Istria’s romantic jewel
It’s hard to exaggerate the sheer beauty of Vrsar. A medieval hilltop town that overlooks the mouth of the blue-green Lim Channel – a verdant estuary flanked by forest-covered cliffs – this small but glorious spot on the Istria peninsula is home to some of Croatia’s most dramatic scenery. Aside from the jaw-dropping views, Vrsar holidays are all about wandering down photogenic alleyways, stopping in at places for delicious food along the way.
In the town’s meandering cobblestone streets, you’ll find cute cafés and boutique shops. This is the place to duck into candlelit restaurants to indulge in plates piled high with pasta topped with lashings of truffles and parmesan. Or if you fancy dining with a sea view, you can book into an eatery on the main boulevard – choose a sunset sitting and you can enjoy views of the sky as it swirls with neon pink and purple hues. Things really don’t get much more romantic than holidays to Vrsar.
Float along the canal
Easily the best way to explore the Lim Channel is on a boat trip, so you can admire its pretty waters, forested foothills and the oyster beds, too.
Feast on shellfish
Taste some of the freshest and most reasonably priced oysters you’ll ever find. Eat them when they’re practically just out of the water at wooden shacks near the channel and Lim Bay.
Visit an abandoned city
Take a trip to Dvigrad, a half-hour drive from Vrsar, which the locals call Istria’s Pompeii. There are two medieval fortresses among the city’s crumbling ruins, which are overgrown, eerie and fascinating.