Fažana is a small fishing town with an unusually important role in visits to the Brijuni Islands: official excursions to Brijuni National Park depart from its harbour. That connection shapes the rhythm of the town, but Fažana is more than an embarkation point. Its old centre, fishing tradition and long waterfront promenade provide plenty to explore before or after an island trip. Beaches line the settlement and continue towards Valbandon; Fažana North faces the Brijuni archipelago and has accessible entry to the sea, while Pineta lies about two kilometres from the centre and benefits from the shade of a pine forest. Farther south, Valbandon and Bi Val broaden the choice of family and sports facilities. Pula is close enough for a separate cultural day, making Fažana a quieter base for south-western Istria. A Brijuni excursion is best kept as the day’s main event, with the remaining time spent on Fažana’s waterfront and beaches.
Fažana lies on Istria’s south-western coast opposite the Brijuni archipelago and has long been connected with fishing and the sea. A modern visit often begins at the harbour because excursions to Brijuni National Park depart from here, yet the centre retains the scale of a small coastal settlement. A promenade links the harbour with local beaches and continues towards Valbandon, allowing much of a stay to be organised without a car. Views of Brijuni accompany the waterfront and distinguish Fažana from nearby Pula: the emphasis here is on the harbour, fishing tradition and the town’s direct relationship with the islands offshore.
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Brijuni is the principal excursion associated with Fažana, with official departures for the national park organised from the town harbour. Within Fažana itself, the compact historic area around the waterfront and churches is complemented by local interpretation of the traditional salting of sardines. The Antonia Smareglia coastal walking and cycling route passes the northern beach and combines recreation with views towards Brijuni. Visitors should treat these as two distinct experiences: Brijuni requires a boat crossing and its own block of time, while Fažana’s centre, promenade and beaches can be explored more spontaneously before or after the island excursion.
Fažana North beach lies beside the settlement facing Brijuni; entry to the sea is adapted for children and people with disabilities, and the paved waterfront carries the Antonia Smareglia walking and cycling route. Pineta is about two kilometres from Fažana and has a pine forest behind the shore together with sports and food facilities. In Valbandon, also roughly two kilometres away, the public beach includes a children’s playground, exercise area and showers. Bi Val beside the campsite adds water sports and a designated dog area, giving the wider Fažana coastline several distinct types of beach experience.
Beach · Fažana
Public beach with children's playground, sports facilities and modern infrastructure in Fažana.
A day in Fažana naturally begins at the harbour with an official excursion into Brijuni National Park. The standard guided visit to Veliki Brijun lasts about three and a half hours and includes return boat travel, a tourist-train circuit, the Safari Park and museum displays. Back ashore, walk along the waterfront into the old centre and the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian, then follow the coastal promenade towards Valbandon. When special departures are scheduled, Mali Brijun offers Fort Minor and the Brijuni Stone Stories trail. Finish the evening with Fažana-style sardines, the small oily fish at the heart of the town’s culinary identity.
Sardines are the signature ingredient of Fažana’s cooking, served grilled, salted or in a brodetto with polenta and Mediterranean herbs. In the historic centre, the official listings include Da Nonna for Italian and Mediterranean dishes and Stara Konoba on Trg Stare škole. Sapore di Mare occupies a waterfront position facing the Brijuni islands, while Jedro and Alla Beccaccia are convenient for visitors staying around Valbandon, south of the centre. The regional tourism portal also highlights Fažana addresses including Sapore di Mare, Feral, Navetta and Stara Konoba, giving diners several verified alternatives rather than concentrating on a single harbour restaurant.
The Fažana Tourist Board is at 43. istarske divizije 8; its telephone number is +385 52 383 727 and its email is [email protected]. The Brijuni National Park office stands at Brionska 10 beside the departure pier, and advance booking is wise when a particular guiding language matters. A standard Veliki Brijun visit takes roughly three and a half hours, including about one hour aboard the tourist train. Bring water for Mali Brijun; the route through Fort Minor is unsuitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs. In summer, the waterfront and the Brijuni boarding area form Fažana’s busiest visitor zone.
Fažana’s paid parking is divided into three zones. Under the rates published for 2026, from 1 June to 30 September an hour costs €3 in P1, €2 in P2 and €1 in P3; daily tickets are €30, €20 and €15 respectively. Outside that period, hourly charges fall to €1.50, €1 and €0.50. Payment is available at meters, through Bmove or WEBPARK, or by SMS from a Croatian mobile number. Badel is the sole location for coach parking and passenger loading, while camper vans may use Badel or the Valbandon Beach car park. Allow walking time to the harbour when catching a Brijuni boat.
Fažana is eight kilometres by road from Pula, and Pulapromet route 21 links Pula-Centar P&R, the Arena, the main bus station, Valbandon, Fažana, Peroj and Barbariga. Trips to Veliki Brijun depart from Fažana harbour; the Pula Port Authority identifies it as a passenger port for Brijuni and for excursion-boat embarkation. Visitors arriving at Pula bus station can change directly onto route 21 there, rather than travelling across the city first. Check the timetable for the date of travel before setting out.
Official excursions to Brijuni National Park depart from Fažana harbour.
Fažana North has entry adapted for children and people with disabilities.
Pineta beach is about two kilometres from Fažana.
Yes. The Antonia Smareglia coastal walking and cycling route passes Fažana North beach.

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Fažana
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Landmark · Fažana
The parish church of Saints Cosmas and Damian in central Fažana preserves building phases from the early Middle Ages to the 17th century.
Beach · Fažana
Public beach in Fažana offering unique views of Brijuni National Park and crystal-clear waters.
Source: European Environment Agency (EEA); data from Croatian authorities. · bathing water profile
Bi Val beside Bi Village includes the designated Bi Dog Beach area.
Village · Istria
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