The northern part of Croatia is a popular holiday destination. Istria is ideal for families, with its beaches and attractions!
Table of Contents
Istria attractions
Umag
The central settlement of North Istria. The structure of the medieval city center is still discernible today. In the old town, there are charming alleys worth exploring.
In the main square, there is the Church of the Assumption of Mary and a 33-meter high bell tower from the 17th century.
The city is famous for the Croatia Open international tennis tournament, held at the Goran Ivanišević Tennis Stadium in the northern part of the city.
Also in the north of the city is a small adventure park, Jangalooz. Not only for the younger ones: rope courses, climbing walls, skill tracks, and many other games await visitors. Information can be found here!
Sol Polynesia
2 km north of Umag, in the village of Katoro, this beach is ideal for families with children, as it has a shallow section.
Beach type: fine pebble-sand, shallow.
Zambratija
Further north, after Katoro, is this settlement with a sandy beach.
The seaside area is not long, but also shallow, making it a popular beach among families with children.
Beach type: sandy, shallow.
Kanegra
Located in the northernmost part, a few kilometers from the Slovenian border. The city of Umag is about 10 km away.
This popular resort is found on a hill in a green area, with the Kanegra campsite located behind the beach.
Beach type: pebbly, with some rocky parts.
Novigrad
Located on the western coast of the Istrian peninsula, between Umag and Poreč, near the mouth of the Mirna river. The city core itself is situated on a peninsula that was once an island. The well-protected harbor is located on the northern side of the city.
The historical city walls, still intact today, are among the city’s symbols. On the remains of the ancient walls, the Venetians built new, fortified walls in the 13th century.
One of its most famous buildings is the bell tower, built in the style of the campanile of St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice.
Among the surviving medieval palaces, the 15th-century palace of the wealthy Rigo family, rebuilt around 1760, is noteworthy.
The Lapidarium is a museum collection of 93 ancient and medieval stone monuments, one of the most significant of its kind in the country. It consists mainly of architectural elements (thresholds, window frames, crests, etc.) and liturgical furnishings (altar slabs, ciboria, pilasters, column capitals, etc.).
Aquapark Istralandia
This water park is located 6 km northeast of Novigrad.
Spread over a large area, it features numerous slides, some of which offer views of the sea. There is also a pool with small slides for younger children.
Information can be found here!
Poreč
One of Istria’s most popular cities, Poreč played a prominent role in the peninsula’s history.
The city center is situated on an east-west protruding peninsula into the sea, which has retained its ancient Roman urban structure. The main streets still follow the original grid laid out by Roman engineers, with the Cardo and Decumanus streets still known by their names.
The most famous is the Euphrasian Basilica, built in the 6th century. The church is of great artistic value, both architecturally and in terms of its furnishings. It’s one of the finest examples of Byzantine art. The complex was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
North of the basilica’s atrium is the bishop’s palace. The palace’s ground floor houses the lapidarium, which is open to the public during the summer.
Aquapark Aquacolors
Just 4 km from the center of Porec is Istria’s newest water park.
Smaller than Istralandia, but it has everything to provide an enjoyable day for children. However, most of the slides are only suitable for children aged 8-10 and above.
Information can be found here!
Motodrom Porec
Next to the Porec-Novigrad main road marked with the number 75, there’s a large go-kart track.
You can buy 10-minute sessions, and try different power go-karts. Children aged 6-12 can also try, as well as a go-kart where an adult can sit next to the child. Ideal for a family activity!
Information can be found here!
Sky Fox Adventure Park
Located directly next to the Motodrom, this park is especially exciting for younger visitors.
Rope courses, skill games, tree-built bridges, and many other games await children on tracks of varying difficulty.
Information can be found here!
Baredine Cave
Northeast of Porec, this cave was discovered in 1973. It is Istria’s only natural attraction of its kind. The cave’s total depth is 132 meters.
The cave has five chambers, with the fourth containing a 33-meter deep underground lake. Nature has formed various shapes of stalactites and stalagmites, some of which have been named.
A guided tour is three hundred meters long and lasts forty minutes, descending to the sixty-meter-deep cave lake.
Information can be found here!
Dinopark Funtana
10 km south of Porec, in the village of Funtana, this park features over 80 life-sized dinosaurs on display.
What makes it special is that these dinosaurs move and make sounds, making it a really enjoyable visit for the younger ones. They also host circus performances twice a day.
Information can be found here!
Vrsar
One of the most beautifully situated towns in Istria. Located on the western part of the Istrian peninsula, 10 km south of the center of Porec and 3 km north of the Lim Bay, which cuts into the peninsula like a fjord, Vrsar is situated on a hill overlooking its namesake bay.
The coastal area of Vrsar is rich in small coves and islets. It has several romantic islets: Figarolica, Lakal, Salamon, Zavata, Galiner, Sv. Juraj, Longa, Gusti školj, Tuf, Galopon, Orlandin, and Koversada.
Lim Channel (Lim Fjord)
Near Vrsar is one of Istria’s most beautiful natural attractions, the 10 km deep Lim Channel, also known as the Lim Bay.
A boat trip is worth including in your plans, as you can see beautiful places along the way.
