National Park Brijuni National Park

Website: https://www.brijuni.hr/

National Park Brijuni is a protected archipelago off the west coast of the Istrian peninsula in Croatia, encompassing a group of islands noted for their natural habitats and archaeological remains.

The islands offer a combination of coastal scenery, archaeological sites and landscaped areas on the largest island, with established walking trails and sightlines across the Adriatic. Veliki Brijun hosts the main visitor facilities, historic villas and landscaped grounds, while smaller islands provide quieter natural habitats.

The Brijuni islands have been settled since prehistoric and Roman times; the archipelago later became prominent as a 20th-century holiday and state-reception site, with some areas developed as private estates and a safari park before national-park status.

The islands lie off the Istrian coast near the fishing port of Fažana, opposite the city of Pula on Croatia’s Istrian peninsula, and are reached by scheduled boats from the mainland.

• Access point: Access to the islands is by boat from the nearby port of Fažana on the Istrian coast; visitor services and guided tours are concentrated on Veliki Brijun.
• Nature plus cultural heritage: The park comprises an archipelago of islands and islets with both natural habitats and cultural sites, so plan time for both wildlife walks and historical tours.

What to See#

• Veliki Brijun: Veliki Brijun, the largest island in the archipelago, contains the main visitor facilities, archaeological remains and the former state residence used by Josip Broz Tito.
• Mali Brijun: Mali Brijun, the second-largest island, has native vegetation, walking paths and viewpoints over the surrounding Adriatic.
• Safari Park and Tito’s compound: Safari Park and exotics enclosures introduced in the 20th century, where animals gifted to national leaders were kept; these operate as part of the visitor experience on Veliki Brijun.
• Archaeological sites: Archaeological sites including Roman villa remains and prehistoric settlement traces that illustrate long-term human use of the islands.

Brijuni National Park is reached by ferry from the port town of Fažana on the Istrian mainland (near Pula). Regular tourist boats operate in the high season; book ahead during summer.

Fažana is about a 15-20 minute drive from Pula, which is served by regional buses and car routes.

• Take the boat from Fažana for the shortest crossing to Brijuni; ferries are frequent in summer but check schedules off-season.
• Rent a bicycle or take the island train-the park forbids private cars and the islands are best explored on two wheels or by guided bus.
• Don't miss the Roman villa ruins and the safari park with its free-roaming deer and peacocks.