Istria Travel Guide

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The word conjures something magical as it rolls off the tongue: Istria. Beyond sounding poetic, however, the name of this region of Croatia is derived from the name of the Illyrian people who occupied the area well before the Romans first arrived in the 3rd century BC—namely, the Histrians, whose chief architectural legacy comprised numerous hilltop fortresses. In the northwest corner of Croatia bordering Slovenia, the triangular-shaped Istrian peninsula looks rather like a bunch of grapes—and, given its strong viticultural heritage, some might say this is not a coincidence.

Hotels

Istria Hotels

In Istria, as in most other reaches of the Croatian coast, it's basically a question of whether to stay at the big, impersonal resorts on the beach, with...read more

Restaurants

Istria Restaurants

Food in Istria is more sophisticated and varied than in the rest of Croatia. Culinary tourism is one of the region's biggest draws, and you will get (for...read more

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Things To Do

Things To Do in Istria

Explore the best sights, entertainment, and shopping with our top choices and insider tips.

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Istria Experiences

  • Istria Top 5

    Take a walk through the Roman Area in Pula, where you will find one of the world's biggest and best-preserved amphitheaters (in fact, the sixth-largest... Read more

  • A Scent to Swoon Over

    A ball-shaped candy often coated with cocoa? (That's what Webster's says about the truffle.) Think again. Such truffles are a dime a dozen compared... Read more

  • Agritourism in Istria

    Given the vast tourism infrastructure you see along the Istrian coast, not to mention the number of picturesque swimming coves that dot the coastline... Read more

  • If You Like

    Rovinj is itself a complete pleasure. Istria's star attraction occupies a fantastic setting, with centuries-old red-roofed houses clustered around... Read more

  • A Wreck of a Vacation

    On August 14, 1908, the Baron Gautsch, a passenger ferry owned by Austria's royal family, was on its way from Kotor to Trieste when it collided... Read more

  • If You Have 3 Days

    There is so much to see in Istria that three days is a must, though it may seem like a rush if that's all the time you have. Start in Pula, as... Read more

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