Our guide to Istria.
These are the places we actually go and the places we send guests when they ask. Family-run konobas, small wineries, the playgrounds your kids will remember, the towns worth a whole day. Every entry on this page is something Perica or Boris would tell you in person if you asked at breakfast.
The PDF version is also downloadable. Same list, designed to print or save offline.
Eat
Near the villa
Authentic Istrian food, also near the house.
Also authentic Istrian food, also very near.
Pizza worth the drive
In Rovinj
Incredibly good seafood.
Fancy seaside restaurant, with seating right at the beachfront.
Central Istria konobas
Wine
Authentic Istrian wines, very popular.
Great wine, non-fancy atmosphere, very chill.
Very fancy, lots of French wines also.
Great new tasting room, very popular wine.
Great wine, emphasis on natural. No additive ingredients. Very homely, non-fancy atmosphere.
Truffles & Truffle Hunting
If you'd enjoy such an experience, these two places are very nice. Our guests had nice things to say.
For the kids
Outdoor adventure park, very near the villa.
Park with waterslides, a 500-metre lazy river and a beachfront wave pool, plus a bar and a kids' zone.
211 species of animal, including blacktip reef sharks, caimans, and a centre for the rehabilitation of turtles.
Theme park with life-sized dinosaurs, rides, snack bars and live entertainment shows.
A castle with a kids' carousel, a huge catapult, medieval crafts, gift shop, and many more attractions from the medieval period.
Towns worth a day
A trip visiting Motovun and Grožnjan, very beautiful small towns, is one of the best days you can have in Istria. On the way from one to the other, stop at Konoba Oprtalj.
Nature & Outdoors
Sights
Protected morphological monument of nature.
A natural speleological object, with guides.
Mini-train tours of wide enclosures home to elephants, zebras, bison and ostriches.
A wild nature park at Istria's southern tip: rocky coves, crystal-clear sea and clifftop trails to explore.
Beach
A rare sandy beach near Poreč, with shallow water that's easy for small kids.
Pine-shaded beach on the edge of Poreč, with a seafront promenade and cafés right there.
Part of a tourist complex, but the beaches are free for everyone.
Quad biking
Shops & Markets
A couple of minutes by car from the house. Small shop for basic groceries.
Also near the house. A bit larger store.
Large supermarket. 10 to 15 minutes by car.
Discount supermarket. 10 to 15 minutes by car.
Discount supermarket. 10 to 15 minutes by car.
Fresh produce market: fruits, vegetables, meat, fish.
Largest shopping centre in Istria.
Shopping centre in Pazin.
Something's changed, or you have a question about any of these? Ask us. We reply to every message.
Villa Qualia, central Istria.
Sleeps 8 · Heated pool · 1892 stone house · 4 bedrooms
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