Best Beachfront Stays in Pula, Istria

Boutique Hotel Valsabbion stands 20 metres from the sea in Pješčana Uvala, 3 km from Pula, and I would recommend it to families with older children who want a quiet, modern stay. The heated outdoor pool looks out to sea, so swims work even early in the season, and parents can book time at the spa centre. Rooms have balconies over the sea or the garden. Pets are welcome. A guest score of 9.6 is among the best around Pula.

I would pick Grand Hotel Brioni Pula for a family that wants the sea, a pool and room to roam in one place. The hotel sits on the beachfront and is surrounded by pine forest, there are both indoor and outdoor pools for any weather, and sports courts give older children an outlet. Parents can slip off to the saunas in the spa, and the restaurant serves Istrian specialities for dinner. A guest score of 9.4 from almost 3,200 reviews is hard to argue with.

I would choose Monumenti Heritage Hotel&Resort for a family that wants the sea right in front of the room in Pula. The hotel has direct beachfront access, rooms come with private balconies and sea views, and an indoor swimming pool keeps the swimming going on cooler or windy days. Parents can take turns in the spa and wellness centre while the others lie on the sun terrace. Rooms are air-conditioned. A five-star rating and a guest score of 9.2 back the pick.

I would choose Park Plaza Arena Pula for a family that wants sea-water pools and the coast within a few steps. The hotel was renovated in 2015, sits in a pine forest just 50 metres from the Adriatic, and has two sea-water swimming pools with sun decks, a good middle ground for children not ready for open sea. Parents can use the health and wellness centre, and the rooms are modern with design furniture. A guest score of 9.1 from almost 2,300 reviews backs the pick.

For a family, Hotel Modo is a beach-based choice: bright rooms with sea views, surrounded by the Valovine, Stoja and Zelenika beaches, so there is a choice of spots for swimming. Each room has a seating area, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom, with free Wi-Fi throughout. A restaurant, a lounge bar and a terrace cover meals. Pula Arena is 3.8 km away, so I would count on a short drive for sightseeing.

For a family, Residence Del Mar Emotion is an aparthotel on the beach with a private beach area, a seasonal outdoor pool and a sun terrace, plus a kids' club. Apartments have kitchenettes, balconies, private bathrooms and air conditioning, and family rooms are available, which suits parents who like to prepare some meals. A restaurant and bars are on site. I would choose it for a beach-focused family holiday.

Park Plaza Histria suits families who want the beach, pools and sport in one resort. The two seawater pools mean children swim in salt water even on a pool day, and there are tennis and squash courts, billiards and mini golf for older children. Three restaurants cover meals without leaving the site. Rooms are a mix of superior and premium rooms plus 13 apartments, the latter more practical for a larger family. Verudela's shore is rocky rather than sandy, so water shoes help. The drawback is the 4 km to the old town: evenings in Pula need a bus or taxi.

For a family, Resort Del Mar Emotion has direct beachfront access and a private beach area, with a seasonal outdoor pool and a sun terrace. Air-conditioned rooms have balconies overlooking the pool, and a kids' club keeps children busy. The restaurant serves Italian, Mediterranean and European cuisines. I would choose it for a resort holiday where the day stays on site, not as a base for exploring Pula's old centre.

I would pick ApartHotel Viola for a family that wants the beach and a kitchenette together in Pula. The aparthotel is beachfront, with a sun terrace and sea views, and the units have kitchenettes, private bathrooms and balconies or terraces overlooking the garden. Pets are welcome. The listing mentions no pool or play area. A rating of 8.7 from 94 reviews is good.

Family Resort del Mar is built around apartments rather than hotel rooms, and that is why I would send families here: there is space to spread out and air conditioning for the hot Istrian afternoons. It sits on the seafront in Banjole, 4 km from Pula, with an ice-cream parlour and a grocery shop on site for easy breakfasts and treats. The restaurant and café bar both have terraces facing the sea, and pets are accepted.

I would choose Centinera Resort for a family that wants a sea view from every room and a quiet village around them. It stands on the waterfront in the small village of Banjole, south of Pula, surrounded by pine forest. All rooms are modern and air-conditioned with views of the sea, and the restaurant serves Mediterranean specialities with a terrace by the water, which keeps dinners easy. It is a three-star resort with a guest score of 8.3 from more than 1,000 reviews.