Baredine Cave near Poreč: what to expect on a visit

A few kilometres inland from Poreč, the red earth and limestone of Istria hide a different landscape underground. Baredine Cave (Jama Baredine) is the region’s best-known show cave and an easy visit from any of our villas. On a hot day it is also the coolest place in Istria.

What you see

A guide leads you down a path of about 300 metres, with many steps, through five halls decorated with stalactites, stalagmites and curtains of flowstone. Guides point out formations nicknamed after their shapes, so ask the children to spot them.

The tour reaches a depth of 60 metres, ending at an underground lake. Below that, a narrow shaft drops even further: the total depth of the cave is about 132 metres, beyond the tourist route.

The olm

The cave is home to the olm (Proteus anguinus), a pale, blind salamander that lives only in the underground waters of the Dinaric karst. Locals call it the “human fish” because of its skin colour. You may see one in the lake or in a display near the end of the tour.

Practical details

• Tour length: about 40 minutes.
• Languages: Croatian, English, German and Italian; the guide is included in the ticket.
• Temperature: around 14 °C all year.
• Photos: allowed without flash.
• Shoes: wear closed shoes with grip. Paths can be damp.
• Access: the route has many steps, so it is not suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs.
• Season and hours: the cave is open from spring to autumn, with longer hours in summer. Check the current timetable and prices on the cave’s website before you go.

More to do on site

Baredine has more than the cave:

• Traktor Story, a collection of old tractors and farm machinery, is about 400 m away and a hit with children who like machines.
• A speleo gallery, souvenir shop and buffet are at the entrance.
• For older children and adults, the cave team runs adventure caving trips with helmets and lamps. Ask in advance.

Combining it with other visits

Baredine is a good stop on the way into the hills. Combine it with:

• a morning in Motovun or Grožnjan,
• a lunch in a konoba in the countryside,
• or, on a rainy day, with the museums in Poreč (see our rainy day ideas).

From the villas

Baredine is one of the closest sights to our Labinci villas: 4.6 km from Villa Bina and 4.7 km from Villa Cvita Domenica, a few minutes by car. From Villa Duga in Špadići, it is about 20 minutes inland.