Brijuni Islands: visiting the national park on Veliki Brijun

• National park boats run from the port of Fažana to Veliki Brijun; the crossing takes about 15 minutes.
• The guided excursion lasts around three and a half hours and includes the boat trip, a guided tour, the tourist train, the Safari Park and museum exhibitions.
• The Safari Park is home to around 80 herbivores, mostly from Africa and Asia, alongside native species.
• The remains of Roman villas in Verige Bay and the Byzantine Castrum in Madona Bay reflect different periods of settlement.
• An independent visit is possible with a Pocket Guide ticket, allowing you to choose your own route.

A visit to the national park begins at the pier in Fažana. The boat reaches Veliki Brijun in about 15 minutes. The guided excursion takes around three and a half hours in total and combines a guided tour with an approximately one-hour ride on the tourist train, a visit to the Safari Park and the museum’s permanent exhibitions. Departure times are tied to your ticket, so when planning, allow for the journey to the port, your scheduled departure and the return trip.

Planning your own route gives you more flexibility over the order of stops. However, you’ll need to fit your walks around the island into the time available and make sure you return to the port on time. Veliki Brijun’s attractions bring together nature and history: the Safari Park is home to about 80 herbivores, mainly from Africa and Asia, as well as native species. The remains of a Roman villa can be found in Verige Bay. The Byzantine Castrum in Madona Bay bears traces of several periods of settlement, including the Basilica of St Mary and the later Church of St Peter.

Fažana and Pula are possible mainland bases for a visit to the islands; compare accommodation options based on their distance from the port and the rest of your travel plans. If you’re continuing along the coast after visiting the national park, you can plan separate stays in Medulin, Poreč and Novigrad. Keep the ferry times and island visit as a separate block in your day’s itinerary.

Pula and Rovinj work well as additional coastal stops; Poreč, Novigrad and Medulin also each require their own travel time and visit. For a change from the coast, Motovun and Grožnjan lie inland in Istria. If you’re including Brijuni in a wider trip to Croatia, plan journeys between regions separately from your national park visit.

Before your trip, make sure your day plan allows enough time to get to the pier, meet your ticket time and return. Getting there and transport are important for the journey to the port; when preparing for your trip, coordinate your booking and departure times. Leave room in your itinerary for waiting, walking around the island and a buffer before the return journey. For longer stays on the Istrian coast, it’s easier to plan the island visit, town stops and inland routes as separate legs. For a walk around the island, pack water, sun protection, sturdy shoes and extra time for slower paths.

How does the return trip to Fažana work?

The excursion begins with the departure from Fažana to Veliki Brijun. For the return journey, the boat travels from Veliki Brijun back to Fažana; the crossing takes about 15 minutes.

Can I explore Veliki Brijun without a guided excursion?

Yes. A Pocket Guide ticket lets you plan your own route. Visitors can walk or rent an electric vehicle or bicycle on Veliki Brijun, choosing routes to suit the time available.