Vrsar in Croatia - small town with big surprises

Vrsar in Croatia, on the west coast of Istria, is a medieval town where we visited a really good restaurant. We checked out the Porto Sole campsite and a naturist campsite Koversada in Vrsar. Both have great locations next to the Adriatic Sea and the nudist campsite also has its own island for glamping.

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Vrsar in Croatia

Vrsar in Croatia is located on the Adriatic Sea on the west coast of Istria, north of Rovinj and south of Porec. Vrsar is a little smaller than these two more famous tourist resorts, but perhaps just as nice.

Restaurant by the sea

Vrsar is located by the sea and it is nice to stroll along the quays and look at all the boats. There are also several restaurants, with nice outdoor seating right by the water. We found restaurant Trost, which is located in the centre of town, with a lovely view over the water.

4-course dinner at Restaurant Trost

The staff were also exceptionally friendly and took the time to talk to us. They showed us fresh locally picked chanterelles and asked if we wanted them in our risotto? Yes, of course we did! Peter also got to take a selfie with Mr Hummer ...

What about the menu? Well, we started with a really good fish soup and continued with a tasty risotto with chanterelles and shrimps. The main course was fresh fish and squid, with the classic Croatian side dish for fish: potatoes with chard.

Färsk fisk och bläckfisk med tillbehör — Fresh fish and squid with accessories

Finally, we finished with two local pastries, a cake with pine nuts, cheese and poppy seeds and another with fat-free cheese and figs - and the latter was just soooo good!

Efterrätt på restaurang Trost i Vrsar i Kroatien — Dessert at Restaurant Trost

Camping Porto Sole in Vrsar

We stayed at a campsite Porto Sole - a nice campsite that is lush and nice even though it has 840 places. We got a super nice place right next to the sea, where we could sit with windows and doors open to the water. WiFi was included in the price (17 euros/day with ACSI card in low season) and worked very well. Best of all, it was within walking distance to town along a nice seafront promenade.

Porte Solo, Vrsar i Kroatien — Motorhomes are parked right on the beach at Porto Sole.

Naturist campsite in Vrsar

Right next to camping Porto Sole is the naturist campsite Koversada, which is run by the same owner. This campsite has 1300 pitches spread out in a beautiful natural environment. The owner showed us around by car (it's just too big to walk!) and what we especially liked was the very own island (!) that the campsite has.

Glamping on your own island

The island is connected to the mainland by a small bridge, and when you come out here, you really experience nature and tranquillity. You can't take a campervan here, it's all about tents or glamping, and if you want you can visit the small restaurant, which of course has a sea view.

Glamping på camping Koversada, Vrsar i Kroatien — Glamping at camping Koversada

Inside the restaurant, you can follow the history of the campsite in old photos, and it feels like another time (or another planet) when you see the beauty queens posing naked with red ribbons for the annual "Miss Koversada" event in the roaring 70s. Today, the average age of naturist campers is much higher, although naturist camping is still very popular in Croatia.

En ö utanför en naturistcamping Koversada, Vrsar i Kroatien — Camping Koversada's very own island

See more around Vrsar in Croatia

There is a lot to see and experience in Croatia! Here are suggestions for some great places, not too far from Vrsar:

Porec - Holiday resort in Istria
Rovinj - Charming medieval town in Istria
Hum - The world's smallest city

Facts about Vrsar in Croatia

What country? Croatia
County? County of Istria
Language? Croatian (many also speak English)
Residents? 2100 (2015)
Currency? Kuna (HRK)
Price point? Cheaper than Sweden
Time difference? None

Travelling to Vrsar in Croatia

Car: Driving from Zagreb to Vrsar takes about 3 hours (toll road). To drive from Opatija to Vrsar takes about 1 h 15 min. Travelling time from Pula is just under an hour.
Bus: You can travel by bus from many different places in Croatia.

Helena

22 May 2016 5:25

Croatia

campsite, city guide Europe, cityguide world, exotic food, Motorhome holiday Croatia, naturism, restaurants

Helena

Administrator

28 Comments

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Aila says:

You often write about Asci cards...
Does the Camping key card not work as well? Or should we get Acsi too?
Wonderful pictures...

22 May 2016 - 6:48

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Lennart says:

Really nice place!

22 May 2016 - 7:04

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admin says:

Aila, the camping key card and ACSI are two different things. The camping key card is just for checking in. ACSI is a discount card. All campsites affiliated to ACSI charge between 15 and 19 euros/day for a camping vehicle, two adults and electricity during the low season (around September - early July, different dates on each campsite) regardless of the real price. This used to be a big discount and a completely different price from the real one. The card costs about 250 SEK and is very worthwhile if you are travelling in the low season, but if you are travelling in August you can't use it at all.

