Sea, sand, Roman Ruins & unlimited wine: why you have to add Pula Croatia to your summer travel list

Sea, sand, Roman Ruins & unlimited wine: why you have to add Pula Croatia to your summer travel list

Five, six, seven, eight. Clang. [Music] Ding ding ding. When you’re traveling with your besties, there’s usually the trip you would tell your parents about. And then there’s the trip that actually happened. Today we’re taking you on both. I’ve discovered a fail safe way to make friends or meet new people when you’re traveling in Europe, specifically traveling in the Balkans. When you go out, bring a lighter with you. Even if you don’t smoke, the amount of people that will ask you for a lighter Whether you’re at a restaurant or at the clubs, even at the beach, it is the perfect icebreaker because they will approach you and ask if you have it and you can say yes and just take your conversation from there. Who knows, you might meet your new best friend. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] Good morning from Pula. We came to the farmers market this morning and there is so many cool things. We got basically an entire tote of fruit and vegetables for just under €10. So we will be eating good here in Pula. Their vendors are so sweet, too. One man was just giving us grapes, giving us figs, and like if we liked it, he would put it in our bag. like the king of upselling, but everything is very affordable and beautiful. So, apparently there’s a fish market nearby that we’re also going to go see if we can explore. And that’s how we’re going to spend the morning. Our little farmers market morning is giving me the best first impression of Pula. It’s so quaint. I can already tell it’s so pleasant to walk around, but it’s so brimming with local life and energy. Brazil. In case you haven’t been here, I’m on a mission with my best friend, McKenzie, to finish visiting 30 countries before we turn 30. Right now, we’re in Croatia and our other best friend, Catherine, is visiting us from Canada for this part of our Balkan summer adventure. Oh, and we’re on country number 20. The reality of long-term travel is that some days you are just chilling. You’re doing laundry. When the place you’re staying has a good laundry setup, you need to take advantage. And sometimes it’s just necessary. Today I’ve been chilling, reading my book, waiting for our laundry to be done, and it’s been lovely. It’s been rejuvenating for the wardrobe. And for me, the mother of the person who runs this Airbnb just came out and we were talking and it’s so nice. The mother of the person who owns this Airbnb just came out when I was done hanging and said, “Oh, mama mia Fantaa.” Which I think means there’s a lot of laundry. I don’t speak Croatian, so if you do, let me know and we might be kicked out of this Airbnb. Stay tuned. A hi. We may be struggling to settle in, but Hula is already giving major hidden gem of Croatia vibes. So, here’s the version of the trip you might tell your parents about. We took a walking tour through Pulo. One of my favorite things to do when first arriving in a new city and it turned out to be so much more of a unique city than I expected. It’s one of the oldest cities in Croatia and it has a history going back over 3,000 years. In this time, it’s been ruled by the Romans, the Venetians, the Austrohungarians, honestly others, but I forgot cuz we got distracted by these little shops on the tour. M. That’s nice. [Music] This is going to be adorable. Look at his faces. And right in the center of town is the Pula Arena. A real Roman amphitheater. That’s basically like Croatia’s coliseum. But don’t call it that. Don’t say coliseum. Say amphitheater. Pula Arena. Pula Amphitheater. It’s one of the best preserved Roman arenas in the world and the only one that still has all four side towers intact. You can literally just stroll past it like it’s no big deal. Casual ancient ruins, no big deal. Pula’s architecture is this gorgeous mashup of Roman Gothic and Renaissance styles. You’ve got marble temples, cobblestone streets, seaside forts, and crumbling charm around every corner. Honestly, walking around feels like time traveling. [Music] This is the part of the trip that actually happened. Tell your parents at your own discretion. We booked a boat tour out of Pula. This was supposed to be a calm sightseeing tour. you know, like admire the Adriatic coast, pass by some ruins, and learn about naval roots and important parts of Pula’s history. But the tour we chose included free wine, and we took that very seriously. Somewhere between dancing and refilling our cups, we spotted the poor lighthouse, built in 1833 to guide ships through the rocky Astrian waters, it’s been standing alone on that little island for nearly two centuries now. We on the other hand have um started turning this boat into a floating