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    Pula
    Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Croatia

    Pula

    City

    Pula is the largest city in Istria and is located at the southern tip of the peninsula.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Croatia
    7. Istria
    9. Pula
    Pula is the largest city in Istria and is located at the southern tip of the peninsula. Its landmark is one of the six largest preserved Roman arenas, complemented by a triumphal arch, a temple at the Forum, and a Venetian fortress above the city.Pula is a working and port city with a shipyard, not a holiday backdrop. From here, boats depart for Brijuni National Park.

    Sights in Pula

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Arena of Pula
    Historic Landmark

    1Arena of Pula

    The Roman Amphitheatre was built between 27 BC and 68 AD and ranks among the six largest preserved arenas. Today, it hosts concerts and the Pula Film Festival.
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    Augustus Temple
    Historic Landmark

    2Augustus Temple

    The 1st-century AD temple stands at the ancient Forum, now the main square.
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    Sergii Arch
    Historic Landmark

    3Sergii Arch

    The Triumphal Arch from the 1st century BC honored the Sergii family and marks the entrance to the Old Town.
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    Kaštel and Historical Museum of Istria
    Museum

    4Kaštel and Historical Museum of Istria

    The museum is housed in the 17th-century Venetian star fort above the Old Town. From its walls, you can see over the city and harbor.
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    Aquarium Pula
    Aquarium

    5Aquarium Pula

    The aquarium is in Verudela Fortress and operates a sea turtle rescue station.
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    Restaurants in Pula

    1

    Ribarska Koliba restaurant

    Fish restaurant, featured in the Michelin Guide.
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    2

    Trattoria Vodnjanka

    Trattoria with traditional Istrian cuisine, rated 14 out of 20 points in the Gault&Millau 2026.
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    3

    Batelina

    Family-run Konoba in fishing village Banjole, south of Pula, famed for fish and seafood, Michelin Guide recommended.
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    Dining and Drinks

    The cuisine of Pula is rustic-Istrian in character.

    Maneštra and Jota

    Thick stew of beans and potatoes with bacon and garlic, with Jota featuring sauerkraut.

    Fuži

    Handmade pasta of egg, flour and water, cut into diamonds and folded, often with truffles or Boškarin ragout.

    Boškarin and Pršut

    The meat of the Istrian longhorn cattle Boškarin is protected as a designation of origin, and Istrian raw ham dries in the Bora wind.

    Culture and History

    Pula became Roman in 177 BC and a colony around 46/45 BC; from 1331 to 1797, it belonged to Venice. The Arena was built between 27 BC and 68 AD and today serves as a stage: For decades, the Pula Film Festival in July has shown films outdoors, in 2026 the 73rd edition took place. The Historical Museum of Istria is housed in Kaštel, the Venetian fortress.

    Getting to and Around

    Pula Airport is located a few kilometers east of the city. Buses go to Rovinj, Poreč, Rijeka and Zagreb. To Brijuni National Park, take a boat from Fažana; the crossing takes around 15 minutes.

    Accommodations in Pula

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    Campgrounds in Pula

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    Nearby

    Rovinj is a port city on the west coast of Istria, whose old town is situated on a former island around the Church of St. Euphemia. Narrow streets, colorful waterfront houses, and a number of excellent restaurants make the city one of Croatia's most visited places.Until 1763, the old town was separated from the mainland by a canal; today it is a pedestrian zone. To the south lies the Zlatni rt Forest Park with its bathing coves.
    Istria

    Istria

    Istria is the largest peninsula of the Adriatic and is located in northwestern Croatia, near the border with Slovenia and Italy. Venetian port towns like Rovinj and Poreč, the Roman arena of Pula, and hill villages above the Mirna Valley make the region one of the most visited in the country.
    Poreč

    Poreč

    Poreč is a coastal town in West Istria with an old town on a narrow peninsula and the Euphrasian Basilica, an early Christian episcopal complex on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Besides the old town, long hotel and bathing bays to the north and south attract many beach holidaymakers.The old town's street network still follows the Roman camp, with its main axes Decumanus and Cardo.
    Motovun

    Motovun

    Motovun is a walled hilltop town in inland Istria, high above the Mirna Valley. Via the preserved town walls, you can walk around the town and look out far over vineyards and the truffle forest in the valley.A few kilometers northwest lies Grožnjan, known since the 1960s as a city of artists with galleries and summer music events.
    Kvarner

    Kvarner

    The Kvarner Bay is located between Istria and the Croatian mainland, with the port city of Rijeka at its northern end. The seaside resort of Opatija and the islands of Krk, Cres, Lošinj, and Rab make it a varied region for city, beach, and island days.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI