Luxury destinations · Rovinj and the hill towns
Istria
Rovinj's harbour, hill towns above the vineyards, and some of the best food and wine in Croatia.
Why Istria
Rovinj and the hill towns
Istria is the gastronomic end of the Croatian coast. Rovinj's old town rises out of the sea, and inland the hill towns of Motovun and Grožnjan look across vineyards, olive groves and the forests where truffles grow.
It suits travellers who want slow days, long lunches and quiet design hotels and stone villas, with Venice, Trieste and Ljubljana within reach.
Best for
- Couples and food-and-wine travellers
- Small private groups taking a villa
- Autumn journeys in truffle season
- Combining with Venice, Trieste or Ljubljana
Planning a leadership gathering here? See Istria: Rovinj and the hill towns as a retreat location.
When to go
The year in Istria
- Jan: Quieter
- Feb: Quieter
- Mar: Good
- Apr: Best
- May: Best
- Jun: Best
- Jul: Good
- Aug: Good
- Sep: Best
- Oct: Best
- Nov: Good
- Dec: Quieter
BestGoodQuieter, some services reduce
A guide, not a rule. Weather, events and opening dates change from year to year, so we check them for your dates.
Getting there
- Pula Airport, the gateway to Istria
- By private yacht along the coast, or by helicopter through a licensed operator
- A chauffeured car for short transfers inland
Signature experiences
What we arrange in Istria
In seasonTruffle hunt and truffle lunch
Follow a truffle hunter and the dogs through the Istrian forest, then lunch on the find.
In seasonThe winemaker’s table
A private tasting and dinner hosted by the winemaker at the estate.
In seasonOlive oil masterclass in a grove
Taste the season’s oil with a producer among the trees it came from.
In seasonA private wellness day
Morning yoga by the sea, treatments and a healthy chef menu.
In seasonSunset sailing with a skipper
A private sailing yacht, a skipper and the evening light on the Adriatic.
A sample three days
An idea, not a fixed itinerary
Arrival in Rovinj
Arrive in Rovinj
Evening walk up to St Euphemia's and dinner by the harbour.
Flavours of Istria
A truffle hunt in the forest below Motovun in autumn, or an olive-oil masterclass in spring, then the winemaker's table
Sailing and villa time
A private sail along the coast and an easy afternoon at the villa
Planning your stay
Practical notes
Where to stay
Design hotels in Rovinj, restored stone villas with pools inland, and small agritourism estates.
Combine with
- Kvarner: Opatija and Lošinj
- Venice and Trieste through partners
- Ljubljana through partners
Worth knowing
Villa layouts vary a great deal, so we check bedrooms and outdoor space carefully. Truffle and harvest experiences follow nature's calendar.
Recognised and notable
- Design-led hotels in Rovinj, wine-estate stays near Bale and intimate countryside retreats near Buje
- Brijuni National Park, off the coast near Pula
Illustrative case studies
How we would plan it here
Enquire
Plan a trip to Istria
Tell us who is travelling and when. Your planner replies personally.