Lennart, very nice! 🙂

22 May 2016 - 7:54

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Goatfish says:

The town of Vrsar looks as nice as Rovinj, I see. Delicious first photo! 😀
I'm actually looking forward to Croatia again, but first I'm going on a wine and asparagus trip to Germany.
The fish/squid dish looked tasty, I like that.
Speaking of cheese, I got to see a dog searching for truffles during my trip to Croatia as well. Truffle goat cheese, yum!
Goodbye, hugs Gerd

22 May 2016 - 8:05

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Ama de casa says:

Looks very nice! 🙂

But naturist camping is not for me... Saw an article in a camping magazine where people went shopping in the camping shop completely naked. I just say GLÄÄÄ. That's definitely my limit! Talk about unhygienic... Haha! I feel kind of old now 😀.

22 May 2016 - 9:01

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Imelda says:

Lovely pictures and the food looks really yummy! I myself am preparing for an orchid walk on Öland ?
Have the best!

22 May 2016 - 9:16

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Lanclin-Linnea says:

Camping at a naturist campsite is on my bucket list (I think). However, it will take a few years before I gather myself for that challenge 🙂 I love the word beauty miss, it is not possible to NOT be a beauty miss, however you choose to look at the word, ha ha! 🙂

22 May 2016 - 9:22

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Motorhome internship says:

Wow, what a nice restaurant and campsite! I would love to sink my teeth into that meal - and then a dip in the sea afterwards! Regarding the camping cards, several camping organisations in Europe have linked their discount cards with Camping Key Card, including Portuguese Orbitur and German ADAC. So you get both a discount and quick check-in with insurance.Will you be following your trip with excitement?

22 May 2016 - 9:28

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Mr Steve says:

Istria. If I could, I would have left immediately.

22 May 2016 - 9:43

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Åsa says:

What a gem! I could probably imagine nude camping, as long as there weren't a bunch of other naked fish everywhere...

22 May 2016 - 9:52

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admin says:

Geddfish, the towns here on the coast seem similar and are incredibly charming! Wine and asparagus trip sounds nice! And that with truffle dogs I have also heard about before, sounds interesting to be involved in! 🙂

Ama de casa, I wouldn't want to shop naked either, but it's not like that on all naturist campsites either. (And I don't think it's about being old as dirt haha, the average age on naturist campsites isn't very young ;))

Imelda, soooo good food! Hope you get nice on Öland!!!

Lanclin-Linnea, haha, I was also thinking about the duplicity of the word when I wrote it... 😉 And I like that you "think" it's on your Bucketlist, haha 😉.

RV Practice, thank you very much for the clarifications and more info on the Camping Cards!

Steve, Istria is really nice! Funny that you "keep up" in this way anyway! 🙂

Åsa, haha, that's it... On this island, I did get the feeling that you would feel quite secluded 😉.

22 May 2016 - 11:05

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Henny says:

Without realising it, we ended up on a nude campsite in Poland a few years ago. Every other place was full and we were overjoyed to have gotten a spot at all.
My husband was quite surprised to meet a naked woman on his way to the service centre. Most people were wearing shorts and tank tops up in the camping area, but down on the kilometre-long sandy beach, everyone was naked. All except the guy selling ice cream.
It felt awkward at first but we got used to it. Honestly, it was really nice and cosy. Maybe I should try it again at the nudist pool at Pite Havsbad 😉.

22 May 2016 - 11:12

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admin says:

Henny, interesting experience to end up in a nude campsite when you didn't expect it! 😉 We have been to naturist campsites a few times. We like to sunbathe and swim naked and that is why we have chosen such campsites a few times. I agree that you get used to it. However, I am not comfortable with going shopping and stuff naked 😉.

22 May 2016 - 11:18

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Ditte says:

It's great fun and interesting to read about lovely pictures, delicious restaurant meals, good camping tips and cosy, beautiful cities to visit.
Camping will not be relevant for us, more to maybe fly to Croatia and rent a car to then get around. But visiting a campsite and renting a cabin / campervan or similar could definitely work.
I remember that my second trip went to Croatia in the early 1960s, then Yugoslavia, and there have been many trips there over the years. Do not think the last one is made.

22 May 2016 - 12:15

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Denandraresan.com says:

Looks marvellous! We're planning to go down to the Croatian coast for a few days sometime in late summer, apparently it's a seven hour drive from Prague. It will certainly be a trip there for us!

22 May 2016 - 14:56

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Jeanette says:

Glamping on an island, what a luxury 🙂

22 May 2016 - 15:43

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Marina says:

It looks really lovely! It's been many years since I was in Croatia, so maybe it's time to make that trip again in the future. You have made quite good advertising for the whole thing if you say so ...

22 May 2016 - 15:45

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Ikas USA says:

Oh, what a wonderful little place! And the food... God, it sounds so good. Just risotto is really something that reminds me of Croatia. I think I ate it every day when we were there :) And fresh fish of course.

