Brijuni is the archipelago across the water from Fažana, a national park of fourteen islands and the easiest green escape from Pula. You do not swim between them or rent a boat to roam; you take the park boat and follow the park’s own route. The Brijuni National Park page has the basics, and the Brijuni boat tour is the private alternative.
Getting there
The official park boat leaves from Fažana, about 15 minutes across, and the standard excursion with the island train tour is about €40 for an adult in high season, less off-season. Book on the park’s official site a few days ahead in summer, because the boats fill. Fažana is about 10 km north of Pula; the getting to and around Pula guide covers the bus and the drive.
What you actually see
The main island holds the headline sights. Tito’s former residence is the famous stop, the Roman villa at Verige bay is the oldest, and the island’s dinosaur footprints are the detail children remember. You cycle or take the park train around the main island, and the coastline is the clearest water near Pula. The day trips from Pula guide compares Brijuni with the other options.
The safari park, honestly
The safari park is the part to lower your expectations for. It is more melancholy than magical: a small collection of animals in an unlikely setting, and not the reason most visitors come. The Roman bay villa and the cycling are the real draws, so plan your time around those and treat the safari as a short add-on rather than the centrepiece.
Official boat versus private tour
The official excursion lands on the main island and includes the train tour, which is what most people want. Private boat tours from Fažana circle the archipelago for less money but do not land on the main island, so you see the coastline and the coves from the water without the villas and the train. Know which experience you are buying before you book, because they are different trips at different prices.
