Read some positive and negative things about the city of Poreč in this post.
Poreč, a city with almost three times as many inhabitants in summer than in winter. It is precisely for this reason that it is important to know all the positive and negative specifics.
We think it is important that you are familiar with everything, whether you are buying a holiday home or you want to move and live in Poreč or the surrounding area.
The first and most important positive is: CLIMATE
The climate in Istria is determined by the fact that Istria is a peninsula surrounded by the sea on three sides.
Moving away from the sea, the Mediterranean climate changes along the coast to a temperate continental climate as it moves inland.
Let's simplify it this way: In Istria, including the city of Poreč, winters are mostly mild and humid, while summers are hot and muggy.
As the climate is of course influenced by everything, land, sea and altitude, we can conclude that Poreč is part of the lowest and coastal part and as such is very, very comfortable to live in. The average temperature in January is 4°C, while the average temperature in July is between 22 and 24°C.
Even with extreme temperatures, Poreč is more pleasant up to 10°C. For example, if the inland temperature extreme is -15°C, in Poreč it is -5°C. It is the other way around when the temperatures are highest, with an extreme of around 40°C inland, it gets a little milder in Poreč.
Snow is a rare occurrence in the coastal area. When it snows, it rarely stays a whole day, and even more rarely a few days.
All of the above facts make the city climatically very, very pleasant to live in.
The first negative is: PARKING
The main city car park and the streets within the city are often a bit of a nightmare in the summer months for people who like to find their parking space quickly.
When you are looking for your place in the city streets in summer, sometimes this mission seems impossible and you have to park in a large city parking lot.
In the summer months, the large city car park was no longer sufficient for all guests who wanted to go for a walk in the city. The city responded and opened another one on a green space near the large city parking lot.
There are two other larger car parks nearby, one is near the elementary school and the other is quite far from the city and is near the Žatika municipal cemetery.
The parking situation is perfectly fine for us locals in autumn, winter and spring. In the summer time, during the tourist season, however, patience is required when looking for a parking space. Another option is to park a little further from the center itself, so there's a little more chance of finding a spot.
The city is constantly working to improve the problem mentioned. A new parking lot was recently built on the green area.
It is certainly good that you are ready for this. Be patient and persistent and you will surely find a parking space.
Another positive thing is: WALKWAYS IN CYCLING PATHS BY THE SEA IN NATURE
Poreč is ideal for people who like to spend their days by the sea and in nature. People who like to walk in nature by the sea have a variety of options.
Heading south from the city, you can explore the famous Poreč Lagoons, which hide idyllic beaches and coves shaded by pine trees.
The path is quite long, but offers many places to stop for refreshments and rest benches along the way. From these benches it is a pleasure to listen to the sound of the waves and watch the seagulls.
The south promenade is 4-5 km long depending on your final destination.
The length of the path is also suitable for beautiful bike rides along the sea. But you can only get the full experience by walking these trails.
Not even a pedestrian walkway remains on the north side of town. It stretches to Materada, the trail is about 2-2.5 km long and starts at Peškera in Poreč.
Next to the starting point you will also find tennis courts, mini golf, but also ski and other sports facilities. This promenade is also ideal for more active recreation seekers.
The third attractive promenade is the Old Town itself, which is a wonderful destination for a walk. But we will go into more detail about the old town in another post.
Another negative thing: CROWD ON THE STREETS AND ON THE MARKETS
I would say that crowds on city streets and in industrial or shopping districts is another seasonal bad thing for locals.
The infrastructure is not really adapted for the summer months, when the city's population almost triples.
Going shopping can have a similar feeling to going to rock concerts by world-famous artists. Literally in some places in markets, a person has to push past other people and be armed with patience.
The advice is not to go shopping when the locals are returning from work, that's definitely when it's at its busiest.
Since all markets are usually open longer in the summer months, it is best to shop in the late evening hours, two hours before the shops close, to save a lot of time and nerves.
The road infrastructure is most congested in the shopping district in the city center and near individual parking lots, especially next to the main one and the new large parking lot right next to it.
The city is trying to find solutions for these traffic jams, road construction work is currently underway to relieve the industrial or shopping area.
And I believe that they will try to find a solution for the crowd in the newly created car park next to the main car park.
The third positive: GASTRONOMY
If there is anywhere to eat and drink well, it is here in Istria.
We would like to mention just some famous Istrian delicacies: olive oil and olives, prosciutto, truffles, our wines and sea fish.
In addition to the things mentioned, Istria hides countless delicacies. It is recommended that you visit some Istrian taverns and discover the charms of Istrian cuisine.
The third negative point: BAD TRANSPORT CONNECTIONS
What is bad in the city of Poreč, not only in the summer months, is the poor connection to public transport.
If you have to be somewhere by a certain time without a car, it becomes a nightmare. You are dependent on your own transport as connections between the city and surrounding towns are so poor that it is very difficult to plan where you will be and when.
The city reacted and presented the small electric CityBus. However, his situation has also deteriorated a lot and he cannot visit all the surrounding places for several hours.
So you must be aware that transport is available but poorly organized and you will most likely be dependent on your own transport.