Rovinj in Croatia - lovely medieval town in Istria

Rovinj in Croatia is a lovely medieval town on the Adriatic Sea in Istria. Here you can stroll through charming cobbled streets, enjoy truffles in outdoor cafés or perhaps swim from the bathing rocks in the centre of town. Rovinj is a city with a lot to offer.

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Rovinj in Croatia

Rovinj in Croatia is located at Istria west coast, about four miles north of Pula. This is a beautiful medieval town right on the Adriatic Sea, filled with charming alleys and cosy restaurants.

By motorhome to Rovinj

When you're used to driving a large motorhome, it should be easy to drive and park with a small "flatbed", as we do this time. There were quite a lot of car parks in Rovinj, but everywhere there were signs with crossed out motorhomes so it took some time before we found a place to stand - a larger free car park where several motorhomes and camping cars were parked.

Not always easy to shop abroad ...

Since there will be good dinners in restaurants in the evenings during this trip, we are trying to eat a little more simply at lunch. We planned to make egg sandwiches with fried eggs, so we bought bread, eggs and a small packet of butter - or so we thought! Has anyone tried frying in yeast? Not easy to shop sometimes when you don't understand the language and can't read the packages ... We had boiled eggs for lunch, and then we went out into town!

An egg-shaped city in the sea

The town of Rovinj is located on an egg-shaped peninsula that juts out into the sea. Many people told us to visit this town, and we can see why! The town is filled with narrow cobbled streets and beautiful baroque and renaissance houses that are tightly packed in the old town centre. This is truly an idyllic little town, where you can easily stroll around for a few hours.

Boats and beaches

Rovinj is right by the sea and there are plenty of boats in the harbour. It is easy to find boats that take tourists on tours, but there are also plenty of fishing boats. The town is not only based on tourism, but it is also a traditional fishing town. There are also many small rocky outcrops with small practical stairs, so you can easily access the bathing area in the centre of town. Nice!

Gott om båtar i hamnen i Rovinj — Plenty of boats in Rovinj harbour

Badklippor vid Adriatiska havet — Small sunbathing areas around the city

Restaurants and local delicacies

As you walk around, you'll find one open-air restaurant after another, and the city is also full of market stalls, where you can, for example, shop. truffles and olive oil.

View from Euphemia Cathedral

On a high hill in the city sits St Euphemia's Cathedral. We walked up all the steep cobblestone streets to the church and paid 20 kuna (26 kr) each to go up the church tower. There were a lot of steps (I promise!) and they were all made of narrow uneven beams that you could look down between - not good at all when you have vertigo. I (Helena) gave up halfway up, but Peter went all the way up and photographed the view for me!

Rovinj sett från stadens kyrktorn — Rovinj seen from the city's church tower

See more near Rovinj in Croatia

There is a lot to see and experience in Croatia! Here are suggestions for some amazing places that are not too far from Rovinj:

Porec - Holiday resort in Istria
Vrsar - Small town in Istria with big surprises
Fažana - A gem on the west coast of Istria

Facts about Rovinj in Croatia

What country? Croatia
County? County of Istria
Language? Croatian (many also speak English)
Residents? 14 000 (2015)
Currency? Kuna (HRK)
Price point? Cheaper than Sweden
Time difference? None

Travelling to Rovinj in Croatia

Car: Driving from Zagreb to Rovinj takes about 3 hours (toll road). Driving from Opatija to Rovinj takes just over an hour (toll road). Travelling time from Pula is about 45 minutes.
Bus: You can take a bus from many different cities in Croatia.

Helena

20 May 2016 7:24

Croatia

city guide Europe, history, Motorhome holiday Croatia, culture

Helena

Administrator

33 Comments

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Cathinka says:

How lovely it sounds! Sucks a little in the Mediterranean storm ...

20 May 2016 - 8:09

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Geddfish says:

Thank you for these wonderful pictures of beloved Rovinj! 😀
I've walked these alleys, bought fresh fruit at the market, walked along the quayside looking at boats and walked all the way up to Euphemia Church!
I had a reunion with you, great! 😀
Friday hugs, Gerd ♥

20 May 2016 - 8:24

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Lisa - livet från den ljusa sidan says:

Haha! Yeast! ??

