3 Days in Pula, Croatia
Pula Arena in Croatia
Sightseeing in Pula
After a successful week in Rovinj, Pula was our next destination, a 45-minute drive down to the coast by the Adriatic Sea. Like Rovinj, Pula is on the Istrian Peninsula and is especially known for its ancient Roman ruins, beaches, and the Pula Arena.
We were looking for a few days of combined work and sightseeing. We returned our rental car to the airport and took a taxi to our Airbnb.
In the hills above Pula. View to the Adriatic Sea on the left and Pula Arena on the right.
We rented an Airbnb for three nights. The location was fantastic at the top of a set of stairs, leading downtown to cafés, restaurants, and historical sites.
The apartment was not great but there is truth to the statement, you get what you pay for. The apartment was very affordable at $20.00 per night as an off-season special.
The rooms were large enough but the windows were small and for one who seeks natural light, it was a bit of a struggle. The main living area had no windows at all. A leaky hot water tank, cold water only in the kitchen, and an odd humid smell in the outside hallways made it an adventure.
At the market in Pula, Croatia
Pula Arena
The ancient monuments, the arena, and the narrow side streets have been around for centuries and we were captivated as we walked around for hours. Pula Arena is the main attraction and was our first stop.
The amphitheater was constructed from 27 BC to 68 AD and is one of the last remaining six in the world. We have also visited arenas in Rome and Nîmes.
The arena in Pula differs from Rome and Nîmes. Views of the arena are not obstructed from the street, which also meant we opted not to pay for admission. We took in the attraction from the perimeter and enjoyed a coffee overlooking the arena.
Coffee at Pula Arena
The Temple of Augustus
We loved the atmosphere and ancient architecture in Forum Square. The main attraction is the Temple of Augustus, a well-preserved Roman temple.
The Temple of Augustus reminds us of Maison Carée in Nîmes and the two temples are considered the best complete Roman monuments outside Italy. Forum Square is also a great place to just sit, breathe, and grab a coffee.
Forum Square and the Temple of Augustus
Arch of the Sergii
The Arch of the Sergii serves as a beautiful gateway to the Old Town of Pula.
Fortress Kaštel
It is an easy walk up the hill to Fortress Kaštel and the views are amazing. We saw old ruins and walked the narrow streets. You could easily spend days exploring the historical sites in Pula.
The Arch of the Sergii, Pula
Pula - Final Thoughts
Pula was in part a work stay for us and when the weather was less than ideal we would spend time in our Airbnb and work on the blog and made more travel plans. Pula is a gem of a town that we had never heard of and warmly recommend it.
Our workaway stay in Rovinj led us to the region and Pula was a natural next destination to explore. If you like history, old ruins, and Roman-inspired architecture you will enjoy Pula. It was late summer when we visited Pula and hence missed the chance to explore the beaches.
Archeological site in Pula, Croatia
5050 Travelog Destinations
All Travel Destinations
Europe
Southeast Asia
Middle East
Canada and USA
New Zealand
The photos in this article are made using a Fujifilm X-Pro2. Lenses: XF 14mm f/2.8 R - XF 23mm f/1.4 R - XF 35mm f/1.4 R (links to my camera and lens reviews). Editing was done in Lightroom. I used Fujifilm film simulations for some of the photos.
