Northern Croatia - Istria
Discussion
Hi All,
Planning a trip to N Croatia / Istria, will be spending some time in Rovinj and Opatija. Anyone got recommendations for good eating and drinking places that aren't going to break the bank? Likewise any suggestions for trips out in the area? We will have the use of a car and enjoy good scenery, walking and interesting / historic towns / villages.....
All ideas gratefully received!
Thanks
Planning a trip to N Croatia / Istria, will be spending some time in Rovinj and Opatija. Anyone got recommendations for good eating and drinking places that aren't going to break the bank? Likewise any suggestions for trips out in the area? We will have the use of a car and enjoy good scenery, walking and interesting / historic towns / villages.....
All ideas gratefully received!
Thanks
Augusto in rovinj is a truly excellent coffee shop
The grand park rovinj is easily the best place for sundowners. theyve changed the restaurants since I was there so can’t vouch for them, shame as the vegetarian place was excellent.
Hotel navis in opatija isn’t cheap but is comfortably the best food and service on the east coast.
La Grisa in Bale
Malo Selo in Buje
Toncic in Zrenj
Vorichi in Barban
These 3 will run you about €50 pp for 3 courses and wine. Vorichi is my favourite. This was my first meal post covid where I’d lost my sense of taste and was scared it had gone for good. Wood fired cooking, small frequently changing menu and owned/run by 3 sisters iirc who are brilliant hosts. It’s the kind of place that only does one service and can stay long after your meal is finished drinking their wine and wandering the grounds with no pressure at all to go home.
I’d recommend:
Taking a flight with Delic Air from Medulin airstrip. From €60 pp, there’ll just be the 2 of you and the pilot who will run you up the coast to rovinj and back.
If in pula,
https://www.instagram.com/lullefoil?igsh=NWx0NWU4N...
Owned by a friend. He and his wife are big foodies they will know where is best to eat and drink over the peninsula. The wife is a close friend of my OH, we get recommendations from them for all over Europe.
His friend Christopher (iirc) does boat hire from marina veruda and is a top bloke. He’ll take you to all the secret coves and caves and provide excellent local food and wine to boot. The coastguard don’t allow tourist trips after dark but if you get on with him and ask, he’ll do it for you. Great experience with a full moon. I can get his number if you like.
I spent 6weeks in istria as a post covid break. Can’t really remember having a bad meal. It’s cheap on the main and has a great vibe, properly relaxing holiday. No sandy beaches but plenty of swimming spots and the sea is crystal clear. Beach club Meneghetti is decent, quaint little spot in a vineyard, their wine is excellent. Sightseeing we just bimbled about. Big contrast in feel between opatija and rovinj and not in a bad way so you’ve got that as a positive. Pula is nice, as are any the camping grounds around Medulin. Water sports are cheap and plentiful. Motovun I’m the north is a good area for walking and eating truffles.
My main advice would be to ask your hosts and any good restauranteur where’s good to go / do / see. Hospitality seems to be a well respected profession and they are very good at it.
The grand park rovinj is easily the best place for sundowners. theyve changed the restaurants since I was there so can’t vouch for them, shame as the vegetarian place was excellent.
Hotel navis in opatija isn’t cheap but is comfortably the best food and service on the east coast.
La Grisa in Bale
Malo Selo in Buje
Toncic in Zrenj
Vorichi in Barban
These 3 will run you about €50 pp for 3 courses and wine. Vorichi is my favourite. This was my first meal post covid where I’d lost my sense of taste and was scared it had gone for good. Wood fired cooking, small frequently changing menu and owned/run by 3 sisters iirc who are brilliant hosts. It’s the kind of place that only does one service and can stay long after your meal is finished drinking their wine and wandering the grounds with no pressure at all to go home.
I’d recommend:
Taking a flight with Delic Air from Medulin airstrip. From €60 pp, there’ll just be the 2 of you and the pilot who will run you up the coast to rovinj and back.
If in pula,
https://www.instagram.com/lullefoil?igsh=NWx0NWU4N...