Beautiful city! So fun to follow your journey!

20 May 2016 - 8:42

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Deciree says:

When we go to Croatia now, we must visit Rovinj. I had decided that already before your post here:) ...now it became even more determined:) Thanks for the pictures. Hugs

20 May 2016 - 8:43

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Steve says:

You look like you're having a great time. Egg lunch, what else in a city on an egg-shaped peninsula.

20 May 2016 - 8:44

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nils-åke hansson says:

Language can make things difficult. And finding the right shop is not always easy.

20 May 2016 - 8:56

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Kattas Betraktelser says:

Not at all wrong in any way 🙂

20 May 2016 - 9:02

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Åsa says:

An egg-shaped city? Boiled or fried? Hahaha. Great picture of the alley, you seem to have a great time!

20 May 2016 - 9:12

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znogge says:

What a wonderful alley! I wouldn't have made it in that tower either, that's for sure! But at least you tried 😀 Always something!

20 May 2016 - 9:24

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Cathinka, I understand that! We don't want to go home from here haha 😉

Geddfish, how nice that you have been here! Very nice city!

Lisa, typical of what you do abroad, just laughing at the misery, haha 😉.

Deciree, you are right!!! 🙂

Steve, there were a lot of eggs in this post 😉.

Nils-Åke, you make mistakes sometimes! This was not the first time... 😉.

Åsa, haha, I suddenly realised that there were a lot of eggs in this post, but so be it ... 😉.

Znogge, yes I chose to be happy with my attempt! I walked at least half ... 😉 ...

20 May 2016 - 9:27

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Ama de casa says:

Oh how nice it looks! But why do you always have to go UP? It's really hard and scary... 😉.

Haha! Frying in yeast is probably not the easiest thing to do. But I think you were a bit of a coward to give up so easily? 😉 I once tried to buy a disposable grill in France. However, I was a little doubtful that it was really the right one, and asked (gestured). It turned out to be a dehumidifier... Haha! 🙂

20 May 2016 - 9:44

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Dryden - Traveler's Edition says:

Oh, views and vistas!

20 May 2016 - 10:28

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Rolle o Carina says:

Looks undeniably nice and nice where you go! 🙂

Take care and enjoy.....

20 May 2016 - 11:37

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Ulla & Torgny says:

So nice pictures, getting more and more hungry to "motorhome" in this country. It sounds expensive to lie on campsites all the time, do you find any pitches or can you fricamp somewhere'...... enjoy and have' de' nice!

20 May 2016 - 11:50

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Ruth i Virginia says:

What a wonderful city! Makes me wish, that I was
several years younger. I'm still keen on travelling, so it's...
truly a pleasure to be an armchair traveller together
with you and other travel bloggers.
The photo from the church tower is amazing. All those brick red
thanks to the blue - both sky and sea. Beautiful!

20 May 2016 - 13:32

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Imelda says:

Amazingly beautiful! Rovinj is really worth a visit! Butter is called maslac ?

20 May 2016 - 14:36

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Berit says:

Yes, it looks like I imagined, charming! May take us there sometime!

20 May 2016 - 15:14

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Veiken says:

Such lovely pictures. I just enjoy seeing them!
Hahaha! Frying in yeast! You're sure you wouldn't do anything else????

20 May 2016 - 15:21

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Anna, New York – My Bite of the Big Apple says:

Oh, so beautiful! We just went back to the same part of Croatia. Maybe time to discover Istria too!

Laughed at the yeast thing (sorry) 😉 I agree that it is not easy to shop abroad. Not even in the US where you should understand what is written on the packaging. There is too much choice!

20 May 2016 - 16:31

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Lena & Jan says:

The longing for the Mediterranean stings, but the tomato cultivation at home is now in place so maybe you will soon get rid of the tomato abstinence, we do not have that disease in the winter in Spain 🙂 🙂 Continue enjoying the trip!

20 May 2016 - 16:40

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Ama de casa, haha, dehumidifiers and disposable grills are not EXACTLY the same...??

Dryden, there are plenty of nice views in Croatia! 🙂

Rolle and Carina, thank you and yes, it is very nice here!

