01Motovun at a Glance
Motovun (Montona in Italian) is a medieval hilltop town in central Istria, set above the Mirna River valley. It is about 25 km from Poreč, about 45 km from Rovinj and around 60 km from Pula. The town has two rings of defensive walls, with the citadel at the top dating to the 12th century. The surrounding Motovun Forest is one of the best-known truffle habitats in Europe.
The old town is small. The whole upper town can be covered on foot in two hours, which makes Motovun a half-day or one-day stop rather than a multi-day base for most visitors.
02One-Day Motovun Itinerary
8:30–9:00: Arrive and Park
Cars are not allowed into the old town unless you have accommodation there. Two public parking lots serve the town: one at the bottom of the hill and one along the road before the entrance. A 24-hour ticket costs €7. Arriving before 9:30 gives a free choice of spaces and empty streets, especially from June to September, when tour groups arrive from the coast around 10:30–11:00.
The walk from the lower lot to the main square is uphill and takes 10–15 minutes. A shuttle bus also runs between the base and the town in busy periods.
9:00–10:30: City Walls
The walls are the main attraction. The ticket costs about €5, with student and family discounts, and is sold at the tourist office on the main square opposite the bell tower. Typical summer hours are around 10:00–19:00. The walk covers roughly half the circuit and looks over the Mirna Valley, vineyards and the town's walled gardens.
The views are the reason to go. Early morning gives the best light over the valley, and the walls are generally quiet before 10:00. Outside the ticket season (roughly November to March), access is typically open and free.
The €5 fee is reasonable if you walk the full stretch slowly. Some visitors find it steep for a short section, so treat it as a viewing platform and not a history museum.
10:30–12:00: Old Town Walk
From the main square, follow the cobbled lanes to the parish church of St. Stephen, with its separate bell tower, and the small town hall area. A short museum inside the town hall takes about 20 minutes and can be skipped if time is limited. The streets between the lower gate and the main square hold small shops selling truffle products, olive oil, rakija and Malvazija and Teran wine.
A coffee stop with a valley view works well on one of the terraces near the walls.
12:30–14:30: Lunch
Truffles appear on almost every menu in town. Konoba Mondo, Konoba Fakin and Pod Voltom are established restaurants within the old town. Expect truffle pasta starters from about €24, with fuži (hand-rolled Istrian pasta) a regional standard. Main courses with truffles typically run higher.
Cooking with fresh truffle is seasonal. White truffle peaks from about October to December; black truffle is available more widely, and summer truffle is cheaper. Out of season, check whether a dish uses fresh truffle or a preserved product.
The marketing around "truffle everything" is overdone. Truffle on a plain pasta at a hilltop restaurant is often a thin shaving, and the better value is a tasting with a producer where you see the whole product.
15:00–17:30: Truffle Hunting or Wine
Truffle hunting is the most useful add-on. Options near Motovun include:
- A 1.5-hour guided truffle hunting walk, from about €45–50 per adult.
- A 2h 15m hunt with a three-course truffle brunch (Miro Tartufi), from about €110–120 per adult. Reviews note it often sells out in peak season.
- Independent hunts with local truffle hunters in the forest near Livade.
A hunt with trained dogs ends with tasting of cheese, eggs or pasta with shaved truffle. Book 3–7 days ahead in October.
If you do not want a hunt, tasting at Bencic Truffles (Gradiziol 10, Motovun) takes about 1.5 hours and is used by half-day tours from Pula.
18:00: Sunset Return
Stay for sunset if the schedule allows. The walls close earlier than sunset in some seasons, but the main square and the road edge give open views over the valley, and the town is quiet after the day-trippers leave.
03Two-Day Motovun Itinerary
A second day suits food-focused travelers.
- Day 1
- Follow the one-day route above, with a late lunch and an overnight stay in the old town. Staying overnight gives the evening and early morning with few visitors.
- Day 2 morning
- Drive to Livade (about 5 km from Motovun, at the foot of the hill) for the Zigante Truffle Shop and restaurant.
- Day 2 midday
- Visit Grožnjan, an artists' hilltop town about 25 km away, which is often combined with Motovun on one route.
- Day 2 afternoon
- Return via Buzet or Oprtalj for more hilltop villages and lower crowds.
04Best Time to Visit Motovun
| Season | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| April–May | Mild weather, green valley, few tour groups |
| June–August | Hot, busiest 10:30–16:00, walls and restaurants crowded |
| September | Warm, harvest season, good balance |
| October | Peak truffle season, festivals, reservations needed |
| November–March | Quiet, many places close, walls free to access |
Autumn Truffle Events
The Teran and Truffle Festival is held on Andrea Antico Square in mid-October (17–18 October in 2026). It includes a guided truffle hunt, a Teran hike, and tastings in a main-square tent with exhibitors. The Zigante Truffle Days in Livade run from early October to 1 November in 2026, on weekends from 10:00 to 19:00. Dates for 2027 normally follow the same pattern but should be confirmed before booking.
05Getting to Motovun
- From Poreč
- about 25 km, 30 minutes by car.
- From Rovinj
- about 45 km, 45 minutes.
- From Pula
- about 60 km, 1 hour.
- From Zagreb
- about 250 km, 2.5–3 hours.
Public transport is limited. A rental car or an organized tour from the coast is the practical option.
06Local Tips
- Arrive before 9:30 or after 16:00 to avoid tour groups.
- Wear flat shoes; the cobblestones are polished and slippery when wet.
- Buy truffle products from producers in Livade or the forest rather than from the first shop at the gate. Prices and quality vary.
- Check the walls' opening hours at the tourist office, since they change by season.
- If you drive in autumn, expect the lower lot to fill by 11:00 on festival weekends.
- Pair Teran (red) with truffle dishes and Malvazija (white) with fuži or cheese.
07Is Motovun Worth Visiting?
Yes, for a half or full day. The town is compact, and the main value is the setting, the walls and the truffle experience. It is not a destination for long stays unless you want a quiet base for exploring inner Istria.
