A European island that is home to Roman ruins, dinosaur footprints and exotic animals sounds like something out of a storybook, but it's just 2.5 hours from the UK.
Earlier this year, I took a short boat ride from Croatia's Istrian coast to a slightly rainy but stunning Brijuni National Park.
The beautiful archipelago consists of 14 islands and islets, although most visitors will spend their time exploring its largest island - Veliki Brijun,
I'll hold my hands up and say that my Croatian knowledge is limited to Game of Thrones filming locations and an ill-fated trip to Zadar but that's a story for another day!)
Although I'd consider it a bit of a hidden treasure, you need only look at the Tripadvisor reviews to see that it's only a matter of time before the national park ( with my bets the whole of Istria too) will be all over TikTok.
One recent visitor to Brijuni National Park described the main island as having a"magical aura", praising its "natural beauty", archaeological sites and fascinating 20th-century political history.
Meanwhile, another reviewer dubbed it an "absolutely magnificent place", describing cycling around the island as peaceful and noticeably removed from typical busy tourist destinations.
So what exactly is there to see, and how do you get there from the UK?
Where is Brijuni National Park?
Brijuni National Park lies off the western coast of Istria, a peninsula in northern Croatia. The main gateway to the islands is the small coastal town of Fažana, which is where I got the official boat from during my trip.
It's a pretty short journey of about 15 minutes, but even on a rainy day at the end of May, it was chock full of visitors looking to explore what the island has to offer.
You might assume the major city of Pula would be the base for trips, but picturesque Fažana is only a short 12-minute drive away, with charming cafes and restaurants on the harbour where you can lounge and wait for the next departure.
How do you get to Brijuni from the UK?
Pula Airport (PUY) is the easiest place to fly into from the UK - and I can attest that it's a compact and easy airport to navigate.
I flew to Pula from Manchester airport and it took roughly two and a half hours. or 1 podcast, a book chapter and two downloaded episodes of Gilmore Girls.
This summer, Jet2 flew to Pula Airport from Birmingham, East Midlands, London Gatwick, London Stansted and Manchester.
If you're looking to get ahead of your summer holidays for next year, you should check the schedules for their own departure airport before booking.
The airport itself is only around 10km from central Pula, making it a fantastic jumping-off point to explore the entire region.
What is there to see and do on Brijuni?
My day at Brijuni was the only day it rained during my Istrian visit - but it did nothing to dampen my enthusiasm ( sorry) for the island.
It's home to a slightly bizarre mix of attractions that make Veliki Brijun an interesting day trip for the whole family.
We dodged showers by riding a golf cart across the safari park to see the Byzantine castrum, Roman villa rustica, and an ancient olive tree.
The dinosaur footprints were the real surprise - and not just because I stepped into a giant puddle as I navigated the rocks towards it, During my visit, I learned that there are more than 200 fossilised dinosaur footprints that have been discovered across the islands. We were walking in the same ( if slightly less damp) footsteps of creatures that had walked the Earth around 130 to 100 million years before. Between the national park and the footprints, I was half expecting Jeff Goldblum to rock up at one point, but there's always next time!
The safari park itself spans nine hectares and is worth the visit alone due to its unusual collection of animals, including zebras, llamas and ostriches, as well as Lanka the elephant.
For the history buffs, you'll have plenty to uncover, from the Roman and Byzantine remains to the museum that details the park's connections with former Yugoslav president Josip Broz Tito. The National Park lists Tito's Cadillac.
What's the best way to explore Brijuni?
My advice would be to think about how you're going to navigate the island before you get there. There is an organised excursion, which includes a very cute tourist train, while independent visitors can explore using the Brijuni Pocket Guide.
Although it was a bit drizzly for us, I would have loved to explore the park by bike and cycling does appear to be a really popular choice with travellers.
One Tripadvisor reviewer who visited with their family in August 2026 described having a"fantastic day exploring the island on bikes", noting that they were grateful to be cycling due to the hot weather.
