Rovinj, Croatia offers a variety of attractions and activities for visitors to enjoy. From strolling along the scenic waterfront to exploring the Old Town, there is something for everyone. If you’re interested in architecture, the best things to see in Rovinj are:

1. 1. Church of St. Euphemia
   2. Bell Tower of St. Euphemia
   3. Grisia Street
   4. Port of Rovinj
   5. Carera Street
   6. Square on the Bridge
   7. Green Market

We spent the entire month of August visiting the sights in Old Town Rovinj Croatia. Based on our experience, we compiled this list of the best things to see.

If you don’t have a month to explore, you can follow our suggested Rovinj Walking Tour and see all the best sights in less than an hour, including a walk down the two main streets in the Old Town. This estimate allows time to stop for photos and take a peak inside the church, but it does not include tours of the attractions.

This website contains affiliate links that may earn us a small commission at no additional cost to you.

The Church of St. Euphemia is located on a plateau overlooking the Adriatic Sea with the historic old town at its back. It is a great place to watch the sunset.

The church’s current façade was built from 1861 to 1865.

The church contains relics of Saint Euphemia. They are not displayed but instead kept in a sarcophagus.

Following the destruction of the original small bell tower, the construction of the current bell tower commenced.

The giant copper statue of Saint Euphemia was set on the top of the bell tower in 1758 after the original was destroyed by lightning. Notably, the figure rotates according to the direction of the wind.

You can climb to the top of the bell tower for a small fee. It offers the best view of Rovinj.

Grisia Street is cobbled with winding stone steps through Rovinj Old Town that lead up to the parish church of St. Euphemia. This picturesque street is one of the most recognizable scenes in Rovinj.

At the entrance to Grisia Street stands Balbi’s Arch. The arch replaced an old town gate in the late 17th century. It’s named after Daniel Balbi, the mayor at that time. The arch bears the classic Venetian hallmark of the lion of St. Mark and has small carvings on both sides, depicting the head of the Turk on one side and the head of the Venetian on the other.

Walking along the waterfront is a great way to enjoy the old harbor with its many boats, seafood restaurants, and cafes. It is the bustling heart of Rovinj.

Carera Street, with its smooth cobblestones, was developed from the second half of the 17th century until the late 18th century. Today, it is the main trade street with boutique stores, art galleries, wine shops, and ice cream shops.

Square on the Bridge (Trg na mostu) divided the island settlement from the mainland before the canal was filled in 1763.

The northern side of the main square has Baroque buildings arranged in a semicircle.

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

Rovinj is very small. The Old Town is pedestrian-only, so walking is the way to see it. If you have limited time, we suggest visiting the recommended sites in the following order:

• • Green Market
  • Church of St. Euphemia
  • Bell Tower of St. Euphemia
  • Grisia Street
  • Port of Rovinj
  • Square on the Bridge
  • Carera Street

Following the suggested route will take you past the Best Things to See in Rovinj, including the two main streets and the Old Port.

Our suggested Rovinj Walking Tour starts at the parking lot on the north side of Old Town, follows the recommended order for visiting the sights, and ends at the parking lot on the south side. If you arrive by bus (or by car from the south), you will want to reverse the order.

Want to take a city tour of Rovinj with a guide? Book a highly-rated city tour in Rovinj to learn about its history!

Rovinj is a beautiful coastal town in Croatia that is known for its stunning architecture, picturesque harbor, and rich history. Rovinj is also famous for its seafood and traditional Croatian cuisine, which can be enjoyed at the many restaurants located throughout the town. Additionally, Rovinj is home to several important cultural landmarks, including the St. Euphemia Cathedral, which offers stunning views of the town and the surrounding sea from its bell tower.

For the best experience, we recommend staying near or in Rovinj Old Town. The castle marker in the map below is the top of the Old Town.

Rovinj offers a luxurious experience for those who seek it. For 5-star experiences, check out Grand Park Hotel and Hotel Monte Mulini. Both have multiple pools, beach access, and stunning views within a 10-minute walk of the Old Town. Whether you’re a budget or luxury traveler, Rovinj has accommodation options to fit everyone’s needs.

Here’s an interactive map with hotel and apartment options that can be filtered to meet your needs. Select your travel dates to get specific availability and prices.

Book your stay now!

It really depends on what you want to do and see in Rovinj. You can thoroughly explore Rovinj’s Old Town in one day. However, we recommend 3 to 4 days to explore the historic Old Town, rent a kayak and go kayaking to one of the local islands, take a boat tour to Lim Fjord, and relax at one of the local beaches on Punta Corrente (Forest Park Golden Cape) – Lone Bay Beach and Mulini Beach which are within walking distance from the Old Town.

However, if you have time in your itinerary and want to venture outside of Rovinj and explore more of the Istrian region, you may want to plan for a longer stay. The hilltop town of Motovun is a popular day trip from Rovinj. Check out our Motovun travel guide for more information. Another popular destination near Rovinj is Brijuni National Park where visitors can explore various islands, beaches, and forests.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide how many days you need based on your interests and travel plans.

Yes, Rovinj is a very expensive destination. Rovinj is a small town, and it’s very popular with Italian, German, Austrian, Slovenian, and Croatian tourists. The high demand and a limited number of accommodations and restaurants have created expensive prices.

Yes, Rovinj is very safe. We spent a month in Rovinj and felt extremely safe.

Yes, it is extremely safe to rent a car and drive in Croatia. The roads are very nice and easy to navigate. Be prepared to pay tolls, but they all take credit cards and are very easy to use.

If you plan to visit multiple destinations, renting a car is probably the best way to get around Croatia.

The time of the year with good weather and fewer crowds is often referred to as the shoulder season. The shoulder season in Rovinj is April, May, September, and October. For many, this is the best time of the year to visit. The peak season is the summer months with August being the busiest month of the year.

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

Your Rovinj packing list should include lots of sunscreen for the sun and non-slip shoes for the slick cobblestone streets when they get wet.

Do you need wifi 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.

Rovinj is located in the Istria region of Croatia.

I think Rovinj is the best place to base yourself to explore the Istrian Peninsula. It offers easy day trip excursions to Pula, Porec, and Motovun.

Book a tour to explore Istra while staying in Rovinj!

Rovinj is a coastal town that does not have a train station. You can get to Rovinj by car, bus, or ferry.

Ferry – There are ferries to Rovinj from Venice during the high season.

Car – You can rent a car at your arriving airport or train station and drive to Rovinj. If you prefer not to drive yourself, private transfers are a popular option in Croatia. For private transfers, we recommend GetTransfer. For rental cars and price comparisons of international and local brands, we recommend Discover Cars.

Bus – FlixBus and GoOpti are very popular bus options that have direct bus routes from Rovinj to major European cities. It is nice that their websites offer schedules and online ticket purchasing.

Rovinj is a seaside town in northwestern Croatia on the Adriatic Sea. It is a 1hr 30min drive south of Trieste, Italy, a 1hr 15min drive west of Rijeka, Croatia, and a 3hr drive southwest of Zagreb, Croatia.