- 1In Pula, the Pula Arena exterior loop (free, 24/7, leashed-dog-friendly), the Forum-Augustus-Sergii pedestrian spine, the Kaštel hilltop 360° panorama, the Lungomare coastal walk to Stoja and the Cape Kamenjak nature park with off-leash dog coves are within reach of every hotel on this list, good for morning and evening outings.
- 2Pula is Istria's 53,000-resident former Roman capital on the southern tip of the peninsula, anchored by the 1st-century Arena (one of the six best-preserved Roman amphitheatres in the world), the Forum with its Augustan Temple of Augustus, the Arch of the Sergii and the Kaštel fortress hilltop, with the Punta Verudela peninsula 4 km south, the off-leash Cape Kamenjak nature park 10 km further on, PUY airport 7 km out and a seasonal Venezia Lines catamaran to Italy, pets are a normal part of street life, café terraces, and local shops.
- 3Hotels selected for this guide are specifically in the Roman-grid Old Town between the Arena and the Forum, the Verudela peninsula south of town with its resort hotels and dog beaches, and the Premantura/Cape Kamenjak nature park 10 km south for off-leash coastal walks, where pet infrastructure is densest and local restaurants routinely provide water bowls and terrace access.
Best season: spring & autumn