Istria is the largest peninsula in Croatia, which is adorned by a well-indented coast and the Brijuni islands on the west, and the impressive mountain of Učka that looks over the bay of Kvarner. The peninsula is divided into the blue coastal area and the green interior area.
Blue Istria is a lowland area with an exceptionally well-developed tourist offer, suitable for even the most demanding of guests. A large number of hotels and apartments are of a high category (1-5 stars), and offer additional amenities such as sports facilities with fitness centres, saunas, swimming pools and sports grounds.
The hotels and apartments of Blue Istria provide around 60 000 beds, and for those who want a quieter stay they have around 35 000 beds in private apartment accommodation available to them. The 40 Istrian campsites (of which 10 are naturist) that offer accommodation for 130 000 people are to be especially praised. The campsites are open from April to October, are well equipped, and offer an assortment of supplementary facilities that just as much focus on sport as on having fun. For guests who arrive by boat, Istria offers 15 marinas that work throughout the year and offer sailors full services, from petrol stations and services to distinguished culinary offers. It is also possible to rent a charter boat from one of the marinas. Pula is the largest Istrian town, a cultural centre with a famous amphitheatre – one of the best preserved in the world. Of the larger towns there is Umag, known as a tennis centre and host of the ATP tournament, Poreč for lovers of nightlife, and Rovinj which we associate with wonderful natural surroundings. The Brijuni Islands were once a well-known summer destination for elite politicians and actors, and today is as a National Park that attracts true lovers of flora and fauna.
The tourism potential of Green Istria, the title for the interior of the peninsula, is just being discovered. At the moment there are about 200 agro tourism spots in existence that offer Istria to visitors in another way, and is not possible to experience on the coast. All these buildings are built in a traditional Istrian style and show how life was lived in these areas for centuries. The accommodation, food and wine that is offered is exclusively traditional, and the hosts provide a variety of recreational activities such as horse riding, hunting and safaris. Pazin is the administrative centre of Istra, located right at the heart of the peninsula, and Motovun is a town from the Middle Ages known for its excellent film festival and having the longest steps in Croatia (1052 steps).The Istrian mountains, Učka and Ćićarija, offer another form of recreational tourism that is not only restricted to the summer months. The appreciative Mediterranean climate enables Istria host tourists throughout the entire year, where its amenities adapt to the time of year. Spring stands as being a time when the most well-known sports persons rehabilitate and prepare themselves, and guests have numerous sports terrains, mountain paths, caves and educational trips with expert guides available to them.The summer season starts around Easter and lasts until October, and, asides from the beautiful beaches and clean sea, guests have a rich cultural offer (concerts, film festivals and theatre performances) and exciting nightlife available.It is as if the seasons of autumn and winter were made for trips into the interior, where hosts will wait for us with the most tried and tested Istrian foods, high quality wines and Rakija’s.
Just as much as Istria’s natural beauty and variety is the ideal destination for visitors who want an idyllic holiday, it is excellent for adrenalin junkies and lovers of extreme sports.
