Where to Stay in Istria and on Krk: Opatija, Motovun, Poreč, Rovinj or Pula
This route sleeps three times: in Opatija after the island of Krk, on the west coast of Istria after the hill towns, and in Pula at the end. Opatija and Pula are fixed by the route; the second night is the real choice — the resort town of Poreč, the hilltop of Motovun or the old town of Rovinj. These are the places to choose from, in the order you meet them.
| Town | Rijeka Airport | Motovun | Rovinj | Pula |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Krk | 23 km | 117 km | 138 km | 155 km |
| Opatija | 40 km | 62 km | 84 km | 101 km |
| Motovun | 94 km | 0 km | 54 km | 71 km |
| Poreč | 114 km | 30 km | 36 km | 59 km |
| Rovinj | 115 km | 54 km | 0 km | 41 km |
| Pula | 132 km | 71 km | 35 km | 0 km |
Krk
The night before you start, if you land late at Rijeka Airport
Why stay here
- 23 km from Rijeka Airport, which is on the island itself
- An evening inside the old walls, around Kamplin square with the Frankopan castle and the cathedral
Keep in mind
- Day 1 still loops the whole island, so you gain little driving time
Opatija
Night 1 — the 19th-century seaside resort, before you cross into Istria
Why stay here
- The Lungomare promenade along the shore, about 12 km from Volosko to Lovran
- Day 2 starts straight into the Učka tunnel towards the hill towns
Keep in mind
- On the Kvarner side of Učka: the hill towns are 60 km away, through a tolled tunnel
Motovun
Night 2 — the hilltop town, if you would rather wake up in inland Istria
Why stay here
- A walled hilltop town above the Mirna valley, with views over the valley from its walls
- 30 km from Poreč, so day 3 starts on the coast in half an hour
Keep in mind
- A small town with few beds — book early
- Cars cannot enter the old town: park on the slope below and walk up with your bags
Poreč
Night 2 — the route's choice, on the west coast
Why stay here
- Day 3 starts at the Euphrasian Basilica, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the old town
- A large resort town, with hotels, apartments and campsites to choose from
Keep in mind
- 59 km from Pula, so day 3 drives the whole west coast
Rovinj
Night 2 — the old town on its peninsula, halfway down the coast
Why stay here
- Evenings in the lanes below St Euphemia, and the Golden Cape forest park at the edge of town
- Halfway between Poreč and Pula, which evens out day 3
Keep in mind
- The old town is closed to cars: park at Valdibora and carry your bags in
Pula
Night 3 — the end of the route, under the Roman Arena
Why stay here
- The Arena, Cape Kamenjak and Premantura are all within half an hour
- Pula has its own airport, so a one-way rental can end here
Keep in mind
- 132 km back to Rijeka Airport if you return the car where you picked it up
Before you book
- Summer. July and August are the busiest months on the Istrian coast. For those weeks, book the second and third nights early, especially in Rovinj and Motovun, where beds are fewer.
- Old towns without cars. In Rovinj and Motovun you park outside the old town and walk in. If you are staying inside the walls, ask the host where to park and how far you will carry your bags.
- One-way rental. The route ends in Pula. Dropping the car there usually costs a one-way fee; driving back to Rijeka Airport adds 132 km and the Istrian Y motorway tolls.
- Second night. Poreč, Motovun and Rovinj all fit the route. Pick Motovun to wake up on a hilltop, Rovinj for the old town the tourist board calls one of the most photogenic in the Mediterranean, Poreč for the biggest choice of places to stay.
Distances are by road, from OpenStreetMap routing, from each town to the places in the table.
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