Why Central Istria Will Make You Fall In Love

Situated on a peninsula in the north-west of Croatia lies the colourful Istria. Major towns in Istria, like Pula, Rovinj and Poreč have become world known travel destinations, but what about Central Istria? 

Central Istria is another kind of paradise, away from the coast, it is home to many fairytale villages just waiting to be explored. Tourism in Croatia, unfortunately, still mostly revolves around sea, sun & sand. Central Istria is on the other hand an amazing example of developing other types of tourism. If you are in love with the nature, delicious food, great wine and outdoor activities, Central Istria is the perfect place for you! The winding roads will take you to small medieval towns situated on top of the hills, giving you some of the prettiest panoramic views you’ll ever see.

Everyone who wants to visit Croatia should definitely put Istria on their itinerary. The kind and hardworking locals will make you feel as if you were one of them while offering you their local produce, wine, olive oil, cheese and rakija.

Table of contents

• How many days do you need for Central Istria?
• Where to stay in Central Istria
• Must visit places in Central Istria
  • Pazin
  • Motovun
  • Grožnjan
  • Momjan
  • Hum
  • Sopot
• Activities in Istria
• Best time to visit Central Istria

How long should you stay in Central Istria?

Even if you have only a weekend to explore Central & Northern Istria, you will have an amazing time. Since most of the towns are 30-40min away from each other you will be able to visit many places in a short period of time. Keep in mind that you will need a car to do all the exploring. If you are arriving without one, renting a car would be the best option.

A two night stay is the minimum you need to stay to explore at least a few places. Two days is enough if Central Istria will only be a part of your Istrian or Croatian vacation. If you are looking for a proper vacation and you want Central Istria to be the base, I would recommend staying for a week. Even though many of the villages and towns in Istria are small, there are many, which is why you definitely need some time to explore them. Besides exploring, you need some time for enjoying its cuisine and activities. Depending on the time you have on your hands, I will try to help you plan your Istrian getaway as best as possible.

Where to stay in Central Istria

Found in small villages, surrounded by nature and animals are Istrian Agritourism. Most of these places offer food as well as accommodation. Agritourism is the perfect place to stay if you are looking to meet locals and eat traditional meals, made from local produce, all while enjoying the presence of farm animals. 

Another type of accommodation, for a more luxurious stay, are the wine hotels. Some of them are: Wine & Heritage hotel Roxanich, Boutique Hotel Vela Vrata, San Canzian Village & Hotel, Wine Residence Cattunar, San Servolo Resort & Beer Spa, Casino Hotel Mulino, Heritage Hotel San Rocco. These hotels offer an amazing level of service with a mix of modern and traditional cuisine paired with some of the best local wines. Even if you are not a guest you can go to their wineries and do wine tastings.

If you are looking for a quiet vacation with your family, one of the best choices is renting a house or a villa. These houses come in all sizes and price ranges. From small traditional stone houses to modern villas with a swimming pool, sauna, gym etc.. This is a great option for a group of friends as well!

If renting a whole house is not for you, but you are still looking for a private accommodation, an apartment would be an ideal option. Sometimes these apartments come with a pool, offering you a great way to cool down in the summer days. 

Must visit places in Central Istria

Since there are so many places you can visit in Central Istria, by which I mean the whole inland of the peninsula, I will tell you some of my favourites. 

Pazin

Let’s start with the town of Pazin, situated in the very heart of Istria. Pazin is the administrative centre of Istria, known for its medieval Pazin Castle. The Pazin Castle sits above a 130m cliff which goes all the way down to the Pazinčica river. The name of this grand pit is Pazinska Jama or “Pazin Pit”. The legend says that a giant, which once lived in these lands, made it with a stomp of his foot. In the depths of the pit there is also a cave which can be explored only with guides as it is a Speleological object protected by law. Across the Pazin Pit there is also a zip-line for the brave ones.

Motovun

This fairytale village situated on top of a hill is a MUST while visiting Istria. Motovun is a 25min ride from Pazin and on your way you will pass a few villages like Beram, Škropeti and Karojba. The village of Motovun overlooks the Mirna River valley. The best way to admire this stunning view is while enjoying a delicious traditional meal, preferably with local truffles. Personal recommendation is the restaurant Pod Napun. It offers amazing food and great views from a secluded private terrace. Since Motovun is a small village, you won’t be needing a lot of time to explore it. With this being said, make sure to add more stops on this day trip. If you want to enjoy this magical village and its views for more than just a few hours, Motovun offers great accommodation in hotels and apartments.

