Private tour · up to 10 guests
For couples, families, friends, and small groups looking for a personalized experience, a flexible pace, and more time for questions, photographs, and special interests.
Guided tour · Private and group tours · Pula
Pula guided tour: from the Arena to the Habsburg port
From the Roman Arena to the Austro-Hungarian naval port, this is a complete, carefully researched journey through Pula’s many lives. When you wish, monuments connect with the market, family recipes, olive oil, and traditions that reveal the city’s everyday story.
SCROLL
DurationAbout 2 hours
Private tourUp to 10 guests
Organized groups11 to 50 guests
LanguagesEnglish · Italian · Croatian
Meeting pointIn front of Pula Arena for private tours; for coach groups, at Pula Port, about 200 m past the Molo grande pier
AccessibilityWheelchairs · StrollersThe route can avoid steps and steep slopes. The Arena has an accessible entrance; the Castle can be reached through the tunnels and elevator with a separate admission ticket.
Choose your format
Private and group guided tours in Pula
The experience remains rich in local stories and meaningful details; the pace, organization, and level of personalization adapt to the number of participants.
Guided tour for organized groups · 11 to 50 guests
For associations, companies, schools, cultural groups, and organized travel. Route, duration, meeting point, and logistics are agreed in advance according to group size and needs.
The route
Six stops, three thousand years of history
The morning market reveals everyday Pula; in summer, late-afternoon light brings beautiful views from the Castle. Together, we’ll choose the best time for your trip.
- 01
The Arena and the Roman landscape
The amphitheater introduces the colony’s scale, its relationship with the sea, and the role of public spectacles.
- 02
Georg Karl Ell · CC BY-SA 4.0 Porta Gemina and the ancient walls
The surviving gates reveal how the city’s defenses, entrances, and urban fabric changed over time.
- 03
The Arch of the Sergii
A family monument, an ancient city gate, and one of the places where Roman Pula meets everyday life.
- 04
Georg Karl Ell · CC BY-SA 4.0 The Punishment of Dirce mosaic
A refined artwork hidden among modern buildings opens a window into Roman homes and mythology.
- 05
The Forum and Temple of Augustus
Religion, politics, and commerce meet in a square that still organizes daily life today.
- 06
Psittacuso · CC BY-SA 4.0 Zerostrasse and the Venetian Castle
If you choose this variation, we walk through the tunnels and take the elevator to the Castle to explore Pula’s underground and military history. Admission is paid separately.
The experience
The Arena is only the beginning.
Pula is far more than a Roman city with an extraordinary amphitheater. It was an ancient Adriatic port, a Venetian town, and later the leading naval port of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Dante mentions Pola and the Gulf of Kvarner in Canto IX of the Inferno: the city had already entered Europe’s imagination.
In the twentieth century, the Arena hosted summer opera, Beniamino Gigli, and later Pula’s film festival. The city endured wars, the Vergarola tragedy, the exodus, and new beginnings, yet kept creating culture. James Joyce, Alida Valli, Antonio Smareglia, Sergio Endrigo, Mate Parlov, and the Uljanik shipyard are among the voices of its many lives.
A historical tour enriched by Istrian food culture, family recipes, and traditions. The classic route remains complete and carefully researched, making it ideal for groups and first-time visitors. When guests are interested, I connect the grand sweep of history with everyday Pula through its market, fresh fish, olive oil, family recipes, and music. Tastings are optional and arranged only upon request.
“Through empires, departures, and new beginnings, Pula has lived many lives.”
Why this tour
See Pula. Hear it. Taste it.
Beyond the icon
From the Arena to lesser-known Roman sites, you’ll read the city as one connected story.
Tailored storytelling
Archaeology, churches, the Castle and tunnels; recipes, olive oil, ships, and music: you choose the thread. Admission is separate: €10 per adult for the Arena; €8 per adult for the combined Zerostrasse, Castle, and Historical Museum ticket.
Buy Arena tickets →Zerostrasse prices and hours →Zerostrasse tickets are purchased at the entrance.
Pula’s rhythm
The tour follows the city’s relaxed pace, with time for photographs and questions.
Call me: 00385 98 824 371Genuinely local tips
You’ll receive honest recommendations for fresh fish, pastry shops, wine, local beer, beaches, gelato, and places I genuinely visit.
Complete your tour
Local flavors
Make your tour even more delicious. In Istria, everything begins with fresh local ingredients, prepared with care and the aromatic herbs our grandmothers used. Summer evenings carry the scent of traditional minestra, homemade pasta with žgvacet, and grilled fish with garlic. Extra virgin olive oil is the golden thread connecting these flavors. Choose what tempts you, and I’ll recommend places I genuinely enjoy for their food, warm service, and fair prices.
