Aquaparks near Poreč: Aquacolors and Istralandia compared

On a holiday with children, one day at a water park is almost compulsory. The Poreč area has two big ones, both within half an hour of our villas. Here is how they compare.

Aquacolors Poreč

Where: about 2 km south of Poreč, close to the town and the resorts of the Lagunas.

What’s there: Aquacolors opened in 2015 on a 10-hectare site. Its signature ride is a giant funnel slide, where riders swirl around a huge cone before dropping out. There are also family rafting slides, a freefall slide, multi-lane racing slides, a lazy river, wave pools and a large children’s area with a water play tower.

Good for: families staying near Poreč who want a big park without a long drive, and teenagers looking for thrills.

Istralandia

Where: near the road from Novigrad to Nova Vas, in the municipality of Brtonigla, about 5 km from the sea. From our villas it is about 18 km.

What’s there: Istralandia opened in June 2014 and was the first large water park in Croatia. It covers about 8 hectares, with around 20 slides totalling more than a kilometre of tubes, from gentle family slides to steep drops, plus a wave pool of about 2,500 m², children’s pools and relaxation areas.

Good for: a full day with a mix of ages, especially if you combine it with an evening in Novigrad.

Which one to choose

	Aquacolors	Istralandia
Distance from our villas	about 15–20 min	about 20–25 min
Opened	2015	2014
Highlights	Funnel slide, lazy river	Around 20 slides, big wave pool
Combine with	Poreč old town	Novigrad harbour

Honestly, both are good. Pick by location and by which slides your children have seen on video.

Tips for a water park day

• Buy tickets online. It is usually cheaper and quicker, and some days sell out in August.
• Arrive at opening. Queues for the big slides grow from late morning.
• Shade is limited. Rent a parasol or claim a spot under the trees early, and bring sun cream and hats.
• Check height limits for the big slides before you promise them to younger children.
• Bring water shoes or flip-flops. Paving gets very hot by afternoon.
• Leave on a weekday if you can; Saturdays are changeover days and roads are busier.

Season

Both parks are open in summer only, typically from late May or June until mid or late September. Opening hours and prices change each year, so check the official websites before you go.

A water park or the villa pool?

Water parks are a treat for one day. For the rest of the week, the private pool at your villa has no queues. Our villas are listed on the villas page; for more ideas with children read Istria with kids.