Two of the most 'photogenic' coastal towns along Croatia's Istrian Peninsula.

Spend the day wandering the old town through winding narrow streets, enjoying the views, and sampling local restaurants.

A whole range of attractions awaits you during your visit to Rovinj and Porec! The most important places to see include the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Old Town of Porec, the countless idyllic beaches and the harbour in both cities with its fantastic waterfronts.

Pick a ToursByLocals private guide and enjoy a tour of Rovinj and Porec customized to your own interests.

Rovinj-and-Porec

Pula walking tour with Roman Amphitheater

Let me take you round-around through more than 3000 years old, modern industrial Civitas Pula - Pola, an antique port "archetype", where almost all major European cultures lived & interpolated and left something for us up to the present time, with lot of sites along the way I keep as a surprise. . .

The Tour offers detailed visit of perhaps one of most historic places on the Adriatic.

Walk through time from Illyrians via Roman Empire, further to largest beginning 20th Century Mediterranean Military Naval Port to recent high-tech 21st Century place in this highly interesting City which is a combination of ancient and modern. . . Pula is also a recent candidate for UNESCO World Heritage Site, because of its Austro-Hungarian Naval Heritage from the end of XIXth - beginning of XXth Century. Plus lots more from 200000BC to present.

For a "history - freak" as I am, Pula is both challenge and inspiration to present it properly, since every corner has at least one story to tell, so history passionates welcome!

Pula meeting point - Amphitheater entrance

Guided walking city tour of Pula - Pola

If you are planning a trip to Istria and Croatia, Pula is a city that will amaze you with its rich and long history, a city with more than 3000 years of history with the biggest number of Roman monuments on the east Adriatic coastline. It's a city that you simply must not omit in your itinerary.

Pula is my residence, since my college days and in a pleasant walk, I'll show you and tell you stories that you'll not find in a tour guide. Those are the stories of the one who walks down to these streets off-season too. In a time when everything is quiet and peaceful.
Each city has a soul, and every person who visits this city can sense it. You just need to know to find it. With me, you'll have a feeling of a local.

I have plenty of options to offer you throughout the tour. You can choose between local market, little souvenir shops, museums, photo points, castle views, restaurants, olive oil, wine tastings, sunsets…
You are welcome to contact me for more details or just to customized the tour especially for you!

Discover the legacy of the Roman Empire in a half day trip

Private Pula Tour

Let's walk through the narrow streets of one of the most romantic towns of the Mediterranean. On this private tour, I will share why Rovinj is known as a town of 1000 chimneys and what are its other nicknames.

A walking tour of Rovinj is slightly more demanding as we will walk up the hill through the narrow stone streets where on its top a beautiful church of St Euphemia awaits us. Once we enter the church, we will peek behind one of its altars to see what's kept in the marble sarcophagus. And do you know a legend about her?

Rovinj is a magical town. You will notice it from a distance. And then, once you start exploring it, this little maze of streets will reveal its greatness and why the town of Rovinj was called Venice in small.

Wandering the stone-paved narrow streets of Rovinj will lead us to the top of the hill right in front of the astonishing church of St Euphemia. Once we reach the top of the hill you will feel like you've conquered the town, but the truth is, this little paradise will conquer

Little Venice - Rovinj visit with a local guide.

Private Rovinj Walking Tour

Rovinj, charming and romantic, the most photographed town on the Mediterranean, eternally proud carrier of Venetian heritage, a bohemian town of the artist, and an old fishermen's town with a soul; Rovinj is all that and much more.

Our two-hour tour relaxed through the cobbled streets deep into the heart of this amazing town will give you the best of Rovinj's centuries-long history, tradition, and people. You will for sure get to understand and feel what is it that makes this town so special, why is St. Euphemia the most important woman in town's history, what dragged all the artists right here and nowhere else, why fish tastes better here.

A bit of a personal touch to this tour and interaction with locals is what makes this tour special and will for sure leave you with an amazing experience and memories. Welcome to the blue pearl of the Adriatic! Let's start our journey.

Let's explore together the charm of Mediterranean Rovinj!

Rovinj express walking city tour

Pula Walking City Highlights Half-Day tour

On this walking tour, we will get to know better "this old lady with a soul", older than 3000 years. We will begin with the glorious Roman times and the visit to the Roman amphitheater from the 1st century ( with a bit of luck we may even run into one of the gladiators!) we will continue our tour through the cobbled but flat streets, along with major monuments and sights of interest which will show you why exactly is this magnificent town a rightful candidate for the UNESCO heritage site, and an eternal inspiration for many writers and artist.

