Make a holiday home, farmhouse, villa or cottage in Central Istria, Croatia your home away from home

The Central Istrian region of Croatia is almost more Italian than it is Croatian, owing to its history, but whether you hear Italian or Croat being spoken won’t make any difference to the beautiful scenery, attractive medieval towns, and great selection of holiday accommodation available here. Situated on the Istrian peninsula in the far west of Croatia, Central Istria is the area around the city of Pazin. Although inland, the waters of the Adriatic Sea are never far away if you fancy the beach for a change from your villa’s pool!

Things to do on holiday in Central Istria, Croatia

Central Istria is full of attractive villages, towns and cities, rural countryside, hills and farms, making this an ideal holiday rental destination for many kinds of visitors. Accommodation Istria varies from village and town locations, to villas in the middle of the peaceful Croatian countryside, many of which benefit from private pools.

This area is certainly becoming very popular with tourists who want to see some of the region’s attractions, which include the medieval hillside village of Motovun. This village is said to be one of the most attractive in the region and features Venetian colonial architecture and tons of history – the graves of two Romans from the 1st century, 12th and 13th century city walls, a 15th century city gate, a renaissance period municipal palace, and an assortment of churches from different periods too. Motovun is surrounded by lush forests where tasty truffles grow, and grapes are grown on the hillside slopes. Pazin is the largest city in the area and capital of Istria County. Attractions here include the castle museum, whilst nearby the village of Pican has wonderful views from church’s tall bell tower.

Places to visit on holiday in Central Istria, Croatia

When staying in self-catering accommodation in Istria you’re never too far away from the coast and the Adriatic Sea. There are several popular coastal towns you can visit for a day trip, including Rovinj, Porec, Pula and Novigrad where you can enjoy the town atmosphere as well as the beaches.

The weather in Central Istria, Croatia

Central Istria has a lovely Mediterranean climate, mild all year round, so is the perfect location for enjoying your own private holiday villa or cottage! Summers don’t get excessively hot here, averaging in the mid 20’s C but the high hours of sunshine per day are what really makes this an ideal summer holiday destination.

Flights to Central Istria, Croatia

The closest international airport to Central Istria is in the south of the Istrian Peninsula in the city of Pula. From Pula most Central Istria accommodation can be reached easily, taking anywhere between 30 minutes and 2 hours, depending on your exact destination. Ryanair offers flights from Stansted to Pula.