At the far end of the Istrian Peninsula, close to Italy, is one of the most beautiful towns to visit in Croatia: Rovinj. Its harbour and beaches with crystal clear waters, as well as the beautiful houses with colourful facades that adorn the landscape of the promenade, take the breath away from anyone who decides to venture into the city. Read on to find out all things are to do in Rovinj, a hidden pearl of Croatia.
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Must-see places in Rovinj, Croatia
1. A walk through the old town of Rovinj
If there’s anything magical about this small town on the Istrian peninsula, it’s the narrow streets with their colourful facades, marked by the inevitable passage of time and the sea breeze.
Once an island, Rovinj is now a must-see stop on your Croatian tour. And its old town is one of the most obvious reasons why. Its cobblestone streets, marked by Venetian influence, are a real delight.
During your stroll through the narrow streets, you’ll also come across several squares, including the Piazza del Mariscal Tito. There you’ll find a unique fountain, as well as being a perfect spot to relax and enjoy the local merriment.
Other memorable squares include Piazza Grande; Piazza del Ponte and Piazza Matteotti. From there, you can start your journey upwards, until you reach one of the most iconic sights to see in Rovinj, which we’ll tell you about next.
2. The Cathedral of St. Euphemia
After leaving the magical streets of the old town behind, the next must-see in Rovinj is the Cathedral of St. Euphemia
Of course, it’s not just because of the beauty of this religious monument. But because this is one of the spots in the city that offers one of the best views of the entire landscape.
The cathedral, built in the 17th century, has a splendid 57-metre-high bell tower, in a style very similar to buildings found in Venice. It is the result of the clear influence of the Venetian population that inhabited the city centuries ago.
3. The beaches, harbour and seafront promenade of Rovinj
Among the things to see in Rovinj, the beaches, the harbour and the promenade are among the must-see places on your visit.
The beginning of the promenade is marked by an arch with a lion carved in stone. It was erected in 1680, when the Venetian influence was still strong in the city.
What is certain is that walking along the harbour, with the boats moored, the seagulls circling around them and the sea breeze caressing you, the memory of Rovinj sticks in your mind.
Of course, if you enjoy the beaches of Rovinj, don’t forget to stay and admire one of the sunsets that the town has to offer, as they are unforgettable.
4. Rovinj Flea Market
If you’ve been enchanted by the magic of Rovinj’s narrow streets, you’ve probably already discovered that every nook and cranny can hold a surprise for you.
One of them is the Rovinj flea market. A small local market offers excerpts of local handicrafts, as well as fresh local produce.
Of course, this is a perfect opportunity to stock up on the delicacies on offer in Rovinj. As well as buy some souvenirs to remind you of your trip and enjoy the friendliness of the locals.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
What to see in Rovinj and its surroundings?
If you feel like exploring the area around Rovinj further, the best options are to take a boat and visit the nearby archipelago. There you will find 14 tiny islands that are worth seeing for their charm.
Near Rovinj there are also charming coastal villages and natural areas worth visiting. But if you’re already looking to explore some of Croatia’s most recommended spots, take a look at the next town below.
1. Opatija
If you want to continue to enjoy the wonders that the Istrian Peninsula in Croatia has to offer, Opatija is a place you can’t miss out on.
For years frequented as a summer resort by Croatian high society, Opatija also has a charming heritage in the form of various religious monuments and beautiful natural sites. For exemple, the Villa Angiolina, a complex of beautiful gardens built by two noblemen from Rijeka.
After strolling along the promenade and enjoying the streets that will live on in your memory, we recommend you enjoy the local gastronomy in one of its restaurants, such as Kaokakao.
We tell you all about Opatija Keep reading!
What to see in Rovinj in 1 day?
The truth is that Rovinj is a small town, so in 1 day your trip will be more than satisfactory.
Take the opportunity to visit the old town, discovering every corner of it and every square it hides. After that, the best thing you can do is to go up to the Cathedral of Santa Eufemia. Take the opportunity to stroll along the port and the promenade. If the weather is fine, enjoy its waters on the beaches of the city.
If you have more time, a boat trip is a great experience. It will provide you with spectacular views of the city’s skyline. You can also discover the archipelago near Rovinj, made up of no less than 14 islands.
Sites where to eat in Rovinj
Don’t worry. If you’re passionate about trying everything related to the gastronomy of the place you’re travelling to, here’s a list of the must-visit places in Rovinj:
- Monte: It’s not every day that you get the chance to eat in a Michelin-starred restaurant, so this is definitely one of the must-visit places in Rovinj to enjoy the local food in all its glory. The price range is between €90 and €125.
- Tutto Bene: A solid menu offering, with influences from Croatian, Central European and Mediterranean food, prepared with surprisingly deliciousness. Vegetarian and vegan options are available, and it’s priced between €12 and €30, so it’s very much in keeping with the quality on offer.
- Snack Bar Rio: For those looking for a more mundane option, but without compromising on quality, Snack Bar Rio has a wide variety of excellent quality dishes at a very competitive price, ranging from €10 to €30.
Places to stay in Rovinj, Croatia
There is a lot of accommodation in Rovinj and to make it easier for you to choose, we have prepared this short list of places to stay:
- Hotel Lone: Luxury, views of the best beaches of Rovinj and incomparable comfort. The Lone is a five-star hotel that is not for nothing one of the most highly regarded. Prices for a weekend in May for two people are €795.
- CENTAR Boutique Apartments: If you prefer to stay somewhere more intimate and feel at home, but with a facelift, these flats are perfect for you. The price per weekend for two people is around €365.
- Apartments Fuma 161: These flats, away from the pace of the city, are a perfect choice to feel like in the most authentic Rovinj, surrounded by nature and its calm. The price for a weekend is €89.
Getting to Rovinj, Croatia
As there is no airport, the best options for getting to Rovinj from Spain are to fly from one of the main airports in Spain to Zagreb or to the city of Trieste in Italy.
Flights to Zagreb cost around €200 at times like June, although at the moment they have at least one stopover, so it’s about five hours from Madrid. Add to that the drive to Rovinj, which will take a few hours.
The quickest way is to fly to Trieste in Italy. Nowadays, there’s usually at least one stopover on the way, but it will take you about 5 hours, and you’ll only have a 1-hour drive from Trieste to Rivenj.
Tips about a trip to Rovinj
- The official currency of Croatia is the Kuna
- If you are travelling by car, you should know that the lights must always be switched on.
- We recommend that you exchange money before you set off on your journey, as this will be cheaper for you.
- As European citizens, we don’t need a visa to enter the country either, just your ID card or passport is enough.
- The best time to travel to Rovinj is in spring and autumn, as there are fewer tourists and the temperatures are more pleasant than in winter or summer.
- Buy museum tickets in advance to avoid queues.
- The city is safe, but as with any tourist destination, it’s best to be careful with your belongings.
- Be covered for possible medical emergencies: travel insured.
How to organize what things to do in Rovinj?
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.
- Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers
- Create your own itinerary and add suggestions from the app to it.
- Add the stops you’re most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organise your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes we present in the post)
- Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make any modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers what to see in Rovinj, Croatia.
If you have any doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.
Frequently asked questions about a trip to Rovinj, Croatia
Although you can get there from Zagreb or other cities in the country, the quickest option is to fly to Trieste in Italy. From there you can take a bus, which costs less than €20 and will get you to Rovinj in just over an hour.
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