01Istrian olive oil tasting
In Pula, at a wine bar on the Forum with a unique view of the Temple of Augustus; in Rovinj, in the rustic atmosphere of Kantinon overlooking the Old Town; or with selected producers across Istria.
Visit my Istrian olive oil project →
02Istrian wine tasting
Discover Malvasia, Teran, and other local wines at a renowned Istrian winery, combined with a coastal or inland tour.
03Authentic flavors of Istria
A carefully selected table of flavors from land and sea: Istrian prosciutto, local cheeses and ricotta, sardines in saor, fresh fish such as sea bream and sole, crab and scampi, veal slow-cooked under the peka, homemade pasta — fuži, gnocchi, and pljukanci — seasonal vegetables, tomatoes, wild asparagus, and prized Istrian truffles.
04Truffle hunting in the Motovun Forest
Venture into the Motovun Forest with licensed truffle hunters and their friendly dogs. It’s a memorable Istrian adventure—especially when one of these prized underground treasures is found.
Practical details
Everything clear before you go
What’s included
- ✓ A licensed private guide dedicated to your group
- ✓ A walking tour through Pula’s historic center
- ✓ A personalized route and pace
- ✓ Local recommendations before and after the tour
Good to know
- — Admission tickets unless otherwise confirmed
- — Transportation from your hotel, cruise port, or another location
- — Food and drinks
- — Accessibility adjustments based on the route
Istria, shared with knowledge and a smile.Your tour guide for Pula, Rovinj, Poreč & Istria
Know the places. Hear the stories. Experience Istria.
I’m Rossana, a licensed guide throughout Istria, historian and olive oil sommelier. For over 25 years, I’ve told its history through places and the people who live in them: Pula’s Roman stones, Rovinj’s batana boats, local words and family recipes. Your questions help shape the walk, at your own pace.
- ✓Licensed local tour guide
- ✓Istrian history and flavors
- ✓Tours in English, Italian, and Croatian
Travel together
Four-legged travel companions are welcome too.
Mandy approves: pets can join the Pula and Rovinj walks. Let me know in advance so we can adapt the route to each venue’s rules.
Meet Mandy.Before you book
Frequently asked questions
The essential details you need to plan your visit with confidence.
Does the tour include admission to the Arena and tunnels?
Admission tickets are not included in the tour price. Arena tickets cost €10 for adults and €5 for children, pupils, and students; the combined ticket for Zerostrasse, the Castle, and the Historical Museum costs €8 for adults. We can include the Arena’s interior or explore it in depth from outside, and we’ll agree on the route before your tour. Prices may be subject to change.
Is the tour good for children and teens?
Yes. The storytelling can be tailored to their ages, with extra attention to daily life, public spectacles, and mythology.
Can we start at the cruise port or our hotel?
When logistics allow, we can personalize the meeting point. Any transfer or extra time will be clearly included in your proposal.
What happens if it rains?
Light rain usually does not prevent the tour. In severe weather, we’ll consider an adjusted route, a different start time, or a new date.
Is the route accessible?
Much of the historic center is accessible, but paving, slopes, and individual archaeological sites may require adjustments. Please tell us about any mobility needs in advance.
Do you offer tours for blind or visually impaired guests?
Yes. I have completed specific training in guiding blind and visually impaired people. On request, I can prepare a sensory tour of Pula using touch, scents, music, and flavors, adapted to the group’s needs and agreed in advance.
Can I bring my pet?
Yes, pets are welcome on the walking tour as long as they remain on a leash and are comfortable in a city environment. Access to museums, churches, and other indoor spaces depends on each venue’s rules, so please tell us in advance and we’ll adapt the route.
Public reviews
Experiences shared by those who lived them.
Reviews published for “Curiosities and secrets of Pula,” a tour personally guided by Rossana and available on Viator and Tripadvisor.
★★★★★5.0 out of 5Rating published on Viator and Tripadvisor
History you can feel
Fabio Massimo P. highlights Rossana’s knowledge and patience, and the way she brings Pula’s history and meeting of cultures to life.
Interesting and engaging
Barbara C. describes a visit rich in anecdotes that reveals Pula’s long history in a natural, engaging way.
Knowledge and flexibility
Elly030 praises the historical and artistic insight, flexibility, and clear communication before the tour.
Contact me directly
The form is still misbehaving…
I’m working on it, but for now it’s quicker to call or message me on WhatsApp. Tell me your date, group size, and what interests you—we’ll take it from there.
I usually reply within 24 hours and, during especially busy periods, within 48 hours.
Let’s keep it simple
One call or message, and we can start planning your visit to Istria.
Call: +385 98 824 371WhatsApp