Holiday Villas in South Istria to Rent 2024/2025

South Istria travel guide

Museums and Roman heritage in Pula
Rocky headland of Rt Kamenjak
Airports: Pula
Beaches, boat trips, wreck diving
Music festivals
Must see: picturesque Rovinj

Direct flights to Pula and the many seaside villages make this an ideal holiday destination; mix Roman history with beaches and boating

Roman amphitheatre in Pula, magical Rovinj, long hours of sunshine, water sports, Michelin stars, fabulous National Park Kamenjak, Casanova, exceptional restaurants. South Istria is the area extending south from Rovinj to the west, and Rabac to the east, ending in the sharp southernmost tip of the peninsula, jutting out into the Adriatic towards Italy. This area has a most exceptional, sunny and mild microclimate. On the southernmost tip is the lively village of Medulin, with a 1 km long sandy beach perfect for families, great for water sports and windsurfing (00 385 91512 3646), numerous restaurants and with a few night clubs.

Nearby is the fantastic Cape Kamenjak natural reserve where you can go wild swimming - although very popular and visited in summer months. In the spring, go and see exquisite wild orchids growing there in the fields and pick wild asparagus. South Istria has some of the most enchanting towns in the whole of Croatia, the incomparable Rovinj, which is a Venetian-like gem, the lively and historic main city of Pula, combining grand architecture of the Romans with the renaissance squares full of happy people watching the world go by. Pula is a great example of an old Roman town which flourished even 2000 years ago, and has the 6th largest Roman amphitheatre in the world. Also visit Fazana (pretty harbour), Vodnjan (medieval mummies), Vrsar (Casanova was there), Bale (simply charming, excellent cake shop) - each enchanting in its own right. Close to Pula, reached from Fazana harbour, are Brijuni Islands, a group of islands near Istria Peninsula, with the main island Veliki Brijun open to visitors and hosting summer plays in an open air theatre.
Rovinj with yachts in front

Beaches are pebbly, flat rocks (very pleasant) or less frequently, sandy beaches. Thhe east coast is more deserted and has many wild beaches, accessible through fields and vineyards. South Istria has several music festivals such as Outlook (end August to early September, while Rovinj is hosting Unknown, a new eclectic electronic festival (mid September). In Pula you get the regular Summer Film Festival, gladiatorial games, pop and classical concerts. All these places are full of good restaurants and some exceptional ones, and the beaches are excellent. You can sign up for every type of water sport, bicycling and hiking are also popular. This area is great to visit from March all the way to November and great for families, activity holidays, gourmet holidays, fantastic sightseeing, friends coming together to chill out and enjoy the sunshine.