The 7 best road trips in Croatia: scenic beauty and endless culture
19.07.2023 - 10:01
/ lonelyplanet.com
With a glorious Adriatic coastline that reveals one beauty spot after another for more than 1770km (1100 miles), it’s little wonder that Croatia has become one of Europe's most exhilarating destinations for a road trip.
Away from the coast-hugging and serpentine Adriatic Highway, scintillating back routes lead to national parks, dramatic mountains, medieval hilltop towns, and seemingly endless olive groves and vineyards.
Here are some of the best road trips in Croatia that take you right to the country’s heart – allowing ample room for detours and exploring within the region.
Best road trip for food lovers Opatija–Pula; 166km (103 miles); allow 7 days
The heart-shaped peninsula of Istria in Croatia’s northwest stashes gastronomic riches that include renowned truffles, cheeses, wine, lamb, seafood, and prosciutto, to name just a few local delicacies. From the elegant town of Opatija overlooking the Kvarner Gulf, catch the two-lane highway hugging the Mirna River and drive through the truffle-laden forests surrounding the hilltop town of Motovun.
Head west to Poreč, with its Unesco-recognized 6th-century Euphrasian Basilica, before turning down the coast past the Limski Kanal, the source for mussels and oysters served by local restaurants. Carry on to Rovinj and its tangle of cobbled streets framed by pastel-colored buildings hanging above the water. The final leg rolls through the town of Vodnjan, famous for small-scale, world-class olive oil, before arriving in Pula with its well-preserved Roman amphitheater and Temple of Augustus.
Detour: Following either Motovun or Pula, head into the center of the Istria peninsula to Pazin, whose 100m-deep (328ft) chasm and three underground lakes inspired Mathias Sandorf by the French