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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