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Visiting Brijuni Islands National Park

Brijuni Islands National Park
Image by NP Brijuni

UPDATED: 18.1.2023.

Brijuni National Park is a large group of islands located on the western coast of Istria. The Brijuni archipelago consists of 14 islands and islets situated on the surface of 744 hectares. The Adriatic marine ecosystem is nearly completely represented within the sea and on the beautiful, rocky shores of Brijuni.

Veliki Brijun and Mali Brijun are the largest islands of the archipelago decorated with amazing landscape parks, meadows, pastures, Istrian vegetation, and architectural heritage.

Brijuni was the official residence of the former Yugoslavian president Josip Broz Tito for three decades and thanks to him, the natural beauty of the Brijuni Islands has been preserved. In addition to being one of the most beautiful national parks in Croatia, Veliki and Mali Brijun serve as a holiday resorts.

Why you should visit the Brijuni Islands

  • A beautiful safari park

Many indigenous Istrian and exotic Asian, African and South America animals freely run throughout Veliki Brijun’s gorgeous safari park. Take a walk or a ride with zebras, llamas, ostriches, peacocks, sacred cows and even see an Indian elephant.

  • Tito’s parrot – Koki the legend

Adorable Koki is a rare example of yellow-crested cockatoos, which Tito gave as a birthday gift to his granddaughter Saša. He is 60 years old and lives at Veliki Brijun. Koki still speaks, shakes hands and animates visitors as a true host!

  • Dinosaur footprints

More than 200 dinosaur footprints have been discovered on Brijuni. Footprints are located at the islands of Veliki Brijun, Vanga, Galija and Vrsar. Visitors can take a look at the footprints at Veliki Brijun, on Cape Ploče and on Cape Vrbanj.

Dinosaur footprint at Brijuni National Park
Image by NP Brijuni
  • The old olive tree

One of the oldest olive trees in the Mediterranean is located on the island of Veliki Brijun. This famous olive tree is more than 1600 years old and its olives are still used for olive oil production.

How to visit Brijuni National Park

Where it is

Brijuni Islands National Park is situated in the northern Adriatic sea off the western coast of the Istrian peninsula. It is separated from the peninsula by the Fažana strait, which is only three kilometers wide.

When to go

The Brijuni Islands are a gorgeous piece of nature throughout the whole year, however the national park is easiest to reach during summer when boats and ferries are plentiful.

During the summer season, you can go swimming, diving, and enjoy the sun and a perfect Mediterranean climate. In July and August, you can enjoy the cultural programs such as the music festival called Podium Festival and the Ulysses theatre.

Zebras at Brijuni National Park
Image by Istrien 7

How to get to Brijuni Islands

To get to Brijuni National Park, you first need to travel to Fažana, a small town located on the southwest coast of Istria. The only transport to Brijuni are boats and they do not transport cars. If you didn’t take public transport to Fažana, you will have to park your car somewhere in Fažana and then take a boat to Brijuni.

The boat travels from Fažana to the island of Veliki Brijun, which takes around 20 minutes.

Boat departures to Brijuni

The boat departure schedules from Fažana to Brijuni and Brijuni to Fažana are available here.

Tickets & Prices

The park ticket with an excursion to Veliki Brijun includes:

  • sightseeing with a licensed guide
  • a boat trip from Fažana to Veliki Brijun and the return trip
  • a tourist train ride around the island
  • a visit to the Safari Park
  • a visit to permanent exhibition displays
  • a visit to the Mediterranean garden and the Old Olive Tree

Online tickets can be bought here. You may also purchase tickets in person at the National Park office in Fažana. It is also possible to book tickets via email izleti@np-brijuni.hr. A group discount is available for groups consisting of 25 people or more.

The price list for Brijuni National Park is available here.

Visit other National Parks in Croatia

Please note: Information provided by Expat in Croatia is only for the purposes of guidance. It does not constitute legal or financial advice in any form. Croatian laws and bureaucratic rules often change, and each personal case is individual, so different rules may apply. For legal advice, contact us to consult with a licensed Croatian lawyer. For financial advice, contact us to consult with a licensed Croatian tax advisor or accountant.

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