Best places to visit & most instagrammable places in Istria
Are you planning a trip to Istria? Then you are welcome to stay. I will show the best places to visit in Istria and most instgrammable sights of this region high in the north of Croatia.
Istria really has a lot to offer and so it is a lot of fun to explore the region and its most beautiful places. From romantic cities to amphitheaters to breathtaking natural landscapes, Croatia has it all. It offers you great Instagram photo spots that are worth every single picture. Definitely “most instagrammable”!
Best places to visit in Istria – Table of contents
- 1. Old town of Rovinj
- 2. Coastal town of Opatija
- 3. Fishing village Rabac
- 4. largest city Pula
- 5. Ghost town Kotli
- 6. City of Umbrellas Novigrad
- 7. Hill town Motovun
- 8. Punta Christo Fortress
- 9. Medieval village of Plomin
- 10. Beach of Zlatne Stijene
If you like the pictures in this blogpost, then feel free to follow me on Instagram. I’m happy to welcome you there!
P.S For very special holiday pictures, here are simple and cute Instagram poses for you to try
1. The old town of Rovinj
Rovinj is the flagship of this region and one of the most famous sights in Istria. The beautiful coastal town, fascinated by an enchanting old buildings and for me it even belongs to one of the best places to visit in Croatia. Up the city hill lead pastel-colored houses and winding alleys until you reach the church of Saint Euphemia. Here you can enjoy a great view over the city. On every corner of the old town you’ll find the most beautiful instagrammable places, so you won’t get enough of this city, which deservers its spot on list of the best places to visit in Istria. During summer months Rovinj is quite crowded, but in low season you can enjoy the coastal town in a very quiet and relaxing atmosphere.
Since Rovinj is located on a promontory, you can not get to the old town by car. So you have to park outside the city center. Therefore, it is always recommended to have a few coins for parking in your wallet.
Alleys of Rovinj 
Rovinj
2. The coastal town of Opatija
Opatija impresses not only with its proximity to the sea, but above all with its architecture. Villa to villa line up here and you can not get out of amazement. The place invites you to stroll, but you should also plan enough time here, because the Lungomare is one of the best places to visit in Istria.
The Lungomare – this is a 12km walk along the coast of Opatija and leads to the small port of Volosko. By the way, it is just as worth seeing and should be an integral part of an excursion here. Along the route there are numerous photo spots to immortalize your holiday with pictures. Without question, the photos you´ll take here can definitely be called “most instagrammable in Istria” on social media.
Port of Volosko 
Villa in Opatija
3. The fishing village of Rabac
Rabac is located on the west coast of Istria – very close to Labin. The white pebble beach with crystal clear water was my personal highlight in the village. Unfortunately, it was still too cold for me at the beginning of May, so I didn’t jump into the floods here, but this beautiful bay also invites to linger. The water is shallow and is therefore ideal for families with children in summer. The view of the houses on the slope is also a great Instagram photo spot.
By the way, other sights of Istria can be found very close. So not only the already mentioned Labin is worth a visit, but also the National Park Učka is not far from the small fisher village. Among the best places to visit in Istria, they are some of the top addresses.
4. The largest city – Pula
Pula should not be missing from the list of the best places to visit in Istria. It is the largest city of the Istrian region and has with the amphitheater one of the most special landmarks of Croatia. It is the sixth largest arena in the world and from the outside almost in its original condition. Just the sight of this fascinating building is worth every photo, but Pula offers even more. In addition to other historic buildings such as the Arco dei Sergi and the Temple of Augustus, there are many great opportunities for shopping and first-class restaurants.
By the way, if you are traveling without a car in Istria, Pula is wonderfully suitable as a starting point for all excursions. Public transport is cheap and will take you safely to all the sights and most instagrammable places in Istria. There are also numerous supermarkets in Pula, so that the city is also perfect for self-caterers.
Inside the amphitheatre in Pula 
Streets in Pula
5. The ghost town of Kotli
A jewel in Istria – the ghost town in Kotli. Here the river Mirna meets a historic water mill. Kotli used to be an important economic village and generated electricity with the help of the mill, but today the houses are abandoned. For me, it is therefore considered an insider tip of the best places to visit in Istria, because here the water along the course of the river forms kettle-shaped basins, which flow into a waterfall. With sturdy footwear you can walk wonderfully along the Mirna, but should watch your steps.
