Things to do in Istria & Kvarner

Pula Arena, a 1st-century Roman amphitheatre that held an estimated 23,000 spectators, hides an exhibition in its underground chambers carved into the bedrock, while Rovinj's old town climbs to the church of St. Euphemia, whose bell tower of about 58 m is topped by a copper statue of the saint that turns with the wind, with the paths and exotic trees of Golden Cape Forest Park just along the bays. Poreč's two-thousand-year-old centre is anchored by the UNESCO-listed Euphrasian Basilica, one of the best-preserved early Christian buildings, and inland the walled hilltop town of Motovun looks over the Motovun forest, while Hum, the 'smallest town in the world', opens through a 12th-century double gate. A 15-minute boat ride from Fažana reaches Brijuni National Park, where the guided Veliki Brijun excursion includes a tourist train, the Safari Park and a dinosaur footprint by the pier. Across the Kvarner side, the Lungomare coastal promenade links Volosko with Opatija, the 561 steps of the Petar Kružić Stairway climb to Trsat Castle in Rijeka, and Krk Old Town keeps its walls almost intact; in Advent, Opatija Advent turns the Open Air Theatre into an ice rink by the sea and Rijeka Advent spreads over seven locations from the Korzo to the Riva.

Good to knowBrijuni National Park tickets are timed, so book the Veliki Brijun excursion online before heading to Fažana. Entry to St. Euphemia in Rovinj is free, while the bell tower climb is ticketed, and the Volosko–Opatija section of the Lungomare takes about an hour on foot. Hum is small enough for a short visit, so it pairs easily with Motovun on the same inland drive.