01Where to Stay in Motovun: The Four Areas

Motovun is a walled hill town of roughly 500 residents in central Istria, and the useful choice is between four areas: the upper town, Borgo, Gradiziol and the lower hill. The main trade-off is simple. Rooms closer to the top give better views and a shorter walk to the walls. Rooms lower down give easier parking and luggage handling. Cars are not allowed into the upper town for non-residents.

02Upper Town (Trg Andrea Antico): Best for Views and Atmosphere

The upper town is the walled core around Trg Andrea Antico, with the parish church, the bell tower and the town walls within a few minutes' walk. It is also the quietest area after the day visitors leave in the late afternoon.

Hotel Kaštel is the main hotel here, in a 17th-century palace at Trg Andrea Antico 7. It has 33 rooms, an indoor pool, a spa area, an à-la-carte restaurant and a separate apartment house. The hotel cannot be reached by car. Paid public parking is 350 m or 1,000 m away, depending on availability. Its 2026 rates for bed and breakfast run from €92 for a single room to €230 for an exclusive double in high season. A standard double costs €160–€165 and a superior panoramic double €192–€200. The apartment house "Poli Kaštela" costs €120 for two people and €150 for five. Residence tax is €1.60 per adult per night from April to September, and guest insurance is €1.50 per person per day.

Best for: couples, short romantic stays, and guests who want a pool or spa inside the walls.

Downside: luggage. Plan on a 350 m to 1 km haul uphill from the parking area, or ask the hotel about luggage help before arrival.

03Borgo: Best Small B&B Inside the Walls

Borgo is the lane area just below the top square. Villa Borgo B&B (Borgo 4) has 16 rooms, a terrace over the valley and breakfast with a view. Rates are usually €110–€180 a night, depending on season and room. It is more affordable than the top-end rooms at Kaštel and has a more informal character. Basement apartments have a large bathroom and good views, but some have a small kitchen with no window.

Best for: couples and travellers who prefer a family-run B&B over a hotel with a spa.

Downside: the same access limit as the upper town, since vehicles cannot drive up to the door.

04Gradiziol: Best Balance of Price and Access

Gradiziol is the long residential street climbing from the lower car parks to the town gate. It holds the largest number of apartments and guesthouses, including Houses of Motovun (Gradiziol 46), Apartment Stella (Gradiziol 24), Bella Vista Apartments (Gradiziol 1) and Casa Monte (Gradiziol 58). Properties sit roughly 90–300 m from the centre.

Houses of Motovun, a stone house from the 1900s, is among the cheapest well-rated stays in town, usually starting around €60–€90 a night. Apartments on Gradiziol with a view run about €100–€155.

Best for: families, small groups, and anyone who wants a kitchen and a lower price without leaving the old-town area.

Parking caution: "free parking nearby" in listings often means paid public car parks. Guests have reported parking fines after assuming it was free, so confirm in writing whether a permit or free space is included. Some guests report that the road above the car park below the village is open only to permit holders, with a barrier at the entrance.

05Lower Hill and Road Approaches: Best for Drivers

Below the historic core, around Rialto, Kanal and the Brkač/Kranceti side, accommodation is spread along the road. Casetta Melon (Rialto 11) is 800 m below the historic core and has free private parking. Soba Ulika in Brkač is about 1.6 km from the centre and also has private parking. Apartments Garden (Kanal 10) offers a garden, barbecue and private parking.

Roxanich Winery & Design Hotel (Kanal 30) is the main upscale option on this side. It has a pool, a spa and a winery, and it makes sense for guests who plan to drive between wineries.

Best for: car travellers, wine trips, and early departures.

Downside: the walk back up in the evening is steep, and the 800 m climb to the old town takes about 12–15 minutes at an easy pace.

06Which Area Fits Which Traveller

Couples, first visit
Best areaUpper town or Borgo
Budget, self-catering
Best areaGradiziol
Families with a car
Best areaLower hill
Spa and pool
Best areaHotel Kaštel or Roxanich
Wine trips
Best areaLower hill / Roxanich

07Local Tips

  • Ask about luggage before booking. Some hosts and hotels offer a paid shuttle from the car park, which is worth the cost on a rainy arrival day.
  • Book the sunset side. Rooms facing the valley are usually the better value, because they give the same view for less than the top-category rooms.
  • Visit in shoulder season. April to June and September to October offer lower rates, and the town is calmer.
  • Weekend nights in summer and festival periods fill up early, so reserve upper-town rooms several weeks ahead.

08An Honest Verdict

Staying at the very top is overrated for anyone travelling with two large suitcases or arriving late. The view is the same from Gradiziol, and the walk with luggage is shorter and less stressful. Sleeping inside the walls is worth the extra effort only if you plan one or two nights and travel light.

09Practical Notes

  • Rates above are approximate and vary by season. Always check the final price including residence tax.
  • The upper town is steep and cobbled. It is not suitable for wheelchairs or heavy strollers.
  • Many small apartments have air conditioning, which matters in July and August.