• Time frame: 7 days
• 200 km was traveled, or almost three hours of driving.
• Highlights: Istrian wines, the Pula Amphitheatre, and the historic town of Rovinj
The stunning Istria area of Croatia is one of the best spots in the Balkans for a road trip. Istria, one of Croatia’s culinary hotspots, is a great destination for both sun worshippers and foodies.
Plan to spend at least a week visiting this beautiful region if you want to make the most out of your trip to Istria. This will enable you to discover the hill towns and gastronomic scene of « Green Istria » in addition to the stunning seaside city of « Blue Istria. »
The largest city in Istria, Pula, is the best site to start a road trip. In addition to being well-known for its massive Roman Amphitheatre, Pula is also worth visiting for its vibrant central market, the House of Istrian Olive Oil, which teaches visitors about the process of making oil, and for a day excursion to the Brijuni Islands.
Travel north from Pula to the seaside town of Umag. Though it doesn’t have many tourist attractions, this quaint beach village is enjoyable to stroll through and serves as a great starting point for exploring other areas of the area.
You can visit some of Istria’s top wineries from Umag, or you can go to the picturesque hill towns of Motovun, Buje, or Groznjan for a day excursion. Enjoy all the pleasures of a Tuscan hill village, but with less visitors, while you gorge on delicacies rich with truffles. Alternatively, you may take a road trip along the coast to see the breathtaking Lim Fjord and the charming old villages of Novigrad or Porec.
And lastly, a visit to Rovinj is a must on any vacation to Istria. The pedestrianized streets and immaculate preservation of the Old Town will give you the impression that you have traveled back in time. Even though Rovinj gets extremely crowded in the summer, it still has a lot of charm and is well worth visiting.
