How to spend two days in Rovinj – my favourite place in Croatia

Spending two days in Rovinj and wondering what to do? I’ve handpicked the very best things to do in Rovinj, based on my many visits to this wonderful town.

two days in Rovinj

The little fisherman town of Rovinj won my heart on my very first time in Istria.

If you’ve never heard of Rovinj, you might be wondering what’s so special about it.

Well, let me show you its charm and you’ll understand. Prepare for romantic cobble-stone streets, amazing views and some of the best Croatian meals in the country.

Let’s dig in.

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Two days in Rovinj itinerary

Rovinj (pronounced โ€˜Roh-veenโ€™) is a small coastal town on the Istrian peninsula in Croatia. The main sights are located in or around the Old Town and you can easily visit the main attractions and enjoy the city ambience in two days.

You can explore the city on your own or take a Rovinj walking tour where you’re sure to see all the best places and viewpoints.

🐱‍👓 Read next: 15 unforgettable things to do in Istria

Where to stay in Rovinj

Lone hotel (⭐ 9.1) My visit to Rovinj was completed by staying at the super hip Lone hotel. This five-star design hotel is shaped like a luxurious ocean liner floating on a hillside and it’s decorated with works from Croatian artists.

I stayed in a spacious standard room with bathtub, separate rain shower and a gigantic balcony perfect for relaxing with a good book. Lone was an amazing oasis to come back to after exploring Rovinj and Istria all day. Check availability and latest prices here.

Read about my stay at Lone Hotel here: Staying at the Hotel Lone Rovinj in Croatia

Rovinj, Croatia

Day 1 in Rovinj

Oh, Rovinj. If you only visit one place in Croatia, this should be it. There’s so much atmosphere and character in this town, and I promise: there’s plenty of things to do in Rovinj. Here’s your Rovinj itinerary for day 1.

Rovinj croatia itinerary

Wander through Rovinj Old Town

The old town of Rovinj is without doubt the most impressive and charming part of town. Aside from the smooth, marble cobblestone narrow streets and pastel-coloured houses, this part of Rovinj is renowned for its beautiful Venetian architecture.

The hilly old town used to be separated from the mainland by a canal, but in 1763 the two were connected.

two days in Rovinj itinerary

Get to know the history

Rovinj was once part of the Venetian Republic (from 1283 to 1797) until Napoleon Bonaparte arrived and put an end to the millennium of Venetian power in the Adriatic and beyond.

When you wander the streets of Rovinj, you’ll spot the Venetian lions everywhere, like on the Balbi Arch, the late-Renaissance clock tower and the wells.

Rovinj, Croatia
Rovinj, Croatia

I love how locals hang out their laundry to dry in the warm Mediterranean air. The clothes lines are connected between neighbors so they better stay good friends.

Things to do in Rovinj
Things to do in Rovinj

The town hall clock

In the Old Town, you’ll find the town hall clock. The clock is from the mid-19th century and has a Venetian lion, a symbol of Serenissima, on the side.

You’ll find it at the town square, (in the city centre) surrounded by lots of restaurants and cafes – perfect for enjoying while you grab a glass a wine.

Rovinj, Croatia
The town hall clock. Notice the Venetian lion

Grisia Street

Grisia is a popular street leading uphill through the old town to St Euphemia. The cobbled street is lined with galleries and souvenir stores, and it’s quite characteristic.

Rovinj, Croatia

Church of St. Euphemia

When you visit Rovinj, the first thing you’ll notice is the dominating church and bell-tower atop the hill. It’s dedicated to the young girl, Saint Euphemia (290-303 AD), whose story made a deep impression on me.

When Euphemia was just 15 years old, she was arrested for refusing to give up Christianity.

After suffering various tortures, she was first thrown in the fire, which didn’t kill her and later sentenced to be eaten by wild lions that eventually killed her but did not devour her body. Her relics are preserved in a sarcophagus here in this church.

Can you imagine being a teenager and already having that much dedication and faith? She must have been so scared, but she never wavered in her faith. I was very touched by her story and diligence.

Rovinj, Croatia
The sarcophagus of St. Euphemia and a painting depicting her martyrdom

Climb the bell tower

On the top of the bell-tower there’s a statue of her that revolves around its axis depending on the wind. The saying goes that if the statue points towards the ocean, it will be sunny, and if it points at the town-side, it’ll be rainy and cloudy.

From the 61 meter-high tower there’s also a beautiful view of the town and you can even see the Alps on a clear day. However, the staircase is not for the faint of heart so keep that in mind before you enter. It costs 20 kuna ($3).

Rovinj, Croatia

Go to the beach in Rovinj

Rovinj is not only beloved for its charming streets and architecture; it’s also located by the Adriatic Sea which makes it popular for swimming and tanning. 

