38 Best Sights in Istria, Croatia

Designed to accommodate 23,000 spectators, Pula's Arena is the sixth-largest building of its type in the world (after the Colosseum in Rome and similar arenas in Verona, Catania, Capua, and Arles). Construction was completed in the 1st century AD under the reign of Emperor Vespasian, and the Romans staged gladiator games here until such bloodthirsty sports were forbidden during the 5th century. It has remained more or less intact, except for the original tiers of stone seats and numerous columns that were hauled away for other buildings. Today it is used for summer concerts (by musicians including Sting, Robbie Williams, Imagine Dragons, and Jose Carreras), opera performances, and the annual film festival in mid-July. The underground halls house a museum with large wooden oil presses and amphorae.

The Brijuni Islands are a group of 14 small islands developed in the late 19th century, once the summer home to Yugoslavian president Tito and now one of Croatia's national parks. You'll need to pass through Fažana to catch the boat that will take you to the islands, and pausing in the seaside town at one of its collections of touristy restaurants and charming cafés along its small harbor can be restorative. Fažana's main cultural attractions—all just a short walk from the harbor—are the 16th-century Church of Saints Kosmas and Damian and the smaller 14th-century Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which you enter through an atmospheric loggia and whose ceiling features several layers of fascinating 15th-century Renaissance frescoes. But you are presumably here to visit the archipelago. Book tickets—whether by phone, at the box office, or directly on the Brijuni National Park website—at least one day in advance to reserve your seats on the boat. After the 15-minute national park ferry from Fažana, the entire tour of the park takes about four hours when using the tourist train (you can also rent golf carts or bikes). Your first view is of a low-lying island with a dense canopy of evergreens over blue waters. Ashore on Veliki Brijun, the largest island, a tourist train takes you past villas in the seaside forest and relics from the Roman and Byzantine eras. The Romans laid down the network of roads on this 6½-km-long (4-mile-long) island, and stretches of original Roman stonework remain. Rows of cypresses shade herds of deer and peacocks strut along pathways. The train stops at the Safari Park, a piece of Africa transplanted to the Adriatic; its zebras, Indian holy cattle, llamas, and elephants were all gifts from visitors from faraway lands. In the museum, an archaeological exhibition traces life on Brijuni through the centuries and a photography exhibition, "Tito on Brijuni," focuses on Tito and his fascinating guests.

The Brijuni Pocket Guide app gives you a self-guided tour by foot, bicycle, or electric car.

Sandi Chiavalon was barely 13 when he planted his first olive trees and decided to become an olive oil producer. Less than two decades later, Chiavalon's organic extra-virgin olive oil was chosen among the 15 best olive oils in the world by the prestigious Flos Olei. A visit to the Chiavalon tasting room is well worth a detour; book online one day in advance to arrange the tasting and farm tour, some of which are accompanied by delicious Istrian fare like cheese, prosciutto, and sausages. Make sure to take or ship home their oils and homemade tomato sauce and jams.

Inside this 18th-century Baroque church, the remains of Rovinj's patron saint are said to lie within a 6th-century sarcophagus. Born near Constantinople, Euphemia was martyred in her youth, on September 16 in AD 304, under the reign of Emperor Diocletian. The marble sarcophagus containing her remains mysteriously vanished in AD 800, when it was at risk of destruction by iconoclasts—and, legend has it, it somehow floated out to sea and washed up in faraway Rovinj. (Note the wall engraving just to the right of the entrance of St. Euphemia holding Rovinj in her arms.) On September 16 of each year many people gather to pray by her tomb. There is no better place to enjoy 360-degree sunset views of Rovinj than from the church bell tower. In summer, concerts and art shows take place in the piazza in front of the church.

