Where to Stay in Istria, Croatia

By Santorini Dave

My Favorite Hotels in Istria

• Best 5-Star Hotel: Grand Brioni (Pula) – Luxury resort with a fantastic pool and sea views.
• Best Luxury Hotel: Grand Park (Rovinj) – Spectacular Old Town views and excellent facilities.
• Best 4-Star Hotel: Cittar (Novigrad) – Excellent boutique hotel in the Old Town.
• Best Boutique Hotel: Adriatic (Rovinj) – Stylish harborfront hotel in the Old Town.
• Best Heritage Hotel: Martis Forum Heritage (Poreč) – Historic Old Town hotel near the Euphrasian Basilica.
• Best Value Boutique Hotel: Villa Cittar (Novigrad) – Affordable hotel near the Old Town.
• Best for Families: Aminess Maestral (Novigrad) – Great pools, kids’ facilities, and beach access.
• Best for Couples: Rivalmare (Novigrad) – Small waterfront hotel with sea views.
• Best Beach Resort: Monte Mulini (Rovinj) – Luxury seaside resort near Mulini Beach.
• Best Hotel with a Pool: Lone (Rovinj) – Modern design hotel with indoor and outdoor pools.
• Best Near Pula Arena: Amfiteater (Pula) – Steps from the Roman amphitheater.

Istria is one of my favorite regions of Croatia, with beautiful coastal towns, Roman ruins, excellent seafood, and some of the country’s best wine and olive oil. Rovinj is my top recommendation for first-time visitors, with a gorgeous Old Town, great restaurants, and excellent hotels. I also love Novigrad for its quieter atmosphere and waterfront dining. Pula is the best base for history and exploring without a car.

The Best Towns to Stay in Istria

• Rovinj: Best overall for first-time visitors and couples. Beautiful Old Town, excellent restaurants, and luxury hotels. Stay in the center for sightseeing or near Mulini Beach for swimming and resorts.
• Pula: Best for history and getting around without a car. Roman ruins, good bus connections, and beach resorts on the Verudela peninsula.
• Novigrad: Best for a quieter holiday, families, and waterfront dining. Charming Old Town with boutique hotels and family resorts within walking distance.
• Poreč: Best for cycling, boat trips, and sightseeing. Historic Old Town with the UNESCO-listed Euphrasian Basilica and beach resorts nearby.
• Umag: Best for budget stays and family resorts. Affordable apartments, swimming areas, and large resorts north of the Old Town.

The Best Areas in Istria for…

• First-Time Visitors: Rovinj. The best combination of a beautiful Old Town, restaurants, waterfront walks, and excellent hotels. The historic center is ideal for couples and sightseeing, while the resorts near Mulini Beach offer pools and easier access to swimming. Rovinj is busy in July and August, and its best hotels can be expensive.
• Sightseeing and History: Pula. The Roman Arena is Istria’s most famous monument, and the Old Town also has the Temple of Augustus, Arch of the Sergii, and Gate of Hercules. Pula is a convenient starting point for excursions to Brijuni National Park. Poreč is also worth visiting for the UNESCO-listed Euphrasian Basilica.
• Without a Car: Pula. Pula has the region’s main airport and one of its most useful bus stations, with connections to Rovinj, Poreč, Novigrad, Umag, and destinations farther afield. Buses are less convenient for inland villages and smaller beaches. Rovinj is also easy to enjoy without a car if you don’t plan many day trips.
• Beaches: Rovinj and Pula. Rovinj has attractive swimming areas around Mulini Beach, Lone Bay, and Zlatni Rt forest park. Pula’s Verudela peninsula has rocky coves and pebble beaches, including Ambrela and Hawaii Beach. Most Istrian beaches are rocky, pebbly, or paved rather than sandy. For a proper sandy beach, consider Bijeca in nearby Medulin.
• Families: Novigrad and Umag. Both have large resorts with pools, children’s activities, sports, and beaches. My favorite is Aminess Maestral in Novigrad. Umag’s resort areas are another good choice, particularly for families who plan to spend most of their time at the hotel.
• Couples: Rovinj and Novigrad. Rovinj has the more impressive Old Town, better luxury hotels, and a wider choice of waterfront restaurants. Novigrad is quieter and generally offers better value. For a romantic stay in Novigrad, I like Blu Mare, Rivalmare, and Cittar.
• Budget: Umag. Umag has a good selection of apartments and moderately priced resorts. Staying outside the Old Town or a short walk from the waterfront usually costs less. Pula also has inexpensive hotels, apartments, and hostels, with better transport connections.

