Pula & Istria

Pula sits at the southern tip of the Istrian peninsula, where the Adriatic narrows toward the Gulf of Trieste. The city's Roman amphitheatre — one of the best-preserved outside Italy — dominates the waterline, and the charter marina at Veruda is a fifteen-minute drive south, tucked into a deep inlet surrounded by pine forest. ACI Marina Pula handles the larger fleet, with several smaller operators running from the Veruda complex. Istrian sailing is the gentlest in Croatia. The coastline curves north and west without the dramatic island chains of Dalmatia, but it compensates with a concentration of coastal towns — Rovinj, Porec, Novigrad — each within a few hours' sail and each with its own harbour. Rovinj, roughly 20 nautical miles north of Pula, is the most photogenic: a hilltop old town on a former island, connected to the mainland since the 18th century, with the Church of St. Euphemia visible from well offshore. The Brijuni Islands, a national park off Pula's north-west coast, are the area's natural highlight. The main island, Veliki Brijun, was Tito's personal retreat and retains a slightly surreal quality — Roman villa ruins, a safari park with animals gifted by foreign heads of state, and an 18-hole golf course. Anchoring is restricted in the park; visiting yachts typically moor at the designated buoys and take the park tender ashore. Wind in Istria is lighter and less consistent than in Dalmatia. The maestral builds most summer afternoons but rarely exceeds 12-15 knots. The bora can reach the area in spring and autumn with more force than further south, but summer conditions are mild. This makes Istria well-suited to less experienced charterers or those prioritising shore excursions over ambitious sailing. The region's culinary reputation sets it apart from the rest of the Croatian coast. Istrian truffles — both black and, in autumn, white — appear on menus in every harbour town. The interior hill towns of Motovun and Groznjan, accessible by rental car or taxi from any coastal stop, offer wine tastings at small family producers. Provisioning in Pula covers all needs; the city market is excellent for fresh produce, and several supermarkets sit near the marina complex.