Porec (Croatia) is a resort town located on the west coast of the Istrian peninsula. Its population, including the suburbs, is about 35 thousand people of different nationalities (Croats, Italians, Slovenes, etc.). The main income of Porec residents comes from tourism, as there are many historically valuable attractions and beaches in the city.
Porec officially exists for more than 2000 years. Then, during the reign of Octavian Augustus, the settlement, favorably located in the bay, received the status of a city. Since 476, after the fall of the Roman Empire, Istria changed its owners several times, until in 1267 it came under the control of Venice. At the end of the 18th century, Porec and Istria became entirely part of Austria, then Italy and Yugoslavia, and only in 1991 the city officially became part of independent Croatia.
It is thanks to such a rich history that modern Porec is attractive for tourists. It mixes the colors of many nationalities and cultures, so it is very interesting and exciting to watch it.
Porec city Attractions
Porec Old Town
The area where life is in full swing and the hearts of travelers stop beating, the old town is the place where all tourist excursions start. Here are the main sights of Porec, houses built on the facades of ancient Roman structures, prestigious hotels, various shops and many restaurants.
A walk through the most popular but rather small area of Istria will take about 2 hours. Get ready to meet all the tourists of Porec.
A tip! Walking around the Old Town is better in the evening, when the streets are lit up and the air temperature drops.
Euphrasian Basilica
The oldest Christian church in Croatia was built in the 6th century AD by Bishop Euphrasius of Porec. For almost 1500 years, from a simple cathedral, the Euphrasian Basilica turned into a huge architectural complex, which in 1997 was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The remains of the priests ‘ residence from the presbytery and pre-Euphrasian basilica in the eastern part have been preserved to this day. The sanctuary’s beautiful mosaic floor has also been preserved. It has a figured vine motif. The beauty of execution and simplicity reflects the beauty of ancient mosaics. Its details are varied. The clusters are light and blue. The leaves are stylized. This is the most beautiful mosaic of the 5th century. preserved in the basilica.
Today, the church has a museum of ancient Roman and Venetian exhibits. It houses a unique collection of ceremonial clothing, fragments of floor mosaics, ancient paintings, reliefs and other archaeological finds. The entire architectural complex consists of a bell tower, two chapels, a baptistery, a Bishop Palesini salon and a high tower, climbing on which you can take beautiful photos of the city of Porec (Croatia).
Important! Remember that the Euphrasian Basilica is a functioning Christian cathedral, so choose the appropriate outfit to visit it.
- Address: Eufrazijeva ul. 22, 52440, Porec, Croatia.
- Visiting the basilica is free of charge, the entrance fee to the museum complex is 50 kuna, for schoolchildren and students – 25 kuna.
Opening hours:
- November-March from 9 to 16, on Saturday – until 14;
- April-June, September-October from 9 to 18;
- July-August from 9 to 21.
On Sundays and church holidays, admission is limited to services.
Round Tower
The watchtower, built in the 15th century under the Venetian government, is perfectly preserved to this day. At that time, it was a strategically important fort to protect Porec from the Turks.
Today this place is considered one of the most romantic in all of Istria. You can find a secluded corner to enjoy the charm of the medieval walls, the beautiful atmosphere of the tower’s interior, the niches where cannons were installed to defend the city, or on the topmost terrace with an impressive view of Porec Harbor and St. Nicholas Island. The modern coffee house Torre Rotonda (Round Tower) has a long-standing tradition of a bar and has been operating since 2001.
The entrance to the tower and the observation deck is free of charge. Be prepared for the fact that there will be a lot of people who want to take your table in the cafe at any time of the day.
Decumanskaya Street
Another pristine piece of Ancient Rome was built about 1,600 years ago. The stone-paved street with many shops and souvenir shops has been the main artery of Porec for thousands of years. Here you can take beautiful photos of the city, buy a souvenir, visit an art gallery, treat yourself to a gift from branded jewelry stores or relax in a cafe.
Interesting fact! Decuman Street is also called the “street of ten” because it housed 10 warriors standing shoulder to shoulder.
Baredine Cave
Croatia’s natural monument and the only cave on the entire Istrian peninsula is located near Porec, in the small town of Nova Vas. Baredine has been opening up the underworld to travelers since 1995, and is widely known for its unique rock sculptures built by nature itself. Among them, you can see the outlines of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, dragon fangs, the silhouette of the Virgin and a small milkmaid, who was nicknamed “Milka”.
At a depth of 60 meters, reached by a metal illuminated staircase, there are several underground lakes. In addition, a museum with prehistoric exhibits found on the territory of the cave has been operating here for more than 10 years. After returning to the surface, travelers can enjoy a picnic in nature, using one of the tables for free.