The Best Hotels in Istria

Best Luxury Hotels and Resorts

• Grand Brioni (Pula) • Grand Park (Rovinj) • Lone (Rovinj) • Monte Mulini (Rovinj)

Best Boutique Hotels

• Adriatic (Rovinj) • Angelo d’Oro (Rovinj) • Palazzo Rainis (Novigrad) • Martis Forum Heritage (Poreč) • Cittar (Novigrad) • Joyce Hotel (Pula)

Best Affordable Hotels

• Villa Cittar (Novigrad) • La Rossa (Umag) • Flores (Poreč) • Hotel Poreč • Galija (Pula)

Best Family Resorts

• Aminess Maestral (Novigrad) • Aminess Laguna (Novigrad) • Park Plaza Arena (Pula) • Hotel Umag • Garden Suites (Umag)

The Best Towns to Stay in Istria

1. Rovinj

Waterfront dining in Rovinj Old Town.

Rovinj is my top recommendation for most visitors to Istria. The Old Town occupies a former island, with narrow stone lanes climbing toward the Church of St. Euphemia. Restaurants, shops, and small hotels fill the historic center, while larger luxury resorts sit along the coast to the south.

There are two main areas to stay:

• Old Town: Best for sightseeing, restaurants, and couples. The historic center is pedestrianized, with boutique hotels in restored buildings. Expect cobblestones, stairs, and limited vehicle access. Check luggage arrangements before booking.
• Mulini Beach and Lone Bay: Best for luxury resorts, pools, and swimming. Grand Park, Lone, and Monte Mulini are all in this area, about a 10 to 20-minute walk from the Old Town, depending on the hotel. The beaches are pebbly and rocky rather than sandy.

Rovinj is the most expensive of the five towns covered here, particularly in summer. It’s worth paying more to stay here if you want to walk to good restaurants in the evening and enjoy the Old Town without making a day trip.

Inside the Church of St. Euphemia.

Restaurants along the streets of Rovinj Old Town.

Mulini Beach, near Rovinj’s main luxury hotels.

Best Hotels in Rovinj

• Best Luxury Hotels: Grand Park • Lone • Monte Mulini
• Best Boutique Hotels: Adriatic • Angelo d’Oro • The Melegran • Casa Garzotto • Villa Valdibora
• Best Apartments: Apartments Vincero • Apartments Anica • Apartments Cvek

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2. Pula

The Pula Arena, one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world.

Pula is the best base in Istria for history and travelers without a car. The main attraction is the Roman Arena, a remarkably well-preserved amphitheater that still hosts concerts and other events. The Old Town also has Roman gates, the Temple of Augustus, restaurants, shops, and a lively market.

Pula is less picturesque than Rovinj, but it has more major historical sights and better bus connections. The main bus station is about a 10-minute walk from the Arena and roughly 15 to 20 minutes from the central Old Town.

There are two main areas to stay:

• Old Town and City Center: Best for sightseeing, restaurants, and public transportation. Stay near the Arena, Forum, or Arch of the Sergii for easy walking access to the main sights.
• Verudela: Best for beach resorts and swimming. About 15 to 25 minutes from central Pula by local bus, this wooded peninsula has luxury hotels, rocky coves, and pebble beaches. Ambrela and Hawaii Beach are two of the best-known swimming spots. Stay here if pools and the sea matter more than walking to restaurants in town.

Pula is also a good starting point for visiting Brijuni National Park, a group of islands reached by boat from nearby Fažana.

The Pula Arena is still used for concerts and performances.

The Archaeological Museum of Istria in Pula.

The tourist information office in Pula.

Pula Cathedral and its bell tower.

The Duck Boutique in Pula Old Town.

Sereny ice cream shop in central Pula.

Best Hotels in Pula

• Best Luxury Hotels: Grand Brioni • Park Plaza Histria • Ribarska Koliba
• Best Beach Hotels: Park Plaza Arena • Park Plaza Histria
• Best Boutique Hotels: Joyce • Amfiteater • Villa Brandestini • Monvidal Residence • Scaletta
• Best Affordable Hotels: Galija • Veli Jože
• Best Apartments: Grandeur Apartments • Novak Apartments • AAA Apartments • Downtown Apartments Pula

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3. Novigrad

Fishing boats in Novigrad marina.

Novigrad is my favorite town in Istria for a quiet seaside holiday. The small Old Town has colorful buildings, a working fishing harbor, waterfront restaurants, and a pleasant promenade. It doesn’t have Rovinj’s dramatic setting or Pula’s major historical sights, but it’s easier to relax here, particularly outside the busiest summer weeks.

Novigrad is also one of the best choices for families. The Aminess resorts are a short walk south of the Old Town, with pools, sports facilities, children’s activities, and access to pebble and rocky beaches.

