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Istria

Luxury Istria Tours made for you

A seaside region full of history, colour and charm

A charming and sunny respite from the crowded resorts

The picturesque town of Rovinj sits on the western coast of the Istrian peninsula, facing out towards Venice. While one of the Mediterranean’s last true fishing ports, it’s also an important city as the third most populous in Croatia. Thanks to its fetching Adriatic charms and a sunny climate averaging ten sunshine hours a day during the long summer season, Rovinj is proudly one of coastal Istria’s star attractions.

Once an island, the old town now occupies an intriguing oval-shaped peninsula that juts out from the mainland. Its past stretches back through Illyrian, Roman, Byzantine, Frankish, and Austrian settlers and today, you can see the remains of medieval defensive walls and one of the old town gates, the 17th century Balbi’s Arch. Inside the town proper, you’ll find steep cobbled streets leading to Venetian piazzas, little artist workshops, fine-dining restaurants, a Baroque palace turned heritage museum, and even a late-Renaissance clock tower. Get a bird’s eye view of all of this from the top of the 60-metre-high bell tower of St. Euphemia’s Cathedral before enjoying a coffee at a chic waterside lounge bar while listening out for the melodious Istriot, an ancient Romance language that’s still spoken by some of Rovinj’s inhabitants today.

Once an unassuming fishing village called Kvarner, the Istrian town of Opatija began its transformation into a fashionable sea side resort in the late when local dignitary Iginio Ritter Von Scarpa built the Palladian Villa Angiolina in the mid 19th century. Word of the village’s spectacular location and agreeable year-round climate spread, and soon the cream of the Austro-Hungarian aristocracy came to the Croatian coast to build their own grand villas. Though popular until the twenties, Opatija declined with the fall of the Hapsburg Empire. Today the town has once again returned to favour amongst a cultured set, those seeking a little respite from the more crowded Adriatic resorts amongst the elegantly decaying belle époque villas and rejuvenated hotels dotted between the sparking sea and forested hills.

  • Idyllic mediterranean waterfront in Volosko village, Opatija riviera, Kvarner, Croatia
  • Opatija, Croatia. Marina of popular tourist resort on Adriatic Sea coastline, Istria Peninsula.
  • Town of Opatija and Lungomare sea walkway aerial panoramic view, Kvarner bay of Croatia Kolor stitching | 5 pictures | Size: 11708 x 4481 | Lens: Standard | RMS: 2.08 | FOV: 170.35 x 51.73 ~ -20.24 | Projection: Cylindrical | Color: LDR |

From our experts

Experiences picked by our Istria specialists

See Rovinj from above

Get a bird’s eye view of Rovinj from St. Euphemia’s Cathedral

Soak up the history

Admire the decaying belle epoque villas on the streets of Opatija

Step into a Baroque palace

Visit Rovinj Heritage Museum, housed in a 17th-century Baroque palace

Walk the seafront promenade

Take a leisurely stroll along Opatija’s promenade, enjoying the sea air

Tour wineries and olive groves

Visit the pretty town of Buje, known for its wineries and olive oil production

A word from one of our experts

Drenched in history with plenty of fascinating sites to visit and full of coastal charm, this part of Croatia has a little bit of everything. Spend time wandering the streets of sleepy fishing villages and discover fantastic traditional cuisine and excellent wines.

Murray Mitchell Senior Travel Designer

Luxury accommodation in Istria

There are many incredible places to stay in Istria. Here are some of our favourites, handpicked by our travel designers:

Why book with Jacada?

  • Personalised design

    We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.

  • Authentic experiences

    Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.

  • Responsible travel

    Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.

Trip Inspiration

Get inspired with our Croatia example trips and then get in touch to plan your own adventure

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When to visit

The best months for a lovely weather in Istria are between May and September, when the temperatures are higher and the area is buzzing. The coldest and rainiest months, and those suggested to avoid are February, September and December.

Coastal Escape

June–September

Walking Trails

May–September

Spring Days

May–June

When Is the Best Time to Visit Croatia?

Croatia Travel Guides

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Whatever you want from your adventure in Istria, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

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We craft trips deeply personal, delightfully surprising and entirely one of a kind. Every Jacada journey begins in conversation with a travel designer, a specialist in their destination of expertise. Behind each journey is a wealth of insight, gathered over years of on-the-ground exploration.

Once you’re booked, you’ll meet your concierge. Based in the region you’re visiting, they’ll take care of all the details so your mind is at rest. They make the trip truly special – and truly yours.

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