Cities & Towns in Istria, Croatia
14 cities & towns in Istria, Croatia, with map links and honest tips. Browse the best city & town spots across the region.
The towns of Istria are the heart of any trip, stone streets, harbours, squares and a café culture that asks you to slow down. These 14 cities and towns are the ones worth building a day, or a whole stay, around.
The 14 best cities & towns in Istria
- Buzet, a hilltop town in northern istria known as the city of truffles, the gateway to the mirna valley where white and black truffles are hunted with dogs each autumn. map
- Groznjan, artists hilltown. map
- Hum, smallest town world. map
- Labin, a double town in eastern istria, a venetian hilltop old town above a working class quarter that grew around coal mines opened in the 19th century. map
- Motovun, truffle hilltown. map
- Novigrad, a small fishing port on the western coast of istria, once a venetian bishopric with old town walls that still ring the narrow streets. map
- Novigrad Istra, a small fishing port on the western coast of istria, once a venetian bishopric with old town walls that still ring the narrow streets. map
- Porec Euphrasian Basilica, unesco mosaic. map
- Porec Town, a roman settlement (parentium) whose 6th century euphrasian basilica, with its glittering byzantine mosaics, is a unesco world heritage site. map
- Poreč, a roman settlement (parentium) whose 6th century euphrasian basilica, with its glittering byzantine mosaics, is a unesco world heritage site. map
- Pula, roman arena. map
- Rovinj, a venetian fishing town that was originally built on an island and joined to the mainland in 1763. map
- Rovinj Old Town, venetian harbor. map
- Umag, a northwestern istrian port, the first croatian town seen by visitors arriving from italy by ferry. map
Practical tips
Shoulder season, May or September, gives you the charm without the cruise ship crowds. Mornings are quieter and cooler, and the best cafés and doorways are usually one alley off the main street.
When to go
For cities & towns in Istria, aim for May to October, with June and September the quietest warm months. Bring water and shade, facilities are thin at the more remote spots.
Every spot is mapped and verified. Share this guide if it helped plan your trip.
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