01How to Visit Motovun: The Basics

Motovun (Montona in Italian) sits on a hill in central Istria, in the Mirna valley. The old town is enclosed by two rings of walls, and the views over vineyards and oak forest are the main reason to come. The town is small. Most visitors see everything in 2–3 hours, though a lunch stop and a walk in the valley easily fill half a day.

02Getting to Motovun

By car

A car is the practical choice. Motovun is roughly 30 km from Poreč, about 50 km from Rovinj, and about 80 km from Pula. Zagreb is roughly 230 km away. Istria's public transport is thin, and bus connections to Motovun are infrequent and slow.

Parking

The old town is closed to ordinary traffic. Only residents and guests of accommodation inside the walls are let through the gate. There are two public lots: one at the bottom of the hill and one halfway up.

  • The lower lot is larger and almost always has space.
  • The upper lot is smaller and tends to fill by late morning in July and August.
  • Rates vary by season, roughly €4 in summer and less in winter, and some visitors report a daily ticket of up to €7. Check the machine on arrival.
  • Parking is free in December, January and February, and before the attendants start work at around 9 or 10 a.m.

The walk from the lower lot to the main square takes about 15 minutes and is steep in places. Wear shoes with grip, because the cobbles are worn smooth.

A short shuttle bus also runs between the lower lot and the town for about €3.50, but on a cool morning the walk is the better option and gives a view of the town that the bus skips.

03What to See in Motovun

Walk the city walls

The wall walk is the main attraction. A ticket costs €5 per person, with student and family discounts. Tickets are sold at the tourist information office on the main square near the bell tower and at the Wall Street Pub. The walls are generally open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in season. Admission is free from 30 November to 31 March. The ticket includes a visit to the Pet Kula art gallery, and the route has photo points and viewing binoculars.

The wall circuit takes 30–45 minutes at an easy pace. Be aware that the paid section covers only part of the perimeter. Many visitors find €5 steep for what it is, and the complaint is fair. A free alternative is to walk around the outside of the upper town before paying, since the outer path gives wide valley views at no cost. For a first visit, paying once is still reasonable, because the elevated, uninterrupted views of the Mirna valley are the best in town.

Main square and bell tower

The main square, Trg Andrea Antico, is the centre of town and the site of the October truffle festival. The parish church and its separate bell tower stand beside it. The bell tower is the town's best-known landmark. Streets lead off the square in a few short lanes lined with galleries, wine shops and truffle product stores.

Look at the valley from the lower road

The classic photo of Motovun, with the town rising from the green valley floor, is taken from the road approaching from the direction of Kaldir. Stop there on the way in or out. It is worth the extra two minutes and costs nothing.

Walk or cycle part of the Parenzana

The old Parenzana railway line runs through the valley below the town, and its tunnels and gravel track make an easy walk or bike ride. A guided hiking tour from the Motovun parking lot, lasting 3–4 hours, combines the town with vineyards, forest and the railway route.

04Best Time to Visit Motovun

Early morning (before 10 a.m.)
Quiet streets, free parking, and soft light. This is the best time of day, whatever the season.
September to December
Truffle season, the best period for food. The Teran and Truffle Festival is held in October on the main square, with tastings, truffle sales and a guided truffle hunt.
November to March
Fog, closed businesses and cold weather, but free wall access and cheap parking.
July and August
Busy and hot. Day-trip coaches arrive from the coast between about 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The Motovun Film Festival, once the town's biggest event, no longer takes place here. It now runs as Cinehill in Gorski kotar in late July, so do not plan a trip around it. In July the town still hosts a beer festival, with the 2026 edition on 10–11 July in the old town. Dates for 2027 should be confirmed with the tourist office.

05Truffles, Wine and Food

The forests around Motovun produce white and black truffles. The season for fresh truffles runs from about September to December, and October is the peak for white truffles. Expect restaurant prices to be high: a truffle pasta starter in town starts at about €24. Some visitors also report that a few terraces serve cocktails only with a meal, so ask before sitting down for a drink.

Two local products to look for are Malvazija, the white wine of Istria, and Teran, the region's tart red. Buying truffle products in the old town is convenient, but prices there are higher than at producers down in the valley.

A decisive tip: skip the truffle-themed souvenir shops on the main street for oil and paste, and buy from a producer or a farm shop on the roads below the town. The jars are the same type, the price is lower, and the seller can usually tell you what is actually in them.

06Where to Stay

A small number of guesthouses and one hotel operate inside the old town, and the hotel Kaštel Motovun is the best-known. Staying inside the walls gives you the streets to yourself after the coaches leave, and your host can usually let you drive in to drop luggage. Most visitors stay on the coast in Poreč or Rovinj and make a day trip. For a town this small, that is a sound choice, but a single night inside the walls changes the experience much more than another hour of daytime sightseeing.

07Insider Tips for First-Timers

  1. Arrive before 10 a.m. You park free, walk the walls without queues, and have breakfast before the crowds.
  2. Carry some cash. Some small shops and ticket points are more reliable with cash, and card terminals can fail.
  3. Check the parking tariff on arrival. The daily ticket is the same whether you stay one hour or eight.
  4. Go around the outside first. The outer path gives a 360° view for free.
  5. Do not expect a full day. Motovun pairs well with a second stop: Grožnjan, Buzet, or a winery in the valley.
  6. Mind the heat. The climb is open to the sun, and there is little shade on the road from the lower lot.

One thing that sounds sensible but rarely works is trying to drive up to the gate to save the climb. Unless your accommodation has arranged access, you will turn around at the archway, and the road is too narrow to do that comfortably.

08Nearby Places Worth Combining With Motovun

Grožnjan
another hill town, known for artists and music, about 25 km to the west.
Buzet
a hill town and truffle centre, about 30 km to the northeast.
Poreč
the Euphrasian Basilica and coast, about 30 km.
Rovinj
the Old Town and harbour, about 50 km.

09Frequently Asked Questions

See the FAQ section below for quick answers on cost, timing, parking and festivals.