Things to do in Rovinj Croatia: Complete Guide to Old Town Exploration, Island Adventures, Beaches and Local Experiences with Practical Travel Recommendations
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Rovinj is a small Croatian town in Istria. The town is quite small, with around 14,000 inhabitants. There’s plenty of interest here, but at the same time, the town is compact, so you can see everything in a day.
For more than five centuries, Rovinj remained under the patronage of the Venetian Republic – until 1797, and the town’s name is often pronounced in the Italian manner – Rovigno. From Venice to Rovinj is only 120 kilometers, which can be reached by boat in a few hours.
These two cities have much in common: Rovinj’s architecture indeed resembles Venice, just without the canals. In the old days, they made glass here, just like in Venice.
Originally, the town was located on an island, and when it grew beyond the fortress walls and became too cramped, the strait was filled in (this happened in the 18th century). Only then did Rovinj cease to be an island, and three squares are now located where the strait used to be.
Although, small islands near the town still remain and can even be visited.
Until the end of World War II, Istria was Italian, and much still reminds us of this, and Rovinj is still considered one of the most Italian towns in Croatia: in atmosphere, architecture, and the number of tourists from the Apennines. Here, even many signs are duplicated in Italian, and the town itself looks like living scenery for an Italian opera.
Croatian Rovinj really does resemble Italian Venice, under whose rule it remained for more than five centuries, but unlike Venice, there are no canals here
Rovinj Old Town
Old Mediterranean towns are similar in atmosphere in many ways. Whether it’s Spain, Portugal, Italy, Croatia, or Greece – the Mediterranean is immediately recognizable. At first, they’re charming, but once you get used to them, you stop noticing much of the beauty: another waterfront and old house, it’s all been seen before. Impressions lose their former brightness.
Only something truly special and distinctive can surprise, and the old town in Rovinj is just that! Here are numerous nooks and crannies, sometimes so narrow that you literally have to squeeze between houses. Cobblestone pavements run up and down, stairs descend right to the water, laundry hangs between houses.
The houses themselves are painted in warm shades – burnt milk, coffee, ochre, and among them occasionally bright spots appear – cherry or emerald.
Gates and remains of City Walls
The town was previously surrounded by walls, and you could enter it through seven gates. Now only fragments of these walls and three gates remain – it’s behind them that Rovinj’s old town is located.
Another important landmark is the town clock in the very center, on the main square. The tower on which it’s located dates from the 12th century and was previously in the southern part of the city wall.
Old gates, one of the seven through which you could previously enter the town
Church of St. Euphemia
The historic part of town occupies a hilly peninsula, and at its highest point is one of its most important attractions – the Church of St. Euphemia. The view of it is considered the classic “postcard” view of Rovinj.
Almost any street in the old town will lead up to the church. Previously, the Church of St. George stood on this site, but after the sarcophagus with St. Euphemia’s relics appeared in Rovinj, pilgrims began to flock to it, so in the 10th century a church dedicated to her was built.
The town grew, and over time, this church also became too small, so in 1725 construction of a new one began – this building still stands today.
Almost any street in the historic center will lead to the Church of St. Euphemia
St. Euphemia, according to legend, died in 304 – it was a time of persecution of Christians. The ruler of the city, Chalcedon, first subjected Euphemia to various tortures, and then gave her to be torn apart by wild animals. But the animals didn’t touch the girl, and right there in the arena, a voice from heaven sounded and called her to him. A classic case of ascension, automatically elevating the hero of such an event to the rank of saints.
The church is built in baroque style, looks beautiful both outside and inside: it’s very richly decorated, you can admire the statues of St. Euphemia, St. George (they didn’t forget about him here either), as well as several other saints. The altars are richly decorated with marble.
View of the town from the bell tower of the Church of St. Euphemia
The church literally towers over the town, and above it towers the bell tower, the same as in St. Mark’s Square in Venice. It’s older than the church itself, and you can climb to its top. This is definitely worth doing, because from there the best view of the town and the Adriatic Sea opens up.
True, the staircase to the top is a real ordeal. It looks very old and dangerous, the flights are huge, and the gaps between the steps are very wide. You’re constantly haunted by the thought that the tower is already several centuries old, and if at least one step breaks, you’ll fall from a considerable height.
The staircase in the bell tower of the Church of St. Euphemia is a real ordeal, and it looks very old and dangerous
Architecture and atmosphere of the old town
In Rovinj, almost everything is made of stone, the streets are narrow, the houses are covered with red tiles. The center is paved with cobblestones, they’re slippery and shiny – either numerous tourists have polished them over the years, or the material itself is like that. At night, their shine is especially striking because they reflect the light of lanterns, and it looks very atmospheric – especially in the narrow alleys that are everywhere here.
The town center is paved with slippery cobblestones worn to a shine
Residents decorate houses with palms in tubs and flowers. There are very many of them here, on every window. Therefore, the streets are like flower avenues; the multicolored riot of colors really helps the town always look festive.
