Dinkwads Abroad

The thing that I love most about an old town, with its narrow alleys of weathered stone and its historic charm, is that you don’t really need to “do” anything there. Walking and experiencing the town as it is IS the experience. And Rovinj, Croatia is exactly that type of old town. And while you could be perfectly content sitting, sipping coffee or a cocktail on the promenade, watching the waves gently lap up against the edge of town, here are some of the things you can add to your to do list if/when you need a break from the relaxation.

If you missed part 1, covering where we stayed and what we ate and drank, you can find that here! And if you’d like to see the best way to fit Rovinj into a two week itinerary, see my perfect itinerary here.

What To Do in Rovinj

Must Do

These are the things worth tearing yourself away from your perch on the promenade for!

Shop the Local Goods

Rovinj has plenty of little boutiques and handmade shops where you can pop in and grab an edible souvenir featuring the famous Istrian truffles, a new dress perfect for your evening cocktail on the cliff, or local handmade goods. And while in general, my recommendation is to just wander street by street, going into whatever shop calls to you, these are the ones I would suggest as must sees.

Atelier Inter Arte

Ul. Vladimira Svalbe 63, 52210, Rovinj, Croatia

As our last night in coastal Croatia, we knew we had to get something to represent the dozens (hundreds?) of cats that we saw in the old town streets. That was honestly half the fun in these cities, and our catch phrase quickly became “There’s a cat!”

And while the adorable cat magnets are what initially drew us into Atelier Inter Arte, what blew us away was her amazing hand sculpted masks and wall art on the inside. While we would have loved to bring a mask home, carry-on luggage has its limitations (one of the drawbacks of traveling out of a backpack), but we were at last able to make it home with a few of her handmade goods. And I cannot recommend this shop enough, so add this to the must sees in Rovinj!

Tartufi Istra

Svalbina ulica 39, 52210, Rovinj, Croatia

If you can’t get enough of truffles, this is the place to be! Tartufi Istra has truffle EVERYTHING. Olive oil, sauces, honey, even white chocolate all with truffles found in the local Istrian region! You can sample everything (and believe me, we pushed that to try literally almost every single thing) so you can find the perfect gift for the truffle lover in your life, or for yourself!

Cost: It completely depends on what you end up spending!

Time Allotted: The old town is small, so you could probably get this done in about an hour or two!

Logistics: Most places accepted credit card, but make sure you have some cash on you to be safe!

Climb St. Euphemia’s Church

Trg Sv. Eufemije, 52210, Rovinj, Croatia

While we weren’t able to do this due to some school trips that crowded the belltower, I have heard the views are worth the notoriously steep 200 step climb!

Cost: 4 euro per person

Time Allotted: I would plan for about an hour.

Logistics: I believe it’s cash only. Generally open from 10 – 8 in peak months, and 10 – 6 in the off season.

Shop Local Treats at Rovinj Market

Ul. Giuseppea Garibaldija, 52210, Rovinj, Croatia

Buy yourself some local oils, honeys, meats, and more at this local market!

Cost: Just depends on how much you buy!

Time Allotted: I would plan for about an hour.

Logistics: I’m sure some vendors take cash and some take credit card, so make sure to have cash on hand just to be safe! They are open daily at 8 AM.

Other Things You Can Do

While we didn’t do these things, I’ve seen these recommended by others as options of things you could do!

Truffle Hunting

For the true truffle lovers out there, book a tour and travel out into Istria with some local truffle hunters and their dogs to find your own! You can book a tour here.

Amphitheater Pula

Take a 30 minute bus ride or drive over to Pula to see one of the most well preserved Roman monuments at the Pula Amphitheater!

Go Swimming

Swim along the coast line in the bright blue waters at Plaza Balota right off the edge of the peninsula.

Hike Zlatni Rt Forest Park

Walk 30 minutes or catch a ride to Park Forest Zlatni Rt for dramatic cliffsides and peaceful forest walks.

Final Thoughts on Rovinj

When you picture the perfect coastal town frozen in time, Rovinj is it. With its colorful buildings jutting out of the sea and the church bell towering over the orange rooftops, it’s the quintessential seaside villa. The bright blue sky blankets overhead, reflected in the slow ebbs and flows of the Adriatic’s gentle waves. In the evening, the weathered stone shine with warm lights pouring from windows or lanterns as the city slowly winds down. And in these quiet hours, filled just the faint clanks of dinnerware as diners end their meals or a low mumble of close conversation, the streets feel almost as if they’re your personal secret, a small oasis tucked away for you and you alone. You feel as if you’ve stumbled upon something almost forbidden, lost to the world but promised for this moment.

And whether you spend just a day here like we did, or take your time to really lose yourself in Rovinj, you’ll find yourself counting down the days until you can return.

Check out my other posts to see where else we went in Croatia, what we did, and where we ate!