Then it was time for us to travel to Croatia again, and now we will make a motorhome trip in Istria. But our motorhome FREEDOM will stay at home this time. We fly to Zagreb and then continue with a rented motorhome (plåtis) around Istria.
Exploring around Istria
We have travelled a lot in Croatia already, but of course there is still a lot to see and experience. One of the parts we want to see more of is Istria. We were here for the first time in 2011, together with two teenage boys (Peter's youngest son and his mate). We tried a few campsites and some water activities, before continuing into Italy.
Last autumn, on the way back from our 1-year European trip, we took the opportunity to see the amphitheatre in Pulabut that's all we had time for as it was getting cold and we were on our way to Sweden... Now we are planning to visit Labin, Vrsar and Porec among others. Have you been there and have any tips?
Renting a motorhome on holiday
We will be travelling around in a rented camper van which we pick up in Zagreb. Att renting a motorhome on holiday is an interesting option even for those who do not have their own motorhome! Travelling by motorhome gives you a great sense of freedom and you get both accommodation and transport in one, while you can choose to cook your own food.
We have chosen to try a small motorhome, because we are a little curious about them and because that size is more than enough for the two of us for a week. When we have tested, we will of course return with more information about how it works to rent a motorhome in Croatia and what we like about this model!
If you're interested in what it's like to rent small camper vans in other countries, you can also check out the blog Bortugal.se and read that Rent a motorhome in Portugal.
Update with info on Istria
Now that we have completed our motorhome trip in Istria, we have of course written a lot about various beautiful places on the Croatian peninsula. We have also written an article about renting a motorhome in Croatia. Read more here:
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towe says:
Oh what fun! I have not been there but isn't Istria famous for its amazing truffles? Have a wonderful trip!
15 May 2016 - 9:10
Kors och Tvärs says:
We have visited Istria a couple of times and to be honest I am not that impressed. Yes, the nature is beautiful, but the food... Before we travelled there, we had been told that "go to Croatia and enjoy fantastic good cheap food" I do not know if we visited the wrong places but the food leaves a lot to be desired and the prices in the shops do not impress me. Hope you find some amazing pearls and have a wonderful trip 🙂.
15 May 2016 - 9:16
Steve says:
Exciting, then I too will be "travelling" again. It will be interesting to hear how you manage without your dear Freedom.
15 May 2016 - 9:23
Lanclin-Linnea says:
I'm really curious about what it's like to travel and live in one of those campervans 😉 It'll be fun to follow you and a small humble request from me is a post about the characteristics of the campervan in terms of sleeping, eating and storage 🙂 .
15 May 2016 - 9:24
nils-åke hansson says:
It will be interesting to follow you around Istria.
15 May 2016 - 9:48
admin says:
Towe, yes that's right! We have actually never eaten truffles in Croatia, but maybe it will happen this time! 🙂
Across the board, we have not been so impressed with the food in Croatia actually. The country has impressed us a lot when it comes to the fantastic nature, the cosy villages and cities etc, but we have not had any special experience of the food, although we have had good grilled lamb a few times. This time there will probably be some restaurant visits, so it will be interesting to see if we can find something fun 🙂.
Steve, it will be very interesting! We are very curious to drive and live in such a flatbed actually! 🙂
Lanclin-Linnea, of course we will report back!
Nils-Åke, glad you are following us! 🙂
15 May 2016 - 10:00
Ama de casa says:
Oh what fun! Unfortunately, the whole of Croatia is still a white spot on the map for me. Hopefully that will change soon...
We were actually very close to renting a motorhome in Cuba in the late 90s, but we ended up on a canal boat in France instead. A little motorhome feeling even that. I think anyway, I have never lived in a motorhome 🙂 .
15 May 2016 - 10:04
Åsa says:
Your caravan is bigger than ours, but West Coast Campers who we rented from have come out with bigger versions now, with hot shower, chemical toilet, real fridge with freezer compartment. The one we had was good enough for us, we liked the camping feeling. but others may want more comfort.
I have been to Istria by the way. I have a strange memory of a night porter who called and asked if he could come up to my room. A bit uncomfortable when travelling alone, to say the least (he wasn't allowed!).
15 May 2016 - 10:40
Imelda says:
I am jealous! Absolutely perfect time to travel now when it is not so hot if you want to look around! Have not travelled so much with our motorhome in Croatia, but we have been there a lot with a regular car when the children hung on. The food is good if you stick to home cooking and everything from the sea. Try crayfish in wine sauce (škampi na buzaru) and njoki with meat sauce (njoki sa gulašom) a restaurant that I can highly recommend (luxurious and a little expensive but affordable) is Stari Kaštel located in Buje, near the border with Slovenia. In Buje they have a brewery with very good beer that you can also order at the above mentioned restaurant. (You can find some pictures here http://imeldabencic.blogspot.se/2015/08/fortsattning-pula-och-ett-riktigt-bra.html)
Places that you should visit besides the ones you mention are Rovinj and Hum the smallest city in the world. Wishing you a fantastic trip!
