Day trips from Pula: A comprehensive travel guide with price comparisons, route recommendations and personal impressions from exploring the Istrian peninsula
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Why Pula is a convenient and popular starting point for day trips around the Istrian peninsula
In my experience, Pula is one of the best cities to start exploring the Istrian peninsula. We have traveled around this region many times and each time we were convinced that Pula offers the most opportunities for day trips in any direction of the peninsula. And now I will explain why.
The arch in Pula, dedicated to the Sergius family, once served as the entrance to the Roman colony
I will start with its geographical location. The city is conveniently located in the south of Istria, and it is easy to reach key points in the region from it — from seaside resorts to authentic towns in the mountains. The most remote points are 1.5–2 hours away by car. For example, the romantic Rovinj and the history-rich Labin can be reached in less than an hour. This means that even a short vacation can be made as interesting as possible.
Don’t forget about the city’s transport accessibility. We always pay attention to logistics, and Pula has a huge advantage here. It is home to the only international airport on the peninsula (Pula Airport), which means you don’t need to change planes to get here. In addition, the city has a well-developed bus network and many options for car rental, making it easy to organize your own itineraries. There is also a seaport here, so if you want to swap the land for the sea, that’s easy to do too.
The next criterion is the highly developed tourist infrastructure. In this regard, Pula wins out over other cities in Istria. There is a large selection of hotels for any budget, many travel agencies, and information centers. This city lives off tourism and knows how to work with tourists.
And for dessert on this list is the historical and cultural heritage of the city itself, a combination of modern life and deep history. Pula itself is an open-air museum: the huge Roman Amphitheater, the Temple of Augustus, the Arch of Sergius — all of this is nearby, within walking distance. Even if you are only visiting for a couple of days, find time to take a walk around Pula with a local guide to soak up the atmosphere of this ancient city.
The amphitheater in Pula looks stunning both from the outside (photo 1) and from the inside (photo 2)
I think that it is precisely because of its combination of convenience, infrastructure, and historical depth that Pula has become a popular starting point for exploring Istria. And for those planning a trip to this region, we highly recommend starting with Pula.
Popular destinations for excursions from Pula on the Istrian peninsula: what do local guides offer?
Since we travel very often, we always pay attention to what local guides have to offer, because they know where to go for a day trip to experience the true atmosphere of the region. From Pula, it is easy to reach the real gems of Istria — the towns hidden among the hills and vineyards or shining with colorful facades on the coast.
1. We recommend starting with excursions to Rovinj. This city has incredible energy: narrow streets, old houses, the smell of the sea and fishing nets – all this creates the image of a romantic coastline that you want to return to. There is also a creative atmosphere here that attracts artists and craftsmen.
As an example of such a trip, we recommend a guided tour of Southern Istria, which also includes a visit to Rovinj. The tour lasts approximately 8 hours.
The price is €96 per person, regardless of the season. Tourists visit Svetvinčenat, Dvigrad, Rovinj, Bale, and Vodnjan. You can join the trip at three different locations, and transportation is provided in a comfortable, air-conditioned minibus.
Compared to the narrow streets of Rovinj, the square near the main Cathedral of St. Euphemia looks spacious and cozy
2. Next up is inland Istria. We personally loved the tours to Motovun. Its medieval walls and views from the hill are breathtaking, and the local truffle tastings are a true gastronomic paradise. Tour operators often combine Motovun and Grožnjan in one itinerary. The latter town impressed us with its cozy and quiet atmosphere, as well as its large number of galleries — it is not for nothing that it is called the city of artists.
Here are a few tours that, in our opinion, best capture the atmosphere of Motovun:
1. Tour of Istria from Rijeka or Pula. Duration: 7 hours. Price: €114 per person in the off-season. The price varies during the season and in August, for example, is €227. The price includes: guide, transportation, food and wine tastings, insurance.
