Arrival to Rovinj; 2-hour private guided walking tour of Rovinj, easy

After arriving at your elegant seaside resort hotel in Rovinj, this afternoon you meet your expert local guide and set off on a private two-hour walking tour of this charming active fishing port—part of the Republic of Venice from the 13th to 18th centuries. One of the most picturesque towns on the Adriatic coastline, the walled town is built on a small island linked to the mainland by a causeway. Rising up steeply from the sea front, Rovinj is crowned by the Baroque basilica of St. Euphemia, with its monumental Venetian bell tower, from which, on a clear day, Venice can be seen. Centuries-long history, linked to the sea and several empires and nations, is evident in its ancient walls, pastel-colored buildings, and marble-paved pedestrian streets and squares. You continue your explorations later for dinner, with your guide’s or hotel’s restaurant suggestions.

The Istrian interior; full-day private chauffeured tour and wine tasting with expert guide

Today you set off with a private vehicle and guide to explore the picturesque hill towns and bucolic scenery of Istria’s interior. The largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea and sharing a border with Italy and Slovenia, Istria is one Croatia’s loveliest regions—recently becoming known as the “Croatian Tuscany” thanks to its pleasant climate and landscapes of medieval hilltop towns, vineyards, and forest. You begin in Grožnjan, an ancient town in northwestern Istria tucked near the Italian border just south of Trieste, also part of the Venetian Republic, and known for its excellent Istrian cuisine. You continue inland to Motovun, a tranquil medieval hilltop town, and an excellent example of an “acropolis-type town” and of the colonial architecture of the Venetian Republic. Like Tuscany, the region produces excellent-quality wine, now beginning to be known outside Croatia, which you enjoy en route at a tasting at a local winery.

On the return drive to Rovinj, you stop at the nearby Lim Fjord—a six-mile long bay carved out of the surrounding limestone and surrounded by lush green vegetation along its shores, rich in marine life because of its estuarine waters. This evening, you can enjoy one of your hotel’s fine-dining restaurants, or enjoy dinner al fresco in one of Rovinj’s many open air restaurants.

Private guided half-day walking tour of Pula, easy

Today you explore, with a local guide, Istria’s largest city of Pula, known for its intact Roman monuments, especially the magnificent Roman amphitheater, which has become a symbol of the city. Built in the 1st century AD, it could accommodate more than 20,000 spectators at a time and is the best preserved example of its kind in the Mediterranean region—it still serves as a venue for numerous festivals and performances. Other classical monuments in its historic center include the Triumphal Arch and the Temple of Augustus, and you can enjoy a coffee in the Forum, Roman Pula’s administrative center, which is still the city’s main square. Your guide also leads you to the 6th-century Byzantine chapel of St. Mary Formosa, from which many treasures were taken to St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice.

For lunch, leaving the city, you head to the peninsula’s southern tip and the delightful little fishing village of Fažana, where you may opt for fresh and succulently prepared seafood. After lunch, you return to Rovinj in the later afternoon, where you enjoy your hotel’s numerous facilities, nearby coastal walking and cycling paths, or simply relax by the sea or in a seaside café.

Depart Rovinj

You depart Rovinj after breakfast this morning for your onward travels.