How to get to Poreč and Villa Matea by car, plane or bus

Where is Poreč, Croatia?

Poreč lies on the west coast of the Istrian peninsula in north-western Croatia. Villa Matea is at Ul. 43. istarske divizije 2, 52440 Poreč, on a quiet residential street in the north of town. The nearest beach is about 10 minutes away on foot, the old town 15 to 20 minutes. The map on our home page shows exactly where the house is.

The Poreč Tourist Board gives these distances to Poreč. How long the journey takes depends on your route, traffic and breaks.

• Trieste: 77 km
• Ljubljana: 162 km
• Zagreb: 249 km
• Milan: 496 km
• Vienna: 546 km
• Munich: 564 km
• Zurich: 763 km
• Berlin: 1,152 km

By car on the Istrian Y

By car, the way leads over the Istrian Y (Istarski ipsilon), which the tourist board also recommends for getting there. The Y-shaped motorway network is operated by Bina-Istra and consists of two routes: the A9 runs from the Slovenian border in the north to Pula in the south. The A8 comes from Matulji near Rijeka, passes through the Učka tunnel and meets the A9 at the Kanfanar interchange.

For Poreč, leave the A9 at the Baderna exit. From there, the D302 state road takes you about 12 kilometres to Poreč. Depending on where you are coming from, the route looks like this:

• From the north via Slovenia: through the Plovanija (Sečovlje) or Kaštel (Dragonja) border crossings onto the A9, then towards Pula as far as Baderna. The tourist board also mentions the route via Ljubljana and Črni Kal with the Požane (Sočerga) crossing, continuing via Buzet and Vižinada.
• From the east via Zagreb or Rijeka: on the Croatian motorways to Rijeka, then through the Učka tunnel and via Pazin to Baderna.
• From the south, starting in Pula: north on the A9 to Baderna, or on the country road via Vodnjan, Bale and Sveti Lovreč.

Tolls, vignettes and winter equipment

What to know on the way, as of October 2026:

• Tolls in Istria: the Istrian Y is a toll road. Bina-Istra lists cash, bank cards and the electronic ENC device as payment methods. The operator publishes the current prices for each section on its website.
• Vignette in Austria: required on motorways and expressways for cars, motorbikes and camper vans up to 3.5 tonnes. According to ASFINAG, 2026 is the last year of the sticker vignette; from 2027 only the digital vignette will be available.
• Vignette in Slovenia: on motorways and expressways, vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes need the electronic vignette (e-vinjeta). It is linked to your number plate and sold online by the operator DARS. Since 1 January 2026, the coastal expressway (sections H5 and H6) has been exempt.
• Winter: from 15 November to 15 April, winter equipment is mandatory on the winter sections of Croatian state roads. For vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes this means winter tyres (M+S) on all wheels, or summer tyres with at least 4 mm of tread plus snow chains in the car.
• Breakdown help: the Croatian Automobile Club HAK can be reached on 1987 within Croatia and on +385 1 1987 from abroad. Traffic information is available on 072 777 777.

The border: Croatia in the Schengen area

Croatia is part of the Schengen area. Since 1 January 2023 there have been no regular checks at land and sea border crossings with the other Schengen countries, and at airports since 26 March 2023. If you travel via Slovenia, you normally do not have to show ID at the border.

You should still carry a valid passport or ID card. The EU points out that police may carry out checks, especially at internal borders and in border areas, and that Schengen countries may temporarily reintroduce border controls. Whether a neighbouring country is running temporary checks right now is best checked shortly before you leave.

If you travel on the passport of a country outside the EU and the Schengen area, for example the UK, and cross an external Schengen border, the European Entry/Exit System (EES) applies. According to the European Commission, it has been fully operational since 10 April 2026 and replaces the stamp in your passport.

By plane, bus or boat

The nearest airport is Pula (Zračna luka Pula), about 50 km from Poreč according to the tourist board. The Poreč Riviera says that direct shuttle buses run by FILS and Brioni go from the airport to Poreč. In addition, an airport shuttle takes you to Pula bus station. It leaves 30 minutes after landing, and times can change with the flight schedule.

Other airports named by the tourist board are Rijeka (near Omišalj), Trieste, Venice Marco Polo, Ljubljana and Zagreb. Regional and international buses run to Poreč from Zagreb, Rijeka, Ljubljana, Trieste and Venice, and in the summer season there is also a catamaran from Venice.

Poreč bus station is at Karla Huguesa 2 and is served by local, intercity and international lines. The tourist board lists Arriva, Brioni and Fils as bus companies, and FlixBus for international routes. Direct connections include those from Pula and Zagreb. It is best to check timetables with the companies shortly before you travel. For the last few kilometres, the tourist board lists several taxi companies in Poreč.

Arriving at Villa Matea

Enter Ul. 43. istarske divizije 2, 52440 Poreč in your satnav, or use the “Get directions” link on our home page, which opens Google Maps with the address. At the house you park for free on the property, so there is no need to look for a parking space in town.

Check-in is from 15:00 and check-out by 11:00. You agree your arrival time directly with your host Zlatko, by phone on +385 99 375 8107. He replies within a day.

After that, the car can stay put: the nearest beach is about 10 minutes on foot, the old town 15 to 20 minutes. On the blue-marked street parking spaces in Poreč you pay a fee, depending on zone and season, at a machine or by text message. There are also car parks with barriers, such as the large city car park by the market. For ideas for your first days, see the beaches of Poreč and things to do in Poreč.