Cape Kamenjak is the wild southern tip of Istria, a protected nature park that begins about ten kilometres south of Pula beyond the village of Premantura. There are no hotels here, no promenade and no beach bars lined with loungers. Instead you get a raw, undeveloped headland of low cliffs, hidden coves, sea caves, windswept juniper and some of the clearest water in Croatia. It is the Istrian coast stripped back to what it looked like before tourism, and it is unforgettable.

Because it is a protected area, Kamenjak stays wild by design. Development is restricted, the tracks are gravel, and the coves have names but no signposts to loungers. That is exactly the appeal. This is a place to swim, snorkel, jump from rocks and disappear for a day, not to be waited on.

Cape Kamenjak at a glance
Thing to know	Detail
Where it is	The southern tip of Istria, beyond Premantura, about ten kilometres south of Pula
Entrance fee	A per car fee applies in summer, roughly 10 to 15 EUR; walkers and cyclists enter free
Coastline	Close to thirty kilometres of coast with more than twenty coves and beaches
Cliff jumping	The Kolombarica cliffs, from gentle ledges of about three metres up to roughly fifteen metres
Sea caves	Mala and Velika Kolombarica, among the best snorkelling spots on the coast
Facilities	Very few. The Safari Bar sits among the trees near the cliffs; otherwise bring your own supplies

What to do at Kamenjak

The headline is swimming. The coves here hold water so clear it looks unreal, and you can spend a whole day drifting from one bay to the next. Snorkelling is superb, especially around the Kolombarica caves where the rock drops away into blue. Braver visitors gather at the cliffs to jump, working up from the low ledges to the higher launches, and it is a great spectator sport even if you keep your feet dry. When you need a break, the famous Safari Bar sits hidden among tall grass and trees near the cliff edge, a legendary spot for a drink with a view.

Getting around the cape

By car you pay the summer entrance fee and follow the gravel tracks to the coves. Drive slowly, the surface is rough.
By bike is a brilliant way to explore, free to enter, with the freedom to stop at any cove that catches your eye.
On foot works for the nearer bays, but the cape is large, so pick a stretch rather than trying to walk it all.
By boat you reach the sea caves and the empty far coves that no track leads to.

See the best of it from the water

Here is the local secret. The most beautiful parts of Kamenjak, the sea caves and the coves with nobody on them, open only to the sea. On land you see a fraction of the cape. From a boat you reach the Kolombarica caves, cruise below the cliff jump spot, and anchor in bays that have no road at all. In a single run you cover more of Kamenjak's best water than you could in a day on foot.

That is why a boat day is the way we recommend seeing it. On our Pula boat tours we bring you straight down the coast to the caves and the quiet coves, timing it for calm water and good light. You get the wild south of Istria at its absolute best, with none of the gravel track dust.

Practical tips

Bring everything you need. Food, water, shade and a first aid basics kit, since facilities are minimal.
Water shoes are close to essential for the rocky entries.
Go early or come by boat in peak summer, as the car park coves fill up and the entrance road can queue.
Take your rubbish with you. This is a protected park and keeping it wild is on all of us.

Plan your Kamenjak day: see our Pula boat tours, find the blue water sea caves near Pula, and compare the best beaches near Pula. For the whole area, read the local guide to things to do in Pula.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee for Cape Kamenjak?

In summer there is a per car fee of roughly 10 to 15 EUR to drive into the park. People arriving on foot or by bike enter free, and arriving by boat avoids the road entirely.

How high are the Kamenjak cliff jumps?

They range from beginner friendly ledges of about three metres up to roughly fifteen metres near the Kolombarica cliffs. Every jump is optional and you should always check the water depth first.

Can you reach the Kamenjak sea caves?

Yes, by boat, kayak or paddleboard, because they open to the sea. A boat trip from Pula is the easiest and safest way, especially since a local skipper can judge the conditions.

Are there facilities at Cape Kamenjak?

Very few by design, since it is a protected nature park. The Safari Bar near the cliffs is the main spot for a drink. Otherwise bring your own food, water and shade.

Is Cape Kamenjak worth visiting?

Absolutely, if you love wild, clear water and dramatic coast. It is the most beautiful undeveloped stretch near Pula, and seeing it by boat unlocks the caves and coves you cannot reach on land.