7 Best Hotels in Rovinj, Istria

Emerging from the fragrant pine forest, this hotel has an unbelievably perfect location on the waterfront opposite Sveta Katarina Island and the charming Old Town of Rovinj, an excellent restaurant, a top spa, and luxurious accommodations. Designed by the renowned Italian architect Piero Lissoni and Croatian 3LHD Studio, this elegant but unfussy hotel offers artfully designed rooms and suites, many with plunge pools and gardens. Views of Rovinj are mind-blowing and romantic, particularly from the well-regarded Cap Aureo Signature Restaurant and on the marina at the Michelin-starred restaurant Agli Amici. Albaro Wellness & Spa has one of the most intriguing spa menus found in Europe, inspired by Istrian tradition as well as local flora and fauna. Bringing nature into the hotel was critical to the award-winning design, as shown in its use of 30,000 native plants.

Founded in 1912, this harborside boutique hotel is the oldest (still functioning) one in town, and is modern, artsy, and as cosmopolitan as anything in New York or London. Rooms are spacious, with all conveniences and stunning marble bathrooms, and front-facing rooms have great views over the harbor. All rooms and suites contain original art made exclusively for the hotel by renowned international and Croatian artists. With a lovely bar serving everything from coffee to specialty gins and the on-site Brasserie Adriatic restaurant, today the Adriatic is a focal point of social life in Rovinj.

Rovinj's first boutique heritage hotel is housed in a beautifully restored 16th-century building on a cobblestone street in the heart of the Old Town. All rooms and common areas have been updated to a chic modern standard, but they still embrace their original elegant old-world charm with well-placed antiques and warm residential decor. Free breakfast is served in the courtyard garden, as is the afternoon aperitivo; the area transforms into a late-night lounge after dinner. Some spa services are also available. Although the hotel's parking lot is outside the Old Town, a posh golf cart will collect you and deliver you to the front door.

Superbly designed by an all-star Croatian team, the large Hotel Lone blends perfectly with its lush surroundings; rooms are modern, spacious, and comfortable, with sleek bathrooms and huge balconies. For the ultimate treat opt for a Jazz Room, which features a private hot tub on the balcony. Rooms have large beds, flat-screen TVs, and lovely bathrooms with separate tub and shower. The fabulous spa and wellness center, free-form outdoor pool, and hotel beach are not to be missed. Although it's a five-star property, don't expect high-end luxury, but rather a stylish hotel with a friendly staff and a laid-back atmosphere.

Considered one of the top luxury hotels in Croatia, the Hotel Monte Mulini has a stunning location just a 20-minute walk from Rovinj’s Old Town, in a landscaped park next to the nature park Zlatni rt and 164 feet from the sea. The rooms and bathrooms are spacious and well appointed, with amenities including bottled water and handmade local sweets; those in suites can enjoy olive oil tastings and Illy espresso coffee machines. All rooms have a balcony and great views over Lone Bay and the sea; higher floors naturally offer better views. The staff is friendly, accommodating, and helpful. Two on-site restaurants, top-notch wellness and spa facilities, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and the Mulini Beach Club make Monte Mulini a perfect getaway for those looking for true relaxation.

Located on Sveta Katarina Island, just a 15-minute boat ride from the Old Town, Island Hotel Katarina is partly housed in an old family castle from the early 20th century with basic and outdated but spacious rooms, some with breathtaking views over the Old Town. The well-landscaped 20th-century parks on the island are beautiful, and boat rides to and from the island are free.

This lovingly restored turn-of-the-century villa 30 minutes east of Rovinj is an excellent place to stay—and a good example of what you're likely to find if you venture into the agritourism section of the Istria lodging scene. A stay here gets you in tune with the countryside, breathing fresh air and seeing the stars at night. The agri part of the tourism here is a highlight; plenty of what you eat comes from the garden. The grounds are laced with stone walkways, and leafy trees provide shady corners to grab a lawn chair and doze in. Quiet it is—and in that sense, you are a world away from the crowds back on the coast. There are three immaculately furnished apartments, each with a private terrace, plus a full-fledged two-story house for rent. A generous breakfast is included in the price of the rental. The owner's meticulous attention to every detail of your surroundings ensures that no doorknob is left with grease or dirt. The farm is in the tiny village of Smoljanci, just beyond the picturesque Renaissance-era town of Svetvinčenat (5 km [3 miles] from Kanfanar, which is near Dvigrad).