Best Things to Do in Istria, Croatia

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Did you know that Istria houses the world's smallest city with just 30 inhabitants? Moreover, this peninsula is a part of three countries, with a major part distributed across Croatia. Throughout the centuries, Istria has been under the rule of the Austrian Empire, Italy, and the Venetian Republic. Despite this, the area has managed to retain its medieval towns, which are a pioneer of its culture.

In other words, you will be stepping way back in time during your cruise trip to this Croatian landmark. So, take a step out of your comfort zone and learn about the best things to do in Istria to ensure a great time.

Top 5 Things to do in Istria

1. Cycling around Rovinj's countryside

Enjoy a beautiful day by cycling across Rovinj's countryside. Your trail will start and end in Lone Bay, which is situated at the entry point of Punta Corrente Forest Park. As you bike across this path, you will enjoy the true essence of nature while passing a few famous sites, such as Valbruna, Stancija Milic, and Palud.

This biking trail's historical highlight includes stone carvings at Muntravo Quarry. This represents the area's Venetian dominance. You will also pass through Cuvi Bay – locals' favorite swimming spot.

2. Go truffle hunting at Motovun Forest

Around the steep hills of Buzet, Vrh, and Motovun lie the dark and damp woods, which are a perfect hunting ground for delicious truffles. These are subterranean fungi with a delicate mushroom-like taste. It is one of the most sought-after delicacies for food enthusiasts. Moreover, as this food item needs to be hunted by trained dogs or pigs, their allure continues to increase.

So, while you are here, one of the best things to do in Istria would be to book a guided tour to hunt truffles. Your tour professional will introduce you to the trained dogs before you venture into the forest to locate this delicacy. Afterward, you can spend the remaining time preparing meals with truffles as an ingredient.

Also, Read: Top 5 Things to Explore in Basel

3. Visit the amphitheater in Pula

The largest Istrian city is Pula, which is situated in the southern part of this peninsula. The marvelous amphitheater in this city will leave you spellbound. This is especially true if you visit during Antiquity, where you will get to witness shows with gladiators and animals. Interestingly, it is the 6th largest amphitheater in the Roman Empire. Thus, your visit would undoubtedly be one of the top-rated things to do in Istria.

4. Taste the best olive oil

Explore the Istrian countryside while on the quest for the world's best olive oil. This peninsula has gained the title of best olive oil growing region numerous times. Include this experience in the 5 fun things to do in Istria.

To start, visit Vodnjan, which houses a premier olive oil manufacturer in the country. Here, you will learn the growth process of this covered fruit and its harvesting and manufacturing process in detail. If you have more time on your watch, visit other olive groves in the peninsula. On your way, you will find various groves and forests full of truffles.

Also, Read: Top 5 Things to Eat in Rijeka, Croatia

5. Visit the smallest city in the world

Hum is a fairytale-like village in the peninsula of Istria, perfectly nestled away in a quaint neighborhood. It is famous for being the smallest city in the world. Surprisingly, the petite location is home to just 30 inhabitants and has only 2 streets. This village's size might be unnoticeable, but it houses various famous historical monuments. One of the most famous cultural attractions of this village includes Aleja Glagoljaša. This is a 7 km long street connecting the village with Roc. It features decorations with 11 stone monuments, which honor the glagoljica of 1977 and 1985.

Summing It Up

Be it culture, adventure, or natural beauty, the peninsula of Istria has a thing or two for each kind of traveler. So, while planning your travel itinerary, do not forget to include these best things to do in Istria. And, for cruise bookings, visit CruiseBooking.com.  

Also, Read: What best things to do In Rijeka?