Another May 2026 visitor called cycling around Veliki Brijun"incredibly enjoyable", saying that despite arriving on a busy boat, they encountered surprisingly few people during much of their bike ride.
Having browsed the reviews as part of my research, I would definitely advise booking bicycles in advance and making sure you stay hydrated by bringing plenty of water during your visit.
What are the Brijuni boat times?
As I explained earlier, it really couldn't be simpler to reach Brijuni with the boat journey from Fažana and Veliki Brijun taking only 15 minutes.
You should consider the time of year you're travelling when visiting, as there are considerably more departures during the warm summer months.
For example, during June, July and August 2026, departures from Fažana were scheduled for 9am, 10am, 11.30am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm, 5pm, 6pm, 7pm, 8pm and 10pm.
If you're planning to visit next summer, you should check the official Brijuni National Park boat timetable rather than relying on the previous year's times, as services can vary seasonally.
Is Brijuni worth visiting?
Now, I'm one simple woman, and it's worth noting that visitor opinion isn't universally glowing. There are some reviewers that complain about the price, restaurants, queues and organisation, but I would argue that a little preparation and pre-booking your travel will definitely help.
Why did I think it was so special? Well, even in the rain ( and I promise it doesn't rain a lot; it actually gets 2350 hours of sunshine a year, I just cracked a mirror 5 years ago), my day out there stood out to me all these months later.
Brijuni is not like any conventional theme-park-style safari or dinosaur attraction I've been to. It's so much more; it embraces and protects its natural beauty and its unique, interlocking history. Simply put: it's not like any place I have been before.
What else should you see in Istria?
Whether you're mentally planning your next holiday or the flights are already in the basket, my advice would be not to just fly into Pula, see Brijuni and immediately leave.
I spent a few days exploring the wider Istrian peninsula - and I'm desperate to go back and explore even more.
If you're looking for a romantic coastal break with quaint shops and Instagrammable streets, Rovinj is a must. It's ridiculously picturesque, steeped in history thanks to its remarkable Roman heritage, and it's made for ice cream after-dinner walks ( my go-to was Ombra - labrotorio del gelato).
If you love a good hike ( with a pint at the end), you should head inland to Motovun for a completely different picture of Istria. Its beautiful hilltop setting makes it particularly well suited to anyone who enjoys exploring historic buildings and toasting a tipple or two ( my pick is the Wall Street Pub).
And finally, I'd opt for pretty Poreč if you're planning on bringing the family or you enjoy a little bit of beach with your city sightseeing.
We did walking tours with local guides in most of the towns we visited, and I have done quite a few in other cities in my time.
I couldn’t recommend them more. There’s no better way to really get a feel for a place than exploring it with someone who lives and breathes it, plus that’s how you get the best local recommendations.
Throughout our trip, we stayed at Marea Suites, and I could not sing its praises more: the hotel boasts beautiful rooms, attentive staff and top-notch facilities. You will also find stunning views and no shortage of entertainment for all ages.
Don't leave Istria without trying its truffles
One of the major draws of the region is its food, and let's just say I ate VERY well during my visit.
In fact, the peninsula is most famous for truffles, olive oil and wine ( much to my delight) and one of our most memorable experiences was leaving the coast behind to go truffle hunting in the woods.
If you're a fan of National Geographic documentaries, you might remember Gordon Ramsay visiting the idyllic estate of Prodan Tartufi,.
It is a truly special family-run business near Buzet, where I swapped my sandals for wellies and hiked up my skirt as we headed out ito the forest with a truffle-hunting dog.
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Rather than simply eating truffles in a restaurant ( although I wouldn't have complained about this either, to be fair), there is nothing quite like getting out into the countryside and seeing how they're actually found.
I'm not sure if it was just me, but the one hour or so chasing the adorable Sky around the Istrian hills made our truffle-scrambled eggs taste even better somehow.
Now, back home in rainy Scotland, I am writing and remembering this gorgeous trip to this beautiful region.
And I can't help but daydream about packing it all in, moving to Istria and becoming a full-time Istrian truffle hunter.
Oh well, might just book another holiday in the meantime.
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