Pula itinerary: best things to do in this city and Istria
Pula is one of the less discovered tourist gems in Croatia. However, things have changed dramatically in the last couple of years, so this city has seen a huge increase in visits and overnight stays by tourists from all over the world.
This is supported by the recent recognition of the British Times, which included the city in one of the most desirable summer destinations. They emphasized its rich history, natural beauty and cultural offer.
And really, when you think about it, which city has the world-famous Roman amphitheater, the mystical underground network of Zerostrasse tunnels under the old town, the most famous aquarium in this part of Europe and some of the most beautiful pebble and stone beaches.
Pula itinerary will help you experience this city in the best way possible.
How many days in Pula
This city offers a lot of quality content for tourists and find out which in this Pula itinerary. We can single out the old town center, beaches and gastronomy, although there is much more worth experiencing.
Old city
The old town center is full of cultural and historical attractions from the Roman and Austro-Hungarian times. As the most famous monument in Croatia and beyond, the Pula Arena stands out, the Roman Amphitheater is even more preserved than the famous Roman Colloseum.
Stunning beaches
Many say that Pula and its surroundings have the best beaches in Istria. If you are a fan of stone and pebble beaches, this city will not disappoint you at all, regardless of whether you are a young person or you came with your family and children on vacation.
Some of the most popular beaches for families in Pula and the surrounding area are Lijon and Centinera (Banjole) and Gortanova uvala (Pula). Adrenaline lovers love Galebov stijene and Rt Kamenjak because of the rocks and untouched nature. Young people enjoy the beaches of Umbrella and Hawaii. Find the entire guide on beaches here.
Istrian gastronomy
Istrian gastronomy has strong trump cards, the best olive oil in the world, some of the largest examples of truffles in the world and excellent local varieties of wine. When you add to that good fine dining and local restaurants (locals called it “konoba”), the impression is even stronger.
In order to properly explore Pula and the surrounding area, you need 3 days. If Pula is your base to explore the whole of Istria, the most visited tourist region, then it is recommended to stay at least 5 days.
Where to stay in Pula
Istria is the most visited tourist region in Croatia with over 30 million overnight stays a year.
Of these, Pula has over 2 million overnight stays and accordingly has excellent accommodation facilities.
Regardless of whether you like hotels, hostels, apartments, camps or holiday homes, this city will not disappoint you.
Among the hotels, we single out Hotel Amfiteatar, a small hotel located 50 meters from the famous Pula Arena. It was recently completely renovated, so you have the feeling that you are staying in a luxury hotel with a decent nightly price between 100 and 300 euros depending on the season. The hotel has the excellent gourmet offer since chef Deniz Zembo is one of the most famous in Croatia.
Pipištrelo is one of the best-known and longest-standing hostels in Pula, so you won’t go wrong if you choose it for your vacation.
Of the campsites, “Stoja” stands out with its beautiful nature and beaches, as well as excellent catering facilities such as the Mediteran restaurant.
The old town center and the whole of Pula is full of fantastic apartments that many tourists choose for their stay in this beautiful city.
3-day Pula itinerary
Below find a things to do in 3-day Pula itinerary.
Day 1: Pula old city walk
Tourists often start their walk through the center of Pula and the old town from Portarata square.
The route makes sense since here is the beginning of the old town core.
From Portarata Square, under the Roman triumphal monument of the Sergius Arch (also known as Golden Gate), the adventure around the old town begins.
The path leads through the most famous Sergijevaca street, and after 5-10 minutes of walking, the first stop is at the beautiful central Forum square.
The main attraction there is the Temple of Augustus. It is a cult landmark of Pula. Founded in 27 BC, it is dedicated to Augustus, the first emperor of Rome. The temple underwent restoration from 1945 to 1947, after it was almost destroyed by a bomb during an air raid in World War II.
The journey continues through Kandlerova Street, where there are numerous art galleries.
When you pass the street after a short walk you will see the stunning Roman amphitheater. Built during the time of Emperor Vespasian, the arena could accommodate up to 20,000 spectators for gladiator fights.