Owned by a friend. He and his wife are big foodies they will know where is best to eat and drink over the peninsula. The wife is a close friend of my OH, we get recommendations from them for all over Europe.
His friend Christopher (iirc) does boat hire from marina veruda and is a top bloke. He’ll take you to all the secret coves and caves and provide excellent local food and wine to boot. The coastguard don’t allow tourist trips after dark but if you get on with him and ask, he’ll do it for you. Great experience with a full moon. I can get his number if you like.
I spent 6weeks in istria as a post covid break. Can’t really remember having a bad meal. It’s cheap on the main and has a great vibe, properly relaxing holiday. No sandy beaches but plenty of swimming spots and the sea is crystal clear. Beach club Meneghetti is decent, quaint little spot in a vineyard, their wine is excellent. Sightseeing we just bimbled about. Big contrast in feel between opatija and rovinj and not in a bad way so you’ve got that as a positive. Pula is nice, as are any the camping grounds around Medulin. Water sports are cheap and plentiful. Motovun I’m the north is a good area for walking and eating truffles.
My main advice would be to ask your hosts and any good restauranteur where’s good to go / do / see. Hospitality seems to be a well respected profession and they are very good at it.
We are currently in Piran for a couple of days (staying midway between Piran and Portorož).
I'd say Piran would be good for a day trip from Rovinj if you're willing to hop into Slovenia. The caves mentioned above are excellent too.
After this we are heading up to Bovec then Bled, less optimal for a day trip due to the distances.
I'd say Piran would be good for a day trip from Rovinj if you're willing to hop into Slovenia. The caves mentioned above are excellent too.
After this we are heading up to Bovec then Bled, less optimal for a day trip due to the distances.
its 3hrs to bled. shows how long i've been out of the uk that i would class that as doable for a day trip 
but really there's no point doing so, that's an entirely different holiday. from opatija you can get the short ferry over to kres, which is lovely.
if you do drive to slovenia [you will drive through it if flying into venice, but only barely] then remember to get a vignette at the border.
but really there's no point doing so, that's an entirely different holiday. from opatija you can get the short ferry over to kres, which is lovely.
if you do drive to slovenia [you will drive through it if flying into venice, but only barely] then remember to get a vignette at the border.
Hi All,
Thanks for your very quick and extremely helpful replies. Lots of great pointers there. Regarding Lake Bled part of the plan is to have a 2/3 centre holiday over a couple of weeks, prob Rovinj / Opatija and then move onto Bled or Bohinj......food for thought.
Much appreciate all the suggestions so far, particularly the potentially expensive one about the vignette!
Thanks for your very quick and extremely helpful replies. Lots of great pointers there. Regarding Lake Bled part of the plan is to have a 2/3 centre holiday over a couple of weeks, prob Rovinj / Opatija and then move onto Bled or Bohinj......food for thought.
Much appreciate all the suggestions so far, particularly the potentially expensive one about the vignette!
depends what you want out of the holiday but i would suggest staying within croatia and heading down the coast.
istria was part of italy until 1947, so has a distinct italian feel to it including the cuisine. hence a completely different vibe to split, for example.
you could island hop down to split or from there [e.g. brac]. inland between istria and split you have plitvice lakes, krka national park, and northern velebit national park. there's really no need to involve a different country, plus slovenia's worth it's own trip.
just avoid zagreb. not especially terrible just not especially good either.
istria was part of italy until 1947, so has a distinct italian feel to it including the cuisine. hence a completely different vibe to split, for example.
you could island hop down to split or from there [e.g. brac]. inland between istria and split you have plitvice lakes, krka national park, and northern velebit national park. there's really no need to involve a different country, plus slovenia's worth it's own trip.
just avoid zagreb. not especially terrible just not especially good either.
Sorry to hijack.....
We are looking to go to Rovinj next summer and drive there (from the UK). Stopping for two nights on the way there (and on the way back). Am I mental to even consider this? It's around 16 hours drive from Calais, so even over three days it's quite a lot of driving. Flights alone at over £800 return, plus it's great having a car whilst on holiday. I see this as cost-savings plus convenience.
