Porec Holidays

Porec’s taken a pew on Croatia’s Istrian Riviera. It joins a stellar line-up of historic seaside towns like Pula and Rovinj. And it fits right in. This former Roman town is a red-roofed looker, with an interesting old town and a mountain of beaches. So sunbathing and sightseeing are both part of its holiday package.

The water’s so tempting around here that locals plonk their towels on the boardwalk and jump right in just outside the city walls. But Porec’s also got more beaches than you can shake a boogie board at. They’re north and south of town, and there’s a mini-train that chugs up the coast to drop you off. There are totally wild ones, as well as Blue Flag bays with play areas at places like Zelena Laguna.

It’s an old-meets-new mash-up in Porec. By day, the old town draws in the punters, with its 6th-century Euphrasian Basilica, Venetian forts and cute cobblestone streets. At night, meanwhile, it’s the bubbly mix of harbourfront bars, cocktail lounges and beach clubs that do it. It’s easy to switch things up, too – Pula and Rovinj are an hour’s drive away. Plus, it’s only a couple of hours on a ferry to Venice.