01Does Novigrad Have Islands to Hop Between?
Novigrad (Cittanova) is a small walled town on the northwest coast of Istria. It sits on the mainland, and no passenger ferry network links it to islands the way Split or Zadar are linked. The islands that visitors reach on boat trips lie to the south, off Poreč and Rovinj. Island hopping from Novigrad is therefore a boat-excursion activity, not a ferry-pass activity.
This is a limit worth knowing before booking. The Istrian islands are small, mostly uninhabited and low-lying. They are good for swimming, snorkelling and photography, but they have little in the way of towns or services. Travellers who want large inhabited islands with villages and ferries should look at Cres and Lošinj in the Kvarner Bay or at the Dalmatian islands instead.
02Best Islands and Stops Reachable from Novigrad
Lim Fjord and Pirate Bay
Lim Fjord is a flooded valley about 10 km long between Vrsar and Rovinj. It is a protected area and a standard stop on day trips. The excursions usually pause at Pirate Bay, a small cove with a cave, where passengers swim from the boat. Lim is not an island, but it is the most scenic stop on the route and is included on nearly every full-day trip.
Rovinj and the Rovinj Archipelago
Rovinj is roughly 40 km south of Novigrad by sea. Offshore lies an archipelago of about 20 islands and islets. The best known are Sveti Andrija (Crveni Otok, also called Red Island), Sveta Katarina and Maškin. Day-trip boats typically stop in Rovinj for free time in the old town, with its steep stone lanes and the Church of St Euphemia on the hilltop. Boats sail past or anchor near the islands, depending on the operator and sea conditions.
Poreč Islets and Sveti Nikola
Sveti Nikola is the largest island off Poreč and sits just across from the harbour. Around it lie smaller islets that boat operators group under the name of the "20 islands" of the Poreč Riviera. Poreč is about 17 km from Novigrad by road, and many day trips pass through this area on the way to or from Rovinj.
Brijuni National Park
Brijuni lies off Fažana, about 65-70 km south of Novigrad. It is not part of the standard Novigrad itinerary. Reaching it means driving to Fažana and taking the national park boat. Plan it as a separate day.
03Boat Trip Options and Prices
Operators depart from Novigrad harbour, next to the old town. Prices below are starting prices per person in the summer season and change with date and group size.
- Dolphin-watching trip
- from about €20 to €25. Evening departures combine a sunset with a search for dolphins in open water. Sightings are common in summer but are never guaranteed.
- Full-day Rovinj and Lim Fjord trip
- from about €25 on the basic tours, around €50 where lunch and drinks are included. A typical day runs 8.5 to 9 hours. Boat Matek Novigrad starts its day trip at 9:00 at the harbour, on a wooden boat.
- Fish picnic trip
- Kristina Excursions Istria runs an 8.5-hour route covering Rovinj, Lim Fjord and Poreč with a grilled fish lunch and swim stops.
- Private tours
- from about €500 per group for a short skippered trip. A private full-day luxury trip with lunch from Anima Maris Daily Charters Istria starts at €1,850 per boat.
For most travellers, the shared full-day trip to Rovinj and Lim Fjord is the best value. It covers the main sights for €25-50 and requires no planning. A private boat only makes sense for groups of six or more, or for visitors who want to choose their own swim stops.
04How Much Does Island Hopping from Novigrad Cost?
| Budget level | What it includes | Cost per person |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | Shared dolphin or coastal trip | €20-25 |
| Standard | Full-day Rovinj and Lim Fjord trip with swim stops | €25-50 |
| Premium | Private skippered boat, split among 4-6 people | About €85-125 |
| Luxury | Private full-day yacht with lunch | From €1,850 per boat |
Add about €15-25 for food in Rovinj if lunch is not included, and a few euros for drinks on board. Parking in Novigrad near the harbour is paid in summer, so check the signs for zone rates.
05Best Time to Go
The season runs from roughly May to late September. Sea temperatures reach 23-25°C in July and August. June and September offer calmer water, thinner crowds and enough warmth for swimming. Morning departures usually have the calmest sea. The bora, a cold northeasterly wind, can cancel trips in spring and autumn. Check forecasts the evening before.
06Practical Tips
- Book the morning departure.
- The sea is flatter and Rovinj is quieter before 11:00.
- Bring cash.
- Small payments for drinks, parking and Rovinj snacks are easier in euros.
- Pack reef shoes.
- Pirate Bay and many islet coves have rocky bottoms.
- Choose the east side of the boat.
- On the southbound leg, the coast is on your left, and you see the Istrian shoreline and Rovinj skyline best from that side.
- Check the cancellation terms.
- Many operators offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
- Combine with the town.
- Allow an hour in Novigrad before or after the trip. The waterfront, the crypt of the church of St Pelagius and the harbour restaurants are all within a short walk.
07Getting to Novigrad
Pula airport is roughly 75 km south, and Trieste airport is about 90 minutes by car. Poreč is the nearest larger town, with more bus connections. A car is the most practical way to reach Novigrad and to continue to Fažana for Brijuni.
08Is It Worth It?
Yes, with realistic expectations. A Novigrad boat day delivers clear water, a medieval harbour town and a protected fjord for a modest price. It does not deliver the island-to-island variety of southern Croatia. Treat it as one excellent day on the water and not as a multi-day island-hopping holiday.
