Rovinj
© Vanda Vucicevic/Time Out

Rovinj travel guide

Read our essential Rovinj travel guide to discover amazing things to do, plus the best hotels, restaurants, bars and more...

Written by
Justin McDonnell
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Rovinj is Istria’s showpiece, its answer to Dalmatia’s Dubrovnik, with far fewer crowds and a more realistic view of itself. It maintains a meticulously cared-for old quarter and extensive tourist amenities without feeling fake or overdone. The natural setting is stunning: a harbour nicknamed ‘the cradle of the sea’ by ancient mariners because the archipelago of islands, stretching from here to Vrsar, ensured calm, untroubled waters. The man-made structures in the Old Town are also attractive: tightly clustered houses, painted in cheery Venetian reds and Habsburg pastels, connected by cobbled streets barely wider than a footpath.

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20 great things to do in Rovinj

20 great things to do in Rovinj

Rovinj is Istria at its most chic, a scenic resort of quality restaurants and cocktail bars, galleries and boutiques. Stone houses and cobbled streets lend an...

Rovinj overview

Rovinj overview

Rovinj‘s meticulously cared-for old quarter and stunning natural setting, combined with shaded, rocky beaches, have been bringing in groups of tourists since...

Rovinj shopping guide

Rovinj shopping guide

Rovinj specialises in galleries and arty knick-knacks. Palatial Atelier Devescovi is where artist Dean Devescovi sells paintings with jazzy influences. Atelier...

Rovinj beach guide

Rovinj beach guide

Popular with locals is the small swimming area consisting of rocks and concreted platforms on the south side of the Old Town’s peninsula. For the pine-forested...

Where to eat and drink in Rovinj...

The best Rovinj restaurants

The best Rovinj restaurants

As well as being extraordinarily picturesque, Rovinj has long excelled when it comes to fish restaurants. You’ll find the pricier ones on the harbourfront...

Rovinj nighlife, bar and café guide

Rovinj nighlife, bar and café guide

The cafés at the north-west end of Rovinj harbour, such as the cocktail bar Valentino, is great for sundowners. After dark, the best bar crawl is in the tiny...

Blu

Blu

  • price 3 of 4

Starter, swim, main, swim, dessert, swim. Yes, the waterside Blu restaurant has a great location, best enjoyed over a leisurely lunch. Relax among locals,...

Caffè Cinema

Caffè Cinema

A fashionable terrace adds a touch of class to this busy corner of the harbour and draws a sizeable, mixed crowd. The spacious, dramatic black-and-white...