Two days lets you do Pula properly: one day for the Roman town and a swim, a second for the coast or an island. This plan keeps the pace calm and the walking short, with buses doing the heavy lifting. If you only have one day, the one day in Pula version cuts this down.
Day one: the Roman core and a swim
Start at the Pula Arena as it opens, then walk down through the Arch of Sergii to the Forum and the Temple of Augustus. Coffee on the square, lunch in the market hall, then cool off in Zerostrasse when the heat is at its worst. In the late afternoon take bus 2 to Ambrela for a swim and sunset.
Day two morning: a beach
Spend the morning on a beach rather than rushing the town. Ambrela is the easy pick with a shallow entry and a lifeguard, but Hawaii and Valkane are a short walk along Verudela if you want a change. Bring swim shoes, because the entry is pebbly and rocky in places.
Day two afternoon: Brijuni or Cape Kamenjak
Choose one. The boat to Brijuni leaves from Fažana, fifteen minutes across, and a park excursion is about €40 for an adult in high season, less off-season. Cape Kamenjak is the wild headland to the south, with car entry about €10 a day and a string of coves to pick from. Both are covered in the day trips from Pula guide.
Where this fits
Two days is the sweet spot for most visitors: enough for the Arena and a beach without a single rushed morning. When you want to stretch it further, the one day plan and the day trips guide show the options. The things to do page lists the rest.