Access to the Baredine Cave is only permitted with a guided tour guide. As part of the 40-minute tour, travelers pass 5 underground “halls”, the total duration of the route is 300 meters. For people with musculoskeletal disorders, children and elderly tourists, climbing a 60-meter ladder may seem difficult. Flash photography is prohibited, and there is a fine for violating it.
Please note! Regardless of the weather outside, the air temperature in the cave does not rise above +15°C. We advise you to take warm sweaters and do not forget comfortable shoes.
- The Baredine Caves are located in the south of Istria, 10 km from Porec, coordinates: 45°16 ‘16.3″ N-13°39’59.5 ” E.
- The ticket price is 75 HRK, 45 HRK for schoolchildren under 12 years of age, and free of charge for small travelers under 6 years of age.
- The attraction is open: April and October from 10 to 16, May, June, September-from 10 to 17, July-August from 10: 00 to 18: 30.
- Website: https://baredine.com/en/.
Traktor Story
The open-air Museum of Agricultural Machinery is located in the same town of Nova Vas, at Tarska 14, 5 km from the previous attraction. Here are 54 models of tractors, including products of the USSR, Belarus, Porsche and Ferrari companies involved in Istrian agriculture since 1920. The exhibition will be especially interesting for travelers with small children, who will be able not only to see, but also to sit behind the wheel of some cars.
In addition, you can see the process of grain harvesting and processing with the participation of domestic animals (horses and donkeys) in Traktor Story, or get acquainted with several ways to make wine. A mini-farm is located nearby.
A tip! Only a specially trained person can understand the difference between the presented tractors, so if you are really interested in the topic of the exhibition, order a guide.
- Opening hours: from April to October from 10 to 15, in July and August – until 17.
- Admission fee: full ticket — 35 kuna, children (5-15 years — 25 kuna).
- Official website: www.traktorstory.com.
Porec Beaches
Istria is a paradise for sea lovers, and Porec is one of the most popular resorts on the peninsula and in Croatia as a whole. There are 9 beaches on the territory of the city and in its surroundings, and we will tell you more about each of them.
City Beach
The most popular place among travelers is the city beach, located in the center of Porec. It is distinguished by clear water (marked with a Blue flag), clean concrete coast and developed infrastructure.
On the city beach there is a shop and several kiosks, a fast food cafe, a restaurant, showers and public toilets with facilities for the disabled. Here you can rent an umbrella and a sunbed for 30 kuna (per piece) per day. Nearby there is a paid paved parking lot. For active adventurers, catamarans and snorkeling masks can be rented on the beach, as well as a table tennis table, a beach volleyball field and a water polo area.
The city beach is a great place to relax with young travelers. The entrance to the water here is convenient, the bottom is small pebbles, there are inflatable slides and a children’s playground. Lifeguards work around the clock on the beach.
Blue Lagoon
Another popular Istrian beach is known for its scenic views and beautiful promenade. The aroma of coniferous groves, the blue of the Adriatic Sea, the calm water and the clean shore make the Blue Lagoon a great place to relax. Porec city center is 5 km away.
The beach has a well-developed infrastructure: public Parking, showers, toilets, two cafes, a sports center, umbrellas and sun beds, a rental area. In addition, there are rescuers and a first aid group who monitor the safety of vacationers around the clock. Active activities in the Blue Lagoon include catamarans, water slides, jet skis, tennis and diving.
The beach is well suited for recreation with children – there are rarely waves, the bottom is shallow, convenient access to the sea (on stone slabs) and there is a natural shade from trees even in the water. It is marked with the Blue flag of the FEO.
Green Lagoon
The next beach is also paved with tiles. Here it is convenient to enter the crystal clear water, especially if you swim in the children’s part of the beach, strewn with small pebbles. After 12, guests can hide from the bright sun under the shade of coniferous trees, enjoy a cocktail at the bar or have a snack at a small cafe nearby.
On the Green Lagoon there is a boat, canoe and water bike rental area, umbrellas and sun beds are installed here, public toilets, changing rooms and showers, and in the children’s part of the beach there is a playground with inflatable slides.
A tip! There are a lot of large stones and slabs on the Green Lagoon, so it is better to swim here in special shoes that protect you from the spines of sea urchins.
Oliva
Another small pebble beach in Croatia is located in the bay of Porec, near the central port of the city. It is marked by the Blue Flag for the cleanliness of the sea and coast, partially covered with grass and hidden in the shade of pine trees. The entrance to the water is convenient even for children, there is a food kiosk and a restaurant nearby.
