Pula, Croatia

Croatia’s Colosseum – What a site!

This well-preserved Roman amphitheatre might be reason enough to add Pula, the largest city on Croatia’s Istrian Peninsula, to your bucket list. The arena, built between 27 BC and 68 AD and which had a capacity for 23,000 spectators, is the sixth largest of its kind in the world. While it once played host to bloody gladiatorial battles, it now accommodates more sedate performances from the likes of Seal, Michael Bolton, and Sting. Thankfully, they made  an exception for these modern day gladiators!

Go coastal

Pula is a busy port city, so once you’ve checked out the Arena and the other impressive Roman sights around town it’s worthwhile heading north along the Istrian coastline to  Rovinj. This gorgeous Venetian-style fishing port can be reached in under an hour from Pula by public transport or car. You can wander around the cobbled streets of the old town and then dine on freshly caught seafood at one of Rovinj’s many great restaurants.

If nature is more your thing then head to the nearby national parks of Kamenjak and Brijuni. Rugged Kamenjak is Istria’s southern-most point and can get busy in the summer, but features enough hidden beaches that you should be able to find space to jump in to the sea. The Brijuni Islands can only be reached by booking the ferry operated by the national park. From there you can go on a guided tour, rent a bike, or go golfing.

Istrian culinary delights

Croatia boasts world-class dining experiences, which the late chef/author/tv presenter Anthony Bourdain raved about in his episode of No Reservations. You may be surprised to find out that much of the food and drink he so enthused about came from Istria, which region is blessed with fertile grounds for wine growing, truffles, as well as the obvious seafood from the Adriatic. You can check out the places he went to here (his itinerary included the Istrian locations Rovinj, Pula, Lim Bay, and Motovun). Or, you can do as he recommends: go get lost and find your own hidden gems!

Direct Flights to Pula

There are direct flights to Pula from most European cities, including London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Berlin. However, they are mainly seasonal flights catering to the summer tourist crowd. Check out Pula Airport’s destination list to see if you can get there direct from your city!