City in Istria
Pula
- Best time to go
- May, June, July, Sept
- Part of
- Istria
Pula is Istria's largest city, with one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres in the world at its heart.
Around the Arena you will find more Roman remains, Austro-Hungarian streets and a working shipyard whose cranes light up at night. It feels like a real, lived-in port city, with beaches on the peninsulas nearby and the wild coast of Cape Kamenjak a short drive south.
Things to do
Don't miss in Pula
- Walk around and inside the Arena, the 1st-century Roman amphitheatre, and see a summer concert or film there if you can.
- Stand in the Forum by the Temple of Augustus, still almost whole after two thousand years.
- Pass through the Arch of the Sergii into the old town's main shopping street.
- Climb up to the Kaštel, the Venetian fortress on the hill, for views over the harbour and the shipyard.
- Watch the Lighting Giants, when the shipyard's cranes are lit up in colour after dark.
- Shop for fish, cheese and vegetables at the old iron-and-glass market hall.
- Swim from the rocky coves of Cape Kamenjak, the protected headland at the southern tip of Istria.
Where to stay
Pick your neighbourhood
City centre
people without a car who want the Arena, the Forum and the restaurants on foot
Verudela
families who want hotels, rocky beaches and pine woods on a peninsula south of the centre
Stoja
a quieter peninsula with a campsite, swimming spots and sunset views, a bus ride from town
Medulin and Premantura
beach holidays and easy access to Cape Kamenjak, about 15 minutes' drive south-east
Tours and getting around
Day trips from Pula
The classic trip from Pula is to Brijuni National Park, by boat from Fažana, a few kilometres north. Boat trips also explore the coast and islands around Pula and Medulin, with swimming stops and dolphin spotting. By road, you can easily visit Rovinj, the hill towns of central Istria, and truffle and wine tours inland.
You won't need a car in central Pula, as the main sights are close together and buses reach the beach peninsulas. A car or scooter helps for Kamenjak, Medulin and the rest of Istria. Small boats can be rented in Pula, Medulin and Premantura for exploring the coves and islets on your own.
Getting there
How to get to Pula
Pula Airport (PUY) is about 6 km north-east of the city, with buses and taxis into town. Pula is the southern end of the Istrian Y motorway, about three hours' drive from Zagreb and about an hour and a half from Rijeka, and Trieste is about two hours away. The bus station is a short walk from the Arena, with regular buses to Rovinj, Poreč, Rijeka and Zagreb. The compact centre is easiest on foot, and street parking near the Arena fills up in summer.