To the north of Pula lie the Brijuni, a small archipelago of 14 islands famous as the private retreat of the late President Tito before they were accorded national park status and opened to visitors in 1983. The islands have long been a popular playground – before Tito, famous vacationers on the islands included Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Wilhelm II and James Joyce, all of  whom worked on their tans here at various times. 

Only two of the islands – Veli Brijun and Mali Brijun - are able to be visited to this day and although you can moor at the harbour at Veli Brijun, the crew is not allowed to sleep on board, making this better suited to a day trip than an overnight stay. There’s an eco-friendly golf course where the fairways are nibbled by deer rather than mown and the greens are made from compacted sand – equipment is available for rent if the temptation to fit in a quick 18-holes is just too much to bear.

Children in particular will love the miniature train that takes visitors on a tour of the island including the safari park, the island’s official residences including the White Villa and the Villa Jadranka (where the illustrious guests have included Queen Elizabeth II and Gina Lollobrigida), the ruined Byzantine fortress at the south-western corner of the island and the remains of a Roman villa at Veriga Bay. An exhibition hall entitled Tito on Brijuni has some bizarre animal exhibits as well as a fascinating exhibition of photographs of the late president with a diverse range of luminaries including Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and Ho Chi Minh.