We will not miss the heritage of the golden Austro Hungarian era, the importance of Pula harbor, and we will certainly stop by every single building which has its own little secret to tell.

A stroll through the farmer's market, taste, and smell of fresh fruit, vegetables, and olive oil, great stories, and a chat with the locals are all going to give you a clear and authentic experience of what Pula was once, and what is it today.

Let's explore together the glorious times of ancient Pula

Colorful and charming, Croatian and Italian - a small town with a big soul.

Besides being my hometown and my soulmate, Rovinj is a Mediterranean gem that needs to be explored. A town that will win your heart at a glance.

Rovinj is the most photogenic town in Croatia. I can't wait to take you to the Old Town, a labyrinth of old and narrow streets, and show you all the special corners and memories written all over them. I must warn you though, the city will romance you all the way through.

For many it's love at first sight, others prefer to take things slowly, nevertheless by the end of this tour, you will be in love with this place.

Guiding you is my mission where I share authentic friendly moments from history and my personal life. I am your new local friend who makes you feel at home abroad.

Look at part of the itinerary below, the rest is a surprise that I keep for when you let yourself be involved in this authentic experience.

Bell Tower of the Church of Saint Euphemia

Cocktail bars and restaurants in the Old Town

Feel what it's like to fall in love again!

Romantic Rovinj, private tour

The city tour begins with the most iconic monument of roman times in Croatia- the amphitheater in Pula.
Almost half of the entire visit of Pula is centered around this incredible piece of ancient engineering. I will share with you how these structures would have been built, why in specifically designated areas and what for.

Is this an amphitheater, an arena, or a colosseum?
If we already had theatres, what did we need these enormous structures for?
Who could afford to attend to what was going on inside?
What happened in the middle ages to it?
What do Christians have to do with all of it?

These and many more questions will find their answer- the lecture is a comparative, amusing two-way discussion about the good old times when all roads lead to Rome.

After the amphitheater, we continue in a circular way and chronologically follow the still well preserved three roman gate structures: Double Archers, Hercules' Gate, Sergi's Arch at the old golden gate entrance. See you here!

Cranes of the Pula shipyard perfoming a light-show.

Sunset over one of Pula's marinas and shipyard.

The Emperor Augustus temple from the 1st century c.e. and City Hall at the Forum square.

Roman amphitheatre in Pula- the 6th one by size still standing.

Pula's temple- still standing after a little over 2000 years.

Since the mid 18 hundreds Pula has had an important shipyard.

Golden Gate square with Sergi's Arch. The main entrance/exit in Roman times, the main public square of modern Pula.

Modern events take place between May and September.

Today everything turns around the shipyard and the industrial activity around it.

Local fresh produce at the farmers' market- the best selection in all of the county.

I have always been impressed by shipyard structures.

110 year old beauty: Pula's covered market.

Roman life festival at the Golden Gate in Pula.

Architecture from the 1930s, when all of Istria was part of the then Kingdom of Italy.

Pula Forum, girls fighting over the bride's bouquet.

Roman Diana's temple, incorporated into the back wall of the City Hall at Pula's Forum Square.

Not much has changed over time at the Pula Forum.

Roman colosseum and temples of Pula with a guide

Pula Tour with a local

What would have been visible on the barren island 1500 years ago wouldn't have been impressive. Who was to know that this small patch of land was to become the most prosperous and largest medieval town in Istria by the 16th century?

Let me take you back not only to the place of my childhood, but also of those who came well before us. We will unveil together what still is a harmonious and happy community - locals using the old town as a point of reference, buying their fresh producen and meeting up with friend at the sea front.

Starting in the low town, obtained after the channal was land-filled in 1763, we will follow step by step the history and culture of this beautiful town. This will definitely be a journey back in time, starting with the WW2 monument area and going back to the inception point of Rovinj, up on the top of the hill of this little "ruby island".

View from St. Euphemia's towards the west/south-west. Waterfront and southern bay.

Bridge square as seen from St. Euphemia's.

St. Catherine's from the church of the Holy Cross.

Holy Street detail, on the way to Saint Euphemia's.

We do not believe in clothes' driers. Even today.

St. Euphemia's as seen from the old cemetery.

Western view from Saint Euphemia's- Venice is 64 miles away in straight line.

Rovinj, old Lanterna lighthouse and WW2 bunker from the Kingdom of Italy peroid.

