On the last leg of our journey in Croatia we set out to explore the Istrian Peninsula. We were very excited to see this area of the country as there were many small towns that had some very historic sights to see and the distance between them was fairly short. To help plan our time in Croatia, I had purchased the Rick Steves Croatia and Slovenia Travel Guide. This guide helped us discover the best things to see and do with our time here. I highly recommend checking out his latest travel guide.

Visiting Opatija and Pula and making our way over to Rovinj

We started our next day by waking up early in the morning at our hotel, Boutique and Design Hotel Navis, to see sailboats in the Adriatic Sea cruising around. We took a swim in the pool quick and then headed to the dining area for breakfast which was included in our hotel rate. This hotel was very convenient as it had ample parking and was just on the outskirts of Opatija so it was simple to navigate.

We then headed out to explore the town of Opatija. We found a parking area near the city center and made our way down to the sea to gets some great views of the rocky shore jutting out to the water. The water was so clear here that you could easily see the bottom of the sea. Near the shoreline we were able to view the statue called the Maiden with the Seagull that was erected in the 1950’s and is a symbol of the region.

We then walked up to the Hotel Kvarner, which is the oldest hotel on the Adriatic. This area of Opatija was very opulent as the hotel was beautiful and there was a nearby park that had a very decorative fountain in the center. We let our daughter run out some of her energy before getting some lunch and then headed out for our next destination, the historic town of Pula.

Pula was just a little over an hour drive from Opatija, which allowed us to enjoy the scenery and anticipate our visit to see some old Roman architecture and ruins there. We parked outside the old town, taking in the charming surroundings, and then walked to see the Temple of Augustus, marveling at its historical significance and intricate details.

Temple of Augustus

From there, we strolled over to the nearby floor mosaic called The Punishment of Dirce, admiring the artistry and craftsmanship of this ancient piece. Our exploration continued as we made our way to see the Church of St Maria Formosa, appreciating the architectural beauty and religious significance of this landmark.

The Punishment of Dirce floor mosaic (left) and the Church of St Maria Formosa (right)

We finished our time in Pula by visiting the Pula Arena, where we were awed by the grandeur and historical importance of this very large Roman amphitheater. There was even an exhibit beneath the amphitheater about ancient wine and olive oil production which was very interesting.

It was late in the afternoon by the time we completed our visit to Pula and we still needed to drive about 45 minutes to Rovinj, which was where we were staying for the next couple nights. The hotel that we chose, Maistra Select Island Hotel Katarina, was actually on an island off the mainland close to the old town. When we arrived in Rovinj, we parked and left our car and took a small ferry over to the island. We had stunning views of Rovinj from this vantage point especially with the sun setting over the Adriatic Sea. We settled into our room for the night so we could rest up for our next full day of sightseeing.

View from our hotel on St. Katarina Island

Our Day of Sightseeing in Rovinj

We got up early the next morning and took advantage of the complimentary breakfast that the hotel offered. After enjoying our meal, we then took the ferry back to the mainland to explore Rovinj. I still can’t get over the views of this town from the water with the tower of the Church of St Euphemia rising above the rest of the buildings of this quaint city.

We walked throughout the city’s many narrow streets to get up to the Church of St. Euphemia. Built in 1736, this church had some amazing artwork to admire and making our way to the top of the tower provided some quite spectacular views of the city and the surrounding islands and sea.

Lighting a candle in the Church of St. Euphemia

Views from the tower of the Church of St. Euphemia

We had lunch after seeing the church and then walked around the town to check out some of its small shops and admiring more of the beautiful buildings in the old town.

By mid-afternoon, we were ready to head back to the hotel on the island. We wanted explore the island a bit before dinner as it used to be a summer villa of a nobleman. There are some hidden coves and natural beaches on the island and it was very relaxing strolling around the island after our busy day of sightseeing.

Maistra Select Island Hotel Katarina on the island of St. Katarina

Visiting Poreč and Motovun

We had another busy day in front of us as it was a last full day in Croatia. We got up early and made our way up north to Poreč. The main sight to see in Poreč is the Euphrasian Basilica, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is known for its Byzantine architecture and stunning mosaics. Built in the 6th century, it is dedicated to Saint Maurus and features intricate depictions of biblical scenes and saints. After admiring the church we were also able to climb the tower to get some spectacular views of the town from above.

After some lunch we made the short 40 minute drive east to Motovun which was our last town to visit for the day. Motovun is a medieval town that sits atop a hill overlooking the Mirna River Valley. It has some well-preserved architecture including the Venetian city gate and central square. Once we reached the town, we were in awe at the amazing views of the surrounding landscape.

We found some parking and headed up the somewhat steep hill to see the sights. After exploring for awhile we got some ice cream and sat down to relax for a bit before making our trek back down. We still had a long drive ahead of us as we were making our way over to Zagreb to catch our flight.

Overall, we had an amazing trip to Croatia! We fell in love with this country and the people that call this beautiful place home. Our 2 week trip went faster than we thought but we made the most of our time and saw so many amazing sights. We look forward to our next trip here and we hope to explore other areas of Croatia in the future.

Have you been to this area of Croatia before? If so, where was your favorite location to visit? Let me know in the comments below!