The historic town of Pula on the Istrian peninsula is an excellent starting point for your motorcycle tour along the Croatian coast. It also makes a great stopover before your journey home. Roman influences can be seen everywhere in the city. Remains of Roman culture point to a bygone era, when gladiator fights in the Pula Arena provided entertainment. In addition to the gigantic amphitheater, Pula also has many old city gates, a beautiful main square (forum) with a temple, the huge fortress Kastell and other ancient buildings. If you want to take it a little easier, the beaches in and around Pula are a good choice.

At night, Croatia's oldest city impresses with an abundance of restaurants and bars where you can end your motorcycle tour in comfort. A particular highlight are the cranes in Pula's Uljanik harbor, which become the city's main attraction every evening. The "glowing giants" light up every hour on the hour in the middle of the dark.

The "Nice of Croatia" on the edge of Istria likes to show off its countless villas and exotic gardens. They began in the 19th century, when the rich and famous came to Opatija to recover from the hardships of the cold north. The botanical garden of the former health resort deserves special attention, with more than 150 different plant species on over 3.6 hectares of land. If you want to stroll along the sea like in the 19th century, you can do so on the Lungo Mare - a 12 km long promenade along the shore. It leads past numerous sights of the town.

The D66 state road (towards Pula) runs through Opatija, offering a unique experience for motorcyclists. The "Croatian Route 66" runs along the coast of Istria for a long time and surprises with a variety of landscapes, levels of difficulty and views. Many bends, the untamed sea, jagged rocks and vast green expanses give you an idea of what the word "freedom" really means. Our opinion: the D66 is a motorcyclist's paradise and is suitable for all motorcyclists along the coast!

The stone lighthouse of Cape Savudrija greets visitors from afar. The harbor town is lined with numerous rocky beaches with wonderfully clear water. A striking feature of the area are the boat moorings of the fishermen who use the beach for their scaffolding. For divers, there is even the opportunity to discover a Roman harbor underwater. Savudrija is a tranquil place where you can feel and enjoy the peace and quiet.

Porec is home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the Euphrasian Basilica was built between the 3rd and 6th centuries. The city was significantly influenced by the Romans and still exudes this special flair today: narrow cobbled streets and streets with Roman-sounding names such as the main street Decumanus lead to the ancient buildings and squares of the former capital of Istria. We particularly recommend a visit to the old city walls and towers as well as the former parliament with its richly decorated rooms and exhibitions.

Many of the surrounding beaches have been awarded the blue flag and are therefore ideal for swimming and relaxing.

The Baledine Cave is located not far from Porec. The stalactite formations of the huge cave with its five halls provide a welcome contrast to sightseeing and beach visits. The cave is home to the rare cave olms, which can be seen here.

Via Premantura, the southernmost town in Istria, you reach the Kamenjak Nature Park. From here, motorcyclists can ride off-road (for a small entrance fee of around 20 kuna). The roads consist of a gravel and crushed stone surface - a challenging driving situation for both man and motorcycle.

You can also get a good workout at the southern tip of Istria with windsurfing, cycling, paintball, rowing and hiking or simply enjoy the unspoiled nature. This place is rightly a nature reserve: in addition to exploring the breathtaking views of stony pebble beaches with turquoise blue water and steep rocky cliffs, you have the opportunity to discover more than 20 species of orchids and fossilized dinosaur footprints. If it gets too hot, a cooling break under the dense pines of the Mediterranean forest is a good idea.

The many bays and beach bars invite you to linger and give everyone the ultimate vacation feeling.

The former castle of Motovun is enthroned above the Mirna Valley on a rather steep hill. The fortification was built in the 11th century, but still offers a magnificent view of the Istrian region when the weather is fine. To experience Motovun in all its beauty and diversity, you can stroll through the old Stefania Beletica or Gradisol alley. As the alley leads past churches and specialty stores into the old town, you have the opportunity to discover all aspects of Motovun. The old town gates are also still very well preserved. The largest white truffle in the world to date was found in the Motovun forest, and many truffle farmers are located around Motovun. A large truffle festival is held in the town in September. Motovun is also known for its international film festival, which takes place every year at the end of July. Films are shown all over Motovun at this time. The whole town is then filled with people, who even spend the night outside in tents on the hill to be part of the event.

To get to Motovun by motorcycle, you can expect a rather challenging route up to the town gate, which leads through the Motovun forest and up the hill.

Pazin is home to one of the best-preserved fortresses in Istria. Next to it, under steep rocky cliffs, lies the Pazin Cave, whose surroundings are definitely worth a visit. A gorge below the fortress provides access to an educational trail about the Pazin Cave. Even Jules Verne could not help but write about the magnificent castle complex and its surroundings in one of his novels.

In addition to the cave and castle, Pazin also offers a refreshing alternative to the Croatian beaches: at the Zarecki krov waterfall, you can cool off in the clear water of the popular bathing area during the warm summer days.

Pazin is surrounded by winding roads and dreamy little villages, which make the motorcycle ride to the center of Istria wonderfully entertaining.