Pula Airport: where to stay, areas and recommended hotels

Pula airport is just 5 km from the centre, one of the closest of any airport in Croatia: the bus to the station takes 20-30 minutes (6.11€), the taxi 15-20 minutes (about 20€). With such a short distance, the choice depends more on the kind of stay than on the transfer: the Roman Arena and the historic centre for those who want to walk everywhere, the Verudela peninsula for those after a beach and pools, and Pješčana Uvala bay for those who prefer a small, intimate hotel.

The historic centre and the Arena

City centre · 5 km from the airport: 15-20 minutes by taxi (about 20€) or 20-30 minutes by bus to the station (6.11€).

Best for: Travellers who want the Roman amphitheatre and the historic centre right outside the door, with no need for a car.

Pros

Hotel Scaletta is a 5-minute walk from the Arena
Hotel Milan has one of the city's most awarded fish restaurants, in the same building

Cons

Historic buildings often have no lift
Few rooms come with private parking included

Recommended hotels in this area

Hotel Milan: Hotel with an attached fish restaurant, in the centre of Pula; the kitchen is the main reason many choose it over other hotels in the same bracket.
Hotel Scaletta: 5 minutes' walk from the Roman Arena, in a historic building in the centre; buffet breakfast included and staff often singled out as a strong point.

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Verudela, the resort peninsula

Neighbourhood · About 5-6 km from the centre of Pula, 15-20 minutes by car from the airport.

Best for: Families and travellers after pools, a private beach and a spa without leaving the hotel.

Pros

Grand Hotel Brioni has direct beach access amid the peninsula's pine woods
Park Plaza Verudela has a water park, tennis courts and a mini-club for children

Cons

A car or taxi is needed to reach the Arena and the historic centre in the evening
The area is geared towards beach stays, with little to do on foot outside the resorts

Recommended hotels in this area

Grand Hotel Brioni Pula, A Radisson Collection Hotel: On the coast of the Verudela peninsula, between pine woods and open sea, on the edge of Pula's historic and cultural centre; private beach and spa.
Park Plaza Verudela Pula: 4-star resort on Verudela beach, with a water park and 15 tennis courts; Punta Verudela restaurant and a poolside bar.

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Pješčana Uvala, the quiet bay

Neighbourhood · About 3 km from the centre of Pula, 20 minutes from the airport.

Best for: Couples looking for a small, intimate boutique hotel, away from the crowds at the Arena.

Pros

20 metres from the sea, exclusive design and an in-house restaurant among the most highly regarded in the area
A more intimate atmosphere than the big resorts of Verudela

Cons

Small hotel: few rooms, fills up quickly on weekends
No sandy beach in the immediate vicinity

Recommended hotels in this area

Boutique Hotel Valsabbion: 20 metres from the sea in the Pješčana Uvala bay, 3 km from the centre of Pula; refined design and an award-winning in-house restaurant, geared mainly towards couples.

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