Looking to experience the lavish Mediterranean lifestyle without breaking the bank? Look no further than Pula, Croatia! Situated on the stunning Istria Peninsula, Pula is a captivating destination where cultures converge. With its pristine, crystal-clear blue waters, cliff-jumping spots, charming Italian-style neighborhoods, and rich Roman history, Pula offers an incredible vacation experience. The best part is everything is conveniently within walking distance from local hotels, making it an ideal choice for budget-conscious travelers. Here are the fantastic spots I visited during my recent summer trip, and you can explore them too!
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Things to Do Around Pula
Swimming Around Pula
Make swimming in the Mediterranean your top priority during your time in Pula! We kicked off our trip with a visit to the City’s T-pier swimming area which we easily walked to from our Airbnb apartment. This area is a city park with a restaurant, a sand volleyball area, an inflatable play raft zone, and an old concrete pier. We enjoyed a relaxing swim on our first evening there.
The next day we went to a big coastal area with lots of fun activities. This area was about 2km from the apartment and was an easy walk in swimming shoes. We initially took the trail around the peninsula but there is a more direct trail with stairs from the top of the hill. There were many people, tons of swimming areas, and easy access to the cave and cliff areas. A group was slack-lining across a cove about 50 meters above the water. We had lots of fun in this area and there were several options of areas for the kind of beach day you want – from relaxing to high tempo!
There were lots of kayak and SUP operators that came here to see the cave. It seemed they originated near here. There were a few kayak operators near the Big Mama Beach Bar and they came to this area. My sister-in-law even mentioned she thought she wanted to do the SUP but after we discovered the beach by foot it was just as good. This might be worth considering if you want to save money and enjoy the same area within walking distance.
Pula City Center
The old city center is a fun area. It has alleyways, old Italian-style streets, Roman architecture, and old-world charm. There are several historic Roman monuments all around the old town. A temple, gates, and walls are scattered around the downtown you could be bumping into something 2000 years old and not realize it.
There are cobblestone streets and narrow alleyways with Italian-style villas right on the street. You can enjoy shops, food, tourist stops, candy shops, and any other type of place you can think of. We tried a top pizza place called Pizzeria Jupiter. It was a pizzeria making oven-baked pizzas right at the bar and was busy the evening we went so be prepared to wait if you don’t make it at the right time. Service was good, food was great, and the ambiance of being on the terrace was great. I’d highly recommend it!
The Arena
The Pula Arena is the crown jewel of the city. It was even on Croatian money for a long period before the country changed to Euros. It is a well-preserved arena and is a mini-colosseum. You can enter for a fee and explore the basement and go into the well to really get the full feeling of gladiator fights and theater.
The arena now hosts tours and concerts. It is near the city center and easily accessible after an evening in the town. There are theater shows and music concerts in the well of the arena. It makes a wonderful backdrop to any trip to Pula. We didn’t make it to anything official but if you’re in Pula when a concert is happening you should go! It would be a memorable experience!
Where I Stayed
We stayed in an apartment Airbnb in the southern part of town. It was easy to get to and located near the T-pier which made getting to the swimming areas easy. There are tons of options to pick from when you visit Pula so finding a good spot shouldn’t be hard. Our Airbnb worked well because it had all the home amenities you’d need including a washing machine and a stocked kitchen for cooking which we did most nights. It was a good spot if you’re the type of family that enjoys swimming all day and then likes to cook and relax for the evening, just like being at home!
The Istria Penisula was part of Italy for several hundred years until the mid-1950s when it became part of Yugoslavia then part of the independent Croatia in the 90s.
The oldest Roman architecture is the Hercules Gate on the eastern side of the old city. It was built in the year 100 BCE.