There’s no unity of style whatsoever, often neighboring houses are completely different, some even look awkward.
When you look at all this, you think about Rovinj’s history. After all, it’s what influenced how the town looks now.
Although Rovinj was Venetian for centuries, there were also periods of Genoese rule, successful uprisings, and even captures and plundering by pirates.
Many battles took place on these streets. During such street battles, not only houses were destroyed, but entire streets. Then new ones were built in their place, already in a different style, because eras changed, and with them architectures. That’s how the motley landscape you can observe now appeared.
There’s no unity of style in the architecture, often neighboring houses are completely different
Staying at home is not accepted in Rovinj: doors are open almost everywhere, elderly people sit on chairs right on the streets discussing the news, tourists don’t distract them at all.
Locals generally love to talk, so in the evenings there are even more of them on the streets than tourists. All this is very Italian – the atmosphere is calm and warm, it encourages you to also sit with a cup of coffee and calmly enjoy the moment.
The town is primarily touristic, so most of its residents work in serving guests or making various souvenirs to sell to the same town guests. Baskets of souvenirs can stand right on the street, and if you like something, you just need to contact the nearest shop. Such examples of trust are hard to find in large cities.
On the first floors of houses, there are often production workshops or garages. Many fishermen also live in the town, so fishing gear is often stored on the first floors.
Many designers and architects would do well to observe in Rovinj how to fit modern advertising or a shop into an ancient urban landscape so that they look organic
Town squares are quite small, like the town itself, but very picturesque. Some streets are colored. There aren’t many of them, but they immediately stand out against the rest.
The facades of many houses are very beautiful. The main thing is not to get too carried away looking at them – the cobblestones are sometimes very uneven, and you should look carefully at your feet, otherwise you can fall at the most unexpected moment.
You can notice a clear difference: some streets have many tourists, while others have almost none, and from this it immediately becomes much calmer. On such streets where there are no tourists, life goes on as usual: elderly people sit by the houses and chat, children play nearby.
On summer days in Rovinj, the weather is usually clear. And if there’s a light rain, after it there’s an even stronger smell of lavender and sea salt.
Another characteristic moment – there are many cats in the town, and local fishermen put out clay bowls with small fish for them.
Cars on these narrow streets are an impractical thing
When you wander into narrow alleys, you involuntarily start glancing at people in windows – what if garbage falls on your head? After all, walking here, you get the complete feeling that you’ve been transported several centuries back, and then such things were commonplace.
Interestingly, gas lanterns, whose contribution to creating a medieval atmosphere is hard to overestimate, actually only appeared in the early 20th century. Previously, candles and lamps were placed on the streets instead. In places not lit by lanterns, candles can still be found – it looks very cozy (and someone lights them every time).
They really love drying laundry here – so much laundry dries on the streets that it might seem it’s hung out specifically to give the town additional color
Rovinj restaurants
In the old town, at every step, there are shops and cafes. They generally love eating well here. You can do this in a variety of establishments: from small family wine bars to large restaurants. And almost everywhere, you eat with views of beautifully shabby walls.
Typical Mediterranean cuisine, close to any Slav’s heart: jamon, dry sausage, soft and hard cheeses (all totally forbidden) – excellent with both beer and local wine
You need to book the best restaurants in advance – if you just come without a prior table reservation, you’re unlikely to find free seats.
I advise, instead of restaurants, dropping into konobas (taverns with a hearth) – they’re much more authentic and have freer seats. Usually these are very small, but therefore more cozy, establishments where the food is very tasty.
Ćevapčići are very tasty meat sausages, considered part of their cuisine by both Serbs and Croats. They go excellently with beer – which is also very good here
Old Market district
The market in the town center works until late evening, every day. Although you shouldn’t look for any food exotics there. Handmade items are sold everywhere: jewelry, dresses, interior items – there’s quite a lot of interesting stuff, and the sellers themselves are often quite interesting.
The farmers’ market assortment in the old town center
By the way, not far from the old market there’s an artists’ street – Grisia, where many paintings are displayed that can be purchased.
Rovinj waterfronts
In the center, practically every house is a shop, cafe, or gallery. Here it’s very appropriate and completely in the spirit of Rovinj.
Heading west, along these old town streets you can reach the pier, where you can sit at a table in a cafe by the sea itself and walk along the waterfront. But there are no classic beaches in the town itself.
Visiting a cozy restaurant on the waterfront and drinking a cocktail while admiring the pier with plenty of boats and yachts is something you must do in Rovinj
The historic part is located on the shore of a small bay, which always has many yachts and boats. Right from here you can sail to one of the beaches in the town’s outskirts or head to neighboring islands. Rovinj has recently become one of the most important towns on the Adriatic in terms of yacht recreation.