Since this is the land of truffles, one of the most unique experiences offered is going truffle hunting with the locals. The truffles can be found in the woods around Livade, a small village underneath Motovun. Livade is Istria’s truffle capital and even holds the record for finding the biggest truffle in the world, weighing 1.31kg! This only proves that if you want to try one of the best delicacies in the word, you should do it in Livade.

Grožnjan

Grožnjan is a medieval town situated where else but on a hill. No wonder this charming town brings together so many artists, actors, musicians and painters, when the town itself is a true art piece. Grožnjan is home to many romantic stone houses, filled with over 20 art galleries. Each of these galleries represents a different view of the town from each artist. For this reason, Grožnjan is famously called the “town of artists”. When visiting, make sure to charge your camera because every corner is picture perfect!

If you are looking for hedonism, this is the place for you! Get a glass of wine, relax, enjoy the music, the lively atmosphere and the views and have the time of your life. Personally, Grožnjan has left a great impression on me and holds one of the top places in Istria. If you would ask me what is a place you have to visit in Istria, this would be it! Even though it is pretty small, I think those views would leave anyone speechless! When in the area, make sure to visit Buje and stay in one of its amazing hotels or apartments. 

Momjan

Make a trip to Momjan and visit the ruins of the Momjan Castle above the Dragonja river. After exploring the village, go to Kozlović Winery. There you can enjoy some of the best wines and views that Istria has to offer.

Hum

The smallest city in the world should definitely find its place on your itinerary. Since every village and town in Istria is connected with giants, Hum is no exception. The legend says that Hum was built from the leftover stone that giants used to build towns in the vicinity of the river Mirna. Besides being famous as the smallest city in the world, Hum is also famous as the City of Biska. Biska is a brandy with mistletoe and its recipe originates from Hum. The Brandy Festival takes place in Hum every year at the end of October. On this day, famous brandy producers from all over Istria compete for the best brandy. Near Hum you should visit the abandoned village called Kotli. Kotli is famous for its natural pools which are often compared to the popular destination Pamukkale. 

Sopot

Sopot waterfall is a stunning waterfall found near Jakomići, 25 min away from Pazin. When visiting make sure to bring sportswear if you want to go all the way under it to get a better view. If you get the chance, try and visit after rain since it will be even more impressive.

Activities in Istria

Since activities should also find their place on your itinerary, here are some of them. I already mentioned zip-lining and caving in Pazinska Jama. There is also the adrenaline park Kringa, Quad Tours, Off-road, cycling, free climbing, horseback riding, truffle hunting and many more. Central Istria is a paradise for nature and sport lovers. But what If you are not into sports and are looking for a more relaxed vacation? Don’t worry, Istria has plenty of wellness centres that are waiting to pamper you! 

When to visit Central Istria?

Summer moths are definitely the time when everything comes to life, but is summer the best time to visit? Personally, my favourite time to visit Istria is in the spring time. The nature starts coming to life and yet there are no crowds, the perfect time for exploring. The empty streets will make you feel like you have all of this beauty for yourself. Don’t get me wrong, autumn and winter are just as magical! The only difference is that in the winter not all of the restaurants, shops and activities are open. 

Explore more in Croatia

I hope I have answered your question – why visit Istria and hope that you will not only visit Istria but discover Croatia as well! Croatia is truly magical and Istria is the perfect mix of sea and inland. Istria is one of the best places to go in Croatia, so if you are planning a Croatia trip, make sure to add Istria to the list. My advice is to make a road trip through Croatia to really experience it to the fullest. To sum up, go to Croatia, visit Istria, enjoy the gastronomy in Istria, enjoy the nature, enjoy Istrian truffles and experience all of the activities. Istria truly is one of the best destinations in Croatia and I am sure that there is something for everyone. Until next time, travel the world, travel to Croatia, stay healthy, eat well and have fun! Find more Croatian destinations here! Xx Donatela

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