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Cruises to Pula

1 Review
Roman amphitheatre in Pula, Croatia (Photo: Aleksandar Todorovic/Shutterstock)

About Pula

No one would blame a person visiting Pula for thinking they had accidentally stumbled across a border into Italy. In fact, it's often referred to as Croatia's most Roman city due to the multitude of Roman ruins found throughout. Having the sixth-largest Roman amphitheater in the world -- and one of the most excellently preserved -- doesn't hurt either.

Pula is the largest city in Croatia's Istria County, located on the top of the Istria peninsula. The city and the peninsula both have a long history, including hundreds of years spent as part of the Roman and Venetian empires, so it's no surprise it feels a bit Italian.

In fact, it's steeped in Roman history, with its earliest Roman origins dating back to 177 B.C. and rising to prominence under Julius Caesar in 45 B.C. It then had the unlucky fortune to be involved in the Roman civil war that pitted the triumvirate of Octavian, Lepidus and Mark Antony against Brutus and Cassius after the assassination of Caesar. After siding with the losing duo, much of the city was destroyed in 42 B.C., but quickly rebuilt. It is from this latter age that most of the Roman ruins belong.

As with so many other towns on the Dalmatian Coast, Pula has narrow winding streets and an old town to walk through. Throughout it all you'll find evidence of the city's Roman past from the massive amphitheater that peeks out from behind the trees to Roman gates and burial plots.

Pula is not a large city and as such you can see it in the half day your cruise ship will usually be docked.

  • More about Pula

  • Why go to Pula?

  • Currency & Best Way to Get Money?

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Azamara Journey
Azamara Journey

10 Night
Croatia Intensive VoyageDetails

805 Reviews
Leaving:Venice
Cruise Line:Azamara
Jun 26, 2024
No prices currently available for this sailing.
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Azamara Pursuit
Azamara Pursuit (Photo: Azamara Cruises)

8 Night
Croatia & Amalfi Coasts VoyageDetails

122 Reviews
Leaving:Venice
Cruise Line:Azamara
Aug 10, 2024
No prices currently available for this sailing.
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Azamara Pursuit
Azamara Pursuit (Photo: Azamara Cruises)

9 Night
Croatia Intensive VoyageDetails

122 Reviews
Leaving:Venice
Cruise Line:Azamara
Sep 8, 2024
No prices currently available for this sailing.
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Le Bougainville
Le Bougainville (Photo: Ponant)

7 Night
Mediterranean - Western CruiseDetails

8 Reviews
Leaving:Venice
Cruise Line:Ponant
Jul 9, 2024
No prices currently available for this sailing.
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Virgin Voyages

9 Night
Croatia Intensive VoyageDetails

805 Reviews
Leaving:Athens
Cruise Line:Azamara
Jul 13, 2024
No prices currently available for this sailing.
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Cruise Critic Favorite

9 Night
Croatia Intensive VoyageDetails

702 Reviews
Leaving:Venice
Cruise Line:Azamara
Oct 10, 2024
No prices currently available for this sailing.
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7 Night
Mediterranean - Eastern CruiseDetails

Leaving:Bari
Cruise Line:Sea Cloud Cruises
Sep 1, 2023
No prices currently available for this sailing.
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Cruise Critic Favorite

7 Night
Mediterranean - Eastern CruiseDetails

7 Reviews
Leaving:Venice
Cruise Line:Sea Cloud Cruises
Aug 11, 2023
No prices currently available for this sailing.
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More about Pula

Why go to Pula?

Pros:

Amazing Roman amphitheater is the main highlight

Cons:

After you've seen the amphitheater there's not much else to do

Bottom Line:

Definitely worth a couple of hours exploring the amphitheater and old town

Currency & Best Way to Get Money?

The currency in Croatia is the kuna. While some small souvenir spots might take euros, you should not count on it. There are banks with ATMs throughout the city.

Language?

The official language in Pula, as in all of Croatia, is Serbo-Croatian.


Pula Cruise Reviews
A very picturesque little town Read More
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Bilgeboy30

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