Disclaimer: This trip was in collaboration with Jet2 as part of a press trip to Istria. All opinions and views remain honest and my own.
It’s been about 7 years since I last visited Croatia and from what I’ve heard, I can count my blessings that I visited Dubrovnik before the boom of Game of Thrones. Croatia’s beauty is now well known around the world as tourism booms all over the country. It made me wonder whether there were still plenty of undiscovered areas. There are and they live in Istria! So off I Jetted to explore a true slice of paradise in Croatia with Jet2holidays
Normally when you think of hidden gems and less-explored areas the thought creeps in of, how easy is it to get there? Flights to Pula with Jet2 are regular and to be honest, extremely affordable. We flew out of London and you can check out Jet2 flights from London Stansted here.
On our arrival we had a fantastic itinerary to show us the best Istria had to offer, so whether you fancy a long weekend break or a full week of exploring, here are some of the highlights you’d be mad not add to your itinerary!
Laze The Days Away In Pula
We were based in the gorgeous area of Pula for our 4-day trip which is hugged by the most crystal clear waters you’ll ever see (We stayed at the Park Plaza Histria in Pula which can be found at Jet2holidays). Honestly, for a second you would think you’re lazing on an island in the Philippines. Arriving on a Sunday we asked our guide how busy the beaches here get, to which he just pointed at a barely filled beach and said, this busy. All the locals and visitors were out on their towels, soaking up the sun and there was nothing but peace and quiet all around.
If you’re able to drag yourself away from paradise for just a moment, you just have to visit the Amphitheatre near the town center. For a split second, as you lay eyes on this magnificent piece of Roman architecture, you’d think you were standing in Rome. It has the most preserved outer wall of any Amphitheatre in the world and it’s grandeur inside is breathtaking.
Explore Rovinj
Talk about a place that can steal your heart the moment you lay eyes on it. With its brightly coloured buildings and winding cobblestone alleyways, you’ll just spend each hour getting lost amongst its rustic charm and beauty. Oozing with history, it’s a great idea to get yourself on a walking tour with a guide who can add so much meaning and insight into this area.
As the sunsets make sure you do the one thing we didn’t have time to, but that our tour guide made us drool over. Make a stop at Valentinos. The most famous Champagne and cocktail bar in Rovinj, you’ll be given giant pillows on the rocks surrounded by candles, cocktail or champagne in hand as you watch the sun drop right in front of your eyes.
For dinner which offers equally as stunning sunset views is La Puntulina, just a few doors down from Valentinos. Perched on the coast, you can indulge in some fantastic Croatian delights along with a bottle of chilled wine.
Go Truffle Hunting
Not something you may think about adding to your bucket list, but truffle hunting was one hell of an experience. I woke that morning not knowing what to expect. Anything which involves animals makes me stop and pause. Are they treated well? Are they healthy? Any concerns or worries I had before quickly evaporated when I arrived.
We rocked up to Karlic Tartufi after winding our way through the lush countryside and was greeted with truffle-infused brandy and wine at 10 am. Already I was extremely content with the morning thus far. The owners give you a tonne of information regarding the truffle region and the cost of white truffles compared to black truffles. You’ll then get whisked inside for what can only be described as a plate of truffles with a side of egg… and more wine, of course. Once you’re fuelled up, it’s off to the truffle fields and I have never seen a dog more excited about being picked for the hunt than Candy as she bolted at full speed towards the car and immediately jumped in, tail wagging ten to the dozen at all times.
We also got treated with their new 3 month old puppy in training; Leila. Her parents are the best truffle hunting dogs around and at only a few months old, she was already sniffing and digging out all the truffles she could find. None of the group could stop smiling the entire time. Such a fabulous experience and one you will never forget.
Visit Brijuni National Park
Set aside a whole day to explore Brijuni National park! Costing around 220 kunas, you’ll catch the boat from Frazana (also totally worth an explore in the morning, a tiny fishing village just dripping with local charm and hidden gems).
Once you arrive, you can opt for a few different options for exploring the island; bike, buggy or guided train tour. Buggies are a ridiculously fun way to zoom around the island and you can check out all prices for hire along with boat timetables to/from the island here. From Roman ruins to vast expanses of gardens to explore, you can easily spend hours stumbling across a little bit of everything (also, there are dinosaur footprints to be seen which we didn’t have time to experience, so follow the signs to those and maybe send me a photo!)
If you also opt for the guided train tour then make sure you jump on the train with your native language and let the driver whisk you around while offering a running commentary with plenty of information you would have missed if you did it all yourself. Now, there is a safari park section along the train ride where you can see paddocks with donkeys, zebras, emus, and sheep just to name a few. This was something I would have avoided if it wasn’t for us making a stop there en route as the sight of an elephant caged in a small enclosure than all the other animals, was simply heartbreaking. You’re probably asking yourself, wait, why on earth are all those animals there in the first place? Well, they had been gifted back when exotic animals made a great present. I have no doubt that the workers on the island look after the animals however I couldn’t feel comfortable seeing it myself.
Try Olive Oil Tasting
Now, I am more of a wine tasting kind of person but when in Europe, I practically guzzle olive oil before every meal with half a loaf of fresh bread and a sprinkle of salt. Our visit to Chiavalon 100% blew our minds. Olive oil is a massive deal in Croatia and Istria produces some of the best virgin olive oil in the world! You’ll learn all about fake virgin olive oil. Yes. Fake oil. Here is the lowdown, real olive oil MUST be named, Virgin olive oil or Extra virgin olive oil. If you see just “olive oil” or “extra extra virgin olive oil” or “light olive oil”… FAKE. I can’t walk past the oil section in Asda the same way again. Then you’ll get to try the slightly embarrassing yet absolutely hilarious method of tasting the oil. I won’t ruin it, but it’s a skill! If you really want to get to the heart of Istria, then I would definitely recommend this activity.
So if your feet are now well and truly itchy and your already packing your suncream, why not have a browse at some Jet2holidays in Pula. It’s a fabulous place to base yourself for as much or as little adventure as you fancy!