Rovinj
With its numerous hotels and tourist attractions, it is one of the country’s most significant tourist centers. A cultural and artistic hub, it has schools, museums, galleries, and scientific institutions.
The old town of Rovinj, clustered around the hilltop St. Euphemia Church, offers narrow, winding alleyways.
Its Romanesque-Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassical buildings, with their windows, terraces, balconies, rooftop terraces, gates, and stairways, have retained an ancient atmosphere. The early medieval and Renaissance city walls have survived on the north and south sides. Of the original seven city gates, three remain between the harbor and the old town.
St. Euphemia, Rovinj’s patron saint, crowns the hill of the old town with her episcopal cathedral. The tower stands out prominently among the houses. The bell tower is 63 meters high, with a two-meter-tall statue of the namesake saint on top, always turning in the direction of the wind. It also serves as a lookout, offering a beautiful panorama.
The Aquarium is one of Europe’s oldest institutions of its kind (operating since 1891), but it is considered a less essential attraction.
Fažana
Heading towards Pula, 8 km north of it, lies this village. It’s a charming settlement, known primarily for its beach and the nearby Brijuni Islands.
Pula
Definitely a must-visit among Istria’s attractions, alongside Porec and Rovinj!
Its most important attraction is the huge Roman amphitheater. Capable of seating 23,000 spectators, the ellipse-shaped structure has a longer axis of 132 meters and a shorter axis of 105 meters. The amphitheater, which once hosted brutal events, is now a venue for concerts, opera performances, festivals, and sports events.
Two other ancient Roman sights are the Sergius Arch and the Temple of Augustus and Rome from the 1st century. The latter houses a collection of statues.
The Aquarium is set up in an old fortress on three levels. It’s considered one of the best of its kind in Croatia, with a fish nursery and turtle rescue section.
Brijuni Islands
A short boat ride from the port of Fažana takes you here. It consists of several islands, but only the largest (Veli Brijun) is accessible.
It’s also a national park, famous for its lush vegetation and wildlife. There’s a small zoo on the island.
It was a favorite holiday spot of the former Yugoslav Prime Minister, Tito. It’s important to know that you can only visit the island as part of an organized tour!
Kamenjak Peninsula
The southernmost part of Istria, exciting for nature lovers. The peninsula has several secluded and atmospheric beach areas.
An entrance fee is required for the protected peninsula. The simplest way is to go to the village of Premantura by car and rent bicycles to explore the peninsula.
The most popular part is Kolombarica Bay, where large cliffs line the seashore. You can even jump into the water from here if you’re looking for something truly thrilling.
Istria beaches
Lone Bay
Although a bit outside Rovinj, this is the city’s beach.
Its beauty comes from its setting, as it is located on a peninsula covered with forest. The beach part in the bay is directly at the entrance to the bay.
Beach type: pebbly.
Stella Maris Beach
This beach is located in a charming bay behind the Umag tennis courts.
The water is very shallow and well-protected from the wind as it extends far into the land.
Beach type: pebbly, shallow.
Veštar Beach
Located 5 km south of Rovinj. It’s a developed area, hence popular in the region.
It’s situated in a beautiful bay, which is wind-protected and has a shallow shoreline.
Beach type: sandy-pebbly, shallow.
Južna Beach
Located in Fažana, known for its coastal olive groves.
Beach type: fine pebble, shallow.
Bi Val Beach
1.5 km from Fažana, in a camping area at Bi-Village.
Especially popular with families with small children, as the water is ankle-deep in a large section. The beach area is very well developed.
Beach type: sandy, pebbly, shallow.
Ambrela Beach
Located not far from the Aquarium on the Verudela Peninsula.
Directly at the entrance to the peninsula, it’s one of the most popular beaches in Pula.
Beach type: pebbly.
Pješčana Uvala Beach
Located in the center of the village with the same name, this pleasant beach is popular in the area.
Its name means ‘sandy cove’ in Croatian, although it’s actually a fine pebble beach.
Beach type: fine pebble.
Bijeca Beach
Southeast of Pula lies the resort town of Medulin, famous for its beach across Europe. The town itself doesn’t offer much in terms of attractions.
Bijeca is about 1 km long and is Istria’s only sandy beach. This makes it extremely popular, almost always crowded in the high season.
You can walk into the water for a long distance, there are island-like reefs and a water playground.
Beach type: sandy, shallow.
Karpinjan
North of Novigrad, in a bay, is this beach, the most popular in the area.
The approximately 500-meter-long beach is backed by a line of pine trees, providing plenty of shady spots to relax.
Beach type: pebbly, partly rocky, shallow.
Maro Beach
A few minutes by boat from the harbor of Porec, we reach St. Nikola Island. It offers a great view of the city.
The beach is located on the southern side and is popular among families. It has a bit of a Greek beach feeling.
Beach type: sandy, shallow.
Gradsko kupalište Beach
This is the city beach of Porec, lined with numerous bars and restaurants.
Beach type: pebbly, with concrete slabs.
Koversada
This island is home to Koversada nudist campsite, one of Europe’s largest and oldest of its kind.
The beach is primarily rocky, but there is a sandy part.
Beach type: sandy, rocky.