8 BEST THINGS TO DO IN MOTOVUN, CROATIA

If you’re visiting Istria and Motovun is on your itinerary, here are the 8 best things to do in Motovun to make the most of your visit!

Motovun is a small town in Istria, and if you’re visiting the region, it’s definitely one you can’t miss. As a local Croatian, I’ve been to Istria countless times, and Motovun always leaves me speechless. These are the 8 best things you can do in and around Motovun that are really worth your time!

BEST THINGS TO DO IN MOTOVUN

EXPLORE THE OLD TOWN

Motovun’s old town is incredibly charming. Even the drive up to Motovun is amazing, since seeing a town sitting on a hill like that is just incredible. Once you get there, you’ll find lots of narrow, beautiful streets to explore, and in each one you’ll come across something special – from historical landmarks and great restaurants to local shops, hidden bars, and stunning viewpoints. You won’t need long to walk through the old town, but trust me, you’ll remember every second of it!

WALK THE CITY WALLS

The city walls in Motovun aren’t very obvious, so make sure you don’t miss them. You can buy your ticket (€5) at the shop right across from the bell tower on the main square, and the entrance to the walls is just a few steps away. It won’t take you long to walk along them, but you’ll get some of the most beautiful views of the surrounding area. The green hills, vineyards, and olive groves are absolutely stunning!

SHOP LOCAL PRODUCTS

If there’s one place where I really encourage you to buy and try something local, it’s here in Motovun. Motovun has shops selling almost everything produced in Istria, and the must-tries in my opinion are olive oil, wine, and truffles. Browse the lovely, charming shops and pick up some edible souvenirs to remember this town by!

TRY TRUFFLES

I really hope you’re a truffle lover, because if you’re not, you’re seriously missing out. Istria, and especially the forests around Motovun, are very well known for their truffles. Istria has both white and black truffles, but the white ones are the most popular and expensive.

I’d highly recommend sitting down at one of the restaurants in Motovun and trying truffles in different ways. My favourite is always in a pasta dish, but you can also try them with eggs, cheese, or sausage. I highly, highly recommend Konoba Mondo, even Anthony Bourdain ate there!

GO TRUFFLE HUNTING

If you want more than just a delicious meal and you actually want to go truffle hunting, that’s an amazing experience and I’d definitely recommend it. These tours usually take you into the forests around Motovun with a guide and their dog to search for truffles. At the end, you get to taste what you’ve found in a few different ways. If you’re looking for a truly unique experience in Istria, this is it! Here are some of my favourite tours you can check out:

SIT FOR A DRINK AT ROMANESQUE HOUSE

No matter if you’re there in the morning looking for coffee or in the evening for a drink, Romanesque House is the place to go. It’s a bar set in a renovated traditional house built between the 11th and 13th centuries. It’s an incredibly charming spot with great coffee and cocktails, and the prices are totally normal for where it is. We love sitting down here, enjoying the views and the drinks!

VISIT THE BEST MOTOVUN VIEWPOINT

If you want truly stunning photos of Motovun, you have to visit this beautiful viewpoint just outside the town. It’s only a 5-minute drive from the old town, and you can easily find it on Google Maps. There are two photo props, a big bench and a picture frame, and both are great for getting really nice photos with the surrounding hills and Motovun sitting on top of the hill in the background!

EXPLORE TOWNS NEARBY

Finally, if you’re already in Istria, you should definitely explore the nearby towns as well. I’d recommend Hum and Groznjan. Hum is known as the world’s smallest town, with only around 15–30 inhabitants. You can see it in 15–20 minutes, but it’s still fun to be able to say you’ve been in the smallest town in the world. Groznjan, on the other hand, is in my opinion one of the most charming places in Istria (along with Rovinj, of course!). It’s an old medieval town with narrow streets, lots of history, and plenty of art shops. These two are a must if you’re already in Motovun!

WHERE TO STAY IN MOTOVUN?

If you want to stay longer than a day, you can absolutely do that! Motovun is a small town, so it doesn’t have too many options, but there are still some great ones. There are also plenty of small towns and villages nearby where you can stay for a more local experience. These are a few I suggest:

• Boutique Hotel Kaštel
• ROXANICH Winery and Design Hotel
• Hotel Fontana
• Casa Lucia
• Apartman Pietro

CONCLUSION: 8 BEST THINGS TO DO IN MOTOVUN

Motovun might be a small town, but it’s the perfect place to spend a day in your itinerary. Exploring the old town and the city walls won’t take long, but combining it with a delicious lunch and a truffle hunting tour (or visiting nearby towns) makes for an experience you won’t forget. If you’re visiting Istria, this has to be on your itinerary!