Things to do in Pula

Pula sits near the southern tip of Istria, a working port with Roman monuments in its streets. The amphitheatre stands at the edge of the old town. Most things to do in Pula start there.

The Roman core

The Arena dates from the first century AD. Its outer wall still stands all the way round, up to 32 metres high, with four towers.

• Arena. About 130 by 100 metres. It hosts concerts and, in July or August, the Pula Film Festival, held since 1954.
• Underground passages. A permanent exhibition on olive oil and wine-making in Roman Istria.
• Forum. The main square since Roman times, with the Temple of Augustus, built between 2 BC and AD 14.
• Arch of the Sergii. A triumphal arch of around 29 to 27 BC, built on a city gate and still called the Golden Gate.
• Kaštel. A star-shaped Venetian fortress of the 17th century on the central hill, with views over the harbour.

A naval town

In the mid-1800s the Habsburgs made Pula their main naval harbour. James Joyce taught English to naval officers here in 1904 and 1905. A bronze of him sits outside Caffe Uliks.

Boats and drives out of Pula

The offer here leans on the road out, by private car or van. One boat stays local.

• Boom Boat Party. A party boat from the Riva on summer evenings, with a DJ and a swim stop.
• Trieste. About 110 kilometres through Slovenia, an hour and a half direct.
• Trieste with a stop. Two hours in Rovinj, 35 kilometres north, or in Poreč, which has a UNESCO-listed basilica. Motovun and Grožnjan are hill towns inland.
• Zagreb. About two and a half hours by motorway.
• Split. Seven hours, including two for sightseeing.

Practical

• Weather. July and August afternoons run 28 to 29C. January afternoons reach about 10C and nights fall to 1C.
• Beaches. Most are rock slabs or pebble, so water shoes help.
• Airport. Six kilometres from the centre, with an airport-run shuttle bus into town.
• Borders. The Trieste run crosses Slovenia into Italy. Border checks there come and go, so carry a passport or ID card.
• Language. Italian is co-official in Istria County, so place names are often shown twice: Pula is Pola.
• Boat trips. The swim stop depends on weather and sea conditions.