Kranjski Kamp

Kamenjak National Park (10 minutes’ drive) sits on the southern tip of the Istrian Peninsula. It’s a region of turquoise bays and hidden coves swathed in Mediterranean maquis, where you can flop on golden beaches, go snorkelling, cycle the length of the promontory or treat yourselves to a sunset supper in the famed Safari Bar (15 minutes). The spectacular Brijuni archipelago is another protected park sitting in the Adriatic off the west coast; you can get to Veliki Brijun (the largest island) by boat from Fažana (half an hour). Once there, spot elephants and zebras at the safari park, tour the remains of a Roman villa in Verige Bay and check out the permanent exhibition dedicated to Marshall Tito, who had a holiday house on the island. Back on the mainland, the historic and elegant town of Pula (20 minutes) is definitely worth a visit to see its colossal, well-preserved 1st-century amphitheatre, the colonnaded Temple of Augustus and ornate City Hall Building standing proudly on the Forum Square – the latter is just the spot for a chilled glass of Istrian white wine in a pavement café.