Istria
is an enchanting seaside retreat
Welcome to Istria
Continental Croatia meets the Adriatic in Istria (Istra to Croats), the heart-shaped, 3600-sq-km peninsula in the country's northwest. The bucolic interior of rolling hills and fertile plains attracts food- and culture-focused visitors to Istria’s hilltop villages, rural hotels and farmhouse restaurants, while the indented coastline is enormously popular with the sun-and-sea set. Though vast hotel complexes line much of the coast and the rocky beaches are not Croatia’s best, facilities are wide-ranging, the sea is clean and secluded spots are still plentiful.
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Starting at $33.79
Istria activities
Brijuni National Park Boat Excursion from Pula
This tour will be arranged on a board of the comfortable ship around the Brijuni National Park and will last 5 hours. The Park is located on the islands in the sea. This place is famous because of its former owner Josip Broz Tito, who had a very rare hobby - he collected exotic animals. You will have a guide on the board of the ship, who will conduct a sightseeing tour around all islands of the National Park and will tell lots of interesting facts about the islands and its famous owners. You will see a wild animal park. The tour programme also includes a dinner on the board of the ship. It includes traditional dishes of the Mediterranean cuisine: fish, chicken fillet or vegetarian dish. You can have an unlimited amount of drinks on board of the ship: wine, mineral water, juices and soda water.The ship also stops on the St. Jerolim island (sveti Jerolim) - (06/2018 - 09/2018). On the island, you will find a nice beach, shower and restaurant. Those who wish can stay there to swim - the ship will be back in 2.5 hours to pick you up. The ship may be accompanied by the dolphins and you will be able to make a nice selfie.Please note that St. Jerolim island (sveti Jerolim) is a part of the National Park and to visit it you should buy an admission ticket. It will be paid separately on the island. The cost of the island admission ticket is 40 HRK or 5,5 Euro. You can buy a ticket from the custodian who meets the visitors at the wharf.Please take the towels, swimsuits and sunscreen creams with you and keep your smile.This is an excursion by traditional boat whose specifications are: m/b Korkyra: hosts up to 80 passengers, vehicle speed is 8 knots, kitchen, 2 WC, covered terrace.
Zagreb Urban Wine Bike Tour
Experienced wine connoisseur will guide you through a stunning variety of Croatian wines coupled with a selection of Croatian cheeses and prosciutto. You’ll visit wine basement that offer wide selection of Croatian wines, especially small labels. Of course this tour will take you through Zagreb’s downtown while enjoying a ride through Zagreb’s well known Lenuzzi horseshoe complex of parks. During the tour you’ll get to see an urban vineyard which is offers the perfect view point of Zagreb's Old Upper town that will take us back to the middle ages when Kaptol’s bishops were well known local wine producers. Urban Wine Bike Tour will cover all major Croatian regions, from Slavonia to Istria and of course Dalmatia. Pairing food with wine will be part of the itinerary because on far south of Croatia red wine is always served with fish dishes (white fish). Wine tasting and finger food are included in the price. In wine basement there will be a wide selection of Croatian wines available for purchase.
Pula Roman Heritage Walking Tour
Your tour begins with a short overview of ancient Pula in front of the Golden Gate, a triumphal arch erected by the Sergi, a prominent Roman family. Passing through the arch, your expert local guide will take you back through history. Walking through the streets of Roman Pula, you will see the remains of Roman homes near the chapel of St. Mary Formoza as well as fantastic examples of Roman mosaic art. Next, arrive at the center of everyday Roman life: the Forum Romanum, where you will see the Temple of Augustus, dedicated to the goddess Roma and its namesake emperor. Stop for some coffee or tea before moving on to explore the Roman Empire. Visit the remains of an amphitheater that once stood outside the city walls on the hillside of Zaro and from there, you will be directed towards the double doors, so called because of their two arches. Remains of the old city wall are also visible. Simple stone-block doors stand between two Medieval towers while the head of Hercules and his truncheon are carved into the top of a damaged arch. Next, you will visit the Amphitheater where gladiators fought, the pinnacle of Pula's Roman heritage. It was built in the 1st-century AD during the reign of emperor Vespasian at the same time the greatest and most famous building of its kind was constructed: the Roman Colosseum.The particular structure of the Pula amphitheater exemplifies all the traditional methods of ancient construction, setting it aside from others. The underground passages once used by gladiators today display a permanent exhibition calledOlive and Viticulture in Ancient Istria, which presents reconstructions of mills, presses and other machines once used for the production of olive oil and wine as well as amphorae that were used for their storage and transport.In front of the world's sixth largest Roman amphitheater, you will complete your journey through Roman Pula with a memory of the glorious past of the Roman Empire, a heritage we all still imitate and live today.
