Top Things to do in Istria
Countries
10 Things to do Good for Big Groups in Istria That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Istria, Croatia including Benazic Winery, Byzantine Castrum, Euphrasius Basilica, Porec Old Town, Port of Rovinj, Amphitheatre de Pula, Church of St. Euphemia, Main Street, Old Town, Jama - Grotta Baredine.
Restaurants in Istria
1. Benazic Winery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 146 reviews
Benazic winery is a family owned business in the city of Pula. Placed just 2 kilometers away from the city center the winery offers you a taste of Istria by trying wines, brandys, cheese, olive oil and many other products. The family is proud to say that they are owners of numerous awards that are won trough the years of their work. For tasting it is required to book an appointment.
Reviewed By kathrynevanson - London, United Kingdom
We had a lovely afternoon visiting this family winery, trying 6 different wines with cheese and bruschetta. Liked the sparkling rose so much we took a bottle home. Really recommend a visit!
2. Byzantine Castrum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 12 reviews
This is the richest archeological site on the Brijuni, on an area greater than 1 hectare. It contains finds from the period of the Roman Republic and Empire, Late Antiquity, Eastern Goths, Byzantium, Carolingian period and Venice. Life in the castrum was last evidenced during the Venetians.
3. Euphrasius Basilica
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,486 reviews
Reviewed By nicholasfI7659MO
Well worth seeing, the mosaics in the apse of the church alone justify the entrance fee of 40 kuna. If possible, make the climb up the tower for the finest view over Porec.
4. Porec Old Town
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,721 reviews
Reviewed By deniskaw - Piestany, Slovakia
Nice city. It was 15min from our hotel. For those who don’t want to go there on foot, there is a noddy train for 50HRK (~6,80€). There are many restaurants, narrow streets with little souvenir shops and beautiful seaside with lighthouse view. There are many boats and yachts in the seaport. We were amazed.
5. Port of Rovinj
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,532 reviews
A pleasant port town in the northern Adriatic Sea with opportunities to explore vinyards, shops and beaches.
Reviewed By Eyekaytoo - Leverkusen, Germany
This is a lovely place to visit, particularly in the evening when the hot sun finally sinks into the sea and the place is transformed into a multitude of brightly lit scenes. You can enjoy a nice stroll along the waters edge and admire the plethora of little pleasure and fishing boats as well as the odd luxury cruisers which slip in around sunset to moor there for the night. I found myself checking out the costs of charters for such vessels on-line - the most expensive I found were around the 1,2 mio € per week... Of course this is the place to enjoy a sunset cocktail in one bar, an authentic Istrian style meal in another and a huge, spectacular exotic ice cream in a third place. And of course to dream about what it would be like to have the sort of money to charter a floating palace and ply the Croatian islands...
6. Amphitheatre de Pula
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,138 reviews
The Arena in Pula is a 1st-century Roman amphitheatre. The arena is the 6th largest in the world.
Reviewed By micfeleac
The most important monument in the city of Pula, located in its center. Currently used for summer events and shows, the arena was built in the 1st century from limestone used for gladiator fights and continues to delight us even today.
7. Church of St. Euphemia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,474 reviews
Reviewed By Erfurt - Jupiter, United States
once you climb up the Hill via Santa Corce ( Old Town ) you will be rewarded to see * Church of St. Euphemia *...you will enjoy great views over the Adriatic Sea... and next to the Church is the Zvonik Campanile ( Bell Tower ). Go inside the Church for some meditation, walk around , see the high Altar and a century old BELL... a good spot for the photographer to take some memorable photos. We enjoyed it...
8. Main Street
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 284 reviews
Reviewed By Eyekaytoo - Leverkusen, Germany
All part of the experience of visiting Rovinj is to wander down the main street, Grisia. It is a lovely reminder of a different Venetian past with loads of little alleyways and tightly packed houses, many with small touristy style shops and boutiques where you can pick up the usual mementos and souvenirs of your summer holiday here. We recommend going towards dusk. You can then savour the atmosphere towards the end of a bright sunny day where you can hide in the shadows from the fierce sun until later in the evening where the little bars, restaurants and shops are romantically all it up. It's the sort of place to come to to enjoy a typical, relaxing summer evening whilst on holiday.
9. Old Town
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,206 reviews
Reviewed By Travel_fun_joy
Beautiful city with big Italian influence of architecture,full of character,plenty of choice dining venues
10. Jama - Grotta Baredine
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 818 reviews
Baredine Cave Protected morphological monument of nature Meet the mystical world of nature which has been developing for thousands of years, far away from the light of the day and the human eye. Visit the underworld the Baredine Cave. This cave is a treasure chest of stalagmites and stalactites, underworld sculptures created through time by the patient work of water. Visit The cave is geomorphological monument of nature since 1986, and it has been opened for visitors since 1995. The sightseeing lasts 40 minutes; visitors descend along a 300m long pathway up to 60m below the ground and an underground lake and visit five beautifully decorated chambers. The cave is well lit and equipped, the paths and stairways have firm railing, and the temperature is very pleasant at 14˚C. Next to the cave are a free parking lot (for cars and buses), a reception, a coffee-bar/buffet, speleo-gallery, souvenir shops, children play ground, and area with domesticated animals and a pick-nick area
Reviewed By Brittany_11_10 - Los Angeles, United States
What Jama might lack in size, it more than makes up for in two other areas. First off, you can see the vulnerable (per the IUCN) "human fish" or olm. This little creature is pretty incredible, and endemic to water, in caves, in only Croatia and parts of neighboring countries (Italy, Slovenia and Bosnia). Secondly, the guide we had was excellent. Very knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about caves, caving, the human fish... I've been to many-a-cave in numerous countries, and our guide here was one of, if not the most, knowledgeable and informative. I definitely learned more than I was expecting to. Tickets are 75kn/adult, and our tour was about an hour (though our group asked him heaps of questions, so maybe the tour is usually a little shorter than that). Everything is kind of a ghost town--during winter and during The Covid--so now is definitely the time to go. (Just email or call a day ahead of time to set up a tour). Highly recommend for fans of caves and/or weird, cool species you can't see too many other places. Oh, one last note: to contradict what a reviewer a few down said about this cave not being for the faint of heart or those who are claustrophobic, I didn't think it was claustrophobic at all. Granted, I'm not prone to claustrophobia in the slightest, but I've definitely been in caves with smaller rooms and tighter passages, and I wouldn't think this would be too confining for others. There are a good number of stairs, but the guide will let you take your time walking up them.
