After Opatija we continued our journey along the Istrian coast, stopping for lunch in Pula and then landing in Rovinj for our last evening in Croatia.
I’m finding myself at a loss for words when it comes to Rovinj. The photos do a better job of communicating my thoughts.
Rovinj’s old town is on a small peninsula surrounded by deep blue sea and nearby islands. Its narrow, windy cobblestone streets are decorated with picturesque laundry and stray cats.
We booked at apartment with Casa Garzotto (which also has hotel rooms), and it did not disappoint. The renovated 400-year-old building offered a delightful mix of comfort and adorableness.
We also received excellent recommendations from the staff at Casa Garzotto, who steered us to wonderful food, gelato, and sunset views.
My pasta with truffles at Scuba was delicious. We came across fresh truffles several times during our Croatian adventures, and they delighted me every time.
We enjoyed a nice sunset walk along the coast before settling in with a bottle of local wine and some cushions on the white rock cliffs by the sea. Rovinj was definitely my favorite stop in Istria.
Beautiful photos and now a peg on our own travel map! 😉
Wow, those pictures are GORGEOUS! And they’re definitely tempting me to visit…
Oh, thank you so much for this. We are driving there this summer from Munich. I want to duplicate this trip of yours!
If I may: spend more time in Rovinj or Zagreb (or both!), and skip Opatija — unless you’re doing a boutique hotel overnight out the outskirts or something. Lovran was cute, and there were nice-looking places along the promenade between Opatija and Lovran, but Opatija itself was kind of a trap (except for the shaded outdoor bar).
@Christine & @Mandi – thanks and go! Definitely worth a trip.
@expatsagain – I’ll agree with Cliff that Zagreb and Rovinj were highlights. I also wish we had had a day or two to explore the interior of Istria – there are supposed to be some beautiful towns and great wineries tucked away there.
I totally missed this wonderful post! Looks like Mykonos but with everything in color instead of in white. I’ve heard wonderful things about this place, and I can see why. Heaven!
Rovinj is one of those towns you fall in love with at first sight. It’s one of those places that just feels right. You can just walk its narrow streets, get lost within the old town, have a glass of wine by the sea, watch the world go by, and feel good. Visit to nearby Rovinj islands is a great way to spend a day out and one of the top things to do in Rovinj. The sights from the sea over the old town of Rovinj are stunning.