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Singapore to Croatia's Istria: Pula, Rovinj and the hill towns

Singapore → Pula → Rovinj → Motovun and Grožnjan

Pula
"Anfiteatro de Pula, Croacia, 2017-04-16, DD 01-06 PAN.jpg" by Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence
Pula Aerial View (Pula)
Photo: Orlovic, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Roman arena, a fishing port & truffle villages Best season (general guide): May–Jun, Sep

Istria, a heart-shaped peninsula in north-west Croatia, mixes Roman ruins, Venetian ports and green hills. This route spends six nights between Pula, Rovinj and the hill towns. From Singapore you'll connect through a European hub to Pula. Pula's Roman amphitheatre is one of the best-preserved in the world, and it still hosts concerts. The Temple of Augustus stands on the old Roman forum.

How to pace it: Spend days one and two in Pula: day one, Pula Arena; day two, Temple of Augustus and the coast. Then spend days three to five in Rovinj: day three, drive to Rovinj; day four, old town and St Euphemia; day five, Poreč day trip. Then spend day six in Motovun and Grožnjan: hill towns and truffles.

Rovinj is a fishing town on a small peninsula, with pastel houses rising to the Church of St Euphemia, whose bell tower looks out over the sea. The Euphrasian Basilica in Poreč, up the coast, has early Christian mosaics and is listed by UNESCO. Inland, Motovun sits on a hill above forests where truffles are found. Grožnjan is a small artists' town with galleries and a summer music school.

Istrian cooking uses truffles, olive oil and seafood, and local wines are served everywhere. Late spring and early autumn are the best times, avoiding the summer crowds.

Good to know: A car is the best way to link the coast and hill towns. Swim from the rocks around Rovinj, and bring water shoes.

Rovinj's old town is pedestrian, so park outside and walk in, carrying luggage over cobbled lanes. Inland Istria has hill towns a short drive apart, so a car gives the most freedom. Swimming spots along the coast are often rocky, so water shoes help. Truffle season brings special menus to inland restaurants, while summer evenings on the coast are long and warm. In July and August, book accommodation ahead, as the coast fills up.

Book truffle tours ahead in autumn, the white truffle season. A good rhythm is to keep mornings for the hill towns and return to the coast for a late swim and dinner by the harbour.

Suggested outline

  1. Singapore

    Start

  2. Pula

    By air · 2 nights suggested

    A Roman arena by the harbour.

  3. Rovinj

    Overland · 3 nights suggested

    A fishing town on a peninsula.

    Rovinj
    "Rovinj Valdibora Crkva svete Eufemije-1663.jpg" by Isiwal, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

  4. Motovun and Grožnjan

    Overland · 1 night suggested

    Hilltop towns above truffle forests.

    Motovun Istria
    "Aerial view to Motovun.jpg" by Ekaterina Polischuk, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

Day by day

  1. Day 1 · Pula — Arrive; Pula Arena· Singapore → Pula (by air) — long-haul; may arrive the next calendar day
  2. Day 2 · Pula — Temple of Augustus and the coast
  3. Day 3 · Rovinj — Drive to Rovinj· Pula → Rovinj (overland)
  4. Day 4 · Rovinj — Old town and St Euphemia
  5. Day 5 · Rovinj — Poreč day trip
  6. Day 6 · Motovun and Grožnjan — Hill towns and truffles· Rovinj → Motovun and Grožnjan (overland)
  7. Day 7 · Motovun and Grožnjan — Travel home from Motovun and Grožnjan· Motovun and Grožnjan → Pula (overland), then Pula → Singapore (by air)

A suggested pace only; expedition days are set by the operator.

Flights, leg by leg

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Pula

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Rovinj

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