Wondering if anyone would recommend a stop(s) in Piran and/or Motovun on my way to Rovinj, please. I’m researching them and while folks say they are beautiful, neither seems to offer much in the way of siteseeing. Granted, they do offer beautiful vistas but I’m sure I will see plenty of them during the trip.

Also, the same question of Opatija, please? Or, should I stay in Rovinj and do day trips to Opatija and Pula?

Thanks very much!

I know that many Fodorites love Motovun; but honestly, aside from the views (lovely!), I found it uninteresting. I didn't go to Piran and so can't commment.

When I was there (2009), Opatija was completely overrun by loud, drunken Brits and Germans and all the restaurants and cafes were blaring music as though in competition for who could deafen the most people. I did.not like Opatija. I did like the lungomare very much, but I stayed in Lovran to see it -- a bit on the worn side, but at least at that time, among the least touristed places I visited in Istria and IMO well worth a night's stay. That said, I don't think it's a good base for Istria.

Porec is, IMO, a gem. If you don't already plan to visit it, do give it some thought!

Will you have a car or using public transport? If the latter, you may find Piran more convenient. These two towns are very different but both are small and made for relaxing rather than sightseeing.

We spent several days touring the Adriatic, including Miramare, Trieste, Umag, Koper and Piran. From my notes: "Piran more than made up for the tourists that were lacking in Koper, and we all declared shoulder season to be the best time to enjoy this adorable city." The photos support that statement.

We also happened to be in Piran during their Salt Making Festival, so the main square was alive. Afterward we walked about the salt flats--delightful.

Rovinj and Piran are similar. If Piran is en route, sure, a stop would be nice. Motovun is totally different. Views are divine but it’s cold as heck up there if the bura is blowing. It is mostly about views and truffles, but you can also taste Fakin wines with that view

I remembered stopping for truffles (I'm not a fan, to be honest), but had forgotten how wonderful the wine was.

Fakin wines puts more effort into their name and how it can be used, than into their wines. But it is lovely having a glass up there. A much better winery just outside of Motovun is Benvenuti. But, no view there

We stayed in Piran and liked it but there is not much there. It's central square is attractive. We stopped in Motovun for coffee and a walk Both are OK but not must-see type places. Rovinj is lovely but there's actually not a lot to see there either. It's not a tick-sites-off-your-list place but that made it quite attractive to us and relaxing.

Thank you all for your replies! I really appreciate it.

I think I will spend 3 nights in Rovinj instead. Use one day to see Porec, one in Rovinj, and one in Pula. Any suggestions, please?

BTW, I am driving and will be coming from Trieste. I thought I could stop in Porec on my way but I’ll have my luggage in the car (obviously, don’t know what type of car I’ll have) and don’t like stopping unless I know I can back in against a wall, fence, tree, etc.

Thanks again!

We did a similar thing, drove from Trieste to Piran, then Rovinj. To drive in Slovenia we needed a vignette that you stick on the windscreen. This was a while ago but we stopped immediately over the border where a little shop sold them. I was glad I'd read up on the different types of vignettes as they didn't appear to speak English and that's all I spoke.

Just remembered that we needed to tell the car hire people which countries we would be driving in, for insurance purposes.

Thanks very much, KayF!

I’ll be picking my car up in Zagreb on the day I leave there to head to Slovenia. So, I do need to buy a vignette. I had read about needing one but just made a note not to forget it!

Regarding the vignette, I think some car rental companies might provide it. We rented a car for a day in Slovenia, and I am quite sure we did not have to stop anywhere to purchase it. I am quite certain it came with the car (for a fee). You should check with the car rental company when you reserve your car.

Thanks very much for your info, KarenWoo!

I’ll be picking up the car in Croatia and it very well might have a vignette on it from a previous renter, I suppose. I’ll have to check with the rental car company when I pick it up. I’ll be renting through AutoEurope so they wouldn’t have that specific info.

Regarding the vignette, our rental company, MACK, did NOT provide a vignette. If your rental company does provide it, get it in writing. You purchase only the days you need, so do not depend on using the one from the previous rental customer. You have to get one at a gas station right after you get to Slovenia. Take a picture of your car license number, and head into the cashier. Keep your receipt, I still have mine from September, just in case. There are BIG cameras on the Slovenia highways, and the fines are steep.

Thanks for that info!

MACK is a Croatian company. If the car is rented from a Slovenian agency, generally they have a vignette. But it is always good to check.

We did rent our car from a Slovenian agency. We picked up the car in Ljubljana and returned it to Ljubljana. They provided the vignette. So this makes sense with what rialtogrl said.

thanks very much for that info, rialtogirl and karenwoo!