Pula in a day
A one-day plan for Pula: the Roman Arena, Porta Gemina and the Kaštel fort, then the Arch of the Sergii, Santa Maria del Canneto, St. Francis, the Temple of Augustus, the Communal Palace and the cathedral. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Pula in 1 day
Day 1
Pula Arena Must see
One of the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres, with its outer walls intact and an underground exhibition.
Porta Gemina
Roman twin-arched city gate of the second century, on the edge of the old town near the Archaeological Museum.
Kaštel (Pula Castle)
Venetian star-shaped fort on the hill above the old town, home to the Historical and Maritime Museum of Istria.
Arch of the Sergii
Roman triumphal arch of the first century BC, built by the Sergii family, leading into the old town.
Santa Maria del Canneto
Remains of a sixth-century Byzantine basilica, with only a small chapel still standing.
Monastery and Church of St. Francis
Gothic Franciscan church and cloister on the slope of the old town hill.
Temple of Augustus, Pula
Well-preserved Roman temple on the Forum, dedicated to Augustus, with a small collection of Roman sculpture.
Pula Communal Palace
The town hall on the Forum, a medieval palace built against the back of a Roman temple.
Pula Cathedral
Cathedral of the Assumption near the harbour, built on early Christian foundations, with a separate bell tower.
Watch: Pula
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Pula
May, June and September are the best times, warm and less crowded. July and August are hot and busy, with the film festival in the Arena in July. Winters are mild but many restaurants and services close outside the season.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Pula on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Pula on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Pula on GetYourGuide or on Viator
- From the airport: a private transfer in Pula with Kiwitaxi
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Croatia from Airalo
- Last day: leave your bags in Pula with Radical Storage and keep sightseeing
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Tips for Pula
- Visit the Arena early in the morning or late in the day to avoid the heat and the tour groups in summer.
- Summer concerts and the Pula Film Festival are held in the Arena; check what is on, as these evenings can close it to sightseers.
- The old town circles a small hill and is easily walked; the Roman sights are all within a short stroll.
- The cranes of the Uljanik shipyard are lit in colours after dark as the Lighting Giants show.
- Beaches are south of the centre, around Verudela and Cape Kamenjak; take a bus or drive there.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Arch of the Sergii: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Kaštel (Pula Castle): Miroslav.vajdic, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Monastery and Church of St. Francis: Dirgela, CC BY 2.5
- Porta Gemina: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Pula Arena: Jeroen Komen from Utrecht, Netherlands, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Pula Cathedral: Berthold Werner, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Pula Communal Palace: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Santa Maria del Canneto: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Temple of Augustus, Pula: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
