Where to go in Istria? From hill towns to sleepy villages to coastal resorts and Roman ruins, this lush peninsula in Croatia's northeast corner is crammed with attractions. To see a lot in a short stay, it's best to rent a car and follow one of my recommended Istria itineraries. A good base to launch your Istrian discovery is romantic Rovinj on the coast. Here are the 20 best sights to see in fascinating Istria. (Map below).

Bale

One of Istria's most delightful hill towns is just a short hop from Rovinj.

Brioni (Brijuni) Islands

Zebras in the Adriatic? They were brought to this National Park to amuse Tito.

Buje

Replete with Venetian architecture, this hill village is an easy jump from Umag.

Buzet

A sleepy town amid dramatic scenery and known as the truffle capital of Istria.

Fazana

A cute town and a good base to visit the Brijuni Islands

Groznjan

Another lovely hill village known as a classical music training ground in summer.

Labin

An appealing hilltop town on Istria's eastern coast.

Lim Channel

This drowned valley makes a great boat trip.

Lovran

A small town and resort just south of Opatija on the Istrian coast.

Motovun

An increasingly trendy hill village that hosts an important film festival each July

Novigrad

A walled, old stone town tucked onto a peninsula with a superb marina.

Pazin

A quiet town that makes a good base for exploring Istria's interior.

Porec

An old stone town amid a string of beach resorts; home of the wondrous Euphrasian Basilica

Pula

A magnificent amphitheatre is one of many Roman ruins in this busy town

Rabac

Splendid swimming coves and plenty of hotels and camping near Labin.

Rovinj


Everything an Adriatic fishing port should be plus easy beach access

Savudrija

Not just for windsurfers or lighthouse lovers, it has a real windswept charm and a fabulous resort hotel.

Umag

Many, many large resort-style hotels; home of pro tennis' ATP tournament

Vodnjan

Worth a trip for the eerie mummy collection in the local church.

Vrsar

A medieval town and one of Europe's largest naturist camps.

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