Anyone driven to Croatia from the UK?
We are looking to go to Rovinj next summer and drive there (from the UK). Stopping for two nights on the way there (and on the way back). Am I mental to even consider this? It's around 16 hours drive from Calais, so even over three days it's quite a lot of driving. Flights alone at over £800 return, plus it's great having a car whilst on holiday. I see this as cost-savings plus convenience.
Anyone driven to Croatia from the UK?
Thanks for this, minor issue is that I am more keen on Slovenia and Wife is the Croatia fan, so trying to construct a compromise to please us both!! Hoping to make return visits if we like what we find......
shirt said:
depends what you want out of the holiday but i would suggest staying within croatia and heading down the coast.
istria was part of italy until 1947, so has a distinct italian feel to it including the cuisine. hence a completely different vibe to split, for example.
you could island hop down to split or from there [e.g. brac]. inland between istria and split you have plitvice lakes, krka national park, and northern velebit national park. there's really no need to involve a different country, plus slovenia's worth it's own trip.
just avoid zagreb. not especially terrible just not especially good either.
istria was part of italy until 1947, so has a distinct italian feel to it including the cuisine. hence a completely different vibe to split, for example.
you could island hop down to split or from there [e.g. brac]. inland between istria and split you have plitvice lakes, krka national park, and northern velebit national park. there's really no need to involve a different country, plus slovenia's worth it's own trip.
just avoid zagreb. not especially terrible just not especially good either.
s3pc1989 said:
Regarding Lake Bled part of the plan is to have a 2/3 centre holiday over a couple of weeks, prob Rovinj / Opatija and then move onto Bled or Bohinj......food for thought.
We are here for 2 weeks staying in Ljubljana, Piran, Bovec and Bled, obviously all in Slovenia so no cross border hassle. Generally 3 nights in each. So far I'd say that's plenty of time to have seen Ljubljana and Piran. We are staying slightly longer in Bled.
s3pc1989 said:
Thanks for this, minor issue is that I am more keen on Slovenia and Wife is the Croatia fan, so trying to construct a compromise to please us both!! Hoping to make return visits if we like what we find......
no worries. both are great and different with it. i don't think you're going to like opatija from that btw. hard to describe, its just a bit tacky. not blackpool tacky, but compared to the other cities in the area it is. bit marbella vibes, nightclubs and casinos, prominent flash.
StuTheGrouch said:
Sorry to hijack.....
We are looking to go to Rovinj next summer and drive there (from the UK). Stopping for two nights on the way there (and on the way back). Am I mental to even consider this? It's around 16 hours drive from Calais, so even over three days it's quite a lot of driving. Flights alone at over £800 return, plus it's great having a car whilst on holiday. I see this as cost-savings plus convenience.
Anyone driven to Croatia from the UK?
I went with my parents to the former Yugoslavia in 1969, camping, in a Mk 2 cortina 1300 (which was 1 year old then)We are looking to go to Rovinj next summer and drive there (from the UK). Stopping for two nights on the way there (and on the way back). Am I mental to even consider this? It's around 16 hours drive from Calais, so even over three days it's quite a lot of driving. Flights alone at over £800 return, plus it's great having a car whilst on holiday. I see this as cost-savings plus convenience.
Anyone driven to Croatia from the UK?
In a modern car I wouldn't hesitate
Bit late but I thought I would provide a quick bit of follow up - and thank you to the contributors who were so helpful.
We visited (in order):
Flying into Zagreb, hire car then onto to Plitvice Lakes. Stunning but v. busy. Pays to get in as early as possible and the upper lakes is quieter and just as nice (in our view) as the lower. Definitely worth the visit.
Opatija - nice place for a couple of nights, walked the Lungomare seafront walk to unspoilt little harbour at Volosko which was a pleasant place to sit for a few beers. In terms of eating and drinking we managed to find a couple of hidden away cafes and restaurants (not on the obviously tourist seafront prom) which had good food at sensible prices.
