01Which Islands Can You Visit From Fažana?

Fažana is a fishing town on the west coast of Istria, about 9 km north of Pula. Its harbour faces the Brijuni archipelago, a group of 14 islands and islets about 3 km offshore. This is the main island-hopping destination, and nearly every boat from Fažana points that way.

The islands visitors actually land on:

Veliki Brijun
is the largest island and the only one with the national park's visitor infrastructure. It has a safari park, an archaeological site, a small museum, bicycle rental and an electric train tour.
Sveti Jerolim
is a smaller island with a pebble shoreline and swimming spots. It is the usual swim stop for private boats. An entrance fee of about €7 per adult and €3.50 for children applies.
Other islets
such as Mali Brijun, Gaz and Supin are viewed from the water on panoramic cruises. Landing is not allowed on most of them.

Beyond Brijuni, longer boat trips from Fažana reach Cape Kamenjak and the Pula islands to the south, and day cruises go north to Rovinj, the Lim Fjord and the Red Island.

02How to Get From Fažana to Brijuni

There are two ways to reach the islands: the national park ferry, or a private excursion boat. They are different products, and the choice matters.

Official National Park Ferry

The Brijuni National Park ferry leaves from the Fažana waterfront and docks at Veliki Brijun in about 15 minutes. Departures are limited, roughly two to four a day depending on season, and the earliest sailings are in the morning. Check the current timetable on the park's website before planning, because winter service is thinner.

The park ticket covers the ferry and entry. Prices change by season, so check the park's online shop; adults typically pay somewhere between about €25 and €50, children aged 7–18 pay less, and younger children are free. The guided electric train tour is usually an add-on. Prices change between seasons, so treat these as ranges.

The ferry is the only way to set foot on Veliki Brijun independently, with time to cycle or walk at your own pace.

Private Excursion Boats

Small operators run from the Fažana harbour all day in season. The common formats:

90-minute panoramic cruise
€15–€20 per person with soft drinks sometimes included. It circles the islands without a landing on Veliki Brijun.
Panoramic cruise with swim stop
about €20–€35. Several operators add a stop at Sveti Jerolim or a bay for swimming.
Glass-bottom boat trips
from about €16 for the short tour, and from about €17 for the 4-hour version with snorkeling at Sveti Jerolim.
Sunset dolphin cruises
€17–€30, lasting 90 minutes to 2.5 hours. Dolphin sightings are common in the Brijuni channel but never guaranteed.
Private boats
from about €250 per boat for a 90-minute Brijuni tour with a beach stop, and from about €270 for a private sunset trip.

03Best Island Hopping Options by Type of Trip

Short and Cheap: 90-Minute Panorama

A panoramic tour passes the Brijuni coastline, the Peneda lighthouse, the ruins of Roman settlements, and the shoreline of the safari park. It suits families with small children or anyone with a tight schedule. Small boats (12 passengers) and larger boats (about 50) both operate, and the smaller ones tend to be more flexible with swim stops.

Half Day: Swim Stop at Sveti Jerolim

Half-day tours of about 5 hours combine a cruise with roughly two hours of swimming and often include lunch on board. Typical adult prices run €47–€50 including the Sveti Jerolim entrance. This is the best option for people whose priority is the water.

Full Day: Brijuni With Lunch and Park Entry

Full-day packages return to Fažana around 16:00. At about €70 per adult, one common format includes Brijuni National Park entry, the electric train tour with a guide, Sveti Jerolim entry and a grilled lunch. Drinks are charged separately.

A full-day package with a landing on Veliki Brijun is clearly better than the 90-minute panorama alone. The panorama never lands, so the Roman villa ruins, the safari park and the 1,600-year-old olive tree stay out of reach.

Sunset and Dolphin Cruises

Sunset departures leave in the late afternoon in summer. Booking at least two days ahead is recommended in July and August because boats are small and fill quickly. Private sunset trips for a group cost from about €270 per boat.

Longer Trips: Kamenjak, Rovinj and the Lim Fjord

Full-day cruises to Rovinj, the Lim Fjord and Vrsar cost about €50–€55 per adult with lunch and a guide. Some include a bus transfer back from Pula. The Kamenjak and Pula islands trips are mostly sold as private tours for groups of up to six, starting from several hundred euros.

04Private Boat Charter From Fažana

A skippered motorboat for up to 12 people starts at about €480 for a half day and about €680 for a full day, with skipper and fuel included. Divided among six or more people, this works out at the same price as a good group tour and allows control over timing and swim stops. Park entry fees on Brijuni and Sveti Jerolim are not included.

05Costs at a Glance

  • Brijuni National Park entry on Veliki Brijun: varies by season; check the park's online shop
  • Sveti Jerolim entry: about €7 adults, €3–€3.50 children aged 7–18, free under 7
  • Panoramic boat tour: €15–€35
  • Half day with lunch: €47–€50
  • Full day with park entry and lunch: about €70
  • Private boat from €250 (90 minutes) or €680 (full-day charter)

Fees are updated each season, so confirm when booking.

06When to Go

The main tour season runs from May to late September. Water is warm enough for comfortable swimming from June through September. July and August are the busiest, with the heaviest boat traffic and the earliest sellouts. September and early June offer the best balance of calm sea, warm water and open availability.

In winter, only the national park ferry operates on a reduced schedule, and most private boats stop.

07Local Tips

Take the earliest ferry
to Veliki Brijun. The park is quiet before the tour groups arrive around late morning, and bicycles are easier to rent.
Compare what is included.
A cheap 90-minute ticket may exclude landing fees and drinks. A €70 package often costs less than assembling the same day yourself.
Bring water shoes.
Sveti Jerolim has a pebble and rock shoreline.
Pack for sun.
Shade on small boats is limited, and tours run in the middle of the day.
Bring a small amount of cash.
Some small boat operators accept card payments only for pre-booked trips.
Check wind forecasts.
Strong bora or jugo winds cancel tours, and free cancellation is common on online bookings.
Park near the harbour early.
Fažana's waterfront parking fills by mid-morning in July and August.

08Where to Stay for Island Hopping

Fažana's harbour is the departure point, so staying within walking distance saves the morning logistics. The town centre and waterfront are about 300 m from the quay. Campsites and apartments on the outskirts, toward Štinjan and Peroj, are cheaper but need a short drive or bus ride.