2. From Pula/Medulin: a one-day tour to Rovinj, Motovun, and Grožnjan. Duration: 10 hours. Price: €129 per person aged 13 and over (children’s ticket: €64.50), regardless of the season. The price includes: pick-up and drop-off from selected locations in Pula and Medulin, transportation by air-conditioned vehicle, truffle tasting in Motovun, walking tour of Rovinj, Grožnjan, and Motovun
3. Guided tour of inland Istria with food tasting. Duration: 8 hours. Price: €96 per person, regardless of season. A private tour option is available for €380 per person. Tourists are offered: pick-up and drop-off from specified addresses, a walking tour of Groznjan and Motovun, food tasting in Motovun, and entrance fee to the walls of Motovun.
3. If you want more drama, I recommend heading to the town of Pazin.The castle hanging over the precipice and references to Jules Verne add a special charm to this location. This place is interesting not only for its history but also for its natural beauty — the Pazin Cave looks majestic and mysterious.
The two main attractions of Pazin are Pazin Castle (photo 1) and Pazin Cave (photo 2)
4. One-day tours to Poreč – another route that guides often choose. There is a unique basilica here, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And this is a case where you want to not only look, but also listen – the history of the city is truly multifaceted. Local tours are often enriched with stories about the Roman and Venetian past.
A great example of a tour that I personally recommend: From Pula and Medulin: the flavors of Istria. Duration – 8 hours. Price: €87 per person aged 12 and over. (Children’s ticket (2–11 years old) – €43.50; free for toddlers) – not seasonal.
Baptistery in the Euphrasian Basilica in Poreč
5. I also cannot overlook wine and food tours. In my opinion, this is one of the most enjoyable ways to explore Istria—through taste. Family wineries, Malvasia and olive oil tastings, traditional taverns—all of this shows the rich, very sincere side of the region.
Here is an example of such a trip: “Istria Olive Oil Museum and Tasting.” Duration: 1 hour. Price: €30 per person aged 17 and over (children’s ticket: €10). The tour includes: an audio guide available in 12 languages, tasting of 5 varieties of extra virgin olive oil, and a sweet dessert paired with selected olive oil.
- Don’t overlook Lim Fjord and Kamenjak. Some companies offer trips to Lim Fjord or Cape Kamenjak, which are wonderful natural locations where you can enjoy the beauty of Istria. Here you can see dolphins or feel like an explorer on the wild coast.
- Here are a few tour options for lovers of natural beauty:
- 30-kilometer bike tour to Cape Kamenjak. Duration: 3 hours. Cost – €65 per person in the off-season. The price increases during the season and is a maximum of €130. The trip is on an electric bike. A nice bonus is a bottle of water.
- Bike tour to Kamenjak with a visit to the Blue Cave and the surrounding cliffs. Duration: 4 hours. Available in group and private formats. Minimum number of participants in a group: 2. Cost for a small group: €49/person, for a private trip: €80/person.
Overall, we believe that Pula is the best place to start such excursions. There is a wide choice of destinations, convenient logistics, and local guides who know how to make your day unforgettable.
Directions for sea excursions from Pula offered by local guides
Our website already has a large article dedicated to sea excursions from Pula, so we will not dwell on this in detail. Here, we would like to briefly tell you the most important things to know if you are planning to discover Istria by sea from this city.
We consider Pula to be a very convenient starting point for sea trips along the Adriatic routes. The city has a deep-water port, modern infrastructure, and, most importantly, a strategic location. From here, it is only half an hour to Brijuni National Park, two hours to Lošinj, and, if you wish, you can even reach the island of Rab. Now, briefly about my favorite sea trips:
- I recommend starting with Brijuni. These are not just picturesque islands — they are a whole world with Roman ruins, the former residence of Marshal Tito, and even a safari park. The cost of such tours usually ranges from 40 to 60 euros. They often start from the port of Fažana, just a few minutes from Pula.
- Another interesting destination is the islands of Kvarner Bay: Cres, Lošinj, Rab. Combined routes allow you to visit several locations at once, and prices for group tours range from €65 to €95. Private tours are more expensive but ideal for groups of up to 6 people.
- No less popular are boat trips with the opportunity to see dolphins. We went on such an excursion from Rovinj, and although we didn’t see any dolphins that time, we were completely delighted. The best chances of seeing dolphins are in the morning or at sunset. Such tours cost around €40-70, depending on the format.
