Brijuni National Park from Fažana

What it is

Brijuni is an archipelago off the south-west coast of Istria, north of the entrance to Pula harbour, protected as a national park. The largest island, Veliki Brijun, mixes Mediterranean forest, meadows and English-style park with Roman remains, Austro-Hungarian fortresses and the mark of two eras: that of the Austrian Kupelwieser family, who transformed the islands in the early 20th century, and that of Josip Broz Tito, to whom the park devotes one of its exhibitions. You can only get there on the park's boat from Fažana.

Getting there

Drive to Fažana, a coastal village next to Pula; the Istrian Y motorway is signposted for the islands. Pula airport is about 15 km away. The boat leaves from the quay in the village centre and takes about 15 minutes; in season there are departures every 30 to 60 minutes. Before boarding buy the ticket at the park office, at Brionska 10, next to the quay, or in its online shop. You have to board at the time marked on your ticket: you cannot enter earlier or later.

The excursion to Veliki Brijun

The guided visit lasts about three and a half hours, with a guide in Croatian, Italian, German, Russian or English.

1. Tourist train, one hour. It runs along the coast northwards, past the golf course, the castle and the Kupelwieser-era buildings, with a view of Mali Brijun and its large Austro-Hungarian fort.
2. Safari park. About 9 hectares with about 80 herbivores, mostly from Africa and Asia, and a growing number of native species. There is a stop to see them close up and a bar.
3. Panoramic loop through the west of the island, among holm-oak woods, laurels, pines, cedars and sequoias, with about 400 plant species recorded in the archipelago. You pass the Tegetthoff fort, at the highest point, the old zoo, which operated until 1995, and the remains of the Roman villa at Verige bay.
4. On foot round the harbour. Copies of frescoes and Glagolitic inscriptions from Istria and Kvarner in the church of St Germain, the exhibition of photographs of Tito at Brijuni, the one devoted to Paul Kupelwieser and a natural history exhibition. You end at the Boat House, the park's interpretation centre.

If you go independently, you can stay on the island after the visit and return on any of the park's boats. There is also a ticket without a guide, with the Brijuni Pocket Guide app, to get around on foot or by hiring a bike or electric car.

2026 prices

• Adults, with guide: €35 from 1 January to 31 May and from 1 October to 31 December; €50 from 1 June to 30 September.
• Students and over-65s: €30 and €40.
• Children aged 7 to 18: €15 and €20.
• Adults with the Pocket Guide app, no guide: €30 and €40.

Under-7s do not pay. There is no family ticket. The price includes the return boat, the guide, the train, the safari park and the exhibitions. The park has already published the 2027 rate on its website: check it if you are travelling next year.

With a dog

Dogs may go on a lead and pay an entry fee, €15 in 2026. They cannot go on the train or into the exhibitions or the safari park, so the guided visit with a dog gets complicated: consider the app ticket.

With children

It is a very comfortable excursion with children: a short boat ride, a train and animals. Under-7s enter free and those aged 7 to 18 pay half.

When to go

All year; in summer there are more boats. Buy the ticket in advance in July and August to be sure of a place in the group for your language. In spring and autumn the rate is lower and the island is quieter.