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.