The beach is equipped with sun beds and umbrellas, showers and toilets, there is a sports center where you can play golf, tennis, ping-pong, volleyball and water polo. Great place for a family holiday.
Borik
In the north of Porec there is a small rocky beach with a park area. Most of the residents of the nearest hotels have a rest here, but this does not make the number of people less. It is because of the large number of tourists that the beach quickly becomes polluted, and because of the strong wind, algae and even jellyfish can swim to the already not very clean shore.
Borik is one of the few palm – lined beaches in Istria and Croatia in general. In addition to the scenic views, you can enjoy delicious drinks from the bar or jump on a free inflatable trampoline.
Please note! The bottom of Borik is covered with sharp stones, and the entrance to the water is not very convenient, so this beach is not recommended for families with children.
Doni Spadici
2 km from the city center is another small-pebble beach in Istria. Its main advantages are clean water, convenient access to the sea and a large play area for children. It is surrounded by tall trees, equipped with sun beds and umbrellas, partially covered with grass. Here you can play volleyball, table tennis and water polo, take a catamaran ride or rent a boat.
Solaris
An unusual stony-concrete beach is located 12 km from Porec. This is a resort area surrounded by oaks and pines, with a calm sea and picturesque landscapes. For the cleanliness of the coast and water, the beach is marked with the Blue Flag of the FEO.
On the territory of Solaris there is a campsite of the same name, which has a toilet, shower, shop, restaurant, boat and water bike rental, a sports field for tennis, volleyball and minigolf. The beach is a nudist area.
Pickal
A little north of the town of Porec there is a beautiful pebble beach, very popular among Istrian tourists. There is a convenient entrance to the water, clean water and a large Playground, so it is often chosen for families with young travelers.
Vacationers with other preferences should come to the beach after sunset. At this time, a nightclub opens here and night festivities begin. The 24-hour restaurants offer live music and delicious Croatian national cuisine.
Accommodation in Porec
Holidays in Istria are expensive, but even here you can find comfortable accommodation at reasonable prices. The minimum price for a double room in a three – star hotel in summer is 50 euros, while a four-star hotel costs 85 euros. There are also offers of accommodation in guest houses and separate apartments of local residents.
The best accommodation options in Porec, according to tourists, are:
- Boutique Hotel Melissa. From 75 € for two people + breakfast. The beach is 500 meters away.
- Villa Castello Rausch, 4 stars. From 90 € for two people + breakfast + free cancellation.
- Mobile Homes Polidor Bijela Uvala. From 40 €, to the sea 360 m.
Significantly save on accommodation allow the residents of Croatia themselves. They offer travelers a full studio rental starting from 45 € per night or a room for two starting from 30 €.
Briefly about nutrition
There are enough cafes and restaurants in Porec to suit all tastes and budgets. Here you can find simple coffee shops and eateries, places with local Croatian cuisine, restaurants with European and Mediterranean menus. There are also several grocery supermarkets in the city, one of the most popular is the well — known SPAR in Europe.
In tourist places, prices in establishments are slightly higher than in places far from the center. Approximate average prices in establishments are as follows.
- The cost of lunch in an inexpensive cafe is 50 kn per person.
- Standard menu in fast food stores-40 kn.
- Dinner for two in an establishment of the average price category — 250 kn.
- A cup of cappuccino will cost 15 kn.
- Half a liter of local beer-20 kn.
How to get to Porec
From Venice
The cities are not connected by bus or train, so the only direct route is via the Adriatic Sea via the Venice-Porec ferry.
During the summer period, three companies – Venezialine and Atlas Kompas-are engaged in tourist transportation. From April to October, they send one or two ships daily in a given direction. During other months, ferries on the Venice-Porec route do not run.
Travel time is from 2.5 to 3.5 hours. Round-trip ticket price is EUR 70 per person. You can buy tickets and find out the current schedule on the website www.croatiaferries.com.
To get to Porec by car, you will need 2.5 hours, about€ 47 for gas and money to pay for the E70 highway.
The cheapest option, which is also the longest – is to get to the city of Porec in Istria via Trieste, by train Venice-Trieste for 21 euros (tickets for ru.goeuro.com), and from there by bus to Porec, from 15 € per person (schedule for flixbus.com).
From Pula Airport
When you arrive at the airport of the historic city of Pula, you will need to take a taxi or transfer to get to the city’s bus station. From there, 2-7 buses depart daily, and you can travel 60 km between cities in 63-67 kuna. You can find out the exact schedule on the website balkanviator.com.
A similar taxi ride will cost you 500-600 HRK.
Porec (Croatia) is a real treasure of Istria. The Adriatic Sea and its ancient sights are already waiting for you! Have a good trip!
