Hotels near Rovinj Old Town

Rovinj's old town sits on what was once an island, only joined to the mainland in 1763 when the narrow channel was filled in. The result is a dense, near-circular warren of tall Venetian houses, steep cobbled alleys, and tiny squares packed onto a small peninsula, all rising toward the church at the top.

Wandering here is the main pleasure of Rovinj: laundry strung between shuttered windows, cats on doorsteps, sea glimpsed at the end of alleys, and craft shops tucked into old fishermen's houses. Getting lost is the point, since every lane eventually leads either up to the church or down to the water.

Pro Tip: Explore early morning or after dinner, when the day-trippers have gone and the light is soft. Wear flat, grippy shoes, as the polished limestone lanes are slippery and steep.