The magnificent Eufrazijeva Bazilika is among the most perfectly preserved early Christian churches in Europe, and as a UNESCO World Heritage site, one of the most important monuments of Byzantine art on the Adriatic. Built by Bishop Euphrasius in the middle of the 6th century, the basilica consists of a delightful atrium, a church decorated with stunning mosaics, and an octagonal baptistery. Added in the 17th century was a bell tower you can climb (for a modest fee) and a 17th-century Bishop's Palace, whose foundations date to the 6th century; the basement contains an exhibit of stone monuments and mosaics previously on the basilica floor. The church interior is dominated by biblical mosaics above, behind, and around the main apse. In the apsidal semidome, the Virgin holding the Christ child is seated in a celestial sphere on a golden throne, flanked by angels in flowing white robes. On the right side are three martyrs, the patrons of Poreč; the mosaic on the left shows Bishop Euphrasius holding a model of the church, slightly askew. High above the main apse, just below the beamed ceiling, Christ holds an open book while apostles approach on both sides. Other luminous, shimmeringly intense mosaics portray further ecclesiastical themes.

The Forum, the original central square, administrative hub, and marketplace of ancient and medieval Pula, is still the city's most important public meeting place after 2,000 years. Today, the Forum is a spacious square ringed with bustling cafés, shops, and restaurants. There were once three temples here, only one of which remains: the Temple of Augustus. Perfectly preserved, the Augustov Hram was built between 2 BC and AD 14. Next to it stands the Gradska Palača (Town Hall), which was erected during the 13th century using part of another Roman temple as the back wall. The arcades on three sides of the Forum square were added later, during the Renaissance.

Far from sun and sea though it may be, this cave has long been one of the Poreč area's top natural attractions. About 8 km (5 miles) northeast of town, near Nova Vas, this wonderful world of five limestone halls includes not only the miniature olm (known as the cave salamander) and insects but, of course, stalactites, stalagmites, and dripstone formations—from "curtains" 30 feet long to "statues" resembling the Virgin Mary, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and the body of the 13th-century shepherdess Milka, who supposedly lost her way down here while looking for her lover Gabriel (who met the same fate). One of the halls includes a hatch some 70 yards deep that leads to underground lakes. Groups leave every half hour on a 40-minute guided tour. Those without car transport may wish to join an excursion to the cave from Poreč or another nearby town.

Near the small medieval hill town of Momjan, the Kabola Winery is a must-visit for wine and olive oil aficionados. This boutique winery offers tours of its wine cellar and small wine museum and full tastings in its picturesque traditional Istrian farmhouse. Vintners since 1891, the Markezic family produces only organic wines and extra-virgin olive oil. Their wines are wonderful, with their Malvazija Unica, Teran, and Dolce being some of the more popular. Their olive oil blends three kinds of olives: indigenous Istarska Bjelica mixed with Leccino and Pendolino. Fresh, well-rounded, and balanced, it marries perfectly with seafood, cheese, and salads. Call in advance to arrange a visit to sample their wares.

At Gianfranco and Antonella Kozlović's stylish architecturally impressive winery, which complements the scenic countryside, you can enjoy an extensive wine tasting indoors or on their outdoor terrace overlooking the vineyard. If you call ahead, you can enjoy a full tasting of wine and olive oil as you enjoy local cheeses and prosciutto. Next door is Stari Podrum, one of the best tavern restaurants in Istria.

Perched in all its compact medieval redolence atop a hill a short drive or walk from the sea, Labin is Croatia's former coal-mining capital and the birthplace of Matthias Flacius Illyricus, a Reformation-era collaborator of Martin Luther. Its narrow historic streets are well deserving of a good walk—followed, if time allows, by a dip in the sea in Rabac. From Labin's endearing main square lined with cafés and boutiques to its 16th-century loggia and bastion, it's an easy stroll to Šetalište San Marco, a fountain-filled promenade with spectacular views of the sea. Walk to the end and take a sharp left up the steep cobblestone road to the onetime fortress, Fortica. At the top, you will enjoy sweeping panoramic views of Ucka Mountain, Cres and Losinj islands, Rabac, and the sea. As you go down the other side of the hill toward the main square, you will pass the Crkva Rođenja Blažene Djevice Marije (Church of the Birth of the Virgin Mary). With a facade featuring a 14th-century rose window and a 17th-century Venetian lion you will encounter elsewhere in Istria, the church is a mix of architectural styles dating back to a late 16th-century renovation, though its foundations may date to the 11th century. Working art studios, souvenir shops, museums, and galleries are dotted throughout Old Town Labin. The Labin Art Republika hosts art openings, live musical concerts, and an outdoor documentary film festival in July and August.