- For lovers of active recreation, we would recommend kayaking. There are several companies in Pula that organize such active tours to picturesque bays. Short kayak trips start at €40, and stand-up paddleboarding starts at €70.
- For those who like specific examples, I particularly liked the following two offers:
- Boat trip with dolphin watching in Pula. Duration: 3 hours. Price: €55 (children’s ticket (6–10 years old) €33; free for toddlers). Not seasonal. The ticket price includes: dolphin watching, panoramic cruise, drinks, and fruit.
- Dolphin watching and snorkeling in the Blue Cave for 3 hours. Price: €310 for a group of up to 6 people, regardless of the season. This price includes: diving masks, underwater lights, fuel, and a skipper-guide.
If you liked this part of the review, I definitely recommend reading the full article about sea excursions from Pula, where we describe in detail what is worth seeing in the northern part of the Croatian coast.
Prices for excursions from Pula depending on their types
When planning a trip, we always pay attention not only to the route but also to the format of the tour itself. Istria is a region where the type of tour matters. There are various options available from Pula, ranging from affordable group tours to individual trips with a private guide. Each type has its own advantages and price characteristics.
1. Group tours. They gather 15–50 tourists, have a fixed schedule, and are usually conducted in English. This is a good option to save money and see the key locations. For example, a tour to Brijuni National Park costs €55-75, a trip to Rovinj starts at €70, and an excursion to Cape Kamenjak costs €50-70 per person.
Brijuni National Park impresses with its combination of greenery, rocks, and blue sea
2. Small group tours. Usually 6 to 12 people. This is like the golden mean between cost and quality. Often, these routes cover inland Istria. They are more intimate and atmospheric.
Rovinj Old Town is located on a peninsula
3. Private tours of Istria. We have used this format ourselves on numerous occasions. Often, it offers freedom of choice in terms of the route, the length of stops, and even the format for lunch or dinner.
In Motovun, local delicacies can be purchased directly on the street
4. Gastronomic tours. Specifically in Istria, such trips include truffles, wines, olive oil—all of which can not only be tasted but also seen in the process of production. Prices vary: from €100 for the “Wine Roads” tour to €180 for a truffle hunting tour with a dog.
5. Active recreation. Everything is clear here. As an example of such activities, I will mention: a short kayaking trip near Pula costs 40-60 euros, a whole day – up to 120; snorkeling and diving – from 70 euros for beginners. Full certification can cost over 300 euros.
There are also cycling tours in inland Istria — a great alternative for those who want to combine physical activity with enjoying the scenery.
6. And, of course, in this context, we should not forget about sea tours – we have already talked about sea tours from Pula in this article. But, for comparison: group sea tours cost €35-55, combined island hopping costs €65-95, and private sea cruises start at €250 and can reach €950 for renting a yacht or speedboat.
The coast of Crveni Otok Island
Tours from Pula to small towns in Istria
The true face of the region is revealed in its small towns. Therefore, when traveling through Istria, we do not limit ourselves to the coast, but immerse ourselves in the true soul of the region, exploring towns such as Motovun, Grožnjan, Pazin, and Hum. We made our first such excursion from Rovinj. This experience proves that it is easy to organize day trips to these picturesque Istrian towns from Pula.
Impressive frescoes in the Church of St. Vida, St. Modesta, and St. Krešencija in Grožnjan
As a great example of such a city tour, I can recommend a one-day trip to Rovinj, Motovun, and Grožnjan. Duration: 10 hours. Price: €129 per person aged 13 and over (children and toddlers: €64.50), regardless of the season. The price includes: truffle tasting in Motovun, walking tours of Rovinj, Grožnjan, and Motovun.
The program of such trips usually includes: transfer, guide services, gastronomic discoveries (truffle tasting in Motovun, a visit to a winery in Grožnjan, tasting traditional rakija biska in Hum, or lunch in an old konoba somewhere in Pazin).
