Even though we are close to the sea, we are not heading to the beach in this article. We’re going to the Central Istria.
Central Istria Walk & Taste is a series of free tours through six towns that often stay off the usual tourist routes. This year the event is organized from 17 to 31 August 2026 and from 7 to 24 September 2026. The tours are led by professional tourist guides, in Croatian and English, free of charge.
The „walk“ part alone is cool and educational, but it gets better. You will be able to taste local specialties of Central Istria.
Schedule
The program is designed so that every day you visit a different corner of central Istria.
- Monday, Pićan and Gračišće. The meeting spot is by the town gate in Pićan at 5 pm. An extra charge of 6 euros covers a tasting of maneštra and fritule with a glass of wine.
- Tuesday, Pazin. The meeting spot is in front of the bell tower of St Nicholas church at 10 am. For an extra 2.50 euros you can also visit Pazin Castle, the Ethnographic Museum of Istria and the Pazin Town Museum, and guests get a free tasting of Pazin cukerančić and pašareta.
- Wednesday, Sveti Petar u Šumi and Tinjan. The meeting spot is on the square in front of the Pauline monastery in Sveti Petar u Šumi at 5 pm. An extra charge of 10 euros includes a visit to the House of Istrian Prosciutto with a prosciutto tasting and a glass of wine.
- Thursday, Sveti Lovreč. The meeting spot is on Istarska street in front of caffe bar Dom at 5 pm. For an extra 10 euros you can try Istrian prosciutto and other cured meat products with a glass of wine.
Registration is required. You can register by contacting info@central-istria.com or calling +385 52 622 460. You will need your own car to get between the towns.
Get to know the towns you will visit
You will get to know the Istria that locals have known all their lives, the Istria that visitors too often just drive past on their way to the coast.
- Pićan: the smallest municipality in Istria, home to the most beautiful bell tower in Istria. It used to be the seat of the Diocese of Pićan.
- Gračišće: its history goes back 2000 years, when the town was founded by the Gauls. It later served as the summer residence of the bishops of Pićan.
- Pazin: the town is the administrative heart of Istria and home to the famous Pazin Cave, which inspired Jules Verne.
- Sveti Petar u Šumi: a charming settlement with a Pauline monastery and a historic Croatian library.
- Tinjan: known as the municipality of Istrian prosciutto.
- Sveti Lovreč: has historic walls which are a reminder that Istria was an important crossroads centuries before it became a popular holiday destination.
Where to stay
Have you decided to spend at least part of your holiday in the green interior of the peninsula? Here are three villas located right along this year’s Central Istria Walk & Taste route.
- Villa 55, Tinjan: It has a fitness area, a hydromassage tub and a Finnish sauna, and the yard is fully fenced, making it safe for children. Motovun and Grožnjan, two favorite destinations for Istria enthusiasts, are also nearby.
- Casa Vitale, Tinjan: Another option in Tinjan is Casa Vitale, which has three bedrooms, three bathrooms and space for seven guests. There is also a pool, set in a quiet rural surrounding.
- Villa Alma, Sveti Lovreč: For those more drawn to the Sveti Lovreč tour, Villa Alma might be a good option. The villa has a children’s playground, table tennis and badminton equipment, and other amenities.
We hope you take up the invitation to get to know Central Istria slowly, while sipping wine and listening to the stories of a local guide. Take a look at the rest of villas in Istria and filter for availability, prices and accommodation details.
Have a great time at Central Istria Walk & Taste tour!
