If you ever find yourself in Istria, it is an absolute must that you visit the small port town of Rovinj. Only a 40 minute drive north from Pula, Rovinj Croatia is arguably one of the most beautiful places along the entire Adriatic coast. With its close proximity to Italy, there is quite a large Italian population. You can see the heavily influence of the Italian culture on many of the buildings in the old town. Many of the street signs in Rovinj are written in both Croatian and Italian.
After recently visiting this beautiful town, I have decided to compile a list of the best things to do in Rovinj. If you are planning a trip here, this list will certainly give you inspiration of what to do in Rovinj.
Top 10 Things to do in Rovinj Croatia
1) Enjoy the Rovinj Sunset
The sunset in Rovinj is perhaps one of the most beautiful in all of Croatia. During the summer, everyone lines up along the riva and sits and enjoys the sunset. I recommend going to the north side of the old town (in the pictures above) because you get a great view of the Church and the sunset. In the summer the sun usually sets between 8:30-9.
2) Visit the White Chair
The white chair is probably the most photogenic place in the entire Rovinj old town. The infamous white chair is located right outside a cloth store on the north side of the old town. As you can see the background of the water is incredible. To find this place, just search for “white chair” on google maps.
3) Walk along the edge of the old town (Šetalište braće Gnot)
The street (Šetalište braće Gnot) does an entire loop around the Rovinj old town. The views of the houses and the sea are incredible. You can do the whole loop in around 20 minutes.
4) Plaža Baluota (Beach Baluota)
Located right outside the city walls along Šetalište braće Gnot, Beach Baluota is the closest beach to Rovinj old town. There is plenty of space to swim around and lay on the rocks. There is also a small little cave that is cool to explore.
5) Balbi’s Arch
Balbi’s Arch is one of the most famous landmarks in Rovinj. Balbi’s arch was built in the 7th century by the venetian empire. It is one of only 3 original entrances to the old town that is still standing. It was recently renovated back in 2019. Balbi’s arch features a venetian lion on one side, while the other side of the arch features Turkish art.
6) Monte Carlo Bar
Monte Carlo Bar in old town Rovinj is a cafe/bar that has an amazing view of the Adriatic sea. There is seating above with a couple tables and a terrace below right next to the water. The prices are pretty reasonable.
7) Lone Bay (Beach near Rovinj)
Lone bay is one of the closest beaches to Rovinj. From Rovinj city center it is only about a 25 minute walk to Lone bay. There are a lot of trails nearby that are great for walking and hiking. The water at Lone bay is extremely clear so you can go snorkling.
8) Rovinj Bunker
The Bunker of Rovinj is located at the northern tip of the old town. The view is spectacular as you have a view of the entire Adriatic Sea as well as Rovinj old town. The Rovinj Bunker is also a great spot to catch the sunset.
9) Port of Rovinj
The port of Rovinj is located on the southern side of the old town. There are hundreds of boats lined up during the summer time. This is also a great place to catch the sunset. There are a lot of restaurants and ice cream shops on this side of the town.
10) Cliff Jumping in Rovinj
There are a couple places to cliff jump on the outskirts of the Rovinj old town. I recommend walking along Šetalište braće Gnot to find the best spot. The picture you see above was right next to Beach Baluota. It had a bunch of places to cliff jump, ranging from heights of 1 meter to 5 meters.
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