Tar Vabriga holidays

Holidays to Tar Vabriga give you two villages for the price of one, plus easy access to Istria's pebbly coves and coastline.

Two villages, one Istrian escape

You get two for the price of one when you holiday here – twin hilltop villages Tar and Vabriga make up this little nugget in the Istria region of Croatia. With an oldy-worldy feel, stone houses and historic churches, it’s got all the makings of a rural escape (especially if cycling, walking and vineyards make up half your holiday checklist). And you’re not tucked away in the middle of nowhere, either. Poreč and Novigrad are easy to reach, and the coast is close enough for the beach lover in the group to still get their fix of the Adriatic.

‘Oil let you in on a secret…’

Spain, Sicily and Greece may be the Med’s big olive oil heroes, but Istria’s liquid gold quietly gives them a run for their money. Just at the foot of Tar, Larun groves turn out high-quality extra virgin olive oil – the really good stuff – thanks to a winning mix of fertile soil, sea air and sunshine. You’ll definitely want to keep a sliver of suitcase space for a bottle. Oh, and wine gets a cameo, too – vineyards scribble their way across the countryside here.

Follow the coast to Lanterna

When it comes to beach days around here, all roads tend to point towards Lanterna – a green peninsula where the coastline mixes pebbly coves, rocky sunbathing spots and shimmery blue-green shallows. It’s not a perfectly lined-up parasol scene, but that’s the charm – you just park up, follow the shore until a tree-backed spot takes your fancy, then hang around for golden hour. Trust us, sunsets over this bit of the Adriatic are class.

Hop between Poreč and Novigrad

You’re nicely placed for a bit of town-hopping, too. Poreč is about 15 minutes away by car, with harbour walks, polished stone streets, and the UNESCO-listed Euphrasian Basilica for your culture fix. Novigrad’s around the same driving distance in the other direction, bringing Skittle-coloured waterfronts and seafood restaurants to the table.