The ancient Roman town of Poreč on Istria's west coast is the peninsula's most popular destination and draws in the crowds every summer. Visit out of season however and you'll encounter a vastly different place, a quiet town rich in Gothic, Romanesque and Baroque buildings and a World Heritage-listed basilica to be explored.
The verdant Istrian interior is within easy reach, as is the spectacular Baredine Cave with its treasure trove of stalagmites, stalactites and other subterranean sculptures, which makes Porec a good base for discovering the region.