Day 2 – Fantastic gourmet experience or adrenaline rush
For the day 2 of Pula itinerary you can choose from gourmet and adventure activities based on your preferences.
Gourmet experience: choose from cooking classes, private dinners and gourmet tours
The rich past of Istria and the numerous cultures that lived in this area left a huge mark on its cuisine. Istrian cuisine is influenced by Italian, Austrian, Hungarian, Oriental and Slavic cuisine.
With the development of tourism, Istria managed to take a big step in the development of gastronomy by branding its top quality olive oil, cheese, prosciutto, wine…
Did you know that Istrian olive oil is considered the best in the world? Have you heard about the local wine variety “Malvazija”? Did you know that the forests of Istria hide one of the most expensive white and black truffles?
Outstanding cooking classes
What better way to get to know a destination than a cooking class? With a professional chef, you cook, taste and learn about local cuisine, customs and culture.
Along with cooking, hanging out and entertainment in a relaxed atmosphere, you also have the opportunity to try the best local specialties.
Cooking classes are interesting for all generations, so families, couples, friends can enjoy…
The special feature of Istria Cooking classes is that you have the opportunity to cook with a world-famous chef.
Also, everything takes place in the prestigious culinary institute located 50 meters from the famous roman amphitheater in Pula.
Find more about the cooking classes and how to book this gourmet experience here.
Pula – Rovinj gourmet boat trip
Combine food, a boat trip and a visit to beautiful Rovinj? Sounds pretty good, right?!
The tour starts from the Pula waterfront, not far from the Pula amphitheater.
As the ship leaves the port, you can enjoy a fantastic view of the old town, which looks even more impressive than from land.
Passengers enjoy delicious bites of Mediterranean food prepared by a famous chef. Together with your friends, you toast this hedonistic experience with a glass of wine, cocktail, liqueur or champagne.
This enjoyment with food on the sea and beautiful air soon ends the highlight of the trip, which is the arrival in Rovinj and sightseeing of its old city center.
No less interesting is the return by boat to Pula, in which people usually continue hanging out, relaxing and summarizing the impressions of a beautiful day with the sunset.
Adrenaline rush
Istria is the adventure capital of Croatia. There are many things you can enjoy during your vacation. Kayak, SUP, quad, buggy, aquaparks, dinoparks…
Families usually love to choose one of the two big aquaparks. Aquacolors Poreč is the biggest one, more exciting with more attractions, and on the other hand, Istralandia aquapark is more chilling and family friendly.
There are two more interesting parks in Istria. First one is Glavani Park, with the largest high ropes climbing course in Croatia. They also have 3G high swing, Devil’s Causeway, the 20 meter Quick Jump and many more.
The second one is Dinopark Funtana, the largest Croatian fun dinopark for families and kids. Dinosaurs, amusement park, MiniZoo, Live Show, paintball and other fun can be found in this unique park.
Day 3 – Visit Brijuni island or Cape Kamenjak
Istria is full of interesting things to do, everything in 1h hour distance. If you don’t have enough time, you can at least make a trip to Brijuni Island or Cape Kamenjak, both in 10 kilometers distance form Pula.
National park Brijuni
Brijuni National Park is a large group of islands located on the west coast of Istria, not far from the small town of Fažana. The Brijuni archipelago consists of 14 islands that are located on an area of 744 ha.
The national park is visited for the beauty of nature, the beautiful safari park, dinosaur footprints and old olive trees.
Cape Kamenjak
The Kamenjak peninsula is the southernmost cape of Istria. The indented coast of Kamenjak is made up of numerous beaches, including 11 uninhabited islets.
The 30-kilometer long coast offers many places for swimming, diving, cycling or enjoying a walk.
After you get tired of swimming, you can stay in one of the many beach bars.
While cyclists and pedestrians have free entry to the nature park, fees are payable for all motor vehicles: passenger car, motorcycle or van.
Thank you for reading 3-day Pula itinerary.
