History, incredible views and truffles: Istrian hilltop villages just 2 hours away from the UK

Istrian hilltop towns are just a few hours away from the UK, as EasyJet has two direct flight routes to the local airport in Pula:

• Direct flights from London to Pula (2:15 h) until the end of September
• Direct flights from Glasgow to Pula (2:50 h) until the end of August

To reach all of the hilltop towns, depending on the location of your accommodation, a rental car or bike is needed. The maximum journey time is 45 minutes, as Istria itself isn’t very big.

Hum – the smallest city in the world 

Hum is the smallest city in the world, only 100 metres long and 30 metres wide, situated on a 349-metre high hilltop with amazing views above the source of the Mirna River. In the well-preserved mediaeval settlement, whose oldest remains date back to the 11th century, there are two cobblestone streets and three rows of houses, home to 52 people.

Legend says that the giants ran out of stones while building all the hilltop towns in the Mirna Valley, so Hum turned out to be so miniature.

There are a few shops once you arrive to try the local specialities and one tavern.

Tripadvisor reviews for “The town of Hum” confirm this is a place worth visiting, with 320 reviews giving it an overall score of 4.5 stars. Reviews called it charming, cute, with a beautiful view and a place worth visiting. 

Motovun – best preserved mediaeval hilltop village

Motovun, a little hilltop village in central Istria, is home to 983 people but is still considered a village, not a town.

It is one of Istria’s best-preserved hilltop settlements, located on a 277-metre high summit, with a wonderful view of the surrounding hills, truffle-rich forests, and the River Mirna fields. The picturesque village is known for its location and a film festival in July, which transforms it into a cultural party location for a few days.

Motovun has five restaurants and taverns, a few bars, and a shop, so you’re well settled once you get there. The only thing you should prepare for is having good sandals or trainers for the steep walk to the top. Or if you’re not up to the challenge, you can hop on a little bus that drives to the view. 

On TripAdvisor, “Hilltop walled ancient city of Motovun” has 562 reviews, giving it a high overall score of 4.5 stars. Users described it as a place with “tremendous views,” a “magical steep walk,” and called it the Croatian “San Gimignano.”

 Završje – the birthplace of Robin Hood

The little village in central Istria, home to 39 people, became famous in 2018. It was one of the shooting locations for Otto Bathurst’s Robin Hood. One of the old, shabby houses was used to depict the birthplace of the hero, played by Taron Egerton. It played its part as a mediaeval East Midlands.

Apart from its Hollywood fame, Završje is a village built on a 250-metre high hilltop, with amazing views of the surrounding forests and valleys at every step.

Before you visit, be prepared. There are no bars, restaurants, or shops there.

It’s a place where you can really find peace, and the number of TripAdvisor reviews confirms it – only eight for “Završje” and it still has a remarkable 4.5 score. Users have described it as “a trip to the past”, “a mediaeval ghost town” (in a positive way), and a “strange and magical place.”

Grožnjan – hilltop view and artistic vibe 

The artistic vibe is the one thing that differentiates Grožnjan from the rest of Istria’s hilltop towns. Home to 142 people during the year, this little village becomes an artistic colony during the summer.

A walk through the cobblestone-paved narrow alleys is filled with little local art and food stores, accompanied by the sounds of music – Grožnjan is a summer musical centre for young musicians. This musical tradition began in 1965 when artists from all over the world came to play in houses that Italians abandoned after World War II.

This photogenic little town has 486 reviews on TripAdvisor, with a high average rating of 4.5 stars. Users described it as a place with “bohemian charm,” “a fairy tale village,” and a “definite must-visit hilltop village.” Grožnjan is very lively during the summer, and you can take a break in one of its six restaurants and bars. 

Oprtalj – a view over the vineyards

Oprtalj is a charming little village on a 378-metre high hilltop overlooking local vineyards, olive gardens, and forests. This is a destination you need to visit if you’re absolutely done with crowds. This quiet place was vibrant at the beginning of the last century when a railroad between Trieste and Poreč was operating. Now, it has just a few souvenir shops and a nice tavern.

It’s so out of the way that, besides a few photos, you won’t find any reviews on TripAdvisor. It seems it is still a hidden gem.

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