Medulin holidays

Holidays to Medulin deliver a character-packed village on Croatia's iconic Istrian coastline. And, a bubbly night scene's thrown in for good measure.

An Istrian golden-ager

Medulin’s history as a small fishing village has left it with plenty of quaint features, including a pretty waterfront promenade. Bars and restaurants have sprung up over the years, bringing a lively seaside buzz with them. The village is home to ancient Roman remains, in the form of a villa thought to have been owned by Constantine the Great. It’s on the edge of Medulin’s northern peninsula, and is so well-preserved you can still see what’s left of the villa’s columns, marble walls and mosaic floors.

First-class beaches

There are three pretty beaches here, called Belvedere, Skrape and Bijeca. Belvedere and Skrape are petite pebbly stretches, popular with the locals and dotted with sunloungers to rent. Bijeca’s the beauty queen – it’s the only sandy beach in the area, and unfurls for a kilometre. A gentle slope and gin-clear shallows make it ideal for families, too.

Close to Pula

Pula’s the largest city in the area, and is well-known for its many ancient Roman buildings. The most famous is the Pula Arena – a huge amphitheatre dating back to 68 AD. It’s the best preserved monument in the country, and today is used as a concert venue – Pavarotti, Elton John and Sting have all performed here. You can catch the two-hour ferry to Unije from here, a small island peppered with beaches and rambling trails. From Medulin, the number 25 bus will have you in Pula in less than 40 minutes, or it’s a 25-minute taxi ride.