15 May 2016 - 11:00
Comsi Comsa says:
It will be fun to follow your experiences of Istria. 🙂
Beautiful picture that I would like to move into now that it is raining here. 🙂
Hugs ♥
15 May 2016 - 11:14
Knut Kjetså says:
Had a rental car and drove around most of Istria for 2 years. There were only 2 places that impressed : Opatija and Rovinj. Pearls in their own way.
Combined it with a quick trip to Trieste and Venice. Stayed one night in Slovenia too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHlgppHZ5t4
Have a couple of video memories from Opatija and Rovinj here :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doiQZ-lErn0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC-KeEK_XNI
15 May 2016 - 11:21
admin says:
Ama de casa, haha, houseboat in Cuba or canal boat in France, same same as well 😉 Can, however, agree that you sometimes get a bit of the same feeling in a boat and a motorhome. It's that cosy crawl feeling 😉 😉
Åsa, yes I am aware that the one we rent is bigger. I myself would like to have a toilet actually 😉 But otherwise I like the idea of slightly smaller motorhomes, it can be convenient many times. At least that's what I imagine, it will be interesting to see! (And help what story with the night porter!)
Imelda, oh thank you so much for all the great tips and for the link! Great with the tips on dishes and we will also check out the places you mention on the map!
Comsi Comsa, right now we also have really bad weather, so it feels just right to travel right now 😉.
Knut Kjetså, thanks for your comment and for the links! Agree that Opatija is nice! We have not been to Rovinj, we will see if we can get past a turn now maybe 😉.
15 May 2016 - 11:30
Frankie & Co says:
Have a good trip!
15 May 2016 - 11:38
Katarina Wohlfart says:
Of course we will join you! Have a good trip 🙂
15 May 2016 - 11:44
Ika says:
You have received good tips from Imelda :). I would like to add Groznjan which is a fantastically cosy village up among the hills/mountains. It is a cultural village with many music schools and galleries. Located near Buje.
Wishing you a wonderful trip!
//Ika
15 May 2016 - 12:03
Lina says:
Wishing you a really nice trip!!! Still dreaming of Croatia! Have never been there so follow you !!!! Hugs Lina
15 May 2016 - 12:40
BP says:
Perfectly timed trip considering how the weather has returned to freezing cold here at home.
Will be really fun to follow you on the tour around Istria. I think you should visit Rovinj, a really cosy little "village".
Drive carefully!
15 May 2016 - 12:45
admin says:
Frankie & Co, please!
Katarina Wohlfart, thank you very much!
Ika, thank you so much for even more tips! I will sit down with the map and check where the places you suggest are located!
Lina, thank you so much! Funny that you follow! 🙂
BP, well, isn't it? Today the weather here at home is horrible! Thanks for the tips about Rovinj! 🙂
15 May 2016 - 13:36
Jennifer - svensk i Helsingfors says:
Nice to be able to fly down and rent a motorhome, so you don't have to spend time driving down all the way to the actual destination 🙂 Smart!
15 May 2016 - 16:08
Travelmania says:
Have only been to Hvar and a little in Split, but those I have seen I agree that Croatia is a beautiful country and a favourite destination in Europe. I would love to see much more of the country, so it will be fun to follow your journey!!!
Have a very nice trip!!!
15 May 2016 - 16:29
admin says:
Jennifer, yes we like the idea! It will be fun to see how we experience it too and be able to report 😉.
Travelmania, thank you and I'm glad you're joining us!
15 May 2016 - 16:38
Ama de casa says:
It was our friends who chickened out of renting a motorhome, preferring to go on a canal boat again. Then it has never been relevant. I think the reason I stuck to tents for so long was that I never really grew up from the fact that it was fun to build a hut. Now, however, it seems to have passed 😉
15 May 2016 - 17:40
Anette says:
It was quite a few years since we were in Porec, remember it as a cosy town with a strong sense of Italy (quite ok for me). We were also in Rovinje, a very charming village/town.
Nice trip ?
15 May 2016 - 17:55
joy says:
We have only driven in Istria from the island of Crez and along the coast up to Italy. You have Pula with the amphitheatre which is nice, you may have already seen it.
Nice trip and exciting to hear what you think about Plåtisen.
