BRIJUNI NATIONAL PARK GUIDE: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW FROM A LOCAL

If you’re visiting Croatia and spending time in the Istria region, you absolutely must visit Brijuni National Park!

As a local, I’m a huge fan of Croatia’s national parks, but there’s something truly special about Brijuni that I love. It’s one of the prettiest national parks in the country, and it feels much more relaxing than some of the other popular parks in Croatia. The park is quite large, so even during summer you can still find peaceful corners and enjoy some quiet time.

If you’re in Istria, this is a stop you really shouldn’t miss. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about visiting Brijuni National Park!

WHERE IS BRIJUNI NATIONAL PARK?

National park Brijuni is one of the most popular coastal national parks in Croatia. It’s situated in Istria, the biggest peninsula in Croatia. The closest big city to this NP is Pula, but the town where your Brijuni day trip starts is Fazana!

HOW TO REACH IT AND BUY TICKETS?

The national park can be reached by ferry from Fazana, a small town opposite of Brijuni islands. The ferry ride is included in the ticket and it lasts around 15 minutes. The timetable varies and depends on the season, so be sure to check the official website of the park. You don’t have to worry about departures as they are very frequent during the summer season, and a bit rarer in late autumn and winter.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO GO TO BRIJUNI NP?

This magical national park is beautiful at any point in time, but you need to be aware that it’s one of Croatia’s most famous national parks and it can be crowded during summer. However, it’s still really big, so it’s not like you’ll be bumping into people! I highly recommend visiting in autumn, although spring is really nice as well. The temperatures are still quite high on the coast, around 25-26 degrees celsius, but the crowds are smaller than in the summer.

HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU NEED FOR BRIJUNI NP?

Brijuni National Park covers around 33.9 kilometers square, so it’s quite massive. It includes 2 large islands – Veliki Brijun and Mali Brijun, and 12 smaller ones. To explore the main island of Veliki Brijun, you will need at least one full day. If you’re planning on walking through the island, I recommend taking 2 days for this trip, because you’ll need it. If you choose a biking route, you can explore it in a day and this is what I’d recommend the most!

WHERE TO STAY?

If you’re choosing to stay in the national park, there are a few hotels and villas you can choose from. The most popular hotel there is Hotel Neptun, which you’ll notice immediately as you arrive on the island. If you’re looking for a place to stay near Brijuni, choose Fazana or Pula. We usually stay in Pula, which is 15 minutes away from Fazana and NP Brijuni. The accommodation in autumn is really not that expensive. I have a whole guide to best stays in Pula, so check it out!

WHAT TO DO IN BRIJUNI NP?

There are many things you can do in this national park, it just depends on the season during which you’re visiting. Here are my top 5 things to do while you’re there:

1. RENT A BIKE

The best thing you can do to explore the island completely is to rent a bike. By renting a bike you’ll be able to cover more ground and experience the national park in a very different light. The bikes are not expensive, around 7 euros per hour. If you’re not a fan of cycling you can rent a golf cart for around 30 euros per hour and just drive around.

2. TRY GOLFING

NP Brijuni has one of the most unique golf courses you could play on. It’s been in use since 1922 and it offers an extraordinary experience of playing in almost untouched nature. The course welcomes everyone, from complete amateurs to professional golfers. If you choose to play, you’ll have to spend around 50 euros for a day pass, plus you’ll need to additionally rent golf clubs if you don’t have your own!

3. VISIT THE SAFARI

The most loved and most popular part of Brijuni NP is the Safari park. The massive safari stretches over 9 ha of the northern part of Veliki Brijun. There are several animal species living there, the most popular being the Indian elephant Lanka, llamas, zebras, and ostriches. It’s an absolute favourite for children so prepare for crowds, but the place is so vast you won’t really feel it’s jam-packed.

4. TAKE A SWIM

NP Brijuni has a popular beach Saluga Bay, perfect for a dip if you’re there during summer. The beach has deck chairs, catering, and a family zone so you’ll have no problem enjoying your time there. You can also take a swim at cape Slavulja or on a rocky beach near Villa Fažanka. It’s strictly forbidden to swim anywhere else except these 3 places.

5. TAKE THE TOURIST TRAIN

The tourist train is many people’s favorite way to get around the island. This panoramic drive through the NP is especially nice for children, but adults enjoy it too. Keep in mind that the train is ALWAYS crowded so if you don’t like big crowds maybe skip it.

WHAT TO SEE IN BRIJUNI NP?

The national park offers a lot of interesting activities you can do and those are more fun, but there are still a few historical locations you definitely need to see.

1. DINOSAURS?

It’s believed that dinosaurs lived on the Brijuni islands around 100 million years ago! How? There are over 200 dinosaur footprints on the islands.  You can find them on Veliki Brijun and several smaller islands. On Veliki Brijun you also have a replica of the specific species that lived there, so that’s something that would be really interesting for children.

2. TITO’S VILLA

Josip Broz Tito, the leader of SFR Yugoslavia, made Veliki Brijun his official residence. Tito hosted many parties and meetings with various influential global leaders right there at the White Villa. Some of the most famous political figures that visited Veliki Brijun were Queen Elizabeth and Fidel Castro. An interesting activity you can do if you have a big budget is to rent Tito’s Cadillac for a short ride. Half an hour is 660 euros. A steal 😅!

3. ST. MARY’S BASILICA

The Basilica was built in the 6th century and to this day some of its strongest walls are kept at their original height. The Christian church was fairly big as it has to accommodate a quite large population of the nearby village.  The ruins are very interesting and you can see them for free.

MY PERSONAL TAKE ON BRIJUNI NATIONAL PARK

If you simply want to enjoy beautiful nature without too many people around you, Brijuni National Park is an incredible destination. While a park like Plitvice Lakes National Park may be more jaw-dropping at first sight, the complete peace you get here, cycling around the island and enjoying the scenery, is truly unmatched. I get excited every single time I visit Brijuni, and I’m absolutely sure you would love it too. If it fits your budget, try to stay one night inside the national park. Waking up there is simply mind-blowing!

CONCLUSION: BRIJUNI NATIONAL PARK

I often call Brijuni National Park my favourite national park in Croatia and I stand by that. It’s an absolutely incredible archipelago just off the coast of Istria, and I’d highly encourage you to visit. Not only is the island perfect for cycling, but you’ll also get to see the unique safari park, spot real dinosaur footprints, and even try golfing. If you’re looking for a relaxing day surrounded by nature, it really doesn’t get much better than this!