Novigrad

Istria is Croatia's largest peninsula, a green land of vineyards, olive groves and hilltop towns. It is known for its excellent olive oils, truffles and wines, and Novigrad is a great starting point for discovering it. Here, even the simplest dishes are authentic culinary pleasures, with just the right wines to go with them.

But Istria offers much more than fine food: festivals, events, get-togethers, music, sport and nature. Whatever kind of holiday you have in mind, Istria has plenty of ways to make it happen.

Novigrad was founded by the Illyrians, and in the 2nd century BC it came under Roman rule and became a regional centre of crafts and trade. You can still see traces of that past in the Lapidarium Museum. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Novigrad became part of Byzantium, and in the 13th century the Venetians took over. They built the crenellated walls with towers and the bishop's palace that still define the look of the old town. With the fall of the Republic of Venice at the end of the 18th century, Novigrad came under Austrian rule.

Novigrad takes Istrian cuisine to the next level, where top-tier seasonal ingredients meet time-honored culinary traditions. Expect velvety olive oils, fragrant truffles, sun-ripened produce, and Adriatic seafood so fresh, you can taste the sea in every bite.

When you take a break from the sun and the sea, head into the Old Town by day or in the evening and you will always find something to do, see or join in. For such a small town, Novigrad has a lot to offer: food festivals, music festivals and all kinds of events. You will find the season's programme on the Events page, and our reception team will gladly recommend what to see.

Novigrad is surrounded by pebble and rocky beaches with sunbathing areas, showers and bars, and most of them are within reach along the seaside promenade. Maestral Beach flies the Blue Flag, the international mark of a clean sea.

In Novigrad, summers are short, warm and mostly clear. Winters are usually long, cold and partly cloudy.
The summer season lasts four months, from June to September, with daily average temperatures above 25°C.

The warmest month is July, with an average high of 28°C and low of 18°C.
The best time to come to Novigrad would be between May and October, and June to September are ideal for beach and pool activities.
The winter season lasts 4 months, from November to March, with an average daily temperature below 13°C.

The winter season lasts four months, from November to March, with average daily temperatures below 13°C. The coldest month is January, with an average low of 2°C and a high of 9°C.

Whether it’s gastronomy, music, or celestial wonders, Novigrad never runs out of things to experience.