Pula

Make the Arena your first stop, then continue to the Forum and the Temple of Augustus. Pula works well with one substantial visit and plenty of time between sights. If an Arena event catches your eye, plan it separately from the daytime visit.

Before you go

• Arena admission is ticketed; check the official visitor page for current tickets and opening times.
• Check the Arena’s programme as well as sightseeing information when planning a visit around an event.

Official visitor information

Where to stay

Choose your base around the kind of visit you want. Pula’s Tourist Board lists hotels in the city area alongside private apartments, hostels and other accommodation, so a central address can make the Arena, Forum and everyday services easier to combine on foot. The coast offers a different stay: the Tourist Board highlights resort accommodation around Verudela, where coves, promenades and resort facilities shape the day. Compare the location and accommodation type before booking, and check the property’s current services directly. Browse the official Pula accommodation guide.

Food and drink

Use the city’s restaurant directory to find a meal that fits your route, from a stop near the historic centre to places by the waterfront or peninsula. Istrian coastal cooking gives you useful things to look for on a menu: fish, shellfish, seafood risotto or soup, and brodetto or buzara are regional preparations described by the Istria Tourist Board. Menus change with the catch and season. Use the regional guide to discover dishes, then confirm the current menu, opening arrangements and booking needs with the venue. See restaurants in Pula and the regional seafood guide.

Evenings

Build the evening around a programme when one interests you. The Pula calendar covers concerts, theatre and exhibitions: the Arena is a concert setting, while the Istrian National Theatre and outdoor performance spaces offer other cultural choices. The Tourist Board also notes that bars and clubs host performers, particularly in summer. The programme changes with the season. Check the official event calendar for current dates and locations, then confirm details with the organiser before making plans.