Getting to Brijuni from Pula is one of the easiest and most rewarding day trips in all of Istria, but the way you get there decides what kind of day you have. Brijuni National Park is an archipelago of fourteen islands lying just off the coast north of Pula, and it is not reachable by a public road bridge. That means every visit involves a short crossing by boat, and you get to choose how you make it. Some visitors want the official guided park experience on Veliki Brijun island. Others want a full day on the water with swimming and dolphins. Both start in or near Pula, and both are covered below.

Pula sits roughly ten kilometres south of Fazana, the small fishing village that serves as the official gateway to the park. From central Pula you can be standing on the Fazana quay in about fifteen to twenty minutes by car, taxi or local bus. From there the national park runs its own boats across the narrow channel to the islands. If you would rather leave straight from the Pula waterfront and turn the journey itself into the highlight, a private boat is the alternative. Here is the full comparison.

Ways to reach Brijuni from Pula
Option	Journey time	Rough cost	Best for
Official national park ferry from Fazana	15 minute crossing, plus travel to Fazana	Around 35 EUR per adult for the park programme	Safari park, Roman ruins and museum on foot with a guide
Private boat tour from Pula	30 to 60 minutes of cruising each way	One price for the whole boat, split by your group	Swimming, snorkelling, dolphins and quiet coves with no crowds
Drive to Fazana, then take the park ferry	15 to 20 minute drive plus the crossing	Fuel and parking plus the park ticket	Independent travellers who want to set their own timing
Local bus to Fazana, then the ferry	Around 20 to 30 minutes plus the crossing	A few euro for the bus plus the park ticket	Travellers without a car on a budget

Option one: the official ferry from Fazana

Fazana is the only departure point for the national park boats, and the crossing to Veliki Brijun takes about fifteen minutes across a calm, sheltered channel. In high summer the park operates its boats many times a day, but this is the important part: you cannot simply turn up and hop on. The national park caps the number of daily visitors to protect the islands, and your boat ticket is tied to a booked programme slot. Popular morning departures from June to September routinely sell out days ahead.

Once you land you are met by a guided tour that moves around Veliki Brijun by a small road train and on foot. This is the classic Brijuni experience and it is genuinely worthwhile, but it is a structured visit rather than a beach day. You follow the group, you keep to the timetable, and swimming is limited to the short windows the schedule allows.

How to get to Fazana without a car

Local buses run between Pula and Fazana through the day. Check the return times before you leave, as evening services thin out.
A taxi or ride app from central Pula to the Fazana quay is quick and splits well between a few people.
Cycling is realistic in good weather, with a mostly flat coastal route of about ten kilometres.

Option two: by boat straight from Pula

If your idea of a perfect Brijuni day involves swimming in clear water, watching for the resident dolphins and seeing the islands rise out of the sea, then leaving directly from Pula changes everything. You skip the drive to Fazana, you skip the queue for the scheduled park boat, and you reach coves and channels around the archipelago that the official walking tour never touches. The crossing becomes part of the trip rather than a means to an end.

This is exactly how we run our Pula boat tours. You board on the Pula waterfront, cruise out toward the Brijuni islands at an easy pace, stop to swim where the water is calm and clear, and keep an eye out for the bottlenose dolphins that feed in these sheltered waters. It is the relaxed, flexible version of a Brijuni day, and it suits families, couples and groups who want the sea more than a guided march.

So which should you choose?

Pick the Fazana ferry and the official park programme if your priority is the safari park, the Roman ruins and the museum, and you want a guided history led visit on land. Pick a boat from Pula if your priority is swimming, snorkelling, dolphins and quiet water, and you would rather set your own pace. Plenty of visitors do the guided park on one day and a boat day on another, because the two experiences barely overlap.

Ready to plan it your way? Browse our Pula boat tours to build a Brijuni day around the water, read whether Brijuni is worth visiting for an honest local take, or see Brijuni tickets and what to see for the practical ticket detail. For the bigger picture, here is the local guide to things to do in Pula.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the ferry to Brijuni?

The national park crossing from Fazana to Veliki Brijun takes about fifteen minutes across a sheltered channel. A private boat from Pula cruises for roughly thirty to sixty minutes each way, depending on where it stops.

Do I need to book Brijuni tickets in advance?

Yes in summer. The park limits daily numbers to protect the islands and the popular morning slots from June to September sell out days ahead. Book before you travel rather than turning up at the quay.

Can I reach Brijuni by boat directly from Pula?

Yes. Private boat trips leave from the Pula waterfront and cruise out to the islands, adding swimming, snorkelling and dolphin watching that the scheduled park ferry does not include.

How do I get from Pula to Fazana?

It is about ten kilometres. Drive or take a taxi in fifteen to twenty minutes, catch a local bus, or cycle the flat coastal route. Always check the last return bus if you go without a car.

Is it better to drive or take a tour to Brijuni?

Driving to Fazana suits independent travellers who want the guided park programme. A boat tour from Pula suits anyone who wants swimming, dolphins and a flexible day on the water without the crowd.