22 May 2016 - 16:43

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Deciree says:

We are glad that you are there right now informing us about everything in Croatia:)) We are soaking up all the information you give us all. Very nice pictures. Hugs

22 May 2016 - 17:07

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admin says:

Ditte, cottages are extremely popular on campsites in the south, both in Croatia and in other countries. It does not always have to be the best option, but it can definitely be an option to consider sometimes! Not least for families with children, I think that cottages can be an extremely good alternative!

Denandraresan, how nice that you are planning a trip to Croatia! A 7 hour drive is definitely affordable. I will update our Croatia tips under "Travel tips" if you want tips in the future 😉.

Jeanette, glamping is a growing trend and when it is in the right environment (like on that island) it feels luxurious! 🙂

Marina, there are so many beautiful places in Croatia to see!

Ikas USA, there is plenty of risotto in Croatia and it is probably because they are influenced by Italy when it comes to food, not least in Istria which is so close to Italy.

Deciree, we're glad you like the pictures and we're happy to give you some tips! 🙂

22 May 2016 - 17:43

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Ruth in Virginia says:

Wonderful, marvellous pictures from an unspoilt country.
Enjoying the beauty here on a rainy Sunday morning.

22 May 2016 - 18:49

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BP says:

Your very best photo series ever - I think:-) That village is so charming and I would kill for that meal, both once and twice. Mmmmmhhhhhhhhh.

In addition, I now know what glamping is.

I think it's really nice that the naturist campsite is separated from the regular campsite. I mean there are many people who are bothered by nudists and then it is very smart to give the naturists their own island, where they are not looked at and can camp undisturbed.

22 May 2016 - 19:08

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biggeros says:

What a luxury to camp/glamp on an island. So primitive and cosy. The Porte Sole campsite also sounds like a cosy camp???
The food looks so fresh and I got so hungry for most of it. I try most things. The speciality of the country is important to try. Thank you for all the nice pictures you offer and have a nice evening.

22 May 2016 - 19:37

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Matts Torebring says:

It's just a fact that we are much worse than you, we have seen far from everything when we have been there. Have a good time!

22 May 2016 - 19:48

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admin says:

Ruth in Virginia, Croatia is really beautiful and we are fascinated that it is so beautiful almost everywhere!

BP, oh that's not bad praise! *Sucks for us* 😉 The naturist campsite is more than just the island, but it's definitely secluded and that's usually the case. I think both the naturists and those who want to keep their clothes on appreciate it 😉.

Biggeros, yes it does feel a bit luxurious with glamping on an island? We also like to try food on trips, and not least specialities of course! We have had really good food during this trip, we must say!

Matts, it is probably not to be better or worse... We like to see a lot, but sometimes you want to take it easy too! This particular trip we are doing in collaboration with Croatia's tourist office and then they have helped us pick out different things to see, so then it is perhaps not so strange that it has become extra much 😉.

22 May 2016 - 21:52

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Marie says:

God how hungry I got from this post as well... 🙂 Glamping at the highest level you seem to run with really, pools by the sea, small islands, nice!

23 May 2016 - 4:20

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Anonymous says:

Istria is a wonderful place to drive around with many beautiful places and baths.
Koversada is a campsite we visited about 10 years ago, wonderful!
However, it was recommended to cover up a bit in the shops and in some of the restaurants.
But Miss Koversada was not so funny, as it seemed to be hired models and not campers who posed.

A&A

23 May 2016 - 10:22

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admin says:

Marie, there are many nice places in Croatia! Then it is a little easier to find these best places in low season, during high season it can be much more crowded ...

A&A, wonderful that you liked Koversada, it was a very green and nice campsite even though it was big and we loved the island! Some clothes in the store and in the restaurant suit us, although we can happily sunbathe and swim textile-free 😉 Can understand the feeling with Miss Koversada, guessing that it is a phenomenon that suited better in the past ...

24 May 2016 - 7:18

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Vrsar in Croatia - small town with big surprises

Vrsar in Croatia

Restaurant by the sea

4-course dinner at Restaurant Trost

Camping Porto Sole in Vrsar

Naturist campsite in Vrsar

Glamping on your own island

See more around Vrsar in Croatia

Facts about Vrsar in Croatia

Travelling to Vrsar in Croatia

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28 Comments

Aila says:

Lennart says:

admin says:

Goatfish says:

Ama de casa says:

Imelda says:

Lanclin-Linnea says:

Motorhome internship says:

Mr Steve says:

Åsa says:

admin says:

Henny says:

admin says:

Ditte says:

Denandraresan.com says:

Jeanette says:

Marina says:

Ikas USA says:

Deciree says:

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Ruth in Virginia says:

BP says:

biggeros says:

Matts Torebring says:

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