For a lively and aromatic atmosphere in which to have a shot of espresso, buy a banana, or just wander about gazing at food stands, check out Pula's market square, Narodni trg. The Tržnica (City Market) sits in the center of the square. On one side of the stately two-story market building—whose iron-and-glass construction was state-of-the-art when it opened to great fanfare in 1903—you'll find outdoor fruit and vegetable stands on stone tables under red umbrellas and, on the other side, cafés and small boutiques. Inside the Tržnica itself you will find the fish market (downstairs), meat and poultry butchers, bakeries, cheesemongers, fresh pasta, and several fast-food eateries (second floor).

With its beautiful aqua-blue bay and splendid natural surroundings down rocky cliffs that call to mind the Amalfi Coast, the seaside resort town of Rabac has transformed from a quiet 17th-century fishing village into one of the most popular tourist destinations in Istria. Perfectly situated just below Old Town Labin and equidistant from Opatija and Pula, Rabac offers an endless number of white pebble beaches and untouched nature ideal for hiking, biking, kayaking, windsurfing, fishing, diving, and snorkeling. Many hotels, resorts, boutique hotels, villas, apartments, and campgrounds host international tourists looking for family-friendly holiday experiences. Yet, despite its growing popularity, Rabac still manages to transmit the same casual coastal charm and welcoming spirit of the 17th-century village it once was. A bonus is having the medieval hilltop town of Labin just 10 minutes up the road, where its numerous chic restaurants, live music programs, art galleries, and historical sites further enrich your holiday.

This pretty, waterfront medieval hilltop town just 10 km (6 miles) south of Poreč is situated near the Limski fjord's northern juncture with the sea (and yet another place you can catch a tour of the fjord). Famous since Roman times for its high-quality stone, which helped build Venice, Vrsar is home to the 12th-century Romanesque church Svete Marija od Mora (St. Mary of the Sea), which has three naves. In his memoirs, the Venetian adventurer Casanova fondly recalled the local Teran red wine. Additionally, Croatia's oldest and largest naturist/nudist resort, FKK Park Koversada, is just a couple miles south.

You can taste, experience, and shop all at this well-regarded value-oriented winery. The tasting room provides a sampling of their high-quality Istrian wines, olive oils, and cheeses. One white varietal, Malvazija, is well known throughout the Adriatic, dating back to the days of the Venetian city-states. Muškat Ottonel is another high-quality native variety. Small lovingly produced batches of barrique provide high-quality (red) wine that is well-regarded in restaurants and hotels across Croatia. You can also get guided tastings, cellar tours, wine roads, and vineyard tours, and the winery has the largest AgroLaguna single olive grove in Croatia.

Whether you're looking for an adrenaline-filled day or a relaxing one by the pool, Aquacolors Water Park has you covered. With 12 slides and over a full acre of pools, it's the largest water park in Croatia. A 61-meter-long (200-foot-long) looping slide rockets you down at high speed, while a 204-meter-long (⅓-mile-long) lazy river eases you along on an inflatable tube. The park offers endless hours of fun for the whole family and favorable pricing. There's even an adult-only area with a high-tech bar. 

The first water park in Istria opened in 2014, featuring 20 waterslides, including an almost 90-foot-high free-fall waterslide; family rafting in inflatable rafts; three pools, including a children's pool with a water castle, pirate ship, and several smaller slides; sand volleyball; and a badminton court. Direct buses from Poreč, Novigrad, and resort towns in between run throughout the day in July and August.

Located on the ground floor of the onetime Austro-Hungarian fortress in the resort area of Verudela, a few kilometers from the city center, the aquarium also serves as a sea turtle rescue center. Its 35 pools offer a colorful look at hundreds of sea creatures from the Adriatic's underwater world and include a touch pool with sea stars, sea urchins, crabs, and sea squirts. Climb to the roof of the fort for great vistas over Pula.

