Cittanova - Novigrad - Croatia

Do you love seaside? When sun is warming your skin and all you can hear is the voice of the sea and talking people on the beach.

Summer time reminds me of free time, joy, pleasure, feeling of freedom in timeless chatting with friends. That is the feeling I am still chasing all the time, even now when I have a family and wish to my children to feel free, to feel excited when we are going to the seaside, to feel all that excitement and getting in touch with the nature.

Here are 6 things we are always checking when defining our next destination and Novigrad in Croatia is a hidden gem that has it all:

1. A lot of children playing areas

In the city center as well as its surroundings, Novigrad in Istria has many playgrounds for children. The city is maintaining the play areas all the time, there are many green areas where children can run and play and it is a good spot for having a family picnic or just lie down in green grass and looking at a big blue sky.

2. A lot of happening

Novigrad, especially in the summer time, has many festivals, their specialty are gourmet festivals, and there is a lot of good food, especially seafood with very affordable prices. There is a variety of little restaurants, local »konoba«, coffee bars; everybody can find a spot for themselves. Usually restaurants provide enough space, even if you have a baby. Pushchairs can be brought inside the restaurants, people are very friendly and most of the time they offer a lollipop for the kids and an appetizer for parents at the end of the meal. We also found a restaurant, that gives children a plastic glass (it happened to us that a 3 year old child chew a glass which broke in his mouth, that is why we prefer plastic glass for having a drink for a child).  

3. Ice cream delight?

Yes, ice-cream for kids and parents, of course. A huge variety of choices is available, especially at the main town square there are two delicious pastry shops. One with frozen yogurts with at least 30 toppings that you can choose. The other one is specialized with Italian creamy, very rich flavored ice-creams.

Believe me, your child will be happy and so will you.

4. Accommodation for every pocket

There is variety of accommodation for the families – you can choose between different campsites, mobile homes camps, and hotels and the big opportunity to rent an apartment for families is available.

5. Boat trips around Istria

Since Istria is part of the Northern part of the Mediterranean, there are a few boat trips available. In the 2014 they offered a trip with a half submarine (it does not go under the sea completely, there is a deck and underfloor where you can offer your child to be one of the 1000 miles under the sea hero.

6. Extremely clean and very well arranged beaches for children and families

Novigrad is a city, where they know how to invest and improve it all the time. Every year they invest in new arrangements, renew the roads, the parks, the beaches… You can choose between different beach sites – you have the possibility to jump into the water, you can use the stairs, you can play with stones or you can play in shallow water with kids. They have everything, depends on your child’s age, you can choose what suites you most. On the beaches the build sandpits and playground areas as there is also a pirate boat with sliders and sand to play. In the meanwhile, while your child is playing, you can enjoy the shadow under the pine tree, dinking you favourite melon juice.

How to arrive to Novigrad in Istria, Croatia

• Plane – the nearest airport is airport Pula (PUY). After you arrive, you have a one-hour drive from the airport. You can either rent a car or ask for a shuttle.

• Car – from nearest airports:
• • Pula, Croatia (1h),
  • Trieste, Italy (1h 20 min),
  • Ljubljana, Slovenia (1h 50 min drive),
  • Venice, Italy (2h 20min),
  • Klagenfurt, Austria (2h 45 min),
  • Zagreb, Croatia (3h 15 min),
  • Graz, Austria(3h 20 min)
  • Vienna, Austria (5h 15 min),