Our most recommended things to do in Motovun

From Rovinj/Bale: Istria in 1 Day Tour with Truffle tasting

1. From Rovinj/Bale: Istria in 1 Day Tour with Truffle tasting

Discover the wonders of Istria County on this multi-stop, guided tour from your choice of meeting point in Rovinj or Bale. Blend into local life as you explore the towns of Poreč, Grožnjan, and Motovun. Enjoy a tasting of the local culinary specialty truffles. The first stop is in Poreč. Here, you can see golden early-Christian mosaics at the Euphresian Basilica, a UNESCO world heritage site (entry fee not included). After a walking tour of Poreč, head to Grožnjan, a village that was abandoned entirely after World War II and has since been revitalized with the help of artists from all around Yugoslavia. Romantic stone-cobbled alleys and colorful workshops around every corner make the tiny town of Grožnjan a must-see location in Istria. Afterward, continue to Motovun, the mightiest hilltop town in Istria. Once in Motovun, try the most expensive mushroom in the world during a truffle tasting. Walk the panoramic city walls and admire Istria in all of its glory. You'll return to Rovinj or Bale in the late afternoon.

Istria: Guided Tour of Inner Istria with Food Tasting

2. Istria: Guided Tour of Inner Istria with Food Tasting

Discover some of Istria's most spectacular landscapes and idyllic locations on a guided tour of the peninsula. Travel in the comfort of an air-conditioned vehicle and learn about Istria's history from your knowledgeable guide. Start your day with a convenient pickup from a range of locations and get ready to see the best of what Istria has to offer. Your first stop, Lim Fjord on the western coast of Istria. Stop to take photos and capture the beauty of this striking landscape before moving on to your next destination, Groznjan. Join your driver and guide on a walking tour of this small medieval jewel known as the artist village. See the old town and wander down the romantic alleys lined with rustic cafes and konobas, the Dalmatian word for taverns. Hop back into your vehicle and head to Motovun, a scenic hilltop town dominated by Gothic and Romanesque architecture. Enjoy a tasting of some local products before joining your guide on a walking tour of the town and the ancient city walls. Make the most of some free time after the tour and sit down for lunch at one of the local restaurants. The Motovun forest is packed with truffles, making this town one of the best places to get your truffle fix. The last stop on your tour of the Istrian Peninsula is Pazin, where you'll visit the Pazin Abyss, an extraordinary natural attraction that has been declared a protected area. Enjoy a short stop here before heading back to your original starting point.

Istria Highlights Tour from Rijeka or Pula

3. Istria Highlights Tour from Rijeka or Pula

Hum is situated in the center of Istria with barely 20 inhabitants. Turn your trip to Hum into a beautiful story of Istrian small towns. This hidden part of Istria is extremely welcoming to visitors. According to the legend, Hum was built with the stones left over when giants were building towns in the river Mirna valley, an area in central Istria including the wonderful hill towns of Motovun, Roc, and Bale. Despite the small number of residents, Hum has preserved the ritual of Election of the Prefect for a Year. All the men from the parish gather at the Municipal Loggia (Town Hall) to elect the village superior by carving their votes into a wooden stick. Apart from being famous for being the smallest city in the world, Hum has recently become popular for Biska, which a brandy spiced with mistletoe and made according to an old recipe originating in Hum. Every year, at the end of October, the Grappa festival takes place here and hosts brandy producers from all over Istria.  In the north of Istria, located high above the Mirna River, is probably the most attractive and famous medieval town of Istria, Motovun. This fascinating site on top of a hill is a characteristic symbol of the interior of Istria. The bell tower, which is 13th-century Romanesque-Gothic, has a crown that is crenulated and dominates the center of the historic town from its position adjacent to St Stephen’s 17th-century parish church. In the center square stands the Romanesque Municipal Palace, which was Istria’s biggest secular building when it was built. Many other historical buildings surround it. Motovun’s forest which reaches down the Mirna River’s valley is particularly good for finding truffles, the alleged aphrodisiac malodorous fungus that grows underground. These white truffles of Istria, which are in season from September to December, are said to be as good as even the best French and Italian truffles. Vineyards surround the town from all sides and Istria’s finest wines including the red Teran and the white Malvasia are produced from the grapes of these vineyards. The whole locality is sprinkled with superb restaurants serving konobe. The city of Labin is an old medieval town located on a 320-meter hill with the new part of the town below. The Old Labin is the best preserved acropolis in Istria. Apart from many cultural and historical monuments, Labin is a city of artists. There are some 30 artists living and working there as well as several galleries. In nearby Dubrova, there is the Sculpture Par where International Sculptors Symposium have taken place for the past 40 years. In the summer, the old center is taken over by the Art Republic, which is a combination of music, performance, and fine arts. The town gates of St Flor, built in 1587, lead to the old town. There is also a 17th-century tower in the town offering a magnificent view. 

