Cape Kamenjak

Cape Kamenjak sits at the very southern tip of the Istrian peninsula, just past the resort town of Premantura and a short drive from Pula. It's been protected as a nature park since 1996, covering about 14 square kilometers and roughly 30 kilometers of coastline broken up into dozens of small bays, cliffs and coves.

The park is home to more than 600 plant species along with hundreds of butterfly and bird species. It's also one of Istria's better-known paleontological sites: around 100 dinosaur footprints have been found in Pinižula Bay and on the nearby islet of Fenoliga, left by at least two different species — one a three-meter, roughly 13-tonne quadruped, the other a much smaller, lighter biped. Dolphins are occasionally spotted off the cape, especially in winter, and — much more rarely — the odd Mediterranean monk seal, though seal sightings are genuinely uncommon rather than something to expect.

Getting in on foot or by bike is free; driving in costs around €5 a day. Inside the park there are marked hiking and biking trails, a handful of beaches for swimming, and enough sheltered coves and sea caves to keep kayakers and paddleboarders busy for a full day. The rocky shoreline means proper shoes are worth packing if you're planning to get in and out of the water anywhere other than a sandy patch.

Combined with its closeness to Pula's Roman old town, Cape Kamenjak makes an easy, low-effort stop — which is why it's become a popular stop for gulet charter guests exploring Croatia on an Istria-focused route.