Should I Go to Rovinj, Croatia?
Rovinj is a small town in Croatia that is definitely worth visiting for its charming atmosphere and beautiful scenery. If you’re looking for a pretty seaside destination with a great atmosphere, Rovinj should definitely be on your list of places to visit in Croatia.
When we tell others we are full-time travelers, one of the most popular questions people ask is: “Where should I go?” The honest answer is: “It depends.” The best destination depends on what you want to do on your trip.
Every city is different and has its pros and cons. We can’t say which city is best or our favorite because we like them all (or, at least, most of them) for very different reasons.
When we start thinking about where we’re going to go next, we consider several factors. Some are given more weight than others, but we want to ensure the destination has what we’re looking for and that there are no disqualifying issues (like weather or crowds).
To help you decide if Rovinj is a good choice, we’ve analyzed a list of factors we consider when choosing a destination and answered the frequently asked questions.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Factors to Consider Before Visiting Rovinj
We spent the whole month of August in Rovinj. Based on our experience, we assigned each factor a score from 1 to 5, with one being the worst and five being the best. If the attribute is unavailable or does not apply, we give it a 0.
If you’re asking yourself, “Is Rovinj worth visiting?” hopefully, this information will help you make a more informed decision.
Weather
Hot in the Summer | 2 |
Cold in the Winter | 3 |
Crowds
Few Tourists in Large Groups | 5 |
Few Cruise Ship Passengers | 3 |
Few Tourists in Couples or Small Families | 1 |
Pedestrian Only Areas | 5 |
Lines at Attractions | 5 |
Water Activities
Beaches with Calm Water (Kid-Friendly) | 5 |
Beaches with Rough Water | 5 |
Boating Activities/Kayaking | 5 |
Rocky Swim Spots | 5 |
Sunbathing | 5 |
Food and Beverage
Wine | 4 |
Beer | 4 |
Specialty Liquor | 5 |
Specialty Food | 5 |
Seafood | 5 |
Meat | 3 |
Street Food | 1 |
Food Market | 3 |
Interests
History | 4 |
Architecture | 4 |
Art | 1 |
Museums | 1 |
Castles | 0 |
Walled-City | 0 |
Palaces | 0 |
Hiking | 4 |
Running | 5 |
High-Fashion Stores/Shopping | 2 |
Nightlife | 4 |
Dog-Friendly | 3 |
Kid-Friendly | 5 |
Conveniences
Great Grocery Stores | 3 |
English Widely Spoken | 5 |
Outwardly Friendly Locals | 5 |
American Tourists | 1 |
Accessible by Train | 0 |
Day Trips by Train | 0 |
Clean Streets | 5 |
Noise | 4 |
Costs
Food Cost | 3 |
Accommodation Cost | 2 |
Activities Cost | 4 |
Transportation Cost | 1 |
A Closer Look at Each Factor
Some factors may sway you in one direction or another, depending on your circumstances and interests—for example, the weather. If you like to go to the beach, you may be looking for hot weather in the summer. If you like winter sports, you may be looking for cold weather in the winter. On the other hand, if you want to explore the old town (like us), you may be looking for milder weather in the summer and winter. For this reason, you may need to take your situation into account.
Weather
What is Rovinj weather like?
Hot in the Summer – 2
We were in Rovinj for the entire month of August. It was hot and sunny the whole time. Even though it was very hot, it did have a breeze which made it better. The average highs for June, July, and August are 78℉, 83℉, and 83℉, respectively. During our month in Rovinj, the temperature got up to 95℉ but most days the high was around 88℉.
Cold in the Winter – 3
We were not in Rovinj during the winter, but the average highs for December, January, and February are 50℉, 48℉, and 50℉, respectively.
Crowds
Few Tourists in Large Groups – 5
Rovinj only gets a few tour buses with large groups. It’s a destination more popular with couples and families than organized tour groups. While Old Town Rovinj gets crowded in August, it’s not that bad since most people are not blocking the streets in large groups.
Few Cruise Ship Passengers – 3
Rovinj has a small port and only had one small Ponant cruise ship that showed up every couple of days.
Few Tourists in Couples or Small Families – 1
There are lots of tourists as couples and small families. In addition to the overnight tourists, there were lots of day tourists. They arrived by car and ferry.
Pedestrian-Only Areas – 5
Except for a few early morning delivery trucks, Rovinj Old Town is car-free. There are ample parking areas outside the Old Town where everyone parks.
One of the must-visit places in the pedestrian-only area is Grisia Street, which is lined with art galleries and interesting shops. The street is famous for its steep hills and smooth cobblestones. From the top of Grisia Street, you get the best view of Rovinj’s old town and the surrounding area. Walking through the narrow streets in the Old Town is a unique experience that you shouldn’t miss when you visit Rovinj.
Lines at Attractions – 5
The main attractions in Rovinj are beaches, boat activities, and strolling through the Old Town. There isn’t anything that requires a line to wait.
