Ultimate Guide to Visiting Brijuni National Park in Croatia

Brijuni are a group of 14 islands and islets in northern Adriatic, just off the coast of the Istrian peninsula in Croatia. These picture-perfect, lush islands were declared a national park in 1983 and are full of stunningly beautiful sites to explore. The largest of the islands, Veliki Brijun (or Veli Brijun), is one of the places I keep returning to, and it never ceases to amaze me. Here’s everything you need to know about Brijuni National Park before you visit.

How to get there

Although there are many smaller tourist boats offering trips to Brijuni Islands, the truth is that they aren’t allowed to dock at the National Park and only sail around the islands. Out of the 14 islands, the only island open to the public is Veliki Brijun. It’s separated from the mainland by a narrow channel, and official ferries to the island depart from Fazana, a small town easily accessible from Pula, Rovinj or Porec. You can buy the tickets for the ferry, which are also entrance tickets, at the local tourist office (address: 2 Titova Riva, Fazana) or book them online. You can:

1. Pick a tour which includes the ferry transfer to and from the island as well as a guided one-hour train ride around the island. I chose this option the first time I visited Veliki Brijun. It was a pleasant ride, but I didn’t get to see everything that was on my list.
2. Pay for the ferry transfer and explore the island on your own. I picked this option the second time I visited. You can walk around, rent a bike, or a golf cart. This way you can go wherever you want and spend as much time as you want there.

When to visit

The peak season in Croatia lasts from mid-June through August. However, unless you love the crowds and scorching heat, the best time to visit is from April through mid-June and September through October.

What to see

There’s plenty to see on Veliki Brijun, and you’ll want to come back again and again. Here’s what you should not miss.

Dinosaur footprints

There are around 200 dinosaur tracks scattered around the whole National Park, and they provide a glimpse into the time when these animals roamed our planet. The first footprints were discovered on Veliki Brijun, dating back to the Cretaceous period (145 to 65 million years ago). These discoveries unquestionably contribute to Croatia’s rich geological and paleontological heritage. You’ll notice some dinosaur prints right away when you get off the ferry at Veliki Brijun port.

Verige Bay

On the west coast of Veliki Brijun lie the remains of an ancient Roman countryside villa. The construction of this magnificent edifice began in the 1st century BC, and it was used for 700 years! This incredible open-air site is thought to be one of the three most luxurious villas in the Roman Empire, along with one in Pompeii and another on the island of Capri. It consisted of several buildings: a lavish summer residence, two peristyles, three temples, thermae, and several economic or agricultural structures. The buildings stretched along the breathtaking bay and were linked together by a network of promenades. The ancient Romans certainly knew how to pick the best places to live!

Ancient Olive Tree

Veliki Brijun is home to an impressive 1,600-year-old olive tree, which still produces high-quality olives. Although fairly young in comparison to the oldest olive trees in the world (there are olive trees in Greece that are around 3,000 years old), it’s still a great reminder that we are no more than dust in the wind.

The Byzantine Castrum

During the 1st century BC, the Romans built another countryside villa in Dobrika Bay on Veliki Brijun. There was a central courtyard, olive oil and wine production rooms, cellars, and small housing units. Life in the villa continued until the end of the 4th century, when it evolved into a larger, self-sufficient settlement with houses, olive and grape processing plants, storage rooms, workshops, etc. To protect such a large community, the residents built defensive walls in the middle of the 5th century and transformed what was once a villa into a castrum, a fortified complex of buildings. The castrum was inhabited until the 16th century.

Tito’s Cadillac

After World War II, Brijuni became a summer residence of Josip Broz Tito, the president of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and one of the founders of the Non-Aligned Movement. His famous dark green Cadillac, a gift from President Dwight Eisenhower, is still in excellent condition and is parked in front of the museum building on Veliki Brijun. Tito hosted many monarchs, politicians, and celebrities on the island, and you can find a collection of photographs of his activities on the island on the 1st floor of the museum.

Safari Park

On the northern edge of Veliki Brijun, there’s an old safari park stretching over 2,5 acres of land. The exotic animals, such as zebras, antelopes, llamas, Cameroon goats, ostriches, etc., are descendants of animals that Tito received as gifts from other world leaders. Besides exotic animals, you can also see some native Istrian animals such as Boskarin (Istrian ox) and Istrian sheep, and some donkeys and goats.

Mediterranean Garden

Finally, do not miss the tour of the Mediterranean Garden. There are as many as 169 species of indigenous and exotic plants on display, each with a QR code that allows you to learn more about the plant.

Where to have a snack

Sony i Lanka Café — located in the Safari Park and serves hot and cold beverages and ice cream.

Skoljka Café — next to the souvenir shop, serves hot and cold beverages, sandwiches, ice cream, and cakes.

Neptun Café — located within the Neptun hotel, serves hot and cold beverages, ice cream, and cakes.

Dining options

Saluga Restaurant — just a few minutes walking from the port, next to the beach, serves Mediterranean food.

Galija Restaurant — located near the central dock, serves Mediterranean food.

Ask a local

Brijuni National Park offers so much and is unique in so many ways. For more information, visit the official website.

If you are traveling to Croatia and have any questions, feel free to comment, and I’ll try to answer them.