Ulla & Torgny, it is nice to motorhome in Croatia! There are some pitches, but it is not as widespread as in some other countries. Free camping can work in a few places, but is generally not so popular. However, the campsites are often ACSI-affiliated (i.e. good prices in the low season) and prices in Croatia are generally good (apart from Dubrovnik which is expensive).

Ruth in Virginia, it's great that you want to travel with us and glad you like the photo!

Imelda, thanks, we'll know for next time! ??

Berit, we definitely think so! 🙂

Veiken, glad you like the pictures! And well, somehow it didn't feel like a good time to bake... 😉.

Anna, Istria is well worth a visit! Where in Croatia do you usually go?

Lena & Jan, thank you! And it sounds nice to grow your own tomatoes! 🙂

20 May 2016 - 16:44

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Beatrice says:

A bit nicer weather there than here! 😛

20 May 2016 - 16:53

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Ditte says:

Great pictures of a very beautiful and old city.
Yes, language can be a problem, but you managed to get the eggs right. Well done!
Perfect for a trained and fit runner, it's a great way to get to the top of the tower and the views of the city, land and sea are beautiful.

20 May 2016 - 16:55

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Annalena says:

I have been there, fantastic!

20 May 2016 - 17:17

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Beatrice, when we left Sweden it was like 6 degrees and a storm. Hope it has become a little better!? 😉

Ditte, haha, yes it was perfect that he wanted to "run" up and take the photos! 😉

Annalena, funny that you also liked Rovinj! 🙂

20 May 2016 - 17:30

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Anna, New York – My Bite of the Big Apple says:

We have been south of Dubrovnik, one summer in Plat and one summer in Cavtat. Really nice places, both - very close to each other. Have guest blogged about them on Hallin's travel blog.

20 May 2016 - 19:52

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Matts Torebring says:

It was definitely worth it to get that last picture.

20 May 2016 - 20:27

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BP says:

Hahaha! Would have liked to see fermented eggs actually, but obviously I can't;-)

Soooooo fun that you ended up in Rovinj, which I think is soooooo cosy. Oh the pictures are absolutely superb (good that I did not look at Peter's Insta yesterday). Continue to enjoy to the fullest:-)

20 May 2016 - 23:27

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Anna, ok thanks, interesting to hear! We have not been there. We have been to Dubrovnik though (nice city but oh so many people ;))

Matts, I thought so too (standing on the ground, haha).

BP, oh how nice that you have been in Rovinj, sooo nice! And Peter and I should probably start synchronising better with our pictures... 😉.

21 May 2016 - 6:56

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Anki says:

Looks absolutely fantastic!
Keep up the good work!

21 May 2016 - 7:29

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Comment by post author

admin says:

Anki, you too!

21 May 2016 - 17:58

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Discovering The Planet says:

Not been to Croatia yet and would love to go. After reading your posts I want to go there even more. Rovinj is now on the list 🙂

26 May 2016 - 18:34

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Annika says:

Just loved Rovinj, one of the most cosy towns I've been to.

03 March 2018 - 20:55

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History and tourism in Poreč | FREEDOMtravel

Rovinj in Croatia - lovely medieval town in Istria

Rovinj in Croatia

By motorhome to Rovinj

Not always easy to shop abroad ...

An egg-shaped city in the sea

Boats and beaches

Restaurants and local delicacies

View from Euphemia Cathedral

See more near Rovinj in Croatia

Facts about Rovinj in Croatia

Travelling to Rovinj in Croatia

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33 Comments

Cathinka says:

Geddfish says:

Lisa - livet från den ljusa sidan says:

Deciree says:

Steve says:

nils-åke hansson says:

Kattas Betraktelser says:

Åsa says:

znogge says:

admin says:

Ama de casa says:

Dryden - Traveler's Edition says:

Rolle o Carina says:

Ulla & Torgny says:

Ruth i Virginia says:

Imelda says:

Berit says:

Veiken says:

Anna, New York – My Bite of the Big Apple says:

Lena & Jan says:

admin says:

Beatrice says:

Ditte says:

Annalena says:

admin says:

Anna, New York – My Bite of the Big Apple says:

Matts Torebring says:

BP says:

admin says:

Anki says:

admin says:

Discovering The Planet says:

Annika says:

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