Rovinj is one of those places that's beautiful just to walk around — but it helps to know what you're looking at. From the old town's Venetian architecture to the islands offshore, here's what's worth your time.

The old town sits on what was once an island, connected to the mainland in 1763 when the sea channel was filled in. Five centuries of Venetian rule (1283–1797) left behind the cobblestone grid, the balconied houses in ochre and rose, the narrow stepped alleys, and above all the bell tower of Saint Euphemia — a deliberate echo of St. Mark's in Venice, visible from every direction as you approach town. That same rule shaped Rovinj's bilingual Italian-Croatian identity, still written into street signs and spoken in cafés today.

The essentials most visitors don't want to miss: the St. Euphemia church and bell tower at the top of the old town, the alleyway routes through the old town itself, Balbi's Arch and the harbour, and the Zlatni rt (Golden Cape) forest park just south of the centre. For the town's maritime and fishing heritage, the Casa della Batana eco-museum is small but genuinely worth an hour. Background reading: our guide to Rovinj's culture and history covers the bigger picture from the Illyrians through the 20th century.