Novigrad

Novigrad also suffered the fate of other charming towns that developed along the coast: from a quiet fishing village, it turned into a popular seaside resort. Fortunately, its charm has remained intact and Novigrad is still a very pretty town with a characteristic old centre.

Tourists are attracted here by the beautiful beaches in the surrounding area, the clean sea, the quantity of services and hotel facilities, as well as the good land connections: for these reasons it is very suitable for a family holiday.

It also lends itself well to a couple’s holiday, consisting of relaxing afternoons on the beach, fresh fish dinners in one of the small restaurants in the centre and romantic walks by the sea.

In more recent years, with the opening of new cycling routes throughout Istria, Novigrad has also become an attractive destination for lovers of holidays on two wheels.

Things to do in Novigrad

Medieval in origin, the centre of Novigrad is pretty, full of characteristic narrow streets and alleys. The perfectly preserved city walls are the main attraction but other buildings reveal the town’s long past and a strong Venetian influence, including the town loggia and some beautiful houses.

On a rainy day (it’s rare in these parts but with the weather you never know…) or for a break from too much sun, you can visit the city’s two most interesting museums.

The Lapidarium is a modern museum and houses one of the most important museum collections in Croatia, plus some temporary exhibitions. The museum building itself is worth seeing: located in a park, it has the bizarre shape of two black boxes with large windows.

Founded by photographer and designer Sergio Gobbo, the Gallerion Museum houses a collection tracing the history of the navy and naval wars. On display are model ships, nautical maps, sailor uniforms and many other exhibits.

The most beautiful religious building in Novigrad is undoubtedly the Parish Church of St Pelagius and St Maximus, dating back to the 5th-6th centuries AD; unfortunately, the original bell tower has not been preserved, demolished at the end of the 19th century in order to build a new one, separate from the church.

What to do in Novigrad

In addition to lazy afternoons on the beach, you can spend more active days in Novigrad exploring the town’s surroundings by bicycle. Istria has numerous cycling routes suitable for both cyclists and mountain bikers of varying difficulty, but all of them are well signposted and surrounded by greenery.

Another fascinating way to explore the area is to take a boat trip, which will allow you to admire the coastline in all its beauty.

A very important element of tourism in Croatia is food and wine: excellent wines, tasty fish dishes and other local gastronomic specialities will make lunch and dinner particularly enjoyable.

If you are travelling with children, treat yourself to a day of family fun at the Istralandia water park, located only 7 km from Novigrad.

Beaches in and around Novigrad

The beaches around Novigrad are mostly pebbles and pebbles or cemented terraces with steps down to the water. There are no sandy beaches, but some equipped beaches have sandy pools for children to play in.

The quality of services on the equipped beaches is very good, so much so that some have been awarded the Blue Flag.

Some of the most beautiful beaches in and around Novigrad include

• Karpinjan Beach: a 500-metre-long pebble beach with a small rocky area, surrounded by a pine forest that offers some refreshment. It is located north of the town, a short distance from the old town centre, and can therefore be easily reached on foot or by bicycle.
  
• Hotel Maestral Beach: open to all, it can be reached by following the cemented road that starts from the hotel. It is an equipped beach with all facilities, with a pebble area and a cemented terrace area. It is about 1 km from the centre.
• Camping beach Sirena: another beautiful, fully-equipped beach open to everyone, combining a rocky part and a cemented terrace.
• Kamenjak Cape: a wild-looking area dotted with small pebble or rocky beaches, suitable for those who love nature and want to stay away from the hustle and bustle, or for those who enjoy diving. It is located 10 km from Novigrad.

Where to stay in Novigrad

Novigrad is a very developed tourist town, so there is a wide choice of hotels, flats and holiday homes; there are also some tourist resorts, campsites and hostels.

In general, it is not an expensive resort, but in July and August prices soar and finding a room by booking at the last minute can be difficult. Better to travel at other times or book well in advance.

Recommended hotels in Novigrad

We offer a selection of hotels at Novigrad to suit all categories of travellers. The most booked by tourists are the sea-facing hotels, often right on the beach. If you want to play it safe, choose one of the following: they are among the most booked hotels in Novigrad, sorted by number of reviews.

Apartments and vacation homes in Novigrad

If you prefer space, privacy and the ability to prepare your own meals to a hotel holiday, book a holiday home at Novigrad. We recommend a few below, but in this case we advise you to book early because houses and apartments for rent at Novigrad are in high demand.

How to get to Novigrad

For those who live in neighbouring countries, it is really easy to get to Novigrad by car: just drive over the border to Slovenia in the direction of Koper and then head for Novigrad. During the summer months, several ferries connect Italy with Istria, a peninsula that enjoys an excellent road network with easy connections to all locations.

Novigrad does not have an airport: the nearest is the one in Pula.

Novigrad Weather