Checking in at Grand Hotel Brioni Pula: a luxury destination for your Croatia bucket list

Less than a two-hour flight from Amsterdam or Rotterdam, you'll find beautiful Istria in Croatia, with the coastal town of Pula as its jewel. This ancient city is known for its olive oil, mild climate, and the amphitheater where gladiators fought for a thousand years. Team Yourlbb spent three nights here at the magnificent Grand Hotel Brioni, and wow; take it from us, this is a true bucket-list destination. The 5-star resort is situated on a rocky outcrop just outside the city center. Every day, you wake up to a sea view and the sound of the infinity pool gently cascading over the water, a spectacle that makes for truly stunning pictures. Later in this article, we'll tell you all about this special place and delve a little deeper into Pula and the surrounding area. We can already reveal: we returned from this magical experience fully refreshed and full of food!

After reading this blog, we are sure that you, too, will put Croatia at the top of your bucket list. This destination is perfect for when you want to do absolutely nothing and simply bask in luxury, with the occasional small excursion. For this trip to the luxurious Grand Hotel Brioni, we explored Pula and the surrounding area, and above all, we thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful hotel and everything it had to offer. Will you travel with us?

Grand Hotel Brioni in Pula stands for pure relaxation

Countries like Spain, Italy, Portugal, and France are standard when we're looking to book a sunny European destination, but if you mention Croatia for a well-deserved rest, you're often met with amazement. And yet, this destination is conveniently close, offers a wealth of nature and culture, and, thanks to its Italian influences, also boasts delicious food. From campsites to luxury resorts, you'll find it all in Istria.

Grand Hotel Brioni opened in 1972 and has undergone several renovations since then. The 227-room hotel is situated right on the waterfront, with the Istrian archipelago at its doorstep. As part of the Radisson Collection, no expense has been spared to make this the ultimate luxury getaway. Design is one of the hotel's pillars, and the moment you step inside, you'll immediately see that. Beautiful natural materials like Italian marble and wood dominate, with accents of blue to evoke Mediterranean life. Extensive collaboration with local designers and artists has ensured that the local community is deeply integrated into the experience. The Roman columns incorporated into the interior provide a subtle finishing touch!

| TIP: This hotel can also be booked as a package holiday including flights. Check the price directly here via De Vakantie Discounter >>

If you book a room at this beautiful hotel just outside the center of Pula, you can choose either a garden view or a sea view. Both are beautiful, but the sea view rooms are definitely the winner. The rooms themselves are spacious, with a king-size bed and a huge TV with Chromecast, so you can stream all your favorite shows. All rooms have a small desk, atmospheric LED lighting under the bed for "night mode," and a comfortable window seat to enjoy the view. They also include a closet full of bathrobes, slippers, beach sandals, and even your own beach bag to take home! After a long day at the beach and pool, we definitely recommend taking the elevator down in your freshly showered bathrobe for a spa treatment or a sauna session.

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ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL TERRACES OF GRAND HOTEL BRIONI PULA

swim in the infinity pool or in the clear blue sea

It's a tough choice: will you choose the pool or the azure sea? The large steps on the terrace lead down to the pool, where you can get a towel at the dedicated towel service desk. We loved starting the day in one of the cabanas on the rocky outcrop right by the sea. Tip: booking in advance is recommended! And then, after a few hours, move on to the comfortable loungers by the infinity pool. Choices, choices ;-)!

Discover the restaurants of Grand Hotel Brioni Pula

There's nothing quite like discovering restaurants near your hotel. But if you stay at Grand Hotel Brioni, you literally don't have to leave the house for the most delicious cuisine. And that's a real bonus! Especially if you've booked this location to completely unwind and relax. Put on a pretty dress after your day at the beach or pool, slip on some heels, and off you go!

Fine dining restaurant Sophia

Beach restaurant Lungo Mare

Fine dining steakhouse restaurant Sophia is a must-see if you're staying at Grand Hotel Brioni Pula. The high-quality beef served here is flown in from Japan and New Jersey, and they certainly know how to prepare meat here. They also have plenty for vegetarians! So don't let the restaurant's description deter you if you don't eat meat or eat very little. And a big tip: definitely try the homemade sea salt with Jack Daniels. Wow!

Beach restaurant Lungo Mare is the place to go for fresh fish or a good salad with bread. We chose the octopus carpaccio and the sea bass with local olive oil, and it was absolutely delicious.

Fine dining restaurant Sophia

Fine dining restaurant Sophia

taste the local olive oil that Istria is famous for

We understand it's difficult to leave this hotel for a few hours, but we definitely recommend planning a day trip and exploring the surrounding area. Istria is known for its award-winning olive oil, so a visit to Pula wouldn't be complete without an olive oil tasting at one of the area's many olive groves. The family-run Chiavalon welcomed us with open arms and shared not only their knowledge but also their favorite olive oil pairings with us. We'd never dipped cheese in olive oil before, but now we dream about it every day. What a unique experience learning about extra virgin olive oil, and the tasting was even more enjoyable than we could have imagined! You learn to appreciate and recognize the quality of all the oils like a true pro, and of course, we bought some delicious olive oil at the gift shops afterward as a souvenir to relive the flavors of this special region.

Visit the historic city of Pula in Istria

Then it was time to visit Pula's main attraction: the Pula Arena amphitheater, where real gladiators fought for a thousand years. It's fun to wander around on your own and soak up all the sights, but perhaps even more fun to book a tour guide. This way, you'll discover a little more about the history of this iconic place. We learned that Pula is three thousand years old and that there are still many Roman buildings and features to be found in this small town. Impressive!

OLIVE ORCHARD CHIAVALON

PULA THEATER

Take the ferry from Fazana for a day trip to Brioni Island

Less than a 20-minute drive from Grand Hotel Brioni Pula lies the charming coastal village of Fažana. This is the perfect place for a stroll through the old town, a leisurely lunch by the waterfront, and, as the icing on the cake, a visit to the unique Brioni Island National Park on the other side. A 10-minute ferry ride takes you to this historic island, teeming with nature, wildlife, and a wealth of history. There are two main islands (Mali Brijun and Veli Brijun) and about a dozen smaller islets, but only the largest, Veli Brijun, is accessible (unless you have your own boat). There are several options, including renting bicycles and golf carts, and taking the tourist train that takes you to various attractions.

Besides the live animals in the safari park, you can also admire the bizarre collection of stuffed animals in the Tito Museum on this island. This museum is largely dedicated to President Tito and the Croatian political era when Croatia was still part of Yugoslavia. On the west coast of Veliki Brijun, you'll pass Verige Bay, where many ancient ruins from the Roman era can still be seen. The foundations of a former Roman villa are still largely intact, so if history is your thing, you definitely won't want to miss this!

FAZANA

BRIONI ISLAND

Relax in the spa at Grand Hotel Brioni Pula

After all those day trips and days at the beach, are you ready for ultimate relaxation? Then Grand Hotel Brioni Pula has the perfect spot. Below the hotel, you can reach the incredible spa by elevator or stairs. Wow, what a surprise! From Ayurvedic massages to modern saunas and a "carwash" shower (which you walk through after your sauna session to cool off and simultaneously activate all your sensors), everything in this spa is wonderful and meticulously taken care of. From the indoor pool in the spa, you look out over the outdoor pool with the sea beyond. It doesn't get much more beautiful than this!

Would we return to the Grand Hotel Brioni Pula in Croatia? Absolutely! We still think about this wonderful place every day. Looking to relax in luxury and explore a side of Croatia you haven't yet seen? Then you'll definitely want to go here. Enjoy!

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