Once part of a magnificent basilica built in the 6th century by Bishop Maximilian of Istria, the humble stone Chapel of St. Mary of Formosa can be found between Sigirijeva Ulica and the port. Over the centuries, the chapel fell into ruin, especially during a 1242 fire at the time of the Venetian conquest of Pula. A large portion of its interior was shipped to Venice, where it was used in building the St. Mark's Library and the Sale delle Quattro Porte of the Doge's Palace. Usually closed to visitors, it's occasionally used as a gallery space, which will give you a chance to take a peek at the interior.

From the tourist office on the main square, stroll down Ulica Castello to Crkva Svetog Blaža, an 18th-century structure built in the style of architect Palladio that not only has the highest campanile in all of Istria but is also the unlikely home of more than 370 relics, such as the mummies or mummified body parts of six saints impressively preserved without embalming. Among the best preserved are St. Nicolosa Bursa and Leon Bembo the Blessed. Nicolosa, whose relatively elastic skin and overall postmortem presentability make her one of the best-preserved human bodies in Europe, was born in Koper (Istria) in the 15th century and was a nun in Venice and elsewhere; she's the one with the garland of flowers still on her head. Leon Bembo the Blessed was a 12th-century Venetian priest tortured in religious riots while ambassador to Syria. And then there is St. Sebastian, a Roman-officer-turned-Christian who was whipped and strangled around AD 288 in Rome after initially surviving torture by arrows. This famous saint's head, spinal column, neck muscles, and related parts are on display here. As for St. Barbara, from 3rd-century Nicomeda (in present-day Turkey), only her leg remains; she so disagreed with her father's pagan slave-keeping lifestyle that he personally killed her with a sword. Admittance to the mummy room, behind the main altar, includes an English-language recording that sums up the saints' lives and roads to mummy-hood. Call to make an appointment to see the collection.

The Cuj olive oils (and wines) are a true labor of love and passion. Owner Danijel Kraljevic—Cuj—will infuse you with both when you visit his wine and olive oil estate in the village of Farnažine near Umag. A beautifully restored, old stone building houses an olive mill, wine cellar, and tasting room with an open fireplace. He produces three single-sort extra-virgin olive oils—Buža, Črna, and Bjelica—and one multi-sort extra-virgin olive oil—Selekcija. Call in advance to arrange a visit.

When its residents abandoned Dvigrad's "two towns" suddenly in the mid-17th century—fleeing the combined misfortune of plague and attacks by Uskok raiders—and established nearby Kanfanar, surely they didn't foresee that more than three centuries later, tourists would delight in what they left behind. If exploring ruins is your (or your child's) thing, this is the place for you. Along an isolated road 23 km (14 miles) east of Rovinj, outside the sleepy town of Kanfanar (a short detour if you're headed north toward Poreč, Motovun, or Grožnjan), this huge maze of dirt paths surrounded by high stone walls makes for an adventuresome, imagination-stirring walk. Indeed, just enough restoration has been done to let your imagination "reconstruct" the rest: some of the walls are vine-covered, and much of the place is overgrown with vegetation. Nor is there a single explanatory sign in any language. All this combines to give you the sense that you are discovering this eerie ghost town of a fortress city, even if a few other tourists are also wandering about. The battlements are impressively intact, and toward the center of the fortress you will find the remains of St. Sophia's Church, replete with depressions in the ground that contained the crypts of very important persons. To get here, take the main road east out of Rovinj toward Kanfanar. Just before you cross the railroad tracks and enter Kanfanar, you'll see a sign pointing to Dvigrad, which is to your left; from the sign, the ruins are about 4 km (2½ miles) down an isolated scrub-lined road. A Medieval Fair takes place in May, complete with historical theater, music, jousting, food, and drinks.

The central scene of this large and lovely 3rd-century mosaic—which otherwise features geometric patterns, animals, and plants aplenty—is of the punishment of Dirce, who, according to Greek legend, lies under the enraged bull to whose horns she is about to be fastened. Once part of a Roman house, the mosaic was unearthed after World War II bombings.

