Istrian food tasting from Trieste: 3 villages, wine and truffles

Taste your way through three medieval Istrian villages in a single morning

A guided food and wine tasting experience from Trieste that visits three Istrian villages over eight hours, with tastings of local wines, liquors, cheeses, truffles and seasonal food included. Pickup and drop-off from your Trieste hotel, cruise terminal or station is arranged after booking. The guide speaks English and leads a shared group. Suitable for all fitness levels, and wheelchair-accessible transportation is available.

Step-by-step itinerary

Istrian villages tasting tour

• Pick up from Trieste meeting point
• Visit Hum and taste local products
• Explore Motovun and sample wines
• Discover Grožnjan and enjoy cuisine

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Trieste location (hotel, cruise terminal, train or bus station), and heads into Istria's inland hills. Your guide leads tastings at three villages, each one a different stop on the peninsula's food map. Hum, the smallest town in the world with just 20 inhabitants, sits in the heart of central Istria and is famous for biska, a spiced brandy made with mistletoe according to a local recipe passed down through generations. The village itself feels like stepping into a fairy tale, built according to legend from stones left over when giants constructed towns in the nearby Mirna River valley.

Motovun comes next, perched on a hilltop above the Mirna River and ringed by vineyards that produce some of Istria's finest wines. The medieval town centers on a 13th-century bell tower in Romanesque-Gothic style, surrounded by historic buildings and churches. Motovun's forest is known as prime truffle-hunting ground. The distinctive aroma and rarity of these underground fungi make them prized across the region. Grožnjan, the third stop, sits on white soil that feeds neighboring vineyards and olive groves, and the town itself has become a cultural hub: 28 artist ateliers, galleries, and restaurants serving traditional Istrian cuisine fill the narrow streets. In summer, world-class jazz and classical musicians perform here, but year-round the town draws visitors for its restored medieval churches, castles and palaces.

Throughout the day you taste local wines, liquors, cheeses, truffle products and marmalades at each village, with snacks and food included. The guide handles all the driving and arranges entry to tastings. You move through the three towns at a pace set by the group. The eight-hour itinerary ends with drop-off back at your starting point in Trieste.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off from your Trieste location.
• English-speaking guide for the full day.
• tastings of local wines, liquors, cheeses, truffle products and marmalades at three villages.
• snacks and food throughout.
• transportation between Hum, Motovun and Grožnjan.
• insurance.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by KoperTrips.com

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a guided group experience where someone leads you through tastings at multiple stops. Choose it over self-guided options if navigating between villages and coordinating transport isn't how you want to spend your day.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is biska and where do I taste it?

Biska is a spiced brandy made with mistletoe according to an old recipe from Hum, the smallest town in the world. You'll taste it during the stop in Hum as part of the local liquor tastings included in the experience.

What makes Motovun's wines special?

Motovun sits on a hilltop surrounded by vineyards on all sides, and the region produces some of Istria's finest wines from those grapes. You'll taste them during the Motovun stop, and the town's forest is also famous as prime truffle-hunting ground.

Is the pickup from my cruise ship included?

Yes, pickup and drop-off are included from your agreed starting point: hotel, cruise terminal, train station or bus station. Cruise passengers should contact the operator after booking with the ship name, arrival time and departure time so arrangements can be confirmed.

What's included in the tastings?

The experience includes tastings of local wines, liquors, cheeses, truffle products and marmalades across the three villages, plus snacks and food throughout the day. Alcoholic beverages and transportation between villages are both included.

Can I do this tour if I use a wheelchair?

Yes, the experience is wheelchair accessible. Transportation options are wheelchair accessible, and the operator notes the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Contact the supplier after booking to confirm accessibility at each village stop.