Incidentally, the old watermill is super well preserved, because until 1967 it was actually still in operation. The village itself is under monument protection. The special beauty of the water basins can hardly be described in words, but represent a really great Instagram photo spot. But beware – in midsummer, the river sometimes does not carry enough water, then the waterfall is not visible.
Watermill of Kotli 
One of the “boiler basins” in Kotli
6. The city of umbrellas Novigrad
The old town of Novigrad is really fantastic to look at. In narrow streets, regional products and wines are sold in small shops. During a walk through the dreamy old town you will find small restaurants and cafés that invite you to linger. However, the most instagrammable places in Istria are the streets of the old town in Novigrad. The floating umbrellas above the street give a very unique charm to the city and provide the perfect backdrop for great photos.
I haven’t actually seen this kind of attraction anywhere else and that is why Novigrad one of the best places to visit in Istria. I also recommend a walk along the city walls, because they are almost completely preserved and stretch almost around the entire peninsula.
7. The hill town of Motovun
For me Motovun was love at first sight. With just 500 inhabitants, it is perched 277m above sea level on a hill surrounded by vineyards. When you enter the city, it feels like as if time had stopped here. Historic city walls and medieval alleys paint a picture from another time. If there is one place in Istria that should not be missed, then it is Motovun.
Before you drive into the city by car, you pass a small viewing point, which gives you a great view of the hill town. It is wonderfully suitable as an Instagram photo spot. By the way, the region is also known for truffles and so the delicacy can be found on numerous menus in the village. You also can buy the truffle in some delicatessen shops for taking them home with you.
Motovun Town 
View of Motovun
8. Fort of Punta Christo
This Instagram photo spot in Istria is actually not about the fortress, but much more about what lies behind it. If you follow a small path that leads down from the parking lot, you reach the actual sight. In addition to the almost iconic suspension bridge, you spot in almost all Instagram pictures from Istria, you can find other artistic installations here. You feel a slight hippie vibe as you explore the cliffs and the art hidden here. In summer, however, it can get quite crowded. Due to its unique charm it still is one of the best places to visit in Istria.
Unfortunately, entering the bridge seems anything but safe. When we were here, there were already a few steps missing, so we didn’t really trust the whole construction. The fortress itself is also not open to the public, but seems to be used as a festival/party location from time to time.
Addendum: According to the latest reviews on Tripadvisor, the bridge is currently dismantled for restoration reasons.
Suspension bridge Fort Punta Christo 
Art installation in Punta Christo
9. The medieval village of Plomin
The small village has only about 100 inhabitants and the medieval old town seems deserted. Many houses are in poor condition, but we liked the rustic charm. As a small stop on the edge, you can take a relaxing walk here and find some great photo opportunities.
By the way, Plomin is also worthwhile for its view, because it is about 80m above a fjord. The view is just terrific and one of the most instagrammable places in Istria. If you decide to explore the beach, you will be rewarded with shallow, clear water – but there is a thermal power plant nearby that you can not overlook.
View of Fjord 
Old town in Plomin
10. Beach of Zlatne Stijene
Zlatne Stijene can be found just outside Pula. The stone beach impresses above all by its wild appearance. It is surrounded by pine trees and huge rock formations that are somehow reminiscent of slate slabs. Above the beach there is a parking lot, but you still have to hike the last part of the way. If you follow the trail you will reach the Galebove Stijene – the seagull rock – one of the best places to visit in Istria, which is especially popular among climbers.
A tip for the adventurous: Cliff jumping is also possible here. In addition, you can snorkel or explore the huge caves by kayak. This offers the opportunity to look at this beautiful place in Istria from a completely different angle.
Stone beach of Zlatne Stijene 
Watercolour in Zlatne Stijene
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I hope you enjoyed this travel guide on the best places to visit in Istria and you leave Croatia with lasting memories and of course great photos. If you want to remember the article for later, then it’s best to save it on Pinterest.
