MotovunStory N° 100
Istria: Hill Towns & Coast Road
Drive Istria's open road from truffle forests to Adriatic capes, linking hilltop towns and seaside vineyards at your own pace.
The itinerary.
4 days · 11 stops
Thursday
Day One
Pick up the car and climb into inland Istria's truffle country, where medieval towns crown the vineyard hills.
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Motovun Old Town Walls
Fortified Venetian hill town wrapped in ramparts that overlook the Mirna valley and its truffle-rich oak forest.
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Konoba Mondo
Tiny tavern just below Motovun's gate famed for handmade fuži pasta drenched in fresh Istrian truffle.
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Zigante Truffle Tasting, Livade
Cellar in the valley below offering tastings of white and black truffle products from the surrounding woods.
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Hotel
Hotel Kastel Motovun booking.com
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Getting around
- Collecting a rental car at Pula or Trieste
- Driving the inland road into the Mirna valley
Friday
Day Two
Wind the back roads between the artists' village of Groznjan and the coastal vineyards above the sea.
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Groznjan Artists' Village
Cobbled hilltop town reborn as a colony of galleries and studios, alive with music workshops in summer.
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Kabola Winery, Momjan
Family winery known for Malvazija aged in amphorae, with a panoramic tasting terrace among the vines.
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Buje Old Town
Quiet 'sentinel of Istria' hill town with a baroque church tower and views stretching to the Slovenian border.
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Hotel
San Canzian Village & Hotel booking.com
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Getting around
- Driving the scenic ridge roads from Groznjan toward Momjan and Buje
Saturday
Day Three
Run the coast road south to the wild cape, swimming off white cliffs before reaching Pula.
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Cape Kamenjak Nature Park
Untamed southern headland of dirt tracks, hidden coves and turquoise swimming spots at Istria's very tip.
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Safari Bar, Kamenjak
Jungle-style beach bar hidden in the scrub above the cliffs, a legendary stop for a cold drink after a swim.
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Rovinj Old Town
Optional detour to Istria's postcard port, a tangle of pastel lanes climbing to the Church of St Euphemia.
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Hotel
Park Plaza Histria Pula booking.com
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Getting around
- Driving the coastal road south via Rovinj to Premantura and Cape Kamenjak
Sunday
Day Four
End among Roman ruins in Pula before returning the car and heading home.
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Pula Arena
One of the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres in the world, still hosting summer concerts within its limestone arches.
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Temple of Augustus
Elegant first-century Roman temple on Pula's Forum square, framed by café terraces.
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Hotel
Park Plaza Histria Pula booking.com
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Getting around
- Returning the rental car at Pula Airport before departure
Location.
Frequently asked
How many days do you need for Istria: Hill Towns & Coast Road?
4 days. The itinerary runs from Thursday to Sunday and covers 11 curated stops across 4 days.
How much does Istria: Hill Towns & Coast Road cost?
Premium — €300–600 per day per person, premium lodging included.
Where do you stay during Istria: Hill Towns & Coast Road?
Hotel Kastel Motovun is the recommended base for the trip; the full hotel list per day is in the itinerary section.
What's included in the Istria: Hill Towns & Coast Road itinerary?
Day-by-day stops at 11 restaurants, museums, viewpoints and landmarks; transportation hints between each leg; and a hotel base in Motovun.
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