Istria has so much to do. I’m getting out and about attending events and trying out activities, testing everything out for you – it’s a hardship, but someone’s got to do it ;-)
As a small peninsula, the sea’s a vital part of Istria. We come on holiday to sit by it, swim in it and take boat trips across it: but how much do we know about the watery world, hidden beneath? Opened in 2002, Aquarium Pula is a fascinating place, where education is as important...
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One of the more unusual things you can do in Istria is visit Višnjan Observatory, near Porec. For the scientifically-minded, it’s a chance to look behind the scenes in some hot topics in astronomy, while for the rest of us, it is an unusual and entertainingly educational experience – even the building itself is...
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Top of my list of things to do in Istria is explore its beautiful inland villages, with their old stone houses. Most are still unspoilt by tourism: you’ll often have them almost to yourselves, and visiting is like stepping back in time to a sleepier world and a slower pace of life. There are...
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Trip Adviser’s top Istrian attraction is Glavani Park. Opened in 2011, it is listed ahead of standard tourist attractions like Rovinj old town and Pula amphitheatre. We wanted to see what all the excitement was about and if it lived up to its billing, so went for a day of high-wires and zip-lines. ...
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Here’s an idea for the ‘little ‘uns’: Dinopark, a theme park aimed squarely at the junior market, based around dinosaurs. While obviously not intended for me, I thought it sounded rather horrendous (plastic dinosaurs in what looks like a concrete jungle?). So I was stunned when mother-of-two, Petra, said it was the best day...
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Venice and Istria make a perfect two-centre holiday. Only three hours apart by car, or a ferry ride across the Bay of Venice, it is easy to combine the magic and bustle of Venice with the tranquillity and seaside charm of Istria. I fell in love with Venice over thirty years ago. We were...
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Istria is a land full of history. Perhaps surprisingly, it was far more densely populated in the past than it is today, and the remains of vanished villages, Neolithic settlements, Stone Age caves and Roman ruins are dotted all over the landscape. You just need to know where – and how – to look....
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This drive takes in some of Istria’s most stunning scenery, and its largest medieval hill towns: Motovun and Grožnjan. In their day, all these hill-top villages were bustling towns; one even had a huge castle. It basically involves visiting Istria’s two main and best known inland attractions, with a magnificent scenic drive between them and...
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This short drive near the River Draga meets the sea at the Limski Draga, a flooded limestone gorge. It’s a trip through time: where some towns (Dvigrad) died, others flourished (Svetvincenat) and some even rose to great importance (Sveti Lovrec). Everywhere on this route is an unspoilt slice of history. Only 28 km long,...
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Much of this drive twists along Istria’s dramatic East coast, where the cliffs plunge directly to the sea, but it also takes you up into the mountains behind for panoramic views along the coast. Starting with atmospheric medieval towns, it finishes with two magnificent Austro-Hungarian resort towns. With no stops, it takes about forty-five...
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This short drive through the heart of Istria takes in several wonderful hill-top villages, with some of the best Istrian frescoes. You’ll also see a castle, impressive valleys and a wealth of old stone houses. It’s only 26 km and, while you could drive it straight in about half an hour, if you take...
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Authentic, rural Istria. This beautiful drive into the heart of Glagolitic Istria takes in woods, pastures, mountains and perfect stone villages. Sleepy and unspoilt, it’s a land the modern world has overlooked. You can cover this 30 km route in about 45 minutes, but I’d recommend taking a bit longer to stop off and...
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