Motovun offers a variety of attractions and activities for visitors to enjoy. From exploring the well-preserved medieval hilltop settlement to the stunning views of the surrounding area from the medieval walls, there is something for everyone. If you’re interested in architecture, the best things to see in Motovun are:

1. 1. Walls of Motovun
   2. Church of St. Stephen
   3. Bell Tower
   4. The New Gate
   5. Loggia
   6. Polesini Palace
   7. Borgo Gate
   8. Gradiziol neighborhood

We spent four days in late April and early May visiting the sights in Motovun. Based on our experience, we put together this list of the best things to see.

If you follow our suggested Motovun Walking Tour, you can see all eight sights on our list in less than an hour (and less than a mile of walking) and have plenty of time to walk around the city walls!

Of course, this is a tour of the sites of Motovun and is only half of what you should do while in town. The other half of your time should be spent tasting white truffles and black truffles at the many truffle shops. If you have time, lunch or a sunset dinner at one of the terrace restaurants is recommended.

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The walls are Motovun’s primary architectural attraction. Not surprisingly, there is a walk around the top of the walls. The views of the Mirna River Valley are spectacular!

When we visited in May, visitors were required to buy a ticket to walk along the walls. You can purchase tickets for a small fee of 4 euros per person from the tourist office near the entrance at Trg Andrea Antico 1.

The Renaissance church was built in the 16th century and is believed to be designed by the Venetian Architect Andrea Palladio. It was renovated to its current state at the end of the 18th century.

The Romanesque-Gothic bell tower of Motovun was initially constructed as the town’s central observation tower.

It has been refurbished numerous times over the centuries, including its ultimate conversion into a 27-meter-tall bell tower.

The original Motovun loggia, “Lobia Maior,” was built in 1331. It was rebuilt in the 17th century.

The palace was built in the 18th century and was the home to the wealthiest landowner of Motovun. Today, it’s home to Hotel Kastel. Hotel Kaštel is the only hotel-type accommodation in Motovun. It has a pool and spa.

The Gradiziol neighborhood developed in the 14th and 15th centuries.

If you’re still on the fence after reading about the eight best things to see, check out “Is Motovun Worth Visiting.” We review a long list of factors you should consider before reserving a room and booking your flight.

Motovun is tiny. Walking is the only way to see it! If you have limited time (don’t worry, you can still see everything twice), we suggest visiting the recommended itinerary in the following order:

• • Borgo Gate
  • Loggia
  • Church of St. Stephen
  • Bell Tower
  • Walls of Motovun
  • Polesini Palace
  • The New Gate
  • Gradiziol neighborhood

Following the suggested route, you will pass the 8 Best Things to See in Motovun, including the truffle and wine shops in the Gradiziol neighborhood.

Our suggested Motovun Walking Tour starts at the Borgo Gate on the south side of the old town, climbs up the rough cobbled street to the main square where you can begin the Motovun Skywalk (i.e. the wall tour), passes by the truffle shops in Gradiziol neighborhood, and ends on the north side of town.

Motovun is a small town in Croatia known for its picturesque hilltop location, stunning views of the surrounding countryside, and well-preserved medieval architecture.

Motovun is also famous for its truffles, a type of gourmet mushroom that grows in the surrounding forests and is highly prized by chefs and foodies alike. In 1999, the largest truffle in the world was found in the forests of Motovun, which brought global attention to the area. The founder of Zigante restaurant still holds the world record in the Guinness Book of Records for the largest white truffle ever found.

Additionally, Motovun is known for its annual film festival, which takes place every summer and attracts filmmakers and cinephiles from around the world. Visitors to Motovun can enjoy exploring the town’s narrow streets and historic buildings, sampling local cuisine and wine, and taking in the breathtaking scenery of this beautiful region of Croatia.

Yes, Motovun architecture is beautiful and the views of the valley below are incredible.

For the best experience, we recommend staying at the top of the hill in the Old Town of Motovun. The best accommodations there can be found at Hotel Kastel.

For other options, we have included an interactive map below that can be filtered to meet your needs. Select your travel dates to get specific availability and prices.

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In one busy, boozy day, you can

1. Explore Motovun’s medieval town
2. Walk the wall for the amazing countryside scenery and vineyards
3. Explore all the truffle shops
4. Have a local brandies tasting and olive oil tasting
5. Enjoy a meal with truffles and wine tasting

I think it would be difficult to do all that and a truffle hunting excursion in the Motovun Forest. So you will probably have to cut out something above to fit in a hunt.

Motovun is less expensive than other popular Croatian destinations. Accommodations are very reasonably priced, the local wine is excellent and a great value, and the food is high-class. We spent $120 for our dinner which included the two most expensive truffled-steak dishes, a truffled-charcuterie board appetizer, two bottles of wine (yes, we drink a lot of wine), and one dessert. We feel that we got a lot for what we paid, the service was impeccable, and the view from our table was five-star.

Motovun is extremely safe. It is a hilltop town and everyone there is either a tourist or working in the tourism industry. 

Yes, renting a car and driving around Istria and the rest of Croatia is extremely safe and easy. For rental cars and price comparisons of international and local brands, we recommend Discover Cars.

No, speaking the local Croatian language is not needed to visit Motovun. A very large percentage of locals speak English.

The time of the year with good weather and fewer crowds is often referred to as the shoulder season. The shoulder season in Motovun is March, April, October, and November. For many, this is the best time of the year to visit.

The Motovun Film Festival is held every year in late July and early August. It would impact the number of people in the small town and the cost of accommodations. You might want to keep that in mind if you plan to visit Croatia during that time.

Motovun is located in the Istrian Peninsula of Croatia.

Motovun is a hilltop town in central Istria that does not have a railway station. You can get to Motovun by car or bus.

Motovun is a popular day-trip destination from the seaside Istrian towns of Rovinj, Pula, or Porec. If you don’t want to rent a car or hire a private transfer, take a day tour from Rovinj, Pula, or Porec.

If going with a group is not your thing, or you plan to stay overnight in Motovun, renting a car or taking a private transfer are great options. We took private transfers all over Istria and had excellent experiences.

For private transfers, we recommend GetTransfer. For rental cars and price comparisons of international and local brands, we recommend Discover Cars.

If you are staying in Rovinj, Pula, Porec, or Rijeka, and would like to take a day trip to Motovun, book below a highly-rated day trip!

Your Motovun packing list should include sunscreen, shoes good for walking cobblestones, and stretchy pants to accommodate wine-drinking and cheese-eating.

Do you need cellular data during your trip and don’t want to pay for roaming? We use eSIMs from Airalo during our travel and highly recommend them. They are cheap, easy to set up, and allow you to leave your primary sim card in your phone (so you don’t loose it). Click below for more info.

Motovun is a small town in northwestern Croatia. It is a 1hr 15min drive south of Trieste, Italy, a 1hr 15min drive west of Rijeka, Croatia, a 1hr drive northeast of Rovinj, Croatia, a 2hr drive south of Ljubljana, Slovenia, a 3hr drive east of Venice, Italy, and a 3hr drive west of Zagreb, Croatia.