Trieste: Flavors of Istria Tour to Hum, Grožnjan, & Motovun

4. Trieste: Flavors of Istria Tour to Hum, Grožnjan, & Motovun

Istria, a wonderful peninsula that lies near the clear blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea, is famous for its coastal sights and its vibrant green inland vegetation, with numerous cultural-historic attractions and memorable natural vistas viewed from village hilltops. Additionally, it is a treasure trove of culinary delights. Istrian cuisine is a reflection of the climatic, geographical, and historical wonders of the area, combining multiple local culinary traditions based on olive oil, seafood, seasonal vegetables, aromatic spices, and indigenous plants. Hidden beneath your Istrian host’s smile is an on-going invitation to taste and discover the real features of this idyllic coastal land. It’s the environmental beauty and living history that draws you in; along with the diligent craftsmanship witnessed in every stone. During your tour you will visit 3 famous Istrian villages: Hum, the smallest town in the world; Motovun, the most famous medieval town of Istria; and Grožnjan, the town of artists and music, where you will taste local liquors, wines, cheeses, truffle products, and marmalades.

Koper: Flavors of Istria Tour to Hum, Grožnjan, & Motovun

5. Koper: Flavors of Istria Tour to Hum, Grožnjan, & Motovun

Istria, a wonderful peninsula that lies near the clear blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea, is famous for its coastal sights and its vibrant green inland vegetation, with numerous cultural-historic attractions and memorable natural vistas viewed from village hilltops. Additionally, it is a treasure trove of culinary delights. Istrian cuisine is a reflection of the climatic, geographical, and historical wonders of the area, combining multiple local culinary traditions based on olive oil, seafood, seasonal vegetables, aromatic spices, and indigenous plants. Hidden beneath your Istrian host’s smile is an on-going invitation to taste and discover the real features of this idyllic coastal land. It’s the environmental beauty and living history that draws you in; along with the diligent craftsmanship witnessed in every stone. During your tour, you will visit 3 famous Istrian villages where you will taste local liquors, wines, cheeses, truffle products, and marmalades. Hum – the smallest town in the world Hum, the smallest town in the world, is located in the heart of Istria that claims only 20 inhabitants. Your visit to Hum will be like a beautiful fairy tale of small Istrian towns. This hidden, picturesque region of Istria is extremely friendly to all visitors who come to marvel in the sights the town has to offer. According to local legend, Hum was built with the stones left over when giants were building towns in the Mirna River valley, an area in central Istria that includes wonderful mountain towns such as Motovun, Roč, and Bale. Apart from being famous for being the smallest town in the world, Hum recently became popular for biska, a spiced brandy made with mistletoe according to an old Hum recipe. Motovun – the most famous medieval town of Istria Northern Istria, located high above the Mirna River, is home to arguably the most attractive and famous medieval town in the country – Motovun. This fascinating town that lies on top of a hill is the characteristic symbol for the inner heart of Istria. The bell tower, which was built in the 13th century in a Romanesque-Gothic style, dominates the center of the historic town from its position adjacent to St Stephen’s 17th century parish church. There are many other beautiful historic buildings that surround it. Motovun’s forest is a particularly good hunting ground for truffles, the alleged aphrodisiac fungus which grows underground and is prized for its distinctive aroma. These white truffles are said by many to be as good as their French and Italian counterparts. Vineyards surround the town from all sides; Istria’s finest wines are produced from the grapes of these vineyards. The whole region is sprinkled with superb restaurants and “konobe.” During your visit to Motovun, you will get to experience these delicious local truffle products for yourself. Grožnjan – town of artists and music Grožnjan is a small Istrian town that holds a great cultural significance not only to Croatia but worldwide. Surrounded by green hills and magical white soil, this town is a must-see for those who want to discover the treasure trove that is Istria. Because of its interesting history, Grožnjan is rich in ancient churches, prehistoric sites, medieval castles, magnificent palaces, and many other historic structures whose past glory was recovered once again through restoration. Its white soil feeds the many neighboring vineyards and olive groves. Because of all this, the area of Grožnjan is ripe with agritourism and many taverns and restaurants offer traditional Istrian cuisine to their guests. Grožnjan is also home to several national and international artists. There are as many as 28 ateliers in this small town; there is also the City Art Gallery which hosts artists’ works from around the world (even the well-known Imaginary Film Academy found its home here). In the summer, all of Grožnjan becomes a stage for world renowned jazz and classical musicians, as well as many of the other artists who have discovered the true joy of creation here.