Red town clock and waterfront. Rio, Kantinon and San Tommaso: best local food and best coffee.

In the middle of the night, I was walking in my sleep ...

We have a straight line of houses where the ancient walls once proudly stood.

On April the 1st 2017. Blessed to be living here and sharing my hometown with you.

Where is the only blue house in Rovinj? Let me take you there ...

Shore excursion in Rovinj visiting

Rovinj Guided City Tour

Let me take you on a pleasant romantic walk through one of the most picturesque and most romantic little towns in the world. . . A late medieval town with strong Venetian influence particularly in architecture and everyday life: a place with long fishing tradition, a place which artists, particularly painters, have chosen for life and artistic impressions. . .

Tour includes a zigzag walkthrough oldtown streets including Grisia, street of artists once upon a time and some still left, visit St. Eufemia Church and we will end in fishing port with some batana boats present, even though EU legislation has taken away our bigger ships :(.

Batana is a symbol of fishing tradition in Rovinj.
Please allow me to introduce you this unique medieval Venetian fisherman's hilltown with a lot of charm and romance. . .

Let's get lost in Rovigno d'Istria. . . :)

Guided trip of Rovinj - Rovigno

Rovinj - Rovigno walking tour

This tour gives you an opportunity to visit both biggest places of Istria, Pula and Rovinj, with free time.

Pula is a real center of Istrian Peninsula, with more than 3000 years of being inhabited, it offers a lot of historic landmarks from different periods, thus it is nowadays a modern industrial city.

Rovinj is considered to be one of the most charming and picturesque places on the Mediterranean, it is a combination of traditional Adriatic fishing town and modern global summer resort place with lots of art and other mumbojumbo stuff within the old town.

Bale hilltown is still one of the still undiscovered gems of Istria, former castle/fort existing/non existing for almost 4000 years, and it is located near to Western Istrian Coast between Rovinj and Pula. Bale is also one of my favourite still not fully tourist discovered places. . .

Since there is not so much for driving, if timeframe allows, this tour has limitless options for wineries, olive oil farms, restaurants etc.

Sightseeing trip of the both major places in Istria, Pula and Rovinj, plus Bale walk and free time

Pula, Rovinj and Bale Tour

If you are short with time or you want to maximize your stay in Istra, this is a perfect tour for you.
In just one day, we will visit 3 of the most famous Istria coastal gems - cities Pula and Porec, the two old Roman Colonies and our magical town of Rovinj the ruby of the Mediterranean.

I have plenty of options to offer you throughout the tour in and between every spot. You can choose between local markets, little local souvenir shops, museums, boat rides, photo points, tower and castle views, restaurants, olive oil, wine tastings, sunsets….

Depending on your accommodation, we will start the tour around 9am and visit the three most known Istria gems. Please note, at times we will be walking over stone-paved streets which can be very slippery. As well, by the end of the tour we will pass 10-15km.

Pula, Porec and Rovinj full day trip

Istria Tour with Top 3 Coastal Cities

Both present Pula, modern "problematic" industrial city and present Poreč, center of the biggest summer resort riviera in Croatia, share long, rich and turbulent history underneath of present busy coastal places. Both have been capitals of Roman Colonies, and both inhabited from BC or further back up to present. . . And all who have been here have left something behind for us to discover. . .

Both places have lots of historic landmarks and beautiful architecture, and I will emphasize on Roman amphitheater in Pula and UNESCO's Euphrasiana in Poreč as both being part of best known attractions in Croatia and Istria in particular.

Tour also includes walking tour of both places and free time. Beside of regular activities, I have lots of options to offer for additional stops for olive oil or wine tasting, restaurants etc.

This tour compiles, without lots of driving between places, all the most important historic and modren aspects of Istria.

Two ancient but still vibrant cities each on it's way, both quite different with lots of history...full day trip

Pula and Poreč Tour

This great tour will take us into the heart of the Istrian peninsula and a hilltop town of Motovun, one of the oldest European settlements. Turbulent history, great architecture, breathtaking viewpoints, pure charm, stories, fairytales, and even giants, seducing smell of truffles all over the place, Motovun is just all that.
Being known as the kingdom of truffles, the tour will lead us to an amazing experience of a real truffle hunt in the Motovun forest led b a professional truffle hunter and his cute and friendly, mandatory assistants, the dogs.
That will not be all, after the truffle hunt and the city tour of Motovun, we will enjoy some of the truffle delicacies, from pure truffle to truffle chocolate, all accompanied with some and great Istrian wine.

