Pula
Pula is a port city at the southern tip of Istria, known for a 1st-century Roman amphitheater, Roman monuments near the old forum, and a warm summer sea for swimming.
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Pula is Istria County's largest city, at the southern tip of the Istrian peninsula in western Croatia. Croatian and Italian are both official, so you will see Pula and Pola on maps and signs. Pula is best known for its Roman buildings. The Pula Arena, a 1st-century amphitheater, is among the best preserved in the world, and it still hosts summer film festivals and cultural events. Check the programme before you go. The Arch of the Sergii and the Temple of Augustus stand near the old forum.
Pula Airport lies north-east of the city, and the bus terminal sits west of the Arena. Trains from Pula run north to Slovenia but do not connect to the Croatian rail network. Passenger ferries sail from the port to nearby islands, including Brijuni National Park, which was the summer residence of Josip Broz Tito. The beaches are warm enough for swimming mainly in summer, when sea temperatures reach up to 26 °C. Plan at least a day for the Arena and old town, and more if you take a boat trip to the islands.
Pula in five
- Buy Arena tickets online and check the monthAdults pay €10 and children, pupils and students €5, with under-fives free, and the ticket office closes an hour before closing. Opening hours change by month, from 08:00 to 22:00 in summer to 09:00 to 17:00 from November to March.
- Take the airport shuttle to the bus stationPula Airport runs a shuttle to the main bus station for €6, leaving 30 minutes after landing. The timetable changes from day to day, so check the airport page for your arrival date.
- Use the EES kiosk when landing from outside SchengenCroatia's interior ministry lists Pula among six airports with self-service EES kiosks, where first-time non-EU visitors pre-register before the officer check. Read the guide before you travel.EES explained
- Walk the Roman circuit in a morningThe Arch of the Sergii, the Forum, the Temple of Augustus, the Twin Gates and the small Roman theater sit close together in the old town. The tourist office lists them all under culture.
- Add Rovinj or Poreč for a second nightThe Rovinj and Poreč tourist boards both list Pula as an excursion, and Pula is 102 km from Rijeka by road. Pair Pula with one of the two towns rather than several.Rovinj
Things to do in Pula
See all attractions in Pula
Need to know
- Airport
- Pula (PUY); shuttle to the main bus station
- Getting there
- By road: Rijeka 102 km, Zagreb 288 km, Trieste 126 km
- Getting around
- Walkable center; buses and boats for Verudela and Brijuni
- Best base
- Old town for sights; Verudela or Stoja for beaches
- Time needed
- 1 to 2 days; 3 with Brijuni and Kamenjak
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh9°Low5°Cold, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 92 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh11°Low6°Cold, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 102 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh13°Low8°Cool, quietMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 83 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh16°Low11°Spring, freshAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 88 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, fresh
- MayRain13 rainy daysHigh20°Low15°Warm, calmMayRain
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 118 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calm
- JuneClear7 rainy daysHigh25°Low20°Warm seaJuneClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 60 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- JulyClear7 rainy daysHigh28°Low22°Hot, Arena showsJulyClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 59 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, Arena shows
- AugustClear6 rainy daysHigh28°Low22°Hot, Arena showsAugustClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 74 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, Arena shows
- SeptemberRain10 rainy daysHigh24°Low19°Warm sea, calmerSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 178 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea, calmer
- OctoberRain11 rainy daysHigh19°Low15°Mild, quieterOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 162 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quieter
- NovemberRain14 rainy daysHigh14°Low10°Wet, quietNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 188 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, quiet
- DecemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh11°Low7°Cold, AdventDecemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 132 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, Advent
Average daily high and low in Pula, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Pula
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
11
- Feels like
- 5°
- Humidity
- 59%
- Wind
- 31 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 25%
Pula
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today14°10°25%Monday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 25%.
- Tue14°10°15%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Wed14°10°13%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 13%.
- Thu14°9°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri14°6°20%Friday: Clear. High 14°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 20%.
- Sat12°9°36%Saturday: Rain. High 12°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 36%.
- Sun15°10°43%Sunday: Rain. High 15°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 43%.
Updated 05:39 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- FebRijeka CarnivalRijeka, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Rovinjby bus or carA photogenic old town and a bell tower on the Istrian coast.Read the guide
- Brijuni National Parkby boat from the coastFourteen islands; a half-day trip visits Veliki Brijun with a guide.
- Porečby bus or carThe UNESCO Euphrasian Basilica and Blue Flag beaches.Read the guide
Before you go to Pula
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Rules for Pula, checked
- Pula Arena: adults €10, children, pupils and students €5, under 5 free; the ticket office closes one hour before closing time.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Arena hours: 08:00 to 20:00 in April, to 21:00 in May, to 22:00 June to August, to 21:00 in September, to 19:00 in October; 09:00 to 17:00 November to March.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Pula Airport shuttle to the main bus station costs €6 and leaves 30 minutes after the aircraft lands.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Pula
Old town and island boats up the coast
Read the guidePorečUNESCO basilica and Blue Flag beaches
Read the guideRovinj, Pula or Poreč?Which Istrian base suits your trip
Read the guideRijekaPort city on the way to Kvarner
Read the guideOpatijaSeaside resort via the Učka tunnel
Read the guideMotovunHill town in inland Istria
Read the guideAll of CroatiaCoast, islands, Zagreb and entry rules
Read the guidePula FAQ
How much does the Pula Arena cost?
Adults pay €10, children, pupils and students €5, and under-fives enter free, according to the Arena's own page. Hours vary by month, so check the official site on the day and buy online to avoid the queue.
How many days do you need in Pula?
One day covers the Arena and the Roman sights. Two days add a beach at Verudela or Stoja, and three add Brijuni or Cape Kamenjak. Pula works well as a base for the southern coast.
Is Pula worth visiting?
Yes for the Roman Arena, the Temple of Augustus and the Arch of the Sergii, plus beaches close to the center. It is less polished than Rovinj and more of a working city.
How do you get from Pula airport to the city?
The airport shuttle runs to the main bus station for €6, leaving 30 minutes after a plane lands. Taxis are the other option, and the timetable changes by date.
Is Pula or Rovinj better?
Pula is better for Roman sights and city life, Rovinj for evenings, swimming and a small-town feel. The comparison page covers Rovinj, Pula and Poreč together.