Poreč with a dog: dog beaches, local rules and entering Croatia

Dog beach Poreč: the 11 beaches with a dog area

The Poreč Tourist Board lists 11 beaches where part of the beach is reserved for pets. Two are right by the town; the others belong to hotels, resorts and campsites, for example Plava Laguna, in Funtana, in Červar and in the Lanterna area near Tar-Vabriga. The descriptions do not say whether you can swim there without staying overnight, so if in doubt, ask the operator first.

• Town beach below the Valamar Parentino Hotel: in the north of town at the end of a promenade under pine trees, with a pebbled sunbathing area, showers and a ramp into the water.
• Brulo: on the southern edge of town, partly rocky, partly paved, with a grassy area between the rocks and the beach bars.
• Galijot: rocky Plava Laguna hotel beach on a small peninsula with pine trees.
• Bijela uvala: a beach of about 2 km at Camping Bijela uvala, with pebbles, rocks and paved areas.
• D'Or: pebble beach about 800 m from Camping Park Polidor, on the path between Funtana and Bijela uvala, with a special area where dogs can go into the water freely.
• Puntica: beach of the small Puntica campsite right next to Funtana, pebbly and paved.
• Kras: at Lanterna Premium Camping Resort, with a dedicated dog beach in a separate small cove and shade under pine trees.
• Tarska Cove: quiet pebble and rock coves at Lanterna Premium Camping Resort, looking out over the mouth of the River Mirna.
• Crnika: at Lanterna Sunny Resort, with thick shade under holm oaks and a designated pet area.
• Galeb: naturist beach of Solaris Camping Resort; only guests without swimwear are allowed.
• Ulika: rocky beach of the Ulika naturist campsite in Červar.

Blue Flags, signs and dog beaches nearby

The Istria Tourist Board says that in Poreč dogs may swim only on parts of the beaches and are not allowed on Blue Flag beaches. Yet six of the eleven beaches above hold a Blue Flag in 2026: Brulo, Galijot, Bijela uvala, Crnika, Galeb and Ulika, and the Poreč Tourist Board still lists a pet area for each of them. So stay inside the signposted dog area and keep off the rest of the beach. Which town beaches are closed to pets is covered in Poreč beaches.

Nearby, the Istria Tourist Board names more dog areas: the campsite beaches of Porto Sole, Koversada, Polidor and Valkanela in Vrsar and Funtana, the stretch in Vrsar from the marina to the town beach, and in Novigrad the Aminess Sirena and Amaris Maravea campsites and Aminess Laguna resort. For dogs that like a workout, Lanterna Premium Camping Resort has a dog exercise area, according to the Poreč Tourist Board.

Leash, muzzle, poop bags: dog rules in Poreč

The rules are set out in the Town of Poreč's 2018 decision on keeping pets. In public areas a dog must be microchipped, on a leash and supervised. Off the leash, but still supervised, it may run in areas set aside for dogs and on other green spaces. Playgrounds, flower beds, unfenced sports grounds and unfenced school and kindergarten yards are off limits without permission, even on a leash.

When you take your dog out you must carry cleaning equipment and clean up after it, so pack poop bags. You may not let it roam on its own. The decision requires a muzzle only for dangerous dogs, which may go into public areas only muzzled and on a leash. Municipal wardens (komunalni redar) enforce the rules and also check that dogs are microchipped; they can issue warnings and fines.

Under the decision, dogs may enter shops and cafés if the owner allows it. The Poreč Tourist Board says pets are welcome at 99% of the restaurants, bars and shops in Poreč, and where they are not, there is usually a spot out front where they can wait. On public transport the operator's own rules apply. Assistance dogs are exempt from these restrictions.

Croatia pet travel rules: microchip, rabies jab, pet passport

Croatia is in the EU, so the EU rules for travelling with pets apply. From another EU country your dog needs a microchip (or a clearly readable tattoo applied before 3 July 2011), a valid rabies vaccination and a European pet passport. The microchip must go in before the vaccination. A dog can have its first rabies vaccination at 12 weeks at the earliest, and you must then wait at least 21 days before travelling. A booster has to be given before the previous vaccination expires; otherwise it counts as a primary vaccination with a new waiting period. You can travel with up to five pets.

From Switzerland and a few other countries such as Liechtenstein or Norway, your dog can also enter the EU with a pet passport issued there. The EU requires tapeworm treatment only for trips to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway and Northern Ireland, so not for Croatia. From any other non-EU country your dog needs an EU animal health certificate, issued by an official vet no more than 10 days before arrival, and from most non-EU countries also a rabies antibody test. EU pet passports issued to owners resident in Great Britain are no longer valid for travel from Great Britain to the EU since 1 January 2021.

Croatia lets puppies in when they are under 12 weeks and not vaccinated against rabies, or 12 to 16 weeks and not yet fully immune, if a declaration in the pet passport confirms they have had no contact with wild animals prone to rabies, or if they travel with their mother and her passport shows a rabies vaccination before the birth. Austria, Germany, Italy and Hungary, among others, do not let such puppies onto their territory. According to the Croatian government portal, bringing in or temporarily keeping potentially dangerous dogs, such as pit bull terriers and their crosses, that are not entered in the register of the international canine federation FCI is prohibited.

Vets in Poreč: the tourist board list

The Poreč Tourist Board lists two veterinary practices and a veterinary hospital. According to the tourist board, the hospital offers treatment, vaccinations and emergency surgery as well as a dog hotel, for example if you go on an excursion without your dog. The list gives no opening hours or emergency service times, so call ahead.

• Poreč Veterinary Hospital (Veterinarska bolnica Poreč): Mate Vlašića 45, phone +385 52 432 128
• Vet Centar veterinary clinic: Stancija Portun 2, phone +385 52 433 221
• VET. K&K d.o.o., specialist veterinary practice: Jože Šurana 12, phone +385 52 452 928

Dog friendly Istria in summer: heat, shade, water

In July and August the average daytime high at the Rovinj weather station is 28.5 and 28.7 °C. It reaches 30 °C or more on 9.7 days in July and 11.5 days in August on average (DHMZ, 1971 to 2000). More on the climate in Poreč weather and best time to visit.

The Istria Tourist Board advises looking for shade and bringing water to the dog beaches. The Town of Poreč requires owners to give their pets constant access to fresh drinking water, and Croatia's Animal Protection Act prohibits exposing animals to unfavourable temperatures where this causes them pain, suffering or injury. The Poreč Tourist Board mentions natural shade at Crnika, under holm oaks, and at Kras, under pine trees.

Bringing your dog to Villa Matea? Ask Zlatko first

Before you send an enquiry, please ask Zlatko whether your dog can come with you to one of the three apartments at Villa Matea. He speaks English, German, Italian and Croatian and replies within a day; enquiries involve no payment: meet your host.

The house is in a quiet spot in the north of Poreč, with a garden, a barbecue and free private parking in the enclosed courtyard. The nearest beach is about 10 minutes on foot, the old town 15 to 20 minutes. Driving down? See Getting to Poreč.