Although it doesn’t have white sandy beaches as in Thailand, the water is very clear and the cliffs serve as a great jumping spot and add a little drama to the scenery.

You’ll find the best beaches in Rovinj here:

Rovinj, Croatia

Find the most famous view points in Rovinj

Rovinj is one of those towns with a lot of beautiful view points. You’ve got the harbour, the hill, the other side of the harbour and inside the old town.

Basically anywhere in Rovinj is great, but the photos below are from the best view points.

Rovinj, Croatia
Rovinj has several photo spots and this is probably the most popular one
Rovinj
A small shop in the old town
Rovinj, Croatia
This is another photo spot. And my favorite
Things to do in Rovinj

Eat delicious Istrian food

Oh, don’t get me started on Croatian food. If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that Croatian is one of my favourites!

You can read all about the delicious Istrian food right here, btw. Istria is one of those places where food & wine is actually part of the experience, so don’t miss out on this.

Where to get the best meals:

Croatian food
The best food in Istria, Croatia

Watch the epic sunsets at Rovinj Marina

Sunsets in Rovinj are notoriously beautiful. If you’re as devoted to sunsets as I am, you will LOVE Rovinj. Just look at these views.

The marina is the perfect place for sunsets so make sure to go here when the sun sets.

Rovinj, Croatia
How amazing is this!
Rovinj, Croatia

Day 2 in Rovinj

On your second day in Rovinj, you’ll enjoy the ambience some more now that you’ve seen the highlights. You’ll also explore the surrounding areas and sea.

Shop at Rovinj market

When I was in Rovinj the first time, I stumbled upon a market! It’s right in the centre of town and it was so fun to just wander and see the different foods for sale.

We grabbed some truffles and olives, but there were also fresh flowers, cheese, and even some fish! Plus, they had these cute little souvenir stalls where we bought a few things for the kids last summer. It’s definitely worth checking out while you’re there!

Enjoy a glass of wine at the marina

Dining and wining is an absolute must when you’re in Istria. Croatia has THE best wine in the world (next to Italy), and it’s super cheap.

To get a thorough introduction to the best wines in Istria, I highly recommend a wine tour. At the very least you should order a glass or two at one of the cafes at the harbour while you watch the fishing boats. It’s so relaxing.

Read next: Gourmet Food in Istria you just have to eat (and where to find it)

Day trip to Lim fjord

One of the more popular things to do in Rovinj is to take a day trip to Lim Fjord. It’s really close (10-15 minutes), so if you’ve got a car, just drive there yourself.

Apart from being a beautiful place, and an easy stop-over if you’re going south to Pula, you can also have fresh oysters here. You can also take a kayaking tour if that’s more of your liking. 

You can read more about Lim fjord and six other cute towns in Istria here.

Small towns in Istria
Small towns in Istria

Watch dolphins on a sunset cruise

On this sunset cruise, you’ll get to to watch the sunset over the Adriatic Sea while looking for dolphins. A boat trip from Rovinj is the perfect way to end your two days in Rovinj and see the city from an entirely different perspective.

Rovinj

Best time to visit Rovinj

The best time to visit Rovinj is during May – June and September – October. During this time, the weather is mild, and the town is less busy, making it perfect for sightseeing and enjoying local cuisine.

I would avoid the high season (July-August) because it’s hot and crowded with cruise ships.

Where to next?

Looking for more things to do in Istria? Here are some of the best places on the peninsula:

Motovun

Just a short drive away from Rovinj is Motovun, which is a scenic hilly area to explore in Istria. Although it’s a small town, Motovun is as pretty as a postcard perched right on a hilltop.

Motovun and the surrounding hilltop towns have the nickname โ€˜Green Istria’ and itโ€™s easy to see why when you get here. Youโ€™ll find lush landscape, valleys, rivers, and wine yards along with spectacular views.

Istria hilltop towns
The tiny town of Motovun

Porec, Pula and Kamenjak beaches

From Rovinj, you can also visit Porec, which is an ancient Roman town home to the Euphrasian Basilica (UNESCO world heritage site), roman ruins and other historic sites. You can also explore the amazing beaches in Kamenjak, south of Pula.

Istria is really spectacular and there are so many charming villages and places you can explore. That’s why I keep going back.

Istria
Hawaii beach in Pula

Rovinj itinerary FAQ

Does Rovinj have nice beaches?

Yes, there are beautiful beaches in Rovinj. One of the best beaches is Vestar Beach.


What is Rovinj known for?

Rovinj, Croatia is known for its cobble-stoned old town, beautiful beaches, delicious local cuisine, museums, and cozy sea-side cafes. It’s the perfect destination for a charming getaway in Istria!


How many days do you need in Rovinj Croatia?

