The last spot (yeah I went there) on our Dalmatian tour was the city of Pula. Pula is a nice city, but to be honest we spent too long here. After our first two days, we ran out of things to do. Don’t get me wrong, if you’re after a nice relaxed holiday of swimming, eating and drinking you could do worse. But if you’re someone who likes to be active you could see all the city has to offer in two days.
That being said, some of the highlights of Pula include a Roman amphitheatre, where we were lucky enough to catch a festival of actual gladiator matches, some stunning architecture and some amazing national parks.
Table of Contents:
From Zadar to Pula:
Initially, we wanted to get to Pula from Zadar by ferry, as we thought this would have been a nice way to get to our final city on the tour, but after much searching we realised this line is now closed so the only way is by bus or plane.
By this stage of the journey we’d had enough buses and considering it was a 6.5-hour bus ride costing €25-€35 or a 20-minute flight for €50, we opted for the flight. Totally worth it.
To book your transport online, check out Bookaway.com
Accommodation in Pula:
We opted for the Airbnb option here as it really is the cheapest way to stay in Pula. When we arrived, we walked into a three-bedroom apartment with rooftop access for sunbathing and drying clothes!
In total, we spent 4 nights for €200, not the cheapest I’ll admit but the apartment would have comfortably fit 8-10 people (2 double bedrooms, one room with bunk beds and two sofa beds) so around the troops!
Things To Do in Pula:
Pula Arena:
This is a stunning, nearly fully intact, Roman amphitheatre. It’s still used for concerts and spectacles during the summer. You can go see the theatre and museum for 70 HRK per person ( €9 ) or you can catch a show (prices vary depending on the concert) but I would totally recommend it.
Zero Strasse:
There is a series of tunnels that run under the city and connect various parts together. It was awesome running around the old tunnels. As well as being the quickest way to get from one side of the city to the other; the tunnels are home to wine tasting and an art exhibit, all for the princely sum of 15 HRK (€2).
Brijuni National Park:
We took a day trip out to Brijuni, the trip cost us €30 per person and included the boat ride out to the park, past several small islands, free drinks (white or red wine out of a plastic bottle or soft drinks), a lunch on the island of either meat or fish with salad, and plenty of sunbathing/walking time on the island. We bought the tickets on the pier the day before we wanted to go, There are several sellers here and their prices don’t really vary, so it mostly came down to which boat we liked best when booking.
In a nutshell, Pula is worth visiting for the Colosseum alone, It is a beautiful city but four days is too much. Instead, spend more time in Zadar or Pula. But either way, enjoy it. What’s not to love?
