Brijuni Islands Boat Tour: Swim Stop, Lunch & Drinks

Summary

Boat ride past forts, swim in Fažana, lunch with Istrian flavors

You’ll cruise from Pula past historic forts toward Brijuni’s islands with a local guide sharing stories along the way. Enjoy unlimited drinks and a fresh lunch onboard before swimming or relaxing at Fažana Beach for over two hours. Expect laughter, good food, salt air—and moments you’ll want to replay later.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect the first thing I’d notice on this Brijuni boat tour would be the smell—salt and diesel mixing as we left Pula’s port behind. Our guide, Marko, waved his arms at the old Austro-Hungarian forts on the shore (he called one “his childhood castle,” which made everyone laugh). The city faded fast; suddenly it was just us and the sea, wind tangling my hair and that bright Adriatic sun making me squint. Someone handed me a plastic cup of white wine—cold, tart—and I realized how good it felt to do nothing but watch the islands drift closer.

We passed Tito’s old villa on Vanga Island. Marko pointed it out quietly—said it’s still guarded, so you can only see it from the water. There was something strange about that: all this history just sitting there in plain sight but out of reach. The boat slowed near Mali Brijun and he told us about summer theater festivals in an old fort—imagine open-air Shakespeare with sea breeze instead of velvet curtains. Lunch came out somewhere between stories: grilled fish (I picked at bones clumsily), bread still warm from the galley, tomatoes so sweet they tasted like sunshine. There were veggie and meat options too—nobody went hungry.

The swim stop at Fažana Beach was longer than I expected—almost two and a half hours. I waded in slow because those pebbles are no joke on bare feet (someone else yelped right behind me). Water was clear enough to see tiny fish darting around my ankles. Some folks wandered off to Lost Bay for coffee or cocktails; I just lay back on a towel and watched clouds drift over Brijuni’s silhouette. Kids chased each other along the promenade while older locals sat outside cafés arguing softly over espresso—the kind of background noise you don’t realize you’ve missed until you hear it again.

On the way back to Pula, sunburned and salty, Marko poured another round of wine for anyone who wanted it. He told us how Paul Kupelwieser turned these islands into a playground for artists and scientists ages ago—“before Instagram,” he grinned. It struck me then how much history you float past without noticing unless someone points it out. Even now I can almost feel that late-afternoon breeze on my face; sometimes travel is just being present enough to remember small details like that.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Brijuni Islands Boat Tour and Swim Stop

• Depart from Pula port
• Pass Pula Bay and forts Muzil & Štinjan
• View Peneda lighthouse and Brijuni islands
• See island Vanga and Tito's White Villa
• Cruise past Mali Brijun and Fort Brioni Minor
• Observe architectural heritage of Brijuni
• Pass Veliki Brijun island and nature
• View Bronze Age fortified settlement
• Enjoy lunch and unlimited drinks onboard
• Stop 2.5 hours at Fažana Beach for swimming
• Relax or stroll Fažana promenade
• Return to Pula port

Top questions

How long does the Brijuni boat tour last?

The tour lasts about five hours total, including a 2–2.5 hour swim stop at Fažana Beach.

Is lunch included on the Brijuni boat tour?

Yes, lunch is freshly prepared onboard with fish, meat or vegetarian options using local ingredients.

Are drinks included during the cruise?

Unlimited drinks like wine, soft drinks, water, and iced tea are included throughout the tour.

Where does the swimming stop take place?

The main swim stop is at Fažana Beach—a pebble beach with clear water and nearby cafés.

Is there a guide onboard?

Yes, there’s a live guide onboard who shares stories in multiple languages during the cruise.

Are there vegetarian or gluten-free meal options?

Yes, vegetarian as well as gluten- and lactose-free menus are available if requested.

Does this tour include Wi-Fi?

Free Wi-Fi is available onboard during your cruise around Brijuni Islands.

Can children join this boat tour?

The tour is suitable for all ages and fitness levels; families are welcome.

What’s included

Your day includes cruising from Pula with a multilingual guide sharing local stories as you pass historic forts and islands; unlimited drinks like wine or soft drinks; freshly cooked lunch with fish, meat or veggie options (plus gluten/lactose-free if needed); free Wi-Fi onboard; plus plenty of time for swimming or relaxing at Fažana Beach before heading back in comfort.