There are two main areas to stay:

• Old Town and Marina: Best for couples, boutique hotels, and restaurants. Stay here if you want to walk to dinner and enjoy the waterfront in the evening. My favorites are Cittar, Rivalmare, and Blu Mare.
• Aminess Resort Area: Best for families and swimming. Aminess Maestral is my favorite family resort in Istria, while Aminess Laguna is a simpler, more affordable alternative. Both are within walking distance of the Old Town.

Novigrad is also a good base for visiting Poreč and Umag, particularly with a car. For exploring the entire peninsula by public transportation, Pula is more convenient.

Swimming and sunbathing near the Aminess resorts in Novigrad.

We had dinner overlooking the sea in Novigrad.

Best Hotels in Novigrad

• Best Boutique Hotels: Cittar • Blu Mare • Palazzo Rainis • Rivalmare
• Best Family Resorts: Aminess Maestral • Aminess Laguna
• Best Midrange Hotels: Villa Cittar • Nautica • Santa Maria • Makin
• Best Affordable Hotels and Guesthouses: Guest House Torci 18 • Pension Emaus
• Best Apartments: Apartments Tereza • Skipper Suites • Apartments Tajana

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4. Poreč

A square in Poreč Old Town.

Poreč is a good choice for a walkable Old Town, cycling, and boat excursions. Its historic center occupies a small peninsula, with pedestrian streets, waterfront restaurants, and several excellent boutique hotels. The main attraction is the UNESCO-listed Euphrasian Basilica, famous for its early Byzantine mosaics.

Poreč is a major summer destination, and the Old Town can get busy. Outside the center, coastal paths and parks are good for cycling and walking. Boat excursions include dolphin watching, fishing trips, and glass-bottom boats.

Stay in the Old Town for restaurants, sightseeing, and boutique hotels. The waterfront and streets around the historic center are the most convenient locations. Larger beach resorts are found along the coast north and south of town.

Poreč is a particularly good choice for travelers who want a historic center but don’t need Rovinj’s luxury hotels or dramatic setting.

The entrance to the UNESCO-listed Euphrasian Basilica.

Cycling is popular in and around Poreč.

Glass-bottom sightseeing boats operate from Poreč in the tourist season.

Best Hotels in Poreč

• Best Upscale Hotels: Martis Forum Heritage • BO Hotel Palazzo • Dua Residence
• Best Boutique Hotels: Melissa • Mauro • Valamar Riviera
• Best Midrange Hotels: Flores • Hotel Poreč • Villa Karda Residence
• Best Apartments: Apartments Urban • Cardo Apartments

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5. Umag

Walking through Umag Old Town.

Umag is best for affordable apartments and family beach resorts. It’s the northernmost of the five towns covered here, close to the Slovenian border. The historic center has waterfront restaurants and a small harbor, but it’s less interesting than Rovinj, Poreč, or Novigrad.

Most visitors choosing Umag for a beach holiday stay in the resort areas north of the center, particularly around Punta. These have pools, sports facilities, cycling paths, and swimming areas with a mixture of pebbles, rocks, and developed beaches.

Stay in the Old Town for restaurants and inexpensive apartments. Choose Punta and the northern resort areas for pools, family activities, and beach access. Some resorts are a 20 to 40-minute walk from the center, with seasonal tourist transport available.

Umag can be good value, especially for families planning to spend most of their time at a resort. For a more attractive Old Town and a wider choice of boutique hotels, I’d stay in nearby Novigrad.

A family swimming area in Umag.

Best Hotels in Umag

• Best Upscale Hotels and Apartments: Rocca Riviera • Hotel Sipar • Garden Suites • Hotel Umag
• Best Boutique Hotels: San Valentino Palace • Rocca Riviera
• Best Affordable Hotels: La Rossa
• Best Apartments: Garden Palace • Apartments Villa Rossi • Apartments Maris • Iris Studios • Apartments Punta by Sea

Getting Around Istria

• Rental Car: The best way to explore Istria, especially inland towns like Motovun and Grožnjan, wineries, and smaller beaches. You don’t need a car if you’re staying in one coastal town and don’t plan many day trips.
• Buses: Arriva connects the main coastal towns. Pula is the most useful bus hub, but services to inland villages and smaller destinations can be limited. Check schedules before planning day trips.
• Airports: Pula Airport is the main airport for Istria, about 5 km from central Pula. Trieste Airport in Italy is another option, particularly for northern Istria, but onward connections can be inconvenient without a rental car.
• Parking: Old Towns often have pedestrian-only streets and limited parking. If you’re driving, check your hotel’s parking arrangements before booking, especially in summer.