Istria is a large western peninsula along the north coast of Croatia, known for it's rolling hills and plethora of vineyards, olive orchards, truffles and other agro-tourism. It's no wonder why some call Istria, the "Tuscany of Croatia." From Crikvenica it takes only an hour drive to get to the region and once you are there, most highlights are within an hour away from one another making it very convenient to see a lot in a single day. Here's our favorite ways to take a day trip to Istria:
Igor and I like to leave early in the morning and take the coastal route passing by Opatija, Lovran, Mošćenička Draga and other small towns until we reach Plomin. Here we make our first stop for coffee and palačinke (Croatian crepes) at Hotel & Restaurant Flanona. We definitely recommend you sit outside on the terrace with stunning panoramic views of the Kvarner Bay and Cres Island.
For more travel plans check out our Day Trip to Krk, Cres & Lošinj Island
From there we continue to the seaside city of Pula, which is the largest city in Istria. It's hard to miss the main feature of this city, which is the well-preserved Roman Colosseum, also known as the Pula Arena or Amphitheater. What once was the place for gladiator fights is now used as a venue for music concerts. You can walk all around and inside the colosseum. Underground there is also a museum with other Ancient Rome artifacts and a gift shop. Other historical sights to see while visiting Pula is the Arch of the Sergii, which during Roman times was the city gate and the Fortress Kaštel, which was built by the Venetians in the 1600s. If you have more time in Pula, you should check out nearby Brijuni National Park, which is an archipelago of islands reachable by boat with archaeological and cultural sights.
HERE are some of the best outdoor activities you can do in Croatia!
Next stop is the picturesque, seaside town of Rovinj. Along the way, you can explore the well preserved Morosini-Grimani Castle in Svetvinčenat. This 13th century house was originally home to the De Castro family and later served as a fortress for the Venetians against the Austro-Hungarians. During the Renaissance period, the Morosini family became owners and renovated the castle. When Morosina Morosini married Marino Grimani it became part of the Grimani di San Luca family.
There are also several nearby wineries and olive orchards you can visit for a tour and tasting, such as Oleum Maris Olive Oil, Cadenela Organic Olive Oil, Meloto Olive Oil, Medea Winery, Chiavalon Olive Oil, Meneghetti Winery, Perdisacca Olive Oil and Stancija Collis Winery & Olive Oil. Around this time of the trip it's usually lunchtime and there are plenty of wonderful restaurants nearby. Some of our best recommendations in Rovinj are: Puntulina, El Bugadur, Giannino Restaurant and Restaurant Pastrik. What makes this adorable fishing port unique is the old town is closed to cars with only walkable, narrow cobblestone streets that lead all the way to the water's edge and up the hill to Saint Euphemia Church and bell tower. In between buildings are little openings where you can fit a table and chair or you can use it as a diving spot right into the sea. If you have more time in Rovinj, there are a string of islands visible from the mainland you can visit by boat.
From Rovinj you have a few different route options you can take to continue your day trip:
1. North staying along the coast - visit other quaint coastal towns, such as Vrsar, Poreč, Novigrad or Umag. Vrsar has a similar look to Rovinj because it also has a church and bell tower, Saint Martin Church, located on the top of the hill. Poreč is flat but its Euphrasian Basilica stands out along the skyline with its dazzling mosaics speckled with gemstones. Great for families, Poreč has Aquacolors Aquapark, Novigrad is also flat with Saint Pelagia Church and bell tower stretching up along its skyline. Hanging above the large town square are colorful umbrellas that create a canopy of shade while you visit museums, shops and restaurants. Just outside of Novigrad is another popular waterpark, called Istralandia. Umag has preserved its 10th century town walls, gate and drawbridge. You can also find Roman artifacts in a former defense tower turned museum. The Assumption of the Virgin Mary Church and bell tower is seen along the skyline. All along this area there are several wonderful campsites to choose from, if you're looking to stay longer than a day. A few campsites are even more "glamp-ing" than camping, such as Valamar.
2. East to central Istria - stop by the town of Pazin, which is known for its medieval castle, cave, and zip line. There are also two nearby waterfalls with natural swimming pools below, Pazinski krov and Zarečki krov.
3. Northeast to central Istria - there are so many wineries you can tour, such as Matošević, Radovan, Cossetto, Dean, Geržinić, Pilato, Deklić, Rossi, Fakin, Tomaz, Roxanich and Benvenuti. Along the way you can also tour olive oil farms, such as Antica, Ipša and Marušić.
If you take route option #2 or #3 you can easily get to the historic hillside town of Motovun. The Celts and Illyrians have both claimed this territory in the past. The town's name is actually of Celtic origin, called Montona, meaning "a town in the hills." You can park and walk up the hill to the town or you can purchase tickets and ride the bus up. The town is full of winding cobblestone streets and closed to most car traffic. Saint Stephen's Church and bell tower are seen at the very top. If walking up the hill works up an appetite, we suggest Konoba Mondo (which you may have seen Chef Anthony Bourdain adventure to on his TV episode in Croatia) or for seating with panoramic views of Istria, eat at Konoba Fakin.
A short drive away from Motovun is Karlić Tartufi (Truffles) in the town of Buzet. If time permits, definitely consider taking the Truffle Hunting Tour in the nearby forest with their truffle hunting dogs. They also offer cooking classes, tastings, a gourmet shop and have a museum.
As you leave Buzet, you can drive by the medieval town of Hum. It is said to be the smallest town in the world due to it having only around 30 residents. At the old town gate you can see Glagolitic writing, which is the oldest Slavic alphabet.
We usually leave Istria through the tunnel under Učka Mountain to head back to Crikvenica. If time allows, journey up the mountain to Učka Nature Park to see amazing views of the Kvarner Bay as well as Krk and Cres Islands. The park offers several hiking routes, canyons, waterfalls and historical sights.
So, depending on your interests, how much time you have and what pace you want to go, there are many options for a day trip to Istria. You could spend an entire day in one place or you could get a taste of many locations. Igor and I have done it both ways and there are several places we still have on our list for our next trip. Whichever route you decide, your tour around idyllic Istria will be unforgettable.
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Happy Travels! Sretan Put!
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