Pula sits at the southern tip of the Istrian peninsula, and its Roman heritage is extraordinary for a town this size. The amphitheatre — one of the best-preserved Roman arenas in the world — dominates the town and is still used for summer concerts and the Pula Film Festival. The Temple of Augustus on the old Forum, the Arch of the Sergii, and the Gate of Hercules are woven into the fabric of a working Croatian city rather than fenced off as museum pieces. The Venetian fortress at the top of the hill gives the best views.
The old centre has good small restaurants at reasonable prices, and the surrounding coast offers beaches, campsites, and clear Adriatic water. The Archaeological Museum of Istria is the best place to understand the layers of history you are walking through. Pula is also a useful base for exploring the rest of Istria — the hill towns of Motovun and Rovinj are within easy reach.