Flavours of Istria Tasting Experience from Trieste
During our tour we will visit 3 famous Istrian villages where we will taste local liquors, wines, cheeses, truffle products, and marmalades. Hum, the smallest town in the world, is located in the heart of Istria that claims only 20 inhabitants. Your visit to Hum will be like a beautiful fairy tale of small Istrian towns. This hidden, picturesque region of Istria is extremely friendly to all visitors who come to marvel in the sights the town has to offer. According to local legend, Hum was built with the stones left over when giants were building towns in the Mirna River valley, an area in central Istria that includes wonderful mountain towns such as Motovun, Roč, and Bale. Apart from being famous for being the smallest town in the world, Hum recently became popular for biska, a spiced brandy made with mistletoe according to an old Hum recipe. Northern Istria, located high above the Mirna River, is home to arguably the most attractive and famous medieval town in the country – Motovun. This fascinating city that lies on top of a hill is the characteristic symbol for the inner heart of Istria. The bell tower, which was built in the 13th century in a Romanesque-Gothic style, dominates the center of the historic town from its position adjacent to St Stephen’s 17th century parish church. There are many other beautiful historic buildings that surround it. Motovun’s forest is a particularly good hunting ground for truffles, the alleged aphrodisiac fungus which grows underground and is prized for its distinctive aroma. Vineyards surround the town from all sides; Istria’s finest wines are produced from the grapes of these vineyards. The whole region is sprinkled with superb restaurants and “konobe.” Grožnjan is a small Istrian town that holds a great cultural significance not only to Croatia but worldwide. Surrounded by green hills and magical white soil, this town is a must-see for those who want to discover the treasure trove that is Istria. Because of its interesting history, Grožnjan is rich in ancient churches, prehistoric sites, medieval castles, magnificent palaces, and many other historic structures whose past glory was recovered once again through restoration. Its white soil feeds the many neighboring vineyards and olive groves. Because of all this, the area of Grožnjan is ripe with agritourism and many taverns and restaurants offer traditional Istrian cuisine to their guests. Grožnjan is also home to several national and international artists. There are as many as 28 ateliers in this small town; there is also the City Art Gallery which hosts artists’ works from around the world (even the well-known Imaginary Film Academy found its home here). In the summer, all of Grožnjan becomes a stage for world renowned jazz and classical musicians, as well as many of the other artists who have discovered the true joy of creation here.
Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle Day Trip from Rovinj
Postojna Cave, the queen of all caves, is the best-known cave in the world. It is also the greatest tourist attraction in Slovenia and one of the world’s largest karst monuments. This is the only place in the world where the underground landscape can be traversed on an electric train and where you get to meet this underground kingdom’s most famous inhabitant – the proteus (olm) – up close. A fantastic web of tunnels, passages, galleries and halls, astonishing diversity of karst features, as well as easy access are certainly the main reasons for such popularity of the cave and a large number of visitors (more than 36 million of them in over 200 years).The Predjama Castle reigns over the surrounding area, not far from the Postojna Cave, in the idyllic village of Predjama. This picturesque, magnificent, defiant, mysterious and impregnable castle has been perched up in the middle of a vertical 123-meter high cliff for more than 800 years. Its romantic appeal is further emphasized by the idyllic Lokva River, which disappears into the underground world deep down below the castle. As the only preserved cave castle in Europe, the Predjama Castle offers a unique insight into the building techniques and resourcefulness of people in the Middle Ages, who were looking for and found a safe harbor for themselves right at the entrance into the cave. During a siege that took place in the 15th century, the castle provided a refuge for its best known and most notorious owner - Erazem of Predjama. The legend about the courageous robber baron Erazem, who remained undefeated until one of his servants betrayed him, is still in people’s minds, inspiring and alluring as ever. It was this safe abode of his which helped the brave knight resist the besiegers without much difficulty for more than a year.
Kayak tour
Discover Pula´s sea side through kayaking, cliff jumping, snorkeling and sea cave exploring. The tour takes about 3 hours and we can adapt it to your wishes. The tour goes on the Galeb´s rocks, more specifically in the cave where we have diving with masks and underwater lights (our equipment). The complete adventure is documented with cameras, even underwater. They process both photos and videos and they are in high resolution (minimum 70 photos). We will also take a fridge with cold drinks (water or beer) which are included in the price. You need to bring towels or equipment for the beach. And you can take your phones with you ; there is a drybag.