--- type: "Article" title: "Istrian Riviera – from fishing port Rovinj to Opatija seaside resort" description: "Istria - the Croatian peninsula where they come up with the world's biggest truffles and peddle picturesque seaside towns. Designer hotel included." resource: "https://travelmemo.com/croatia/istria-riviera-rovinj-opatija" author: "Walter Schaerer" publisher: "Travelmemo" photo_count: 14 tags: ["Boutique Hotel", "Design", "Croatia"] entities: - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/croatia" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/italy" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/sardinia" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/boutique-hotel" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/design" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/architecture" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/sea-travel" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/restaurant" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/air-travel" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/culinary-tourism" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/lake" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/vehicle-rental" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/organizations/edelweiss-air" - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/organizations/swiss-international-air-lines" - "https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer" generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer", at: 2026-07-04T14:09:18+00:00 } verified: - { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer", at: 2017-09-19T18:44:11+00:00 } sources: - id: photos resource: istria-riviera-rovinj-opatija.md#photos title: "Original photography by Walter Schaerer" author: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer" last_modified: 2017-08-28 timestamp: 2026-07-04T14:09:18+00:00 --- # Istrian Riviera – from fishing port Rovinj to Opatija seaside resort > The Istrian Peninsula in northern Croatia offers picturesque fishing towns, clear Adriatic waters, world-class truffles, and striking design hotels along a well-maintained coastline just east of Venice. ## Destination Istria is a peninsula in northern Croatia, situated in the northern Adriatic Sea between the Gulf of Trieste and Kvarner Bay, approximately 135 km east of Venice by air. ## Getting there Edelweiss (and code-share partners) operate direct flights to Pula at the southern tip of Istria. Rental cars and well-maintained toll roads connect Pula to destinations across the peninsula. ## When to go The article does not specify a recommended season. ## Why visit Friends' glowing accounts of Croatia's crystal-clear water and fresh seafood prompted the visit; the region rewards with charming cobblestoned fishing towns, remarkable modern hotel design, excellent local wine, and fresh truffles. ## What to see - **Rovinj** — Picturesque fishing village on its own rocky outcrop on the western Istrian coast, with shiny cobblestone lanes and a lively port. - **Sveta Eufemija Church, Rovinj** — A hilltop church reached via narrow lanes with quaint shops; rewards visitors with a fine panoramic view. - **Poreč** — Fishing village just north of Rovinj with a larger marina, promenade, and numerous restaurants. - **Opatija** — Classic Adriatic spa-town with grand architecture, a coastal promenade, and a string of designer restaurants. - **Hotel Navis** — Acclaimed Cubist cliff-face hotel designed by Idis Turato in 2015, between Opatija and Rijeka, noted for its architecture and tasting-menu restaurant. ## What to do - **Walk the coastal promenade from Navis to Opatija** — A romantic beach-path walk of more than 3 km along the Adriatic, passing fishing-village restaurants that grow progressively more fashionable toward Opatija. - **Dine at Hotel Bevanda (Relais & Châteaux)** — Upscale restaurant in Opatija serving tuna tartare and other refined dishes, part of a line-up of designer eateries on the coastal route. - **Taste local truffles and Croatian wine** — The region is known for large truffles featured on pasta; Krauthaker oak-aged Slavonian chardonnay was a standout pairing at the Navis restaurant. ## Good to know Croatia uses the Croatian kuna, not the euro, despite EU membership since 2013; carry kuna cash as some shops and restaurants do not accept cards. Toll roads require payment — credit cards accepted at some gates but small change is handy. Driving is relaxed compared to Italy, with speed limits generally observed. Taxi from Opatija back to the Navis costs around $7. The region is notably clean and well-maintained. ## Photos ```yaml photos: - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Croatia-Istria-coast-line.jpg" caption: "Coast line as seen from the airplane" keywords: ["Croatia", "Istria", "coast"] credit: "Walter Schaerer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Navis-Hotel-architecture-Opatija.jpg" caption: "Navis hotel architecture in the blue hour" keywords: ["Croatia", "Navis", "Opatija", "design hotel"] captured: 2017-08-27 geo: {latitude: 45.3557, longitude: 14.3268} credit: "Walter Schaerer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Navis-Hotel-balcony-Opatija.jpg" caption: "Contemporary architecture" keywords: ["Croatia", "Navis", "Opatija", "design hotel"] credit: "Walter Schaerer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Navis-Hotel-Opatija-bedside-lamp.jpg" caption: "Bedside lamp" keywords: ["Croatia", "Navis", "Opatija", "bedside lamp", "design hotel"] captured: 2017-08-26 geo: {latitude: 45.3557, longitude: 14.3268} credit: "Walter Schaerer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Navis-Hotel-storm-Opatija.jpg" caption: "Upcoming storm" keywords: ["Croatia", "Navis", "Opatija", "design hotel", "storm"] captured: 2017-08-28 geo: {latitude: 45.3557, longitude: 14.3268} credit: "Walter Schaerer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Navis-Hotel-breakfast-Opatija.jpg" caption: "Breakfast in paradise" keywords: ["Croatia", "Navis", "Opatija", "breakfast", "design hotel", "restaurant"] geo: {latitude: 45.3557, longitude: 14.3268} credit: "Walter Schaerer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Rovinj-Croatia-travelmemo-com.jpg" caption: "The small fishing port of Rovinj with Sveta Eufemija church tower" keywords: ["Croatia", "Istria", "Rovinj", "travelmemo.com"] captured: 2017-08-27 geo: {latitude: 45.0824, longitude: 13.6348} credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Rovinj-Croatia-travelmemo-com-3.jpg" caption: "Cobblestones in Rovinj in Croatia's Istria region" keywords: ["Croatia", "Istria", "Rovinj", "travelmemo.com"] captured: 2017-08-27 geo: {latitude: 45.0824, longitude: 13.6348} credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Rovinj-Croatia-travelmemo-com-4.jpg" caption: "Rovinj Istria Croatia" keywords: ["Croatia", "Istria", "Rovinj", "travelmemo.com"] captured: 2017-08-27 geo: {latitude: 45.0824, longitude: 13.6348} credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Rovinj-Croatia-travelmemo-com-8.jpg" caption: "Rovinj Istria Croatia" keywords: ["Croatia", "Istria", "Rovinj", "travelmemo.com"] captured: 2017-08-27 geo: {latitude: 45.0824, longitude: 13.6348} credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Porec-Croatia-travelmemo-com-3.jpg" caption: "Porec" keywords: ["Croatia", "Istria", "Porec", "travelmemo.com"] captured: 2017-08-27 geo: {latitude: 45.2275, longitude: 13.5956} credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Porec-Croatia-travelmemo-com.jpg" caption: "Porec" keywords: ["Croatia", "Istria", "Porec", "travelmemo.com"] captured: 2017-08-27 geo: {latitude: 45.2275, longitude: 13.5956} credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Opatija-Croatia-travelmemo-com-6.jpg" caption: "Beach clubs in the Opatija marina" keywords: ["Croatia", "Istria", "Opatija"] captured: 2017-08-26 geo: {latitude: 45.3378, longitude: 14.3102} credit: "Walter Schärer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Opatija-Croatia-travelmemo-com-5.jpg" caption: "Opatija's shore promenade goes on for miles" keywords: ["Croatia", "Istria", "Opatija"] captured: 2017-08-26 geo: {latitude: 45.3465, longitude: 14.32} credit: "Walter Schärer" ```