Umag, Croatia: Travel Guide & Things to Do!
Umag is probably one of the most popular holiday destinations in Croatia. It is located in the north of Istria and delights travelers with its absolutely charming old town, the numerous interesting attractions and the beautiful surroundings with many fantastic places to visit. In addition, along the coast you will find many beautiful beaches and bathing spots where you can really let your soul dangle. In the hinterland, however, small romantic mountain villages, picturesque vineyards and green olive groves characterize the landscape. Finally, the fabulous offer of activities, but also the many fantastic places to stay make a vacation in Umag a unique experience.
In this travel guide, we give you all the important tips and information about Umag in Croatia. We will show you the best things to do in Umag, the most beautiful beaches, amazing day trips and where you can find the best places to stay.
Good to know!
If you are still looking for particularly nice accommodation in Umag, we can recommend the popular Hotel Sol Sipar in a prime beach location.
The beautiful beaches in Umag are wonderful for a beach vacation. Even National Geographic magazine chose Umag as one of the 10 best summer destinations in the world!
Umag was awarded with the title of European City of Sports in 2018. Cycling, mountain biking, tennis and golf are just a few of the activities you can do here on a vacation.
Camping lovers also enjoy Umag! Especially great is the Camping Park Umag, which scores with pool landscape, beautiful beaches, cool mobile homes and glamping tents.
General Information about Umag
Umag is located in the north of Istria, not far from the Slovenian border, and is therefore also known as the “Gateway to Croatia”. Once a summer residence of the Roman nobility, the coastal town is still a popular place for a vacation on the Croatian Adriatic. Due to its ideal location and, of course, thanks to its uniquely beautiful flair, Umag in Croatia has become one of the most famous travel destinations in the country over the years.
About 13,000 inhabitants live in the town of Umag and in the neighboring municipalities. The entire vacation region consists not only of the picturesque old town, but also of the small vacation villages, like Zambratija and Savudrija, which are located nearby around the center. On a coastline of 45 kilometers, a true vacation paradise awaits you, including fantastic beaches, great accommodations and numerous opportunities for excursions into the scenically enchanting hinterland of Istria.
The Best Things to Do in Umag
Various amazing things to do await you on a vacation in Umag. Among the absolute best attractions are the romantic old town with churches and stone alleys, the picturesque waterfront and of course the many stunning beaches. But also the surrounding area is really worth seeing and has many exciting excursions to offer.
The Old Town in Umag
Uniquely beautiful and one of the best things to do is a visit to the picturesque old town in Umag. The history of the town center goes back to ancient times and was later discovered by Roman noblemen. Even today, the remains of the town walls and towers can be admired during a stroll through the enchanting historical old town, which was also greatly impacted by the Venetian style. Wonderful and definitely worth a visit is the picturesque seaside promenade with the Croatian stone houses, where fantastic restaurants and cozy cafés with a stunning view of the sea are lined up. Here you will also find the small city beach Dante, where you can cool down a little.
The main square, Trg Slobode, is certainly one of the most beautiful places in the city center. Here you will find some cozy cafés and excellent restaurants where you can enjoy local dishes in a fabulous atmosphere. But the most important attraction there is the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, whose freestanding church tower St. Pellegrinus offers a view over the entire old town of Umag. The small romantic stone alleys are so enchanting, forming a labyrinth in the old town with small restaurants and wine bars. The alleys then also lead to the town’s museum “Gradski Muzej”, where various archaeological exhibits from the Roman period are displayed.
Lighthouse Savudrija
One of the most beautiful attractions to visit in Umag is the Savudrija Lighthouse, which is situated about 9 kilometers from the town center. This building was built almost 200 years ago by the architect Pietro Nobile from local white stones from the coast. The lighthouse, which is almost 36 meters high, is beautifully situated on a cape whose wild and romantic rocky beach is perfect for a few relaxing hours of swimming by the sea.
Sunsets at Savudrija Beach
Just 300 meters south of the famous lighthouse is the wonderful Savudrija Beach, an attraction of Umag that should not be missed on any trip. Typical here are the iconic boats hanging on wooden pillars, which have become a landmark of the region. Especially unique and a real insider tip is a visit in the evening at sunset, when a magnificent play of colors forms in the sky. A romantic experience on any visit to Umag.
The Sunken City Sipar
The Sunken City Sipar, one of the most beautifully situated archaeological sites in Istria, is only about 4 kilometers from Umag. It lies on a narrow headland near the Polynesia beach and can be reached by a walk at low tide. Based on the archaeological remains, it can be said that the area in and around Sipar had already been inhabited in the early Iron Age. Later, the Romans established a settlement here, the remains of which can be admired today in the Umag Museum.
