Stories · City Guide · 8 min read
Rovinj Travel Guide: Istria's Prettiest Old Town in 2 Days
The Venetian Croatia. Rovinj is what Hvar looked like before the yachts came. Two days here, with truffles, oysters, and the small islands you can swim to.
By Marin Petrović · June 13, 2026
Rovinj sits on Istria's west coast, ninety minutes south of Trieste. It was Venetian for five hundred years and looks it, pastel houses crammed onto a tiny peninsula, a bell tower modelled on St Mark's, Italian widely spoken. Here is a 2-day plan.
Day 1: Old Town, Sunset at the Lighthouse
Morning: Walk every alley of the peninsula. End at the church of St Euphemia for the city's best view (climb the wobbly wooden bell-tower stairs).
Lunch: Monte (Michelin-starred, ~€100 tasting), Male Madlene (cosy, traditional), or La Puntulina for sea-spray-on-the-table.
Afternoon: Boat from the harbour to Sveta Katarina (10 minutes, swim, return) or Crveni Otok / Red Island (15 minutes, two islands joined by a causeway, hotel-free coves).
Sunset: Walk the wooded Punta Corrente park, end at Mali Mol for cocktails on the rocks. Dinner: Konoba Veli Joze (truffle pasta, local crew), or Da Sergio (pizza in the alleys).
Istria's olive oil and truffles are world-class. Most visitors leave with a litre of oil and a small jar of truffle paste. Both fit in checked luggage. Neither will disappoint.
Day 2: Truffle Country & Hilltop Towns
Morning: Rent a car and drive 45 minutes inland to Motovun, a tiny hilltop village in the middle of the truffle forest. Walk the walls. Eat truffle pasta at Konoba Mondo.
Afternoon: Grožnjan (an artist colony 20 minutes from Motovun, free piano concerts in summer) or Hum, the smallest town in the world (population 17, a single inn, a tasting room for biska mistletoe brandy).
Evening: Drive back to Rovinj. Dinner at Wine Vault at Monte Mulini (Istrian wine pairings) or back to the old town for a final long meal.
Getting There
- Fly to Pula (35 minutes south), then bus 45 minutes to Rovinj.
- Fly to Trieste (Italy), then drive 90 minutes south.
- Drive from Zagreb (3 hours via the Učka tunnel).
Where to Stay
- Grand Park Hotel Rovinj (modern luxury, view of the old town)
- Hotel Adriatic (boutique on the harbour)
- Casa Garzotto (small, central, charming)
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- Is Rovinj worth visiting?
- Yes. It is the prettiest town in Istria and one of the prettiest in Croatia.
- How many days in Rovinj?
- 2 days minimum, 3 if you include a truffle-country day trip.
- Is Rovinj better than Dubrovnik?
- Different. Rovinj is smaller, quieter, Italian-flavoured. Dubrovnik is grand, walled, more historic.