Rovinj - exceptional location - we treated ourselves stayed in the Grand Park Hotel - superb location between Rovinj old town and the nature reserve / park behind. Despite being quite touristy, if you trouble to search and look at trip advisor there are quite a few back street restaurants that didn't apply the normal tourist 'tax'. Definitely recommend visiting and whilst in the area there quite a few interesting roads / villages / scenic routes locally that you can explore. Just beware local driving, we had been warned about the unmarked speed cameras liberally sprinkled around towns and villages (and even on faster country roads) and tried to keep somewhere near the posted limits - but literally noone else took any notice and we were in danger of being the slowest thing on the road.........speeded up to go with the flow and no tickets received fortunately.
Lake Bled - Again an obvious tourist trap, but with 10 mins walking you are away from the worst and can really experience the scenery which is amazing. Lake Bohinj nearby is much less popular and still lovely and the whole region offers endless possibilities for hikiing, mountain biking, kayaking, scenic road trips. We found a nice tavern style restaurant in Bled (the Old Cellar) which was a much better option than the various non-authentic burger and pasta places.
Overall we had a great time, thanks to all those who offered suggestions here. Both N Croatia and Slovenia are great places for a holiday but of the two we slightly preferred Slovenia and will be looking to make a return there in the not too distant future. Hope this maybe of use to others planning something similar.
We visited (in order):
Flying into Zagreb, hire car then onto to Plitvice Lakes. Stunning but v. busy. Pays to get in as early as possible and the upper lakes is quieter and just as nice (in our view) as the lower. Definitely worth the visit.
Opatija - nice place for a couple of nights, walked the Lungomare seafront walk to unspoilt little harbour at Volosko which was a pleasant place to sit for a few beers. In terms of eating and drinking we managed to find a couple of hidden away cafes and restaurants (not on the obviously tourist seafront prom) which had good food at sensible prices.
Rovinj - exceptional location - we treated ourselves stayed in the Grand Park Hotel - superb location between Rovinj old town and the nature reserve / park behind. Despite being quite touristy, if you trouble to search and look at trip advisor there are quite a few back street restaurants that didn't apply the normal tourist 'tax'. Definitely recommend visiting and whilst in the area there quite a few interesting roads / villages / scenic routes locally that you can explore. Just beware local driving, we had been warned about the unmarked speed cameras liberally sprinkled around towns and villages (and even on faster country roads) and tried to keep somewhere near the posted limits - but literally noone else took any notice and we were in danger of being the slowest thing on the road.........speeded up to go with the flow and no tickets received fortunately.
Lake Bled - Again an obvious tourist trap, but with 10 mins walking you are away from the worst and can really experience the scenery which is amazing. Lake Bohinj nearby is much less popular and still lovely and the whole region offers endless possibilities for hikiing, mountain biking, kayaking, scenic road trips. We found a nice tavern style restaurant in Bled (the Old Cellar) which was a much better option than the various non-authentic burger and pasta places.
Overall we had a great time, thanks to all those who offered suggestions here. Both N Croatia and Slovenia are great places for a holiday but of the two we slightly preferred Slovenia and will be looking to make a return there in the not too distant future. Hope this maybe of use to others planning something similar.
s3pc1989 said:
We found a nice tavern style restaurant in Bled (the Old Cellar) which was a much better option than the various non-authentic burger and pasta places.
Old Cellar is a great place isn't it - very busy though, definitely one to book in advance - there are other non-burger focussed restaurants though - we quite liked the uninspiringly named Central Bled just down the road too and Oštarija Peglez'n which is closer to the lake, the latter particularly as they took pity on us having walked there in a horrendous rain shower and we were drenched (and cold, it was a chilly September).s3pc1989 said:
Rovinj - exceptional location
That it is, and your hotel allowed the best of it, chapeau. Just hope they don’t make pula a low cost airport destination, the lack of accessibility is keeping Rovinj a gem.
Re. Slovenia, Ljubljana itself is worth a couple days. Also google triangel hotel. We haven’t made it there yet but it’s on the list.
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