In particular, our personal impression of such trips is that they are not only a tour of historical sights (such as the ancient walls of Motovun or the Pazin Cave), but also real gastronomic discoveries: pasta with truffles, Istrian prosciutto, lavender honey — all these are unique flavors characteristic of Istria.
Church in the small town of Hum
A good alternative, where you can see Istria in a different light, but no less interesting, is a tour of the mines in the towns of Raša and Labin. This excursion cannot be classified as a trip to the small towns of Istria that are “on the radar,” but we couldn’t help but pay attention to this tour because it is very unusual, especially for Istria.
This tour is conducted in Polish! The small group consists of 4–7 participants. The price is €300 per person, regardless of the season. The price includes: entrance tickets to the mine, a guide for the day, and mineral water.
So if you plan to spend at least a week in Pula, I definitely recommend finding a day for this adventure.
Excursions around Pula with a Polish guide
It is not easy to find such offers in Croatia, so this opportunity deserves special attention.
“Odkryj tajemnice Puli z polską przewodniczką” costs only €35 per person. The walk lasts about two hours and reveals the most interesting corners of the city: from Roman artifacts to cozy streets. The guide speaks vividly and enthusiastically, making even complex historical facts understandable and interesting.
It is important to note that the ticket to the amphitheater is not included in the tour price. I recommend purchasing it in advance online here to avoid queues. And if you want to learn more about Pula and its main attractions, the website has a separate large article about the city of Pula and its famous Amphitheater, which is more commonly referred to here as the Arena.
Quad bike tours in the Pula area and buggy safaris outside the city
Another activity that we highly recommend to those planning to spend at least a week in Pula is quad biking. Such a trip is a real adventure that allows you to see the Istrian peninsula from a new perspective, away from the tourist routes, to see how much beauty is hidden among the olive groves and on the hidden paths around Pula.
Park of Kazuns and Drishts near Vodnjan, 20 minutes from Pula
Our experience was with a short quad tour. After a brief briefing and a few minutes of training, we set off on a mini-adventure – about twenty kilometers of trails among vineyards and olive trees.
More exciting are the two-hour excursions: the routes are more difficult, with small climbs, off-road sections, and mandatory stops at picturesque places for photos and a short rest. Often, such tours include a visit to cozy beaches or ancient villages, and the cost depends on the route and activities included.
Lim Fjord, 40 minutes from Pula
A four-hour quad bike tour. This is not just a ride, but a real exploration of the region: over seventy kilometers of mixed terrain through forests, hills, mountain trails, and even a few abandoned villages where time seems to have stood still. Many tours of this type include:
- lunch or a picnic at traditional Istrian farms,
- the opportunity to swim in hidden bays,
- and sometimes even a little snorkeling.
A professional guide accompanying the group is always responsible for safety, and all ATVs undergo a mandatory technical inspection before the trip.
Also worth noting is the trip: a 2-hour sunset buggy tour with the opportunity to swim. The tour is designed for a small group of 2 to 8 participants. The price per person is 105 euros. In addition to free water and coffee, the tour also includes: swimming at sunset, exploring different parts of Istria, and enjoying the sunset views while driving along dusty trails.
Regardless of the duration of the tour, tourists are always provided with the necessary equipment – a helmet, goggles, and protection.
Important: to drive a quad bike, you must have a category B driver’s license and be of legal age. The rules are simpler for passengers – you just need to be over seven years old.
Wear comfortable clothes and closed shoes, as you will encounter dust and water splashes during the trip.
And finally, here are a few examples of similar trips that we researched before choosing a quad bike tour in the Pula area:
- Buggy safari from Pula (or Rovinj). The price depends on the number of hours. You can book a tour for 1, 2, or 4 hours, and it will cost from 45 to 110 euros per person.
- Family buggy safari from Pula or Rovinj for 1, 2, or 4 hours. The price depends on the number of hours: from €170 to €470 for a group of 4 people.
- 1, 2, or 4-hour quad bike safari from Pula and Rovinj around Istria. The price depends on the number of hours: from €66 to €145 for 2 people.
The price of all the tours listed includes: buggy rental for a guided safari, necessary equipment, a professional guide with a support vehicle, fuel, and a bottle of water.