Known as the City of Tolerance, being a digital nomad in Pula will ensure you get to explore this undisputed gourmet capital.
Home to the world’s sixth largest Roman amphitheatre, Pula Arena, it also offers a great mix of history, adventure and culture, making it an ideal place to spend an extended period for work and leisure.
Coworking (Updated 2021)
The independent and unique Klub Kotač is home to the only dedicated coworking space in Pula at the moment. Make sure e-mail ahead of time to get your space and directions to the place – surojc.mirjana@gmail.com
Alternatively you can book a space at IDA, the regional development agency that offers various rooms for some deep work or Zoom calls.
Two new coworking places are also under construction, so now’s the time to be some of the early adopters of Pula as a digital nomad destination!
Community
Pula is fairly new to the Digital Nomad game, but foreigners have been moving here for decades, as Istria is a popular region. Join their Facebook Group and start getting some local tips. Currently you’ll have to join the Digital Nomads Croatia group as there are no local ones.
You’ll meet some locals or nomads at working (and drinking) hotspots such as Cvajner Art Cafe, Shipyard Pub, Zen or by the sea at Bunarina. You’ll also find them indulging in some Istrian treats at Boca Food and Drinks.
Outside of the office, you don’t need to head far to be involved in local interest groups, especially if you’re coworking at Kotač as that’s also the home to Rojc, the local community centre. Think dance, creative and music, as you can enjoy both traditional and modern interests.
If you’re looking for more of a sporty offer, then Verudela has tennis and squash courts among other things or head for a walk, cycle of run along Lungomare or at Šijana Woods. You can rent a bike from this organisation, who look to get everyone back on two wheels.
At the weekend, you are spoilt for choice. Gourmet lovers will head for the truffles of Motovun, while wine lovers have an enviable task finding the best Malvazija and Teran wines on the Istrian wine road. Two of Croatia’s most spectacular parks, Ucka Nature Park and Brijuni National Park, offer idyllic escapes from the crowds.
Living
Whether you’d prefer to live near a coworking space, or a bit further out, check what’s available on DNA Stay, our dedicated longer term rental website for digital nomads.
The city market is the best place to buy your groceries, and we always recommend buying regularly and building up a rapport, learning a bit of Croatian along the way. You can also get a box of seasonal organic produce delivered to you through OPG Grbac.
If you don’t want to leave home then you can also order through Glovo or Wolt.
Connectivity
There are numerous options (and airports) to reach Pula. The closest, of course, is Pula Airport itself, but there are several others close by – Rijeka, Trieste, Venice and Ljubljana – that are well-served by the budget airlines.
The bus connections around the city, the region, the rest of Croatia, and even internationally, are excellent. There is a train station with services to Rijeka, Zagreb and Slovenia. If you’re looking to visit any of these places then check out what Flixbus has to offer.
A few other facts
-
- Pula Arena is Croatia’s most innovative event location. A Roman amphitheatre turned concert hall, football and ice hockey pitch, and film festival location.
- The cranes of Uljanik dominate the skyline, once making ships, now the spectacular Lighting Giants.
- The tunnels under Pula can accommodate an astonishing 50,000 people, almost the entire city.
Festivals worth checking out:
- Pula Film Festival (July)
- Vinski Grad, Pula – Wine City (July)
- Visualia Festival
- Pula Arena Gladiator Fights