Water Activities
Beaches with Calm Water (Kid-Friendly) – 5
Many beaches within walking distance of Rovinj Old Town offer calm water. Rovinj is an incredible beach destination with amazing beaches. The Punta Corrente is a beautiful park with lots of beaches.
Beaches with Rough Water – 5
Depending on the weather, the calm beaches can have rough water but nothing that would allow surfing or other rough water activities.
Boating Activities/Kayaking – 5
Boating activities are very popular in Rovinj. You can charter a boat, rent a paddleboard or kayak, or take a group boat excursion.
Rocky Swim Spots – 5
Rovinj offers some unique rocky swim spots with roped-off swim areas. If you don’t want to walk to the beaches, there are several public rocky spots with ladders to jump into the sea right in the Old Town.
Sunbathing – 5
Rovinj is a sunbathing destination. In addition to sunbathing on the beaches, people will lie on the rocks around Old Town and soak up the sun.
Experiences
These highly-rated water experiences are a great way to cool off during the summer heat in Rovinj. Book now to enjoy Rovinj’s popular water activities during your stay!
Food and Beverage
Wine – 4
Rovinj is in the region of Istria, Croatia. There are many vineyards and wineries in Istria, and Rovinj offers an excellent opportunity to taste the local Istrian wines.
Beer – 4
There are a few local beer producers near Rovinj, and their beers are sold in small shops around Rovinj Old Town.
Specialty Liquor – 5
Flavored brandy is very popular in Rovinj, and you can taste the different flavored liquors sold at the small specialty shops.
Specialty Food – 5
Istrian specialty foods such as truffles and truffle cheese are available to taste and purchase at specialty shops.
Seafood – 5
If you enjoy seafood, Rovinj is a fantastic destination to enjoy whole fish and langoustines.
Meat – 3
Several restaurants in Rovinj roast whole pigs on a stake over an open wood fire. These restaurants are on the outer perimeter of the town.
Street Food – 1
Rovinj could be a better street food destination. It offers ice cream, pizza, burgers, and French fries but doesn’t offer fantastic street food. Its food scene is geared more toward sit-down restaurants.
Food Market – 3
Old Town Rovinj has a medium size market, the Gradska Trznica – Mercato Cittadino. It is more for tourists than serious food shopping.
Experiences
Want to learn about local food and wine during your Rovinj stay? Book a highly-rated food and wine experience!
Interests
History – 4
Rovinj has a great history that you can learn.
Architecture – 4
Old Town Rovinj’s architecture will not disappoint. It is incredible. A popular architectural attraction is the Church of St. Euphemia, often referred to as the Basilica of St. Euphemia (although it is not formally a basilica). For a small fee, you can climb to the top of the church’s tall bell tower and enjoy a wonderful view of Rovinj.
Art – 1
There are small art galleries in the Old Town of Rovinj but no art museums.
Museums – 1
I did not see any museums in Rovinj, but I am giving it a one instead of zero because there could be a small hidden museum I missed.
Castles – 0
There are no castles in Rovinj.
Walled-City – 0
Old Town Rovinj is a beautiful island city with no wall around it.
Palaces – 0
Old Town Rovinj does not have any palaces.
Hiking – 4
Rovinj is a great place for hiking. For more information on Rovinj hiking, check out AllTrails.
Running – 5
We ran while in Rovinj and encountered many other runners.
The forest park Punta Corrente (Golden Cape) is the perfect place for a run. If you stay in the Old Town, you will run south along the harbor, past the large luxury hotels, and through the park gates.
For more information on Rovinj’s running routes, check out Map My Run.
High – Fashion Stores/Shopping – 2
There are a few fun clothing stores in Rovinj but no high fashion brands.
Nightlife – 4
Rovinj has lots of bars and restaurants that are open late.
Dog Friendly – 3
Rovinj is dog friendly in that many Airbnbs allow dogs, dogs are allowed in the outdoor restaurant seating areas, and the locals are friendly towards dogs. But dogs are prohibited on buses, restaurants, and grocery stores.
Kid Friendly – 5
We don’t have kids, but Rovinj is an excellent destination for children, and many families are there with their kids. Rovinj has many beaches with calm water. Lots of beaches have inflatable bouncy playscapes. There are also many kid-friendly activities like paddleboarding, kayaking, boating, and biking around the park.
Conveniences
Great Grocery Stores – 3
The grocery stores adjacent to Rovinj Old Town are small and have a limited selection. There are large grocery stores on the outskirts of the town, including a Kaufland, Super Konzum, Lidl, and Plodine. These large grocery stores were great but I’m giving this a three because they are far and not everyone would want to walk that far for groceries and not everyone has a car.
English Widely Spoken – 5
English is widely spoken. Knowing a handful of Croatian words is endearing and makes an excellent first impression on everyone, but learning Croatian is optional to have a great time in Rovinj.
Outwardly Friendly Locals – 5
Rovinj locals are very outwardly friendly and wonderful people.