party. The guys kept talking about Austrahungarian shipyards and giving us some cool fun facts, but we were vibing. We were enjoying the breeze and the views and of course more wine. 10 out of 10 would recommend. Eating a beautiful fish on the sea with my best views. This is what life’s about. What? We had to clean the fish and I think I did a really great job if I do say so myself. And it’s really delish. Delish fish with a small bandana. I love her. I love I’m going to put this right here so I can film the whole time. I’m going to do the live stream. Enjoying her fish. Beautiful. Beautiful. Oh no. I can’t cut it with one hand. I just want a cute bite like this. I think we ended up on this private island. Like, can things get much better than this? We are on a boat tour just outside of Pula. And the boat tour has unlimited wine. But we’re at a beach now. And we found this amazing abandoned pier. We think it is. That’s like a full walkway of rock where the water is covering over now. And so I’m going to take you out to show you what that looks like. Let’s go. Let me come out this way and then I’ll um get a little video of you. But take off your thing cuz you look a bit upset. Okay. It’s already blowing. Okay. Give me the Yep. Okay. I’m going to [Music] [Laughter] Whoa. My butt got exposed. Really? Catherine, how are you having him fun? Yeah, dude. This is the underwater Atlantis. Oh, enjoy. [Music] There’s like [Music] ready. Yeah. [Laughter] Beautiful. Was that beautiful? Yeah. Wait, could you actually see through there? No. Oh, you just have to feel like I just know [Applause] [Music] my butt got exposed. Is it on? Yeah. A little Catherine has a little Oh, no. [Music] Wow. I want to stick my ass on a rock in a boat. [Music] [Music] Oh, he’s belting actually. [Laughter] He’s kind of like a prettier Jesus. And we’ll have it in the ground. Oh my god. Oh no. Don’t drown. If you’re about to drown, let us know. Okay. Do a dive and then we can probably head back. Yeah. [Music] [Laughter] That was more of a flop than a die. [Applause] Okay, do it again, but this time explos. We made it back to the boat basically in one piece. We had a bit more wine, I think. Did not need that. And we were just getting started our nightly shenanigans here in Pula. We’re just beginning. We are literally going to get a snack. Catherine’s in front. Kenzie’s in the bath. We need to get a snack. And we decided to film a Tik Tok before coming to get a snack. [Music] So, that’s all I have to say. Let’s walk and we’re going to go get a chicken burger. Really good bed, Tim. I’m saying oh no [Music] going to regret that in the morning. We are just packing up our stuff. We’re leaving Pula today, and this has been one of my favorite places in Croatia we’ve been so far. It’s been really laidback, but there still is so much local life and local charm here. It’s been really, really fun to explore. We’ve had a little too much fun. We are officially leaving Pula today, leaving Croatia after the past few weeks. We’re heading on to Ljubljana, Slovenia. And I was going to say we’re leaving the Balkans, but is Slovenia considered part of the Balkans? Let me know. Let me know if you know. And we’re headed towards the train, which is the first time we’ve taken the train on this trip. So, I’m super excited. And we’ll see you in Slovenia. Okay, how cute is this train station? Pula station sits right by the sea, which makes waiting for the train actually feel like a part of your adventure. It first opened in 1876 when Pulao was part of the AustroHungarian Empire, and it was a major hub for transporting goods and navy personnel. Now, it’s one of the only train stations in Croatia that connects to the URL network. So, if you’re backpacking Europe like us, this is one of your best entry points into Istria. Ding ding ding the bell. This is haunted. Just going in harmony. There’s something a little magical about leaving a place by train. Maybe it’s the rhythm of it or the way the windows start to blur the edges of your memories already as you pull away. Pula gave us some slow mornings, some slower than expected, salty sea air, and a feeling of finding something unexpected. Not just in the places that we explored, but in each other, too. Traveling with people you love changes everything. Inside jokes become landmarks. A shared bottle of wine becomes a moment you’ll talk about for years to come. You end up learning new things about people you thought you already knew everything about and maybe even a few things about yourself, too. And now, as the train hums beneath us, carrying us toward our next place, our next story, not really sure what to expect, but I’m just glad we’re heading there together. My butt got exposed. Really? [Applause] Donna always wants me to start an only sense and I’m not ready. [Laughter] The disco harmony. [Music]