From Zadar: Full Day Private Tour of Medieval Motovun & Senj

6. From Zadar: Full Day Private Tour of Medieval Motovun & Senj

Take a ride to the medieval destinations of Senj and Motovun from the romantic city of Zadar. Make stops at the Vratnik Fortress, Nehaj Castle, and the Parenzana Tunnel for sightseeing, at-your-own-pace exploration, and photo opportunities. Enjoy pickup from your accommodation and depart for your adventure early in the morning. Make your first stop at the Viewpoint Maruna for quick sightseeing and taking photographs of the stunning view. Then, arrive at the Vratnik Fortress for a quick history lesson and photo op. Up next, take your time for an hour at Nehaj Castle, with a guide included in the experience. Walk through the castle's walls and learn important facts about the building's history. Find yourself next at the Gates of the Adriatic, a rest stop that includes options for food, drinks, and washrooms. Take as many photos as you like and enjoy the ambiance of the environment. Then, explore Motovun on your own, an Istrian Village that was once occupied by both the Celts and the Illyrians. Take the option to discover the town in the hills with a guide if you want the full experience. Afterward, spend some time at the Parenzana Tunnel. Admire the beautiful stonework as you walk through the arched passway and learn its historical importance. Afterward, make a final rest stop at Macola, where you can eat and pose with the stuffed animals.

From Poreč/Rovinj: Mountain Učka & Motovun, half-day visit

7. From Poreč/Rovinj: Mountain Učka & Motovun, half-day visit

Half-day tour starts at two pickup locations. One in Poreč and another in Rovinj. You'll be taken to Nature Park Učka with a magnificent view from the 1394m mountain to Istria and Kvarner Bay. After exploring Mountain Učka with a Guide we make a short stop for a Snack, Break, and aperitif tasting. We are continuing our trip to the Istrian town of Buzet. There you will be visiting a local farm "Majcani" with homemade cheese, wine, and olive oil. The next stop on our trip is the medieval city of Motovun. This truly beatuful small town is full of old architecture, small streets and shops with local homemade products. Our trip ends with the drop-offs to pickup points in Poreč and Rovinj.

Ljubljana: Guided Truffle Hunting Tour with Hotel Transfers

8. Ljubljana: Guided Truffle Hunting Tour with Hotel Transfers

Experience a day trip from Ljubljana to Croatia's countryside with this unique truffle hunting in the hills of Istria. Head into the woods with a local Hunter and learn how trained truffle dogs sniff out these precious tubers from under the forest floor and dig up white and black truffles. You are also welcome to taste truffle dishes with local red and white wines. Meet with a local family of truffle hunter in the Motovun and Stroll through the woods with the trained truffle dogs. You will also learn about how white and black truffles grow.

Other Sightseeing Options in Motovun

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What people are saying about Motovun

Overall rating

4.8 / 5

based on 25 reviews

This is the perfect way to explore green Istria. We thoroughly enjoyed our day with our guide. The route was breathtaking. We visited all the places we wanted to see - Groznjan and Motovun, before stopping for a lovely lunch on top of Motovun. The ebikes make this journey so much more enjoyable. I highly recommend it for anyone who loves nature, outdoors and adventure.

For us, the tour ended up being a personal and private tour of Inner Istria with Sini, and what an exceptional and personable guide he is. He is proud of his country, and rightly so. Spectacular. His area and historical knowledge knows no end, a truly wonderful day, capped off with a wonderful lunch in Montovun.

It was a wonderful little trip through the beautiful forest. Nikola explained a lot to us, the dogs were very cute and we actually found white truffle. It was a great experience and I definitely recommend it.

Our guide Nikola was very knowledgeable and we loved the dogs. While we didn’t find any truffles we had a very nice walk in the woods

Amazing trip. Nice guide! Also we found some truffles! Highly recommend.