A shallow, sheltered bay, some of the few sandy beaches in Istria and a scatter of small islands offshore. Medulin is the family-friendly corner of southern Istria, with Pula and Kamenjak close by.
At the southern tip of Istria, a few kilometres south-east of Pula, the coast curves into a wide, shallow bay sheltered by peninsulas and islets. On its shore lies Medulin, once a farming and fishing village, now one of the most popular holiday places in the region. The reasons are simple: calm water, gently sloping beaches, a scatter of islands to explore and a short drive to both Pula and the wild cape of Kamenjak.
Medulin is not a historic walled town in the manner of Rovinj or Poreč, and it does not pretend to be. Its appeal is the sea and the landscape around it. For families with young children, and for anyone who prefers to walk into the water rather than climb down a ladder, it is one of the most comfortable bases in Istria.
Why is Medulin good for families?
Most of the Istrian coast is rocky, and the sea gets deep quickly. Medulin Bay is different. The water is shallow for a long way out, it warms early in the season, and the bay is protected from the open sea. Several beaches have sand or fine gravel, which is rare in this part of the Adriatic. For more ideas, see our guide to Istria with children.
The beaches of Medulin
The best known is Bijeca, a long beach stretching along the bay below the village, backed by tall pines. The shore slopes very gently, with sand and small pebbles, and children can paddle safely far from the edge. In high summer it is busy, with sunbeds and umbrellas in rows under the trees, but early in the morning or in September it is a peaceful place.
- Bijeca. Long, shallow and shaded, the classic family beach of Medulin.
- Vižula. A small wooded peninsula next to the village, with rocky bathing spots on its outer edge and calmer water inside the bay.
- Pomer and Premantura. Smaller beaches and coves around the bay, quieter than the centre.
- Kamenjak. The protected cape south of Premantura, with dozens of rocky coves and very clear water. See our guide to Kamenjak.
What is there to see in Medulin?
The village landmark is the parish Church of St Agnes, whose two pointed bell towers stand on the hill above the houses and are visible from all around the bay. The old core around it is small and residential, with stone houses, courtyards and gardens, a reminder that Medulin was an agricultural village long before it became a resort.
History goes back much further. On the Vižula peninsula lie the remains of a large Roman villa complex, part of the network of country estates that surrounded Roman Pula. The ruins are spread along the shore among pines and low walls, and you can walk past them on the way to a swim. Medulin's waterfront, with its small harbour of local boats and the promenade along the bay, is the liveliest part of the village in the evening.
In Medulin Bay you can walk into the sea for a long time before it reaches your waist.
The islands of the Medulin archipelago
In front of the bay lies a small archipelago of low, green islands and islets, the largest of which include Levan and Ceja. They are uninhabited, with pine woods, rocky shores and clear water, and in summer they make an easy day trip. Excursion boats and water taxis run from Medulin and Premantura, and on calm days experienced paddlers explore the nearer islets by kayak or paddleboard. Take water, shade and sun protection, as there are few facilities.
Sport and outdoors
The southern tip of Istria is a good place to be active. The wind around Premantura and Kamenjak attracts windsurfers and kitesurfers, the bay suits beginners on paddleboards, and the flat roads and trails through Kamenjak are ideal for cycling. The cape is also known for the fossilised footprints of dinosaurs on its rocky shore, a favourite with children.
What to eat in Medulin
The table here belongs to the sea. Look for grilled fish of the day, squid, mussels and scampi cooked na buzaru with wine, garlic and parsley, and simple plates of seafood pasta. Inland, in the villages between Medulin and Pula, konobas serve the other side of Istrian cooking: pršut, cheese, homemade fuži and slow-cooked meat. Local Malvazija is the natural partner for almost everything. For a wider view of the regional kitchen, see our guide to Istrian cuisine.
Good to know
- Getting there. Pula airport is very close to Medulin, and Pula itself is a short drive away. See our guide to Pula for a day in the city.
- When to come. June and September are ideal for families: warm, shallow water and fewer people. In July and August, arrive at the beach early.
- Getting around. A car or bicycle is useful for reaching Premantura, Kamenjak and the smaller coves.
- Shade. Pines help, but bring an umbrella for the islands and for Kamenjak, where shade is scarce.
Medulin is a place for slow, simple days: a morning on the shallow sand, an afternoon trip to the islands and an evening by the bay with the twin bell towers glowing above the village. It is easy, relaxed and close to everything that makes southern Istria special.