Authentic Istrian pasta with white truffles

Experience an amazing truffle half-day hunt!

Motovun and the kingdom of truffles!

Rovinj Old town onboard a golf cart, private tour

A walking tour of Rovinj sounds fantastic but you know what sounds incredible? A golf-cart tour of Rovinj!

That's right! Both you and I can now relax and enjoy the view while our driver Tony takes us for a ride through the Old Town. You don't have to walk up the slippery cobblestone streets and sweat in the summer heat.

Known as the most photogenic town in Croatia, Rovinj is our Mediterranean gem. It needs to be explored and we want to make sure everyone gets a chance to see the Church of Saint Euphemia, regardless of age, health, energy, or degrees outside.

I must warn you though, It's a town that holds a special place in my heart and of those who visit it and it can be quite persuasive. You might change your mind once the tour is over and hop off our cart to take a walk instead to truly soak in its beauty and charm.

A ride you will never forget!

Motovun, Grožnjan and Poreč full-day tour

Welcome to the Middle Ages!
By looking at the quaint villages of green Istria, its rolling hills, and fruit trees, it is difficult to recognize that this is where wars were fought, where people lived behind walls to survive. Now it's all about truffles, art galleries and coffee sipping.

This tour will give you a chance of getting a bit further from the coast, away from the gelato culture of holiday-makers.

Forgotten by most, inland Istria continued at its own, genuine pace, while the coastal areas knew important development from the 1950s on. It won't be before some thirty years ago that the area will slowly start to wake up offering its charms to travelers.
Today, this small area of roughly 25 x 10 miles encompasses beautiful scenery, old stone villages, truffles, olive oil and wine.

Motovun and Grožnjan will give you an idea of what life in the dark ages would have been like while Poreč, with its 6th-century gold mosaics cathedral, is a testimony of the very beginning of Christianity.

Motovun, view form the south in early spring. Mother Nature is not 100% awake yet.

Motovun St. Stephen's tower, one of the five still standing.

Motovun, Virgin Mary's in the Gradaziol area.

Grožnjan, a fairy-tale town from the dawn of the Middle Ages.

Spring colors at Motovun, as seen from the Mirna valley area.

The "čripnja"- ancient way of preparing food.

Big Joseph was a good giant, in passed times when giants still existed. Today, he comes back to Motovun once a year during a festival dedicated to him.

Rural architecture adapted to modern life. Istria's white lime-stone is among the most valued in the world.

Everything is about views in Motovun. Even parking lots have great ones!

End of season serenity in Grožnjan. May we always have this peace.

The Mirna river valley during white truffle season. These expensive truffle delicacies are mostly found in the flatter areas of the valley.

Euphrasius Basilica Cathedral interior, straight from the 6th century.

Poreč, seen from Peškera bay a November afternoon.

4th century Arts. Perfection in simplicity.

Layer after layer of history and mosaics in Poreč.

Discover the medieval Istria!

This is a city founded by the Romans and right here you can walk the main Roman streets (Decumanus and Cardo Maximus) that now adorn medieval buildings from Romanesque to Baroque ones.

Porec is a city that discovers its treasures every step you take. The secret is to look up not to miss the marvelous mixture of architecture styles.
It's almost as you could see people living here a long time ago. Maybe you'll steal the moment from the past and see a lady standing on her luxurious balcony and you won't even notice that you travelled back in time.

And when stone streets prepare you for wonders and small stories, suddenly the greatest one will appear, a magnificent UNESCO site, Basilica of Euphrasius, preserved and fully operational to present days.

At this point everything begins. . . . Your admiration, inner peace, simplicity and beauty of architecture, fascinating mosaics and art. . . something you have never felt before. This place is a real gem that you'll never forget.

Rovinj tours

Explore with 39 tours and 7 guides.

Matt

$ 146 (USD)

Ana G.

$ 211 (USD)

Ana G.

$ 211 (USD)

Violeta P.

$ 189 (USD)

Violeta P.

$ 227 (USD)

Romina K.

$ 154 (USD)

Goran C.

$ 274 (USD)

Goran C.

$ 176 (USD)

Matt

$ 135 (USD)

Matt

$ 546 (USD)

Ana G.

$ 1,263 (USD)

Matt

$ 489 (USD)

Violeta P.

$ 937 (USD)

Romina K.

$ 448 (USD)

Goran C.

$ 583 (USD)

Ana G.

$ 263 (USD)

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