What Is the Best Road Trip from Rovinj? Motovun and Grožnjan
Updated October 21, 2026 · 5 min read
The one drive worth hiring a car for is Rovinj–Grožnjan–Motovun–Rovinj. It gives you two very different hill towns and the Mirna valley without turning the day into a checklist. Drive to Grožnjan first, continue to Motovun, then return to Rovinj. If nobody wants to drive, book the Istria day tour via Poreč, Grožnjan and Motovun: eight hours, €109 per person, 4.8 from 160 reviews.
| Option | Duration | Price | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Istria day tour via Poreč, Grožnjan and Motovun | 8 hours | €109 per person | 4.8 from 160 reviews | Three towns without driving |
| Guided inner Istria tour with food tasting | 8 hours | €92 per person | 5.0 from 98 reviews | Grožnjan, Motovun and Pazin |
Why Grožnjan comes first
Grožnjan is the quieter opening. Its small stone core, galleries and views reward an unhurried wander, but it need not consume half the day. Arriving earlier leaves flexibility for a coffee and keeps Motovun, the longer stop, in reserve. In summer, start before the strongest heat; outside the main season, check individual galleries rather than assuming every door will be open.
From Grožnjan the road drops towards the Mirna valley before climbing towards Motovun. Do not promise yourself a doorstep space: parking and the shuttle to the old-town core are run by the municipal company Motovun park. The current details are on the official Motovun tourism contact page.
What to do in Motovun
Motovun deserves the larger block of time. Walk uphill through the medieval town, look across the Mirna valley, then eat below or around the hill rather than squeezing in a third distant destination. The surrounding forest is associated with Istrian truffles, but a restaurant dish is not the same as a hunt. If the hunt is your priority, use our comparison of truffle tours from Rovinj.
Check availability and prices for the Poreč, Grožnjan and Motovun day tour
Summer and quieter months
In summer, the advantage of your own car is an early departure, but parking and exposed uphill walking are the trade-off. In cooler months the walking is gentler and roads quieter, while opening patterns are less predictable. Check the weather and each planned venue shortly before leaving; do not build the whole day around one unconfirmed tasting.
Car or tour?
Choose the car if you want only Grožnjan and Motovun, prefer your own lunch stop, or travel with equipment that is awkward to carry. Compare rental cars in Rovinj and confirm parking at your accommodation before committing to several days.
Choose the €109 tour when Poreč is part of the wish list or wine at lunch makes driving undesirable. The €92 inner-Istria option replaces Poreč with Pazin and has fewer reviews but the higher rating. For most first-time visitors who do not want to drive, the Poreč, Grožnjan and Motovun tour is the clearer choice.
