Istria: A region raved about if you’re a multi-time visitor of Croatia, but also an unknown gem to the wider population of travelers. This northern coastal region is 4 hours away by bus from Croatia’s capital of Zagreb. While only 3 hours away from the Italian border, what surprises so many is that Istria used to be part of Italy at one point.
I first discovered Rovinj, a quaint colorful town in Istria after seeing posts of my previous supervisor vacationing there. I was familiar with Croatia’s popular coastal destinations like Dubrovnik, Zadar, and Split; but I never heard of Rovinj. After researching, I learned that Rovinj is another one of Croatia’s popular vacation destinations where streets are lined with colorful architecture and gelato shops on every corner. After hearing the constant rave people have for Istria (and Rovinj specifically), I decided to take a weekend trip there in the autumn season to see what the hype is all about.
My first words after departing the bus upon arrival: “Wow…. now I see why everyone loves this place”
As my eyes wander around while wheeling my luggage, I take everything in. At first, the town looks dead, I mean it’s off season so what can you expect? But I took this as a positive where there’s absolutely zero crowds and the only people you see are locals wining and dining. I arrive at my AirBnB with the cutest outdoor design of a summery blue door with a matching bike & flowers next to it. As soon as I drop my luggage inside, I take a quick power nap and head into the main center with my dog Cookie!
Side note: Cookie is 8 years old and a bichon-poodle mix. I’ve had him since I was 13 and he’s begun his travel journey with me on all of my adventures.. If you’ve met my dog, you know we share the same personality in different forms, and Cookie is sure to make you laugh and smile with his personality! The pup doesn’t leave my side, and is truly the best travel buddy and companion one can ever have.
Back to visiting Rovinj, here are some of the PROS and CONS of visiting during off-season.
PROS:
- No Crowds… Like Zero.
No crowds means you can enjoy the town while not being suffocated by the number of tourists that apparently come during the summer season. This makes it a safe covid-friendly place to visit as social distancing is no issue and you lessen your chances of exposure.
- Passionate About Photography Like Me?
It’ll be a breeze capturing all this cute town has to offer with no crowds! Forget about photoshopping people out, now you can capture Rovinj in real time. Furthermore, feel free to take your time getting that perfectly-angled shot you’re imagining or recording videos to create future content with.
- The Amount of Food You Get for the $$$ is Astonishing.
Let’s toast with some champagne to not being served overpriced meals. I remember eating at the famous Brasserie Adriatic (reviews here!) and having an incredible 2 course meal + dessert + cocktail for $35. The pasta I had was delicious and an Istrian specialty. I can imagine this being double the price during the summer peak when reservations are booked solid.
- You Don’t Need a Reservation to Eat Anywhere Your Heart Desires.
Dying to try that Michelin Star restaurant? Or how about that rooftop with views overlooking Rovinj? Save yourself the stress because there won’t be a long daunting line to get into these places!
CONS:
- Most Shops Will be Closed
While I was super happy to be visiting Rovinj with zero-crowds, that also meant a lot of the shops were closed. Majority of the cute boutiques, souvenir shops, and even gelato stalls were closed due to it being off-season. It was a shame because I was hoping to visit these cute boutiques and maybe find a piece of Rovinj to bring back with me.
- If You’re Hoping to Mingle With Other Travelers, They May Not be in Istria Right Now
Most people head to the Croatian mainland in Zagreb during the autumn season, where everything is open until midnight (due to covid-19 restrictions). While you might not find as many travelers visiting Istria right now, you’ll surely find them in Croatia’s capital of Zagreb or perhaps the second largest city of Split.
- Travel Transportation is Limited
With it being off-season, it’ll be challenging to plan a trip to the coast if you are trying to stick to a specific schedule. Buses only run a handful of times a day from Rovinj making transportation limited. Unless you rent a car and prefer to drive to Istria yourself, the bus (while limited) is the next best option.
Wrapping things up, I hope this article helped give you some things to think about when it comes to planning a vacation off-season. There are many perks to traveling off-season besides the obvious of being cost-friendly. But there are also some downsides that many travelers forget to think about and realize when visiting a place that’s known to be popular specifically during the summer-season. The Pros definitely outweigh the Cons (in my opinion) and I highly recommend experiencing a destination during off-season yourself to take advantage of the many benefits it has to offer.
