By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 14th June 2020 | Updated: 1st November 2023
Cobbled streets with beckoning alleyways, brightly coloured buildings at every turn and a sea view or two, Croatia’s fishing port of Rovinj is more stunning than you would believe. We were lucky enough to spend a day in Rovinj during our road trip through Europe with Nest Campers and boy was it beautiful! The tightly packed buildings create alleyways full of colour and life, but you can still find a serene spot leading to the surrounding sea to watch the world go by. So, here is our guide on things to do in Rovinj for 12 hours.
Contents
Things to do in Rovinj – The sights to see
Is Rovinj worth visiting?
If romantic seaside charm, colourful side streets and sunsets you just have to stop and watch are high on your list of things to find, then Rovinj is 100% worth visiting. There isn’t an alleyway or family-run bar you can’t walk past without feeling the urge to explore more.
How to get to Rovinj
The nearest airport to Rovinj is Pula, roughly 40 minutes away by car. The nearest transport hub to arrive via bus takes 2.5 hours from Piran, however, there is now a vast network of Flixbus that run throughout Europe which may be able to get you there quicker.
As we were driving through Europe we arrived from the north via Slovenia, which is an hour’s drive from the border on a good day, (we did not pick a good day and had to queue for nearly 3 hours to cross, hence the short amount of time we actually ended up with in Rovinj).
Fancy another trip to Europe? Check out our European City Guide – 7 things you must see in Maribor
Where to stay
With views down to the sea or peaceful spots hidden away from the sun in the surrounding trees, Campsite Porton Biondi is not only a little oasis but also a great location within easy walking distance of the main areas of Rovinj. Be sure to stop at Restaurant Porton Biondi on the beachfront, on the opposite side of the road to the Porton Biondi campsite, for a drink with a view and a nice dip in the sea!
Things to do in Rovinj – The sights to see
Church of St Euphemia
There are actually 53 churches within the parish of Rovinj but by far the most impressive perched on the hilltop with views over the city and beyond is the Church of St Euphemia. It can take a bit of time to find if you get lost during your wandering of the Old Town, but boy is it worth it.
Rovinj Old town
If you are anything like us, then you’ll love getting off the beaten track and exploring places that take you away from the hustle and bustle. Rovinj’s Old Town does just that. Winding alleyways, colourful side streets and quaint plazas filled with local wares and a bar or two, is what you can expect upon wandering through. Whilst walking around the Old Town be sure to try one of the local Burek’s, a baked filled pastry either with savoury or sweet fillings. You can thank us later.
The Partisan Memorial
Also known as Spomenik palim borcima i žrtvama fašističkog terora, (but that is a bit of a mouthful!), is a wonderful sculptural monument overlooking the bay that commemorates the victims of fascism during 1940 – 1945. All of the bay around Rovinj is beautiful but in this location in particular you have stunning views over the bay.
Where to next?
Why not stop by Piran? Check out our guide to Piran here. Just down the coast lies the wonderful port side town of Piran in Slovenia. With Italian influences and an incredible view or two, it is well worth a visit if you fancy a trip out of Rovinj / Croatia.
And there you have our guide on the things to do in Rovinj during a 12-hour stay. It may be small but boy do the views and the food make up for it!
Planning your own trip to Rovinj? Make sure you check out our Travelling Tedaldi Amazon Store Travel Guides for all your guidebooks and maps. (We’ve done the hard work for you and linked all the things we used to plan our trip!)
Keep up to date with where we have been & will be going by subscribing to our mailing list!
Gemma (i.e The Travelling Tedaldi)
Like the post? Go ahead and pin How to spend 12 hours in Rovinj!
Gemma Tedaldi
Gemma is the owner and author of The Travelling Tedaldi, a travel blog helping travellers to discover the best road trips and travel itineraries throughout the UK and Europe. When she isn’t writing about her favourite travel destinations, she can often be found out exploring local hikes or planning future trips.
