Be sure not to miss the hilltop towns of the hinterland, such as Buje, Grožnjan and Višnjan. The Istralandia water park is another fun way to spend a day in Istria.
And in case you didn’t know, this area is renowned for its excellent wines, so save some time for a special experience – the Istrian wine roads.
Umag and Novigrad
Umag and Novigrad are two small coastal towns, each with an old centre on a peninsula. In Umag you stroll the narrow streets of the old town and the harbour front, and the town also hosts a well-known tennis tournament. Novigrad has old town walls, the church of St Pelagius with its crypt and a seafront promenade, and is known for fish and shellfish.
At the very north-west tip of Istria, near Savudrija, stands a lighthouse from 1818, one of the oldest on the Adriatic. This stretch of coast is lovely for walking and cycling.
The hinterland and the wine roads
Behind the coast the hills with vineyards begin. Buje, Grožnjan and Višnjan are hilltop towns with views over the fields, and between them are family wineries that welcome visitors. Malvazija is the main grape grown here, and among the reds Teran and Merlot. Istralandia, the water park nearby, is a good day out when the children want some fun.
Where the villas are
Lovely Istria has two villas in this area: one in Bužinija and one in Umag. The sea is 1.7 to 4.6 km away, and the nearest beach 2.8 to 5.6 km. The village centre is 1.3 to 5.7 km away, a restaurant 1.3 to 1.8 km, and a shop 1.8 to 4.9 km. These distances are measured on the map, as the crow flies, so the actual drive is usually longer.
Food and drink
In the north-west you eat what comes from the sea and the fields: fresh fish and shellfish, pasta with truffles, cured ham and olive oil. A glass of Malvazija goes with the meal, and you can drop in for a tasting at one of the wineries in the hinterland.