What to do in Istria, Croatia – A Travel Guide

It’s been summer 2020 when we spontaneously booked an apartment on a Sunday evening for the next day already. We packed up our things in the middle of the night and went on a little road trip to Croatia – to Istria, to be exact. We crossed three borders during our 8hr drive from Nuremberg to a small town called Gimino in central Istria. From here, we would go on a different adventure every single day. I absolutely fell in love with Rovinj, indulged in some food, had way too much truffle liquor, and conquered my fear of cliff jumping, yay!

Istria – what to see and expect

Istria is well known for medieval cities with magnificent buildings, excellent beaches, and great food. Wineries, Nationalparks, Olive trees, and caves are just some things to see in Istria. This part of Croatia is one of the most popular ones for visitors, predominantly European travelers. Most beaches are marked with the „Blue Flag“ for excellent quality, which is undoubtedly one of the main reasons most people love them. Historic cities like Porec and Rovinj add some great sightseeing programs to your travel itinerary! 

Pula

Let’s start with Istrias “capital city. “Pula is located in the south of Istria and offers an excellent touristic infrastructure. With its airport and touristic facilities, it is the city in Istria that will probably cross your way once or twice. In Pula, you can explore the town, the famous Arena, go shopping, and book many different adventures like kayaking, catamaran tours, and dolphin watching. Is Pula worth visiting? Well, honestly – we’ve been a little disappointed. Pula was the last city we visited, and it just doesn’t compare to Rovinj and Porec’s beauty, for example. It is excellent for travelers who want to explore a lot because of everything it offers. The city itself isn’t that special in my personal opinion.

Rovinj

WOW WOW WOW – I loved that little city. We spent one day here, and I can only recommend stopping by this beautiful, artistic place. The alleys, the shops, the restaurants, nature,… I can’t rave enough about how much I love it. This city is a must-see in Istria!

Poreč

We went to Poreč to see the UNESCO World Heritage Site (the St. Euphrasian Basilica) and afterward walked through the city. The small town has a beautiful promenade along the water outside the old town we really liked. The old town itself invited us to stay for some delicious food and drinks after indulging in the culture. I would love to return one day!

Other places to visit in Istria

Enjoy the beaches

Croatia is well known for its beaches with crystal clear water. Besides that, there are so many hidden gems and lonesome beaches you can explore, making it a lot better. Most beaches are pebble/rock beaches, so make sure to bring some water shoes and a good mat underneath your towels. The best beaches in Istria we’ve been to are the ones at Cape Kamenjak.

Water sports: snorkeling, diving, cliff jumping

Talking about the great beaches and water quality: try water sports activities! Cliff jumping, snorkeling, and diving are just some to name. We went on a kayak tour with a local guide who showed us some caves you can only reach from the water. Afterward, we went cliff jumping, where mostly locals went on the weekends to jump off a rock 8m above the crystal clear water. It was amazing! 10/10 would recommend it!! 

Hiking

If you’re more on the “active” side of life, Istria offers some excellent trekking and hiking possibilities. There are routes along the coast and central Istria, like the most famous “Parenzana “trail. Many trails would be great to also explore some waterfalls like the Zarecki Krov, Sopot, or Gologoricki dol. It would be an outstanding possibility to explore the country a little off the beaten track along with its caves, wineries, and olive farms. The national park “Urka “offers a fantastic view from the summit. 

Explore the caves

Baredine Cave is very famous and easy to reach from most tourist cities. The cave itself is a stalactite cave. The Pazin cave can be found underneath the castle of Pazin. You can explore it on an educational path. You can also take a ride on the zipline over the Pazin gorge for a little more adrenalin. Silja Mramornica is another beautiful cave in the north of Istria. The deepest part of this cave is 20m below ground. 

As you might know, I am a huge foodie, and Istria didn’t let me down. The local cuisine includes many meat and fish; nevertheless, you will also find vegetarian or vegan options. Now let’s talk about what you should try once you’re there. First of all, Wine and Olives! The wine we had was outstanding, and even though I don’t like pure olives, we couldn’t resist but buy some pure, local olive oil. Amazing!

Another local specialty would be truffles. We tried truffle pasta, truffle cheese, and truffle liquor. My favorite must have been the truffle liquor. My decision-making ability might have already been a little clouded after trying several kinds of local liquors in a small shop in Rovinj, lol.

(By the way, I’d also recommend trying red wine liquor. It tastes just like a cold, refreshing mulled wine!)

Now on to the food: Have you even been to Croatia without even eating Cevapcici?! We tried the classic Cevapcici with Djuviec rice and the cheese-baked variation. Both were amazing. As in every other seaside city, the fresh fish was absolutely amazing. We loved every single meal we tried!

Take a tour to…

So tell me, what would you love to do in Istria? Or maybe you’ve been there already? Let me know in the comments!
I definitely enjoyed our time in Istria and would love to return one day. It’s such an excellent road trip destination, especially when you’re living in Europe. The water quality is breathtaking, and the friendliness of the people was heartwarming.

As always, stay happy and healthy! ♥

See you soon,