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    Istria
    Petar Milošević / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Croatia

    Istria

    Region

    Istria is the largest peninsula of the Adriatic and is located in northwestern Croatia, near the border with Slovenia and Italy.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
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    5. Croatia
    7. 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.
    Around 90 percent of the peninsula belongs to Croatia. The west coast with Rovinj and Poreč is geared towards beach holidays; inland lie vineyards, olive groves, and towns like Motovun and Grožnjan. Istria is renowned for white truffles, olive oil, and Malvazija wines; the 2026 Guide Michelin features several Michelin-starred restaurants in the region. Italian is present as a minority language, and many places have bilingual names.
    Pula
    Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Place 1 of 4

    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.

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    Poreč

    Place 2 of 4

    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.

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    Isiwal / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Place 3 of 4

    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.

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    Motovun
    Ekaterina Polischuk / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Place 4 of 4

    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.

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    Round trips through this region

    Istria and Kvarner

    Istria and Kvarner

    A round trip through the northwest of Croatia: Venetian coastal towns, hill villages with truffle cuisine, the Arena of Pula, and the seaside resorts and islands of Kvarner.

    9 Days
    6 stops

    Nearby

    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.
    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.

    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.
    Opatija

    Opatija

    Opatija is a seaside resort on the Kvarner Bay west of Rijeka, which became a spa town for the Habsburg society in the 19th century. Villas, grand hotels, and parks still define the waterfront today.The Lungomare coastal path stretches twelve kilometers along the water, from Volosko to Lovran.
    Pula

    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.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons. Each photo carries its credit.
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