84° E
Carinthia
By carBy campervanCampingOn footBy bikeBy motorbike
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Enter the Arena first thing
It opens at 8:00 from April to September. By mid-morning the boat groups arrive and the heat bites.
- 2Buy Brijuni on the park's website
Individual tickets are sold in its online shop; in July and August the Fažana boat is full.
- 3Arrive early at Kamenjak
By vehicle you pay an entry fee from May to September, and on foot or by bike it is free. The coves at the end fill up before 11:00.
- 4Water and shade inland
Motovun and Grožnjan are high up and almost without shade at midday. Go up in the morning or at sunset.
August on the coast
It is expensive, Rovinj's car parks fill up and the large campsites are full. If you can only go in summer, sleep inland and go down to the coast first thing.
Do you need a car?
Almost always, yes. Between Pula, Rovinj and Poreč there are buses several times a day, but the interior (Motovun, Grožnjan, the truffle woods, the Parenzana) has hardly any public transport. By car, from Pula to Rovinj is about 40 minutes and from the coast to Motovun, under an hour.
The motorway that crosses the peninsula, the Istrian Y, is tolled and run by Bina Istra: you pay at booths by section, and the Učka tunnel, towards Rijeka, has its own toll. The ordinary roads are free and for short distances they are worthwhile.
How do you get there from Spain?
By plane, to Pula airport, usually with a stopover; many travellers fly to Venice or Trieste and continue by hire car (check that the contract allows crossing into Slovenia and Croatia). By car from Spain you cross France and Italy with motorway tolls and, from Trieste, a short stretch of Slovenia: on its motorways you need the e-vignette, which costs €16 for a week and is bought on the official DARS website. You can avoid it on minor roads.
Croatia has been in Schengen and used the euro since 1 January 2023: there is no border control with Slovenia or currency exchange.
Rovinj, Poreč or Pula?
Rovinj if you want the prettiest old town and the Lim coast; it is the most expensive. Poreč and Vrsar, if you travel with children or camping, and want the interior and the Parenzana nearby. Pula, if you arrive by plane and are going for the Arena, Brijuni and Kamenjak. With five nights, split: two on the south coast and three in Rovinj or inland.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What currency is used in Croatia?
The euro, since 1 January 2023. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but some village restaurants, such as Batelina in Banjole, only take cash.
Is there a check at the Slovenian border?
No. Croatia joined Schengen on 1 January 2023 and since then there have been no checks on the border with Slovenia. Carry your ID card or passport all the same.
Can you do Istria without a car?
Only the coast: buses between Pula, Rovinj and Poreč and excursion boats. The interior and the Parenzana need a car, a bike or an organised excursion.
When is truffle season?
Black truffle is hunted almost all year; the white, the most expensive, from autumn to early winter. Outings with a dog are done at any time.
Are the beaches sandy?
Almost all are rock or pebble, with stone platforms for swimming. Bring water shoes, especially at Kamenjak.
Can you camp wild or sleep in a motorhome outside a campsite?
No. In Croatia wild camping is banned, including in motorhomes, and municipalities fine overnight stays in car parks and on beaches. Istria has many campsites with waste disposal.