Matilda on Tour — Our First Days in Croatia 🇭🇷

Monday 23 March 2026 — Portorož to Poreč (Polidor)

Day 23 — New country… and straight into it

Istria, Croatia 🇭🇷

We were up and on the road by 10, greeted by blue skies and slightly warmer air — a good start to moving day.

We’ve really loved our stop by the marina. A great location with plenty to do, but that familiar feeling had crept in… time to move on.

There are just too many great places waiting.

It was only a short hop today — a stop for lunch at Novigrad harbour, then on to Polidor, just past Poreč, which we’re keen to see again.

A quick Lidl stop to stock up for a few days, and then lunch — seafood spaghetti for me, and what a choice that was. Prawns, mussels, squid… right by the sea, the setting was perfect 🌊

On to the campsite next. First impressions were good, and before long we were out exploring.

We’re a short bike ride from the sea , and although the ride down was a bit rough in places, it was definitely worth it. That proper holiday feel is definitely here.

A nice bonus today — we’re using our ACSI card and got a pitch with electric for €27, which will help keep the costs nicely under control.

It’s really quiet here at the moment, but you can sense that the season will soon begin.

For now though, it feels like we’ve got it almost to ourselves — and we’re really enjoying this stop by the sea.

Barbecue is about to go on… a big pack of Lidl ribs should do the job just fine 🔥

Tuesday 24 March 2026 — Polidor / Poreč Coast

Day 24 — Cycling the coast north and back
Istria, Croatia 🇭🇷

Well, that’s been a good day.

Breakfast outside this morning — a first for the trip — and it felt like a bit of a milestone in itself.

We headed out on the bikes along the coast, going north to start with. Coffee stops along the way, with plenty of sea views to keep us company.

The riding was mostly cycle paths, although there was definitely more off-road than I’d planned — courtesy of Richard. He just keeps going, so I tend to take a deep breath and follow… character building, as they say 😄

Lunch was at a warm little glass-fronted café bar — simple food, but just right for the day, and a welcome break from the breeze.

After lunch we turned back, heading towards Poreč. Poreč is a lovely little coastal town, with cobbled streets, a relaxed harbour and plenty of places to sit and watch the world go by.

On the way back, we stopped in Poreč. We’d always planned to come back — it felt right to include it in this trip.

The sun was starting to drop — a couple of beers was a really nice way to round off the ride.

Poreč itself wasn’t exactly bustling, but there were enough people about to give it a bit of life. Bars and restaurants were open, and it had a relaxed feel to it.

Back at the site, things feel comfortable. The free electric is a real bonus — heating on, microwave working — small luxuries that make van life that bit easier.

We headed north today. Tomorrow, we’ll head south.

And tonight’s tea… proper posh nosh — bratwurst, beans and scrambled eggs. Richard thinks he’s in heaven.

Wednesday 25 March 2026 — Polidor / Poreč

Day 25 — Sunshine, wrong turns and a tumble
Istria, Croatia 🇭🇷

Another day waking up to sunshine ☀️

The morning was given over to a few admin jobs, then we headed out on the bikes again, this time in the opposite direction.

It was a bit of a messy start, with wrong turns and leaf-strewn paths.

Then came my latest biking lesson. The leaves were hiding a step — I hit it, wobbled, and before I could recover went straight into a pothole. Down I went.

Apart from a graze, there was no lasting damage. Lesson learned — don’t trust leaves 😄

Thankfully, the ride improved.

We were soon rewarded with some fabulous coastal views — shimmering blue sea and little islands that looked as though they were floating on the water.

Before lunch we’d climbed up into a village — more by accident than design, as I clearly hadn’t paid much attention to the contour lines. A bit of a slog, but the view from the top made it worthwhile.

By then, lunch was calling. Pizza fungi to share, along with an enormous portion of chips — a good job we didn’t order one each. A lovely, relaxed spot overlooking a busy marina.

After lunch we cycled around the headland and came across a very busy campsite, full of camper vans right by the sea. Within walking distance of the harbour, bars and cafés, and plenty of people about. It must be a popular year-round resort — one to remember.

No afternoon beers today though. We headed back to the van fairly early, and it was actually quite nice to sit in the sun with my book.

Tomorrow feels a little uncertain. There’s a storm on the way, so the decision is whether to sit tight, move further down the coast, or head for Bosnia.

We’ll see what tomorrow brings.

Thursday 26 March 2026 — Polidor / Poreč

Day 26 — Storms in the night, calm by the coast
Istria, Croatia 🇭🇷

Well, what a night.

Just after midnight the storm arrived — rain at first, then torrential downpours, thunder and lightning, and gale-force winds. Matilda was rocking, and the bike rack was banging against the back of the van.

The rain lingered well into the afternoon, so we decided to stay put rather than head off chasing better weather. That can wait until tomorrow.

All was not lost though. It turned into a useful sort of day — everything cleaned, no washing left, and a bit of a reset.

I even managed a yoga session, tucked away in a cosy indoor area by the shower block. Underfloor heating, warm and quiet — a lovely contrast to the storm outside.

Eventually, the rain stopped, so we headed out for a walk along the coast.

.

It was almost deserted. The air had settled, the birds were singing, and a few people were fishing on the rocks, though I don’t think they were catching much.

After such a vicious storm, everything felt incredibly calm.And in truth, we’ve been incredibly lucky with the weather so far on this trip — so perhaps we were due a day like this.

A good first stop in Croatia — and it feels like the next part of the journey has properly begun.