Best Spa and Wellness Stays in Pula

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.

Families should know from the start that Monvidal by Bura Hotels is adults only, so children cannot stay. I would keep it for couples or friends travelling without kids who want a pool, a sun terrace and a garden in Pula. Rooms are air-conditioned and soundproofed, with a minibar, and the restaurant offers vegetarian options. Concierge service and daily housekeeping complete a four-star package rated 9 from 867 reviews. Parents should book a family hotel elsewhere in Pula.

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.

This is a small, adults-only address, so families are out and the atmosphere stays quiet. With 15 rooms, the pool area never feels like a resort, and breakfast is served à la carte rather than as a buffet. The location is the real asset: a beach about 300 metres away, Cave Romane at 400 metres, the Kamenjak cape 5 km south and Pula's Arena a short drive north. Its weak points deserve saying: the pool is seasonal, the hotel advertises no spa or wellness area, and the beach is a walk rather than a step from the terrace. Rated 8.8 by guests over 519 reviews. I would pick it for a long weekend for two in June or September.

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.

For a family, Ribarska Koliba Resort in Verudela offers air-conditioned rooms and apartments, with free Wi-Fi and an outdoor pool, and the Sakordjana and Ambrela beaches are within walking distance. An à la carte restaurant has a sea-view terrace. The resort is 3 km from Pula's centre, a little back from the old town, so I would plan a short drive or bus ride for sightseeing and use the resort mainly for beach time.

Adrion Aparthotel gives families the space of a studio or apartment in Pula, each with air-conditioning, a kitchenette and a furnished balcony, which helps with early breakfasts and snacks. The indoor pool with sun loungers works in any weather, a real plus outside midsummer. Parents can use the spa centre with sauna and steam bath, and the on-site restaurant covers evenings when no one wants to cook. Free private parking and Wi-Fi are included, which simplifies a road trip around Istria.

I would suggest Residence Superior Del Mar to a family that wants an apartment, a pool and the beach close by near Pula. The modern apartments are in Banjole, about 200 metres from the beach, with an outdoor pool and air-conditioned living space. Self-catering keeps meals flexible, and the nearby main complex adds a restaurant, a coffee bar, a gym and massage services for parents. Free private parking helps with a car full of luggage, and pets are welcome. A guest score of 8.8 backs it.

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 suggest Hotel Galija to a family that wants to stay in central Pula and eat well without searching for a restaurant. It is a family-run hotel with modern, air-conditioned rooms and suites, and its well-known restaurant with a large terrace specialises in Istrian and seafood dishes. The Roman sights of the centre are close at hand for short walks with children. Pets are welcome. It is a three-star city hotel without a pool, with a guest score of 8.0 from over 1,000 reviews.