Brijuni National Park is the top day trip from Pula, a green archipelago of fourteen islands packed with history, wildlife and quiet swimming water. It is also the one trip where a little planning pays off, because you cannot just turn up and wander in. This is the practical guide: how the tickets work, what you actually see, when to book, and why a private boat from Pula can beat the official ferry for a day built around swimming.

Brijuni tickets and what they include
Ticket	Rough price	What it includes
National park programme (adult)	Around 35 EUR per adult in high season	Return ferry from Fazana, the guided island tour, safari park, ruins and exhibition, roughly four hours
National park programme (child)	Reduced child rate	The same programme at a lower price for children
Private boat from Pula	One price for the whole boat	Cruising the islands with swimming, snorkelling and dolphin watching, on your own schedule

Prices vary a little by season and are set by the national park, so always check the current rate when you book. The important thing to understand is that the official ticket is a whole programme, not just a boat ride. It bundles the crossing from Fazana with a guided tour of Veliki Brijun.

What you actually see

The guided programme on Veliki Brijun covers a remarkable amount in about four hours. The highlights include:

The safari park, home to animals descended from creatures gifted to president Tito during the island's years as his summer residence.
A genuine Roman country villa in Verige bay, sitting right on the water, and a Byzantine castrum nearby.
More than two hundred dinosaur footprints pressed into the coastal rock, roughly one hundred million years old.
The exhibition on Tito's era, complete with a vintage Cadillac and photographs of the world leaders and film stars who visited.
Meadows, ancient olive trees and one of the greenest, calmest landscapes on the whole Istrian coast.

When and how to book

From June to September, book ahead. The national park caps daily visitor numbers to protect the islands, and the popular morning departures sell out days in advance. Turning up at the Fazana quay in peak season without a booking often means a long wait or a wasted trip. Outside the summer peak you have more flexibility, but booking is still the safe move.

The boat alternative from Pula

Here is the trade off. The official programme is guided, structured and land based, which is perfect if history and the safari park are your priority. But it gives you very little time in the water. If your ideal Brijuni day is about swimming in clear coves, snorkelling and watching for the resident dolphins, a private boat from Pula is the better fit. You leave from the Pula waterfront, cruise around the islands at your own pace, anchor to swim where the guided tour never stops, and turn the journey itself into the highlight.

Plenty of visitors do both on separate days, because the two experiences barely overlap. See our Pula boat tours for the swim focused version, read whether Brijuni is worth visiting for the honest verdict, and check how to get to Brijuni from Pula for every route. For the wider trip, here is the local guide to things to do in Pula.

Frequently asked questions

How much are Brijuni tickets?

The full national park programme is around 35 EUR per adult in high season, with a reduced child rate. That includes the return ferry from Fazana and the guided island tour. Prices are set by the park, so check the current rate.

Do you need to book Brijuni in advance?

Yes in summer. The park caps daily visitor numbers and the popular morning slots from June to September sell out days ahead, so book before you travel rather than at the quay.

What is included in the Brijuni park tour?

The return ferry from Fazana, a guided tour of Veliki Brijun, the safari park, the Roman and Byzantine ruins, the dinosaur footprints and the main exhibition, over about four hours.

Can you swim on a Brijuni trip?

Only briefly on the guided programme, which is land focused. For real swimming and snorkelling around the islands, take a private boat from Pula that builds the day around the water.

How long does a Brijuni visit take?

The official programme runs about four hours from Fazana. A private boat day from Pula can be a half or full day depending on how much swimming and dolphin watching you want to include.