The mosaic can be viewed for free by looking down through a grate beside an uninspiring apartment building a stone's throw from the Chapel of St. Mary of Formosa.

Today a public art gallery, St. Thomas was previously a small bright-yellow church dating to the Middle Ages but was rebuilt in 1722. It's on your way back down the hill from the main cathedral, and right after you pass by it, you will pass under a lovely arched hall some 50 feet long with a wood-beamed ceiling. On your left, you'll notice a small courtyard encircled by pastel-painted houses with green and blue shutters and colorful flowers in the window. St. Thomas is part of the Heritage Museum of Rovinj.

Whether from the cathedral or elsewhere along Kandlerova Ulica, a walk up the hill will lead you within minutes to the 17th-century Venetian fortress, the Kaštel, that towers over Pula's city center and houses the Historical and Maritime Museum of Istria. Built on the site of a pre-Roman fort, the preserved star-shaped fortress dates back to 1630 and has four bastions. Despite its 100,000 items of cultural, historical, political, military, and ethnographic character displayed across 18 collections, the museum is somewhat lackluster. However, it does carry the value-added benefit of allowing you to wander around its ramparts.

Simply walking around its perimeter offers fine views of the city's extensive shipyard below and, if you look to the north, the steeple of Vodnjan's church 12 km (7½ miles) away.

Built originally in the 4th century, the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pula's star ecclesiastical attraction—more often called simply St. Mary's Cathedral—was transformed in the second half of the 5th century into a three-nave basilica. Extensive reconstruction began in the 16th century, with the adjacent bell tower constructed in the late 17th century from stones taken from the Arena. Note that the Roman-era mosaic on the floor of the central nave bears a 5th-century donor's inscription.

A kažun is a traditional, dry-stone round structure or hut built in ancient times, traditionally used as a shelter for farmers and shepherds in remote fields. There are still more than 3,000 of these huts in the vicinity of Vodnjan. Kažun Park, an outdoor museum, demonstrates the four stages of kažun construction, from its foundation, walls, and roof to its final appearance. To many citizens of Vodnjan, the kažun is a part of their identity and serves as the pride of the people and the theme of their inexhaustible inspirations.

Devoted to Rovinj’s batana (traditional wooden boat), this small museum in a typical multistory house has a permanent exhibition of boats and fishing tools. It also hosts various cultural events and educational programs, and during the summer the museum organizes gourmet evenings on Tuesday and Thursday in a spacio, a typical Rovinj tavern or wine cellar. These start with a batana ride from the Mali mol around Rovinj's Old Town to the tavern, where guests taste typical dishes like salted anchovies or marinated sardines and local wine.

The Limski kanal is a 13-km-long (8-mile-long) karst canyon, whose emerald-green waters are flanked by forested valley walls that rise gradually to more than 300 feet inland. The canyon was formed in the last Ice Age, and it is Istria's most fertile breeding area for mussels and oysters—hence, you'll find the excellent Viking seafood restaurant on-site. Tours are available from both Poreč and Rovinj, with various agencies and independent operators whose stands and boats are impossible to miss. A reservation a day or two in advance can't hurt, though, particularly in midsummer. Expect to pay approximately €25 for the four-hour tour or €50 for a daylong tour that includes a "fish picnic." You can also visit the canal on your own by car. And hiking enthusiasts can take a trail to the Romualdova Cave, which is open daily from June to September.

With vineyards in the northeast, Matošević Winery welcomes visitors for a tour and tasting at their top-notch cellars in Krunčići, near Sveti Lovreč, a village not far from Rovinj. Their Malvazijas Rubina and Alba bear international renown and are served at many Michelin-starred restaurants.

A family boutique winery in the northeast corner of the peninsula between Buje and Umag, Coronica produces some of Croatia's most delicious wines. A highlight is their Malvazija, a white grape native to Istria best enjoyed served with fish and seafood. The Gran Teran, a local variety of red wine, has been a gold medal winner at international wine competitions for many years.