Hugs
15 May 2016 - 18:09
Maggan och Ingemar says:
It will be interesting to hear how you experience a "plåtis", also to follow your trip because we will probably go that way in the autumn. We / I have tired a bit of Spain, far too many motorhomes there now 🙂 Have a nice trip, we will follow you.
15 May 2016 - 18:43
Anja says:
Can only agree with all "happy journey". We were there just after the end of the war and thought that Istria "was ours" no other tourists... :-)). Then there have been more times. Have a really really good time!!!
15 May 2016 - 19:01
Anette says:
Of course looking forward to all your experiences and how you will thrive in a motorhome! If we now get away on a motorhome holiday this year, it will probably be Croatia on the way down to Greece, but who knows, we might stay there ... must admit that I most long for all your wonderful pictures ..., hope you have a really good trip / Annette, Robert says he is not at all jealous ...
15 May 2016 - 19:13
admin says:
Ama de casa, hut is cosy, but I like the hut to be a bit more comfortable, like a motorhome 😉.
Anette, thank you so much for the tips! I will soon sit down with the map and circle everything that everyone has suggested here in the comments field 🙂
JoY, yes, the amphitheatre is one of the few things we have actually seen in Istria, and it is well worth a visit, I agree! We will of course report on the site!
Maggan and Ingemar, glad you are thinking about Croatia! Yes, it has certainly started to be very much motorhomes in Spain, and also in Portugal, can agree with that.
Anja, now you are not exactly alone as a tourist in Croatia anymore, but it still does not feel so crowded with tourists because there are no such huge hotel complexes. Thank you very much!
Anette, it's going to be very exciting with the tinplate! And of course there will be a lot of pictures! Thank you so much, and luckily Robert is not jealous... 😉.
15 May 2016 - 20:03
Rolle o Carina says:
Nice, we will also join you on the trip! 🙂
Take care and enjoy......
15 May 2016 - 20:10
Susjos says:
How exciting with a motorhome holiday, it would definitely be fun to try it sometime! Have a great time!
15 May 2016 - 20:34
Solan says:
What I remember from Istria are the fantastic baths from rocks. But that was a long time ago ... Now it will be interesting to keep up with the plate. Peter probably thinks that rowing is pure child's play 🙂.
15 May 2016 - 20:45
Henny says:
I'm glad you're going to try a plough. It looks to be about the same size as mine. I am very happy with it.
I will follow you closely. ie read as soon as you post something about the trip. have fun 🙂
15 May 2016 - 20:55
admin says:
Rolle and Carina, thank you and I'm glad you're joining us 🙂 .
Susjos, travelling by motorhome is great, recommended! 😉
Solan, it will be interesting to see what Peter likes to drive! He is so used to the Freedom, but it should be easy with a smaller car!
Henny, glad you are happy with your motorhome! We will of course report on our experiences!
15 May 2016 - 21:18
Resfredag says:
But how wonderful, looking forward to following your journey. Hugs!
15 May 2016 - 21:25
Ditte says:
Great fun to follow along and see how this works. And it's nice not to have to drive down yourself but to pick up the motorhome on site.
We have visited Poec and then also took a hydrofoil, day trip, to Venice. Porec reminded a lot of Italy.
Rovinj got a quick visit, but we were only a week and on a "trip" so there was no major debauchery then.
15 May 2016 - 22:27
Marie says:
You really are the Croatia experts more and more, aren't you? It looks fabulously nice when you have been there before, so it will be exciting to follow you this time too. Truffle yes, I have also heard about it, nom nom!
16 May 2016 - 1:58
admin says:
Travel Friday, glad you're "following" us 😉 .
Ditte, baby carrier...? Guess you mean some kind of boat... 😉.
Marie, haha yes maybe it's starting to happen 😉 There have been a few trips to Croatia by now 😉.
16 May 2016 - 6:35
Anders och Birgitta says:
We have been to the Istrian peninsula several times, the first time was in 1983 when it belonged to the former Yugoslavia. One place we particularly like is Rovinj, where we have stayed at camping Polari, which also has a part of the campsite reserved for naturists.
16 May 2016 - 11:21
Matts Torebring says:
We've been to Istria many times, but nothing I can't wait to go back to. What a job you are doing! "I hope things work out for you"
16 May 2016 - 20:17
admin says:
Anders and Birgitta, many have recommended Rovinj so we understand that it must be nice! Thanks for the tips camping!
Matts, what is it that makes you not want to go back? Yes, of course we put in a lot of work, but fortunately we think it's insanely fun 🙂 The challenge is to put in so much time and thus find it a little difficult to combine with other, income-generating, jobs....
17 May 2016 - 6:09