American Tourists – 1
Rovinj has few American tourists. Most tourists in Rovinj are from Italy, Austria, and Germany. But, don’t worry, most tourists speak English as a common language.
Accessible by Train – 0
Rovinj has no train station, and you cannot go anywhere by train. It does have a very active ferry port during the summer months with a three-hour ferry to Venice.
Most people get to Rovinj by driving. For private transfers, we recommend GetTransfer. For rental cars and price comparisons of international and local brands, we recommend Discover Cars.
Day Trips by Train – 0
Day trips by train are not an option from Rovinj.
But day trips by ferry and rental car are an option. It is a great base to explore Istria on day trips. The best day trips from Rovinj are to the towns Pula, Porec, Motovun, and Piran.
Clean Streets – 5
The town of Rovinj works very hard to keep the streets clean with daily sweepers and vacuums. Go for an early morning walk or run to see how Rovinj keeps everything shiny and clean.
Noise – 4
Rovinj is a late-night dinner scene but surprisingly not a noisy location. But, if you are a light sleeper, you should confirm with your hotel or Airbnb that the doors and windows are insulated.
Experiences
Want to explore the area surrounding Rovinj? Book a highly-rated tour!
Costs
Food Cost – 3
Rovinj is not a super expensive food destination, but it is also not cheap.
Accommodation Cost – 2
Rovinj is a costly destination for accommodation. It was not our most expensive Airbnb stay (Cinque Terre gets that honor), but it was the third most expensive. And, what we got for that high cost was not much.
Activities Cost – 4
The activities in Rovinj are excellent and inexpensive. Two very popular activities, beaches and walking the Old Town, are free. Other popular activities, boating and biking, are reasonably priced.
Transportation Cost – 1
Transportation cost in Rovinj is very expensive because it is not accessible by train. We rented a car for our first trip to Croatia in 2012. It was great since our journey started in Ljubljana, Slovenia, went all over Croatia and Bosnia, and ended in Dubrovnik, Croatia.
We now use private transfers and rental cars when moving around Croatia and Bosnia. For private transfers, we recommend GetTransfer. For rental cars and price comparisons of international and local brands, we recommend Discover Cars.
Ferries are an additional option if you are traveling during the summer months.
FAQs About Rovinj
Why is Rovinj so popular?
Rovinj is a picturesque town located on the Istrian Peninsula in Croatia, known for its beautiful coastline, historic architecture, and vibrant cultural scene. Some reasons why Rovinj is so popular among travelers include:
1. Natural beauty: Rovinj is situated on a scenic stretch of coastline, with crystal-clear waters and stunning views of the Adriatic Sea.
2. Cultural attractions: The town is home to numerous museums, galleries, and cultural events throughout the year, making it a hub for arts and entertainment.
3. Historical significance: Rovinj has a rich history dating back to ancient times, with well-preserved landmarks and architecture that offer insight into its past.
4. Gastronomic delights: The food scene in Rovinj is renowned for its fresh seafood and traditional Istrian cuisine, making it a haven for foodies.
5. Outdoor activities: From hiking and cycling to swimming and sailing, Rovinj offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation.
These are just a few potential reasons why Rovinj may be so popular among visitors from around the world.
Is Rovinj Expensive?
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.
What is Rovinj Famous For?
Rovinj, Croatia is famous for its Old Town.
Where to stay in Rovinj?
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.
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!
Is Rovinj Pretty?
Yes, Rovinj is a charming town with wonderful architecture, beautiful beaches, and memorable sunsets.
How Many Days Do You Need in Rovinj?
You can thoroughly explore Rovinj’s Old Town in one day. I recommend 2-3 days for a more complete experience that includes enjoying the local beaches. For a list of the best things to see and a suggested walking tour, check out our article “7 Best Things to See in Rovinj.”
Of course, if you want to visit some of the local wineries or take day trips to nearby attractions such as Brijuni National Park or Pula, you may want to plan for a longer stay.
What Region is Rovinj in?
Rovinj is located in the Istria region of Croatia. It is also called the Istrian Peninsula.
How To Get to Rovinj?
Rovinj is a seaside 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.
Is Rovinj Safe?
Yes, Rovinj is very safe. We spent a month in Rovinj and felt extremely safe.
Is It Safe to Rent a Car and Drive around Rovinj?
Yes, it is extremely safe to rent a car and drive in Croatia. The roads are very nice and easy to drive on. Be prepared to pay tolls, but they all take credit cards and are very easy to use.
What is the best time to visit Rovinj?
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.
Do I need to speak the local language to visit Rovinj?
No, speaking the local Croatian language is not needed to visit Rovinj. A very large percentage of locals speak English.
What do I need on my Rovinj packing list?
Your Rovinj packing list should include lots of sunscreen for the sun and non-slip shoes for the slick cobblestones when they get wet.
Best WIFI for a Rovinj visit?
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.
Where is Rovinj?
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.