Villa Chiara

The lush inland areas of Istria are increasingly becoming popular as a tourist destination, in addition to the region’s well-known and beloved coastline. This part of Istria, known as “Green Istria,” is a lush landscape filled with pretty villages, incredible natural beauty, hiking trails, excellent things to eat, and some wonderful wineries. While Croatian wine might not be the most famous in the world, this region produces some remarkable wines that are well-worth exploring and getting to know better. If you book a vacation rental in Istria, we highly recommend diving into her food and wine culture and if you are travelling in May, then you should experience Croatia’s largest wine festival Vinistra, in the town of Poreč.

While most people would associate Croatian holidays with seaside breaks in the summer, If you are looking to enjoy a cosy foodie getaway in lush autumnal landscapes then we would also highly recommend a vacation rental in Croatia. With lots of inland areas that boast endless vineyards, dense forests, and historic hilltop towns, Croatia, as a destination is quite the looker at this time of the year. Plus, as the weather remains mild but begins to cool throughout the season, there are perfect conditions for hiking through those scenic landscapes and exploring those pretty towns without getting too sweaty. Additionally, with harvest season comes an array of incredible produce and products to sample and a unique cuisine with Italian influences that ensures plenty of hearty and delicious things to eat as it begins to cool down. So, pack some cute sweaters, some comfy pants that allow you to eat well, and shoes that you can walk in and come experience all that Croatia in the fall has to offer…

Looking for some scenic destinations in Croatia at this time of the year? Here are our picks…

Istria is often most popular as a seaside getaway destination as its beautiful coastline boasts lots of pretty coastal towns but, in addition to this part of the region in Croatia, there is the inland, “Green Istria.” This part of Istria is lush and green and scenic, with a landscape dotted by exceptionally pretty little villages, orchards, olive groves, vineyards, and rolling hills. It is also well-known for its incredible gastronomic heritage and, therefore, there are lots of delicious things to snack on as you explore this gorgeous part of the world. However, if you have found a villa in Istria and you are taking time to venture into Green Istria, whether you are staying on the coast or inland in the midst of it, then we recommend that you make a point to plan a day-trip to the unbelievably picturesque town of Motovun.

Motovun is a picture-perfect gem of a 14th century walled town that was fortified by the Venetians and rises up on a hillside that overlooks green pastures and hills all around in the Mirna River Valley. With the deep green Motovun forest at its base and the old walls, church tower, and pretty houses with terracotta roofs crowning the town, Motovun truly looks like something that has been plucked straight from the pages of a fairytale and that has been frozen in time. Throughout the streets of the town, once you have climbed the little road that stretches up the hill and passes through the houses and business on the outskirts into the wall historic core of the town, you will find an elegant and atmospheric cluster of astounding Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance buildings that house restaurants, coffee houses, artists’ studios, and little shops.