The Best Beaches in Umag
In Umag there are some charming bathing places. Most of them are pebble or well-kept concrete beaches, but there are also beautiful hidden bays and sandy beaches that invite to have a swim. Here are the most popular beaches in Umag, which are ideal for a holiday.
Beach Punta
Punta district with the same named Punta Beach is definitely one of the most popular places to spend a summer vacation in Umag. This is a beautifully landscaped sandy beach, with partly concreted areas and small pebble bays. Moreover, the central location is fantastic. By walking or cycling along the coastal promenade, you can reach the historic old town and the harbor in just 1.5 kilometers.
Tip: Directly behind the Plaza Punta you will find really recommendable accommodations, such as the popular Hotel Sol Sipar, a stunning beach hotel with a pool.
Beach Laguna Stella Maris
The beautiful Laguna Stella Maris is a truly popular beach in Umag. This beautifully designed lagoon is located in the Resort Stella Maris, a vacation village with apartments, restaurants, and many sports facilities. The warm sea slopes wonderfully shallow and fine pebbles provide optimal entry into the water. Guests also love the wide range of entertainment options, there are umbrellas and sunbeds for rent and the gastronomic offer leaves nothing to be desired. In the immediate vicinity is also the ATP stadium “Goran Ivanisevic”, where in July the ATP tennis tournament takes place.
Sandy beach Zambratija
The beach Zambratija is a real insider tip for those who are looking for a beautiful and moreover a natural sandy beach in Umag! Especially families with small children will find their personal vacation happiness at this wonderful bathing place. The sea here is crystal clear and slopes very shallow, so you can wade wonderfully through the water. Fantastic are also the private-run apartments in the immediate vicinity, which offer the best conditions for a perfect stay in Umag.
Tip: The lovely apartments of Sunny House are a great choice for a holiday. They are not far from the beach and inspire on top with great facilities.
Polynesia Beach
Beautiful and a beach highlight is the picturesque Polynesia Beach, situated a few kilometers north of Umag. Here you can expect a real dream beach with almost kitschy turquoise blue sea colors and surrounded by an enchanting Mediterranean landscape. Moreover, on this part of the coast there is an important historical sight. The sunken city of Sipar, a Roman excavation site with an exceptionally beautiful backdrop, is located on the headland that juts into the blue sea like a crescent.
Beach Canova Park (Camping Park Umag)
The beach Canova Park is very popular, especially among campers. It is located directly in the popular Camping Park Umag, a huge 4-star camping complex. Here you will find everything a camper’s heart desires. There are several pool facilities, restaurants, mobile homes as well as glamping. Wonderful are also the numerous beach sections along the coast, which score with crystal clear sea and top water quality. In the high season, there are also some opportunities for water sports.
Tip: Truly recommended are also the Premium Mobile Homes, which are located in a quiet area of the campsite and offer guests the best living comfort.
Best Excursions around Umag
Thanks to its good location, you can experience some of the best things to do in Istria in the surroundings of Umag. Here are the most amazing day trips and excursions you can go on during your holiday:
There are many charming mountain villages around Umag. Motovun, Groznjan, Buje and Hum, the smallest town in the world, are just some of the highlights in the hinterland.
Especially popular with families are the Aquapark Funtana and the Dinopark Funtana, which are both only about 40 minutes away from Umag.
Also some picturesque coastal towns like Novigrad and Porec are not far away from Umag and can be visited via an excursion.
Another great excursion destinations from Umag are the famous Baredine Cave, but also the smaller Mramornica Cave is really worth visiting
Where to Stay in Umag
In Umag there is an excellent offer of hotels, resorts and private run apartments. Many of these accommodations are in top locations directly by the sea, which is especially appreciated by sun-seeking beach holidaymakers. We have compiled our top recommendations on where to stay in Umag here…It’s worth a look!
- Hotel by the Sea: The Hotel Sol Sipar for Plava Laguna ranks among the best hotels in Umag. Here you can enjoy a top location by the sea, a delicious breakfast and lovely rooms.
- Fantastic Apartment: The tasteful Apartments and Rooms PUNTA are situated in a quiet area. The harbor, the old town and some lovely beaches are nearby.
- Wonderful B&B: The B&B Carmela is a beautiful B&B with clean and wonderful rooms. They also offer their guests a varied, tasty breakfast.
- Stunning Holiday Home: Really great is the Holiday Home Old Barn, a very well-equipped typically Istrian stone house with 3 bedrooms and a pool.
Find the best accommodation in Umag:
More about Istria:
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Rovinj, Croatia: Top 15 Unique Things To Do
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Pula, Croatia: An Expert Travel Guide
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Top 10 Amazing Beaches in Istria
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Porec, Croatia: An Expert Travel Guide
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Fazana: Die bezaubernde Urlaubsperle in Istrien
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