You can explore what Istria offers tourists if you choose one of the half or full day bus excursions organised by tourist agencies from Rabac and Labin to different cities on the peninsula; you can also visit these destinations on your own.
Your excursion itinerary should include Pula, the largest city in Istria where you can tour Pula’s ancient landmarks among which is the Arena, a Roman amphitheatre built in the 1st century BC which is now used for numerous cultural events including the Histria Festival and Pula Film Festival.
On the western coast of Istria you will find Poreč, famous for its Euphrasian Basilica, built in the year 553 and a UNESCO protected site since 1997, and Rovinj, another world-renowned tourist destination with its church of St. Euphemia and narrow streets, but also Vrsar, a town Casanova himself called home for a time. In the hinterland you will find Pazin, Istria’s regional administrative centre, whose Cave (Pazinska jama – Pazin Cave) and castle were enshrined by the pen of Jules Verne.
A vampire tale is told in Kringa, in the municipality of Tinjan between Pazin and Poreč, and nearby you will find Beram and the Church of sv. Marija na Škrilijinah where you will find a fresco called ‘The Dance of the Corpses’ where “in death kings, merchants and the Pope himself dance arm in arm.”
Don’t forget to visit the Učka Nature Park, which includes Učka Mountain, the largest mountain on the Istrian Peninsula and part of Ćićarija for a total of 160 square kilometres. The highest peak of Učka is Vojak at a height of 1401 metres where you will find a belvedere and souvenir shop.
The park includes about 50 marked trekking paths and 8 marked mountain biking paths. The limestone columns and rocks of the Vela Draga Canyon are reserved for sports climbing while the take off points at Brguda and Vojak are reserved for paragliders and parasailors.