7 of the Best Things to Do in Rovinj Croatia

Rovinj, Croatia was not originally on my itinerary as I planned my Northern Italy/Slovenia trip.

But when I looked at the map and realized how close I would be, I decided to add it to my adventure.

And I am so happy I did!

Rovinj is a beautiful town with a wonderful multi-cultural vibe to it.

Now, I will admit, it’s a bit touristy which — if you read this blog regularly — can kind of turn me off.

But there are towns that are touristy that I still really like — I’m looking at you Montepulciano, Italy.

And now Rovinj Croatia is on that short list.

So what are some of the best things to do in Rovinj?

As always, let’s start with the where.

The 7 best things to in Rovinj

Stroll around the harbor

Enjoy a little dolce far niente (sweet doing nothing) by strolling around the harbor.

There are tons of places to get a beer, a glass of wine or a coffee and just gaze out at the boats.

Eat a gelato as you walk with your partner.

Watch the fishermen go out or come in.

It’s a wonderful way to take in the vibe of this town which — while still a bit touristy — is still very much a fishing town.

Plus it’s a very colorful area!

Wander — and get lost — in the streets of the old town

Rovinj really reminds me of so many small towns and villages in Italy when you get into the old town.

It’s a maze of narrow lanes that’s easy enough to get lost in — yet find your way out of.

This town isn’t that big.

But I highly recommend getting off the beaten path and away from all the tourists and all the shops and restaurants.

Find streets where the locals are walking.

You’ll know who they are.

Follow one.

No.

I’m not telling you to stalk them.

That’s just creepy!

But follow one to see where the locals live.

Wander down some quiet lane where you can get a sense of what life is like in Rovinj.

And take pictures.

Because there will something interesting there.

To me, wandering the maze of little streets is the best thing to do in Rovinj.

Visit St. Euphemia’s Basilica

So eventually you’ll make your way to this lovely church which includes the tower you see.

St Euphemia’s is a Baroque church and definitely one of the best things to do in Rovinj.

While I wouldn’t put it in my top 10 churches that I’ve seen in Europe, I do still think it’s a beautiful church.

It doesn’t have all those paintings and frescoes on the ceiling and walls like many other churches you see in a country like Italy.

However, I am always appreciative of the architecture and the art of any church.

And, to me, visiting the churches is a great way to get to know a culture — the history and the people.

Eat fresh seafood

As I mentioned in the overview, Rovinj is very much still a fishing town.

This means that there is a lot of fresh seafood to eat.

You’ll find it on many of the menus.

And by the way, there are TONS of places to eat.

But be choosy and find out where the locals go as some of the places are going to serve up so-so food and it’s going to be overpriced — especially places along the harbor.

Ask the locals where they go and then you’ll most likely get the best food and the freshest seafood.

Seriously, one of the best things to do in Rovinj is to savor some very, very fresh seafood.

For those who aren’t fish and seafood lovers, there are some good places for pizza!

Take a boat ride from Rovinj to one of the islands

There are actually 3 islands just a short boat ride off the coast from Rovinj.

St Catherine’s is just a 5 minute ride from town.

It has some beautiful gardens and parks to walk around.

And it has one hotel if you want to stay a night or 2 on the island.

St Andrew’s and Maškin are the other 2 islands with Maškin being a very small island connected to St Andrew’s by a causeway.

Collectively they are often called Red Island.

Just a 15 minute ferry ride from Rovinj, St Andrew’s does have a few historical buildings, but mostly it’s about the nature here as well.

Again, there is one hotel on St Andrew’s if you want to have an island stay.

While I didn’t make it to any of these islands, the woman who checked me into my accommodation said one of her favorite things to do on a nice day off is to go to St Andrew’s.

There are some nice beaches for sure.

So visiting one of the nearby islands is one of the best things to do in Rovinj.

Check the Rovinj tourism website for the exact information, but ferries run regularly to both islands.

Walk, swim, bike and explore Forest Park Punta Corrente (Golden Cape)

I love this park!

To me this is one of the best things to do in Rovinj.

I walked around this cape on a beautiful day and I was in heaven!

Lots of trees, views to the town, views out to the sea and to St Andrew’s Island, little rocky beaches.

*Sigh*

Just thinking about it makes me smile.

You can walk.

You can bike.

There are rocky beaches where you can swim.

Or simply perch yourself in the sun on some rocks and soak up some Adriatic sun and drink in the views.

Even though I hear Punta Corrente can get busy, I do think there are places to find your own spot.

In July and August perhaps not.

But in May or the latter part of September, finding some peace and solitude is possible.

This was one of my favorite spots in Rovinj — without a doubt!

Oh, and there are some ruins and a fun little cairn colony.

And there is a rock climbing area.

Don’t miss Punta Corrente!!

Watch the sunset at Puntalina with your favorite adult beverage

So if you want to watch the sunset without that adult beverage, there is an area where you can sit on the rocks and watch the Rovinj sunset that’s just a bit further up from Puntalina.

I thought about going there.

But I wanted the vino with my sunset, so I chose to get a glass of the local white wine (a Malvasia) at Puntalina.

It’s a popular spot so get there early to get a good spot.

Drinks are reasonably priced — my wine was about $5 for a glass — and it’s a fun atmosphere as many folks are there to do just the same.

I found a spot on the rocks, tucked a cushion under my arse, and watched the sun set over the gorgeous Adriatic sea — twice in 4 nights.

And I drank in every minute of these stunning sunsets.

Watching the sunset at Puntalina with glass of Croatian wine is absolutely one of the best things to in Rovinj.

Period.

So there you have it

Some of the best things to do in Rovinj, Croatia.

I think there’s a little something here for everyone.

Rovinj really enchanted me.

It’s actually one of those spots I think I could stay for a while.

Are you now intrigued by this Croatian town?

If you’re thinking about going, my advice is GO!

Please note that Wander Your Way does not recommend travel at this time due to the current global health situation with the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, many destinations and attractions found on this website will not be operating although some places have opened.

Please stay up to date using official sources like the WHO and CDC. I do plan to continue to write about incredible destinations and to offer tips on travel to Europe, so that you will find some solace in these posts — so you dream about travel and learn about travel. This way when we can all travel again, you’ll be ready to go! For now, stay home (or close to home) and stay safe!

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