Rovinj is a town of magnificent sunsets. They’re especially beautiful on the waterfront, and in different places on the waterfront it looks different thanks to the changing color palette
Back in the 17th-18th centuries, Rovinj was one of the main Adriatic ports and an important shipbuilding center. Already then, about as many people lived in it as live there now.
Since then, little has changed in the architecture and number of floors of buildings, and Rovinj today is a kind of open-air museum.
Another architectural attraction that catches the eye from afar is the Franciscan monastery
Next to the waterfront runs the town’s main street with many shops and stores. There are also plenty of tourists here. Life bustles until evening, and at one moment, suddenly seems to freeze.
After 8:00 PM, almost all people disappear from the streets, only townspeople are occasionally encountered. In the evening twilight, walking around the town is especially pleasant, it’s enveloped in a unique atmosphere of antiquity and mystery.
The town is located on the shore of a small bay, which always has many yachts and boats
Islands of St. Catherine and St. Andrew
You should definitely head to the nearest islands – primarily to the island of St. Catherine. It’s located just a couple hundred meters from the coast.
This is a heavenly place, completely covered with greenery, mostly pine forest. The island has rocky beaches and offers excellent views of the town. The island is quite small and you can walk around it completely in less than half an hour.
Island is located just a couple hundred meters from the coast
The second island that’s also worth visiting while relaxing in Rovinj is the island of St. Andrew (also known as Red Island).
It’s much farther to sail there, but there’s a small water park and a couple of restaurants: a fish one is located in a Benedictine monastery, and the other has very good steaks.
By the way, on St. Catherine Island there’s a hotel for those wishing to rest in peace. Island Hotel Istra (4 stars) – from 258 euros for a standard double room in high season.
Beaches near Rovinj
Swimming in the sea in the morning is the best way to start the day, after which you feel a surge of energy and freshness. Townspeople often swim near the town waterfront: steps are made in the rocks here, stones are hewn down and handrails are installed. Thanks to this, you can descend directly into the sea from the town waterfront.
In Rovinj there are several places where you can descend to the sea this way. Right here, nearby, there are cafes where you can drink coffee after a morning swim.
There are no full beaches in Rovinj. There are stairs carved in the rocks leading to the sea, next to them platforms studded with stones, which are essentially a kind of place for summer cafes and restaurants
If you need a full beach, you’ll have to look for it outside the town:
- in the south there are very convenient bays for relaxation;
- in the north – rocky beaches and concrete plateaus.
You don’t have to go by car, a bicycle or scooter will do – the beaches are so close you can even reach them on foot.
For example, if you walk toward the Lim Channel, in this case, you’ll get a very picturesque road as a bonus: vineyards and olive groves all around. Along the way, directly from farmers, you can buy wine, olive oil, grappa, or rakija.
Besides beaches, there are also establishments in Rovinj’s outskirts for those who prefer spicy entertainment
Some beaches are nudist, but undressing on them is not mandatory. Among them is Valalta, possibly the best beach in Rovinj’s outskirts. Nudism traditions are strong here – it was allowed even in Yugoslavia despite the fact that the country belonged to the socialist camp.
Wherever you decide to swim, definitely take swimming shoes – the coast is rocky and there are plenty of sea urchins around.
To find good places where you can swim, you need to go outside Rovinj, but even here there are few sandy beaches, mainly the bottom and shore are rocky
Despite all the appeal of walking around the town and surroundings, if you have an extensive tourist program planned in Rovinj lasting several days, it’s better from the second day to prefer a bicycle to walking to save energy. Many people ride bicycles here. Sidewalks in the town have convenient descents, motorists treat cyclists with respect – so a bike ride will be pleasant.
Zlatni Rat (Golden Cape) is a picturesque park south of the town and the oldest nature conservation site in Istria. An excellent place for walking and cycling, and another place near Rovinj where there are pebble beaches
When and for how many days to go to Rovinj
Although at first it may seem that there’s no reason to stay long in such a small town, after a day spent in Rovinj you don’t want to leave. The atmosphere here is such, especially in the evenings, that you want to settle in one of the old houses, put out your flower pots on the street, and relaxedly drink coffee, paying no attention to tourists.
Therefore, I don’t recommend visiting Rovinj in passing. If you drop in here in the morning and leave in the evening, you won’t feel the atmosphere of this beautiful town. It’s best to allocate two days or even three, and you should definitely spend at least one evening here.
As for the time when it’s best to go, the most pleasant weather is from May to the end of October. In summer the town has many tourists, and already in September there become fewer of them with each day.
This means accommodation prices also drop; the first half of autumn is an excellent time to travel. You can swim in the sea all of September and even in early October.
In November it becomes much colder, it often rains – walking around the town will no longer be as comfortable.
In winter, Rovinj falls asleep, many establishments don’t work at all.
Already in March the weather becomes much better, but still doesn’t differ in stability.
If you need relatively warm sea, you can quite come in April or early May – at this time it’s simply excellent here, and prices are not yet summer ones.