Croatia's largest peninsula, Istria is packed with delights. When it comes you'll want where to stay in Istria, there's really no question – it's soaking up the sun and enjoying the fruits of the Adriatic sea in coastal town Rovinj. This seaside gem is the perfect base for exploring the whole compact region and we will craft the ideal Istria itinerary for you. Istria is often called Croatia's Tuscany, and as a shorthand that makes sense. It's got plenty of Italian touches – it used to be part of the Roman and Venetian empires and relatively recently Italy after all – yet Istria is more balanced in terms of the significance of its inland and coast.

Istria is ideal for the second-time or third-time visitor to Croatia. Most first-timers tend to start with Dubrovnik, and who could blame them, but Istria has much to offer, even if it lacks the wow factor of some of Dalmatia's big hitters. You won't find plentiful islands to hop between, but the lush inland has hilltop villages like Motovun and Groznjan scattered around. The coastal town of Rovinj, where the Venetian influence is particularly evident, is truly delightful. Istria's cuisine, heavy on truffles which are found here year-round, is a big plus. And who could miss the Arena at Pula, the fifth-largest surviving ancient Roman amphitheater? It's still in use to this day for concerts and yes, re-enactments of gladiator fights.