Come with us to explore the Croatian coastal gem you *probably* haven’t seen on your Euro summer feed—Pula! 🍷🏛️🌊

In this Balkan summer vlog, we visit ruins, flirt with fish markets, accidentally turn a boat tour into a party, and reflect on what it means to travel with your besties.

💡 We also share:
– What makes Pula a true hidden gem in Croatia 🇭🇷
– The history behind Pula’s Roman amphitheater (hint: don’t call it the Colosseum)
– Why Pula is a backpacker’s secret Eurail connection point
– What you won’t find on the itinerary your parents see 👀

Whether you’re here for laughs, travel inspo, or just to see if my butt got exposed again (spoiler: it did), welcome aboard. Subscribe for more backpacking chaos!

🎥 Watch next:
☀️ Our Plitvice Lakes National Park Vlog: [insert link]
🏝️ Hvar & Split Island Adventures: [insert link]

#eurosummer #croatiatravel #pula #europe2025 #backpacking #girlstripgonewild #travelwithfriends

📍 Chapters
00:00 – The trip your parents THINK you’re taking 😇
00:30 – How to make friends in Europe (even if you don’t smoke)
01:16 – Farmers market hauls & first impressions of Pula
02:08 – Country #20: Long-term travel updates!
02:26 – Airbnb laundry fails
03:24 – Roman amphitheaters & 3000 years of history
03:50 – When a walking tour turns into a wine tour 🍷
05:03 – Our boat tour becomes a party (oops)
05:27 – Lighthouse spotting & free wine chaos
05:56 – Trying to eat the best fresh fish of the trip
06:58 – Hidden beaches and abandoned piers
10:58 – Late night snack runs & TikTok regrets
12:01 – Morning after vibes & packing up for Slovenia
12:52 – Why Pula’s train station is actually iconic 🚂
13:29 – Final reflections: the magic of traveling with friends

📌 Featured spots
• Pula Arena
• Pula Old Town
• Farmers Market (Tržnica Pula)
• Pula Train Station (željeznički Kolodvor Pula)

🧭 Travel thoughts
• Ask locals questions—they often have the best stories.
• Don’t rush Croatia. There’s more to explore than you may have originally thought.
• Stories are the real souvenirs we take from travel.

💬 Let’s connect
What’s a place you would love to visit with your hot girl besties? Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear them.

🎥 Subscribe for more travel stories where history, connection, and curiosity meet.

#eurosummer #croatiatravel #pula #europe2025 #backpacking #girlstripgonewild #travelwithfriends #jonnyarnott

🎥 Watch next:
☀️ Our Plitvice Lakes National Park Vlog: https://youtu.be/-yVN3aiOCb4?si=_SEd6w2rxq1vztI5
🏝️ Hvar & Split Island Adventures: https://youtu.be/UaFk7PsrWE8?si=TaY_SJzvviWIXB_p

Jonny’s Socials:
Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@jonnyarnott/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jonny.arnott/
Pinterest https://pinterest.com/jonnyarnott/

MacKenzie’s Socials:
Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@mackenztravels/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mackenztravels/

🎶 all of the copyright free music we used in the video is from
https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/music.html

🔈 all of the copyright free video and sound content we used in the video is from https://pixabay.com/

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