1-2 days is enough time to explore Rovinj, but the great atmosphere is worth staying for. Rovinj is a great base for exploring the rest of Istria.


Is it worth visiting Rovinj?

Absolutely! Rovinj is the best town in Croatia, it’s so charming and beautiful, so it’s definitely worth visiting.


Which is nicer Rovinj or Poreฤ?

I prefer Rovinj, but I’m biased because I LOVE the city. Porec is a lovely city as well and also worth visiting for its UNESCO site and ambience. Rovinj is just more charming and beautiful, in my opinion.


Read more about Istria

Many thanks to Visit Istria for hosting me in Croatia. Whenever I travel, there will always be full disclosure about whether my stay was hosted by a tourism board. And even if I’m on a press trip, my view will never be swayed one way or the other.

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Looking for the best things to do in Rovinj? Old town Rovinj is without doubt the most impressive and charming part of town. Aside from the smooth, shiny marble cobblestone streets and pastel-colored houses, the old town is renowned for its beautiful Venetian architecture. Here's an introduction to Rovinj: the most picturesque town in Istria, Croatia. #croatia #visitistria

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21 Comments

  1. Whoa, you’ve taken some killer sunset photos during your travels, but these ones might just be my favorite! I wasn’t the biggest fan of Croatia during my time there while traveling through the Balkans (granted I did spend the least amount of time in Croatia of all the Balkan countries I visited) but your posts continue to make me think I need to give it another chance!

    1. Thank, Silvia ๐Ÿ™‚ I think you’ll like Istria because it’s very different from Dalmatia. There are so many beautiful little towns there.

  2. Rovinj looks gorgeous! A girl I met on my travels once said that Rovinj is her favourite place in Europe (and she’s seen a lot), ever since I’ve been dying to visit! Your sunset photos are absolutely incredible!!

    1. That’s sweet of you, thanks Danielle! Like the girl you mentioned, I really loved Rovinj, and Istria has so many other cute towns close by. It’s a great destination.

  3. Rovinj looks so magical on your pictures! We love these charming coastal towns, it should definitely be on the list. ๐Ÿ™‚ How was the weather this time of the year? Not too windy on the coast?

    1. Thanks, guys ๐Ÿ™‚ The weather was changing all the time and at times it was actually quite chilly. Although the temperature went from 16-23 C in the daytime, I always wore pants. It’s typical spring weather for Central Europe.

      I saw on Insta that you’re visiting this summer – sorry for the late reply, but this week has been crazy busy. I highly recommend adding Istria to your itinerary. The small towns are so charming, and don’t even get me started on the food and wine ๐Ÿ˜‰ Ps. it gets really hot in the summer.

      1. No worries. ๐Ÿ™‚ Our itinerary is still under construction, but we reached the point that we should rather taking out things than putting in. ๐Ÿ˜€ Dubrovnik, Plitvice and Mljet are the 3 places we definitely want to see on our first visit, we will see what else we can fit in. Istria is a bit far from these places, probably we better do it next time so we won’t have a too tiring schedule. Luckily, Croatia is not far from us!
        On, and hot weather is no problem, we are actually hoping to have some lazy beach days. ๐Ÿ˜€

        1. I understand. There’s no fun in having an overpacked itinerary – I always tend to do that myself ๐Ÿ˜‰ Well, if you find the time, you should visit Zadar on your way to or from Plitvice. It’s on the way to Dubrovnik and it’s such a romantic place (my personal favorite in Dalmatia). I’m excited to hear how you like Croatia.

  4. That’s a seriously cool hotel! Good enough reason alone to visit Rovinj :-). But seriously, Croatia is overwhelmingly beautiful, as you’ve discovered. We were particularly taken by the tiny medieval town of Trogir – nicknamed “Little Venice” even though it has no canals (we’ve written more about Trogir on our blog). And Korcula. And Mali Losinj. And, well we could go on… You’ve whetted our appetite for a return Croatia visit!

    1. Absolutely, Croatia is so beautiful and diverse. I love how it has everything from delicious food & wine in Istria to amazing beaches and historic towns in Dalmatia. I’m already excited to return ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Thank you so much, Ann-Louise! Rovinj is one of the most memorable places in Istria – it’s definitely worth making it a priority. Have a great trip!

  5. Yo Miriam, Great website with really nice snaps. Our upcoming September self-guided trip now looks like arrive in Split from London, spend a few days there, off to Korcula on the ferry, spend five or so days there, skip Dubrovnik–too crowded, but go way north to Rovinj for five days or so. Problem is getting all the way from Korcula to Rovinj without to much strain or stress. Maybe stop in Rab for a few days. What is your opinion of Rab? And do you happen to know if there is an upper age limit on renting a car in Croatia. Thanks in advance for your response. Ciao, Jerry

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