August the 24th, 2026 – There’s an incredibly scenic Croatian road frequently compared to the legendary Route 66 across the pond in the USA – and a drive along it is nothing less than breathtaking.
When someone mentions Route 66, most people immediately think of the endless American highway, old motels, neon signs and kilometres of asphalt running through some of the most famous landscapes of the United States. Few realise that Croatia has its own very interesting road with the same number in Croatia as well. It goes without saying that Croatia’s D66 doesn’t have thousands of kilometres or hold the status of an American icon, but because of the designation it carries and the landscapes it passes through, it resembles the US legend in many ways.
Putni kofer writes that it has been referred to many times as the Istrian version of Route 66 and presented it as a road that evokes old, nostalgic Istria. Today, the impressive D66 connects Pula, Labin and Vozilići with Opatija, and according to the official decision on the classification of public roads it is about 90 kilometres long. Still, if the goal is to find its most spectacular part, one should head towards the eastern coast of Istria, that is, towards Plomin.
the most impressive section begins at plomin
Plomin is an excellent place to start this short road trip. The old fortified little town sits on a hill above Plomin Bay, and right by the D66 there is also a rest area with a viewpoint. A few kilometres further on there is another spot from which the view opens towards the Kvarner Bay, Cres and Lošinj.
After that begins the stretch that makes it worth driving this road slowly. The asphalt winds under the slopes of Učka, the sea is almost constantly somewhere in sight, and on the other side of the Kvarner Cres appears. In certain places the road runs high enough above the coast that the view feels almost like from a large natural balcony. The greatest advantage of state road D66 is precisely that, over a relatively short distance, viewpoints, medieval places, steep coastline and well-known Kvarner resorts alternate.
the stunning Brseč, a town from 1102 towering above at 157 metres above the sea
One of the places worth turning off the road for is Brseč. D66 reaches it after driving along the slopes of Učka, and the old part of the settlement is situated on a cliff 157 metres high above the expanse of Kvarner. The first written records of Brseč date back to 1102, although the area was inhabited much earlier. It is particularly interesting that the history of Brseč is also directly linked to the road that passes this way. The Tourist Board of Mošćenička Draga notes that the economic development of the place in the 19th century was spurred by the new road from Pula towards Plomin, then Brseč and Mošćenice and further towards Rijeka.
Today the medieval character of Brseč can still be felt in the narrow streets and passages of the old town core. From the cliff by the little church of St Magdalene one of the most beautiful views in the area opens up, while from the western entrance to the place Cres can be seen. Beneath the high rocks a completely different world is hidden. Between Brseč and Mošćenička Draga lie the beaches of Uboka and Jelenšćica, which can be reached on foot via paths that descend from the main road. The coastline in this area is extremely indented, with steep cliffs, tiny coves and stone fishermen’s cottages by the sea.
from ancient towns to well-known resorts
After Brseč the scenery changes again. D66 continues towards Mošćenička Draga, one of the best-known places at the foot of Učka. The road approaches the sea, and the high rocks gradually give way to beaches and a more built-up coastline. Mošćenička Draga developed from a fishing harbour, and today it is especially known for the long pebble beach of Sipar. Its pebbles were formed by the action of the stream that descends from the slopes of Učka and the sea that has shaped them over the years.
Just a few kilometres further on lies Medveja, another place along the D66 with a long pebble beach. After it comes Lovran, where the whole drive takes on a more elegant appearance. Instead of the almost wild coast around Brseč, old villas, gardens and houses appear along the road that recall the time when this part of the Kvarner became one of the favourite resorts of Central Europe.
just over 90 kilometres from pula to opatija
The entire D66 from Pula to Opatija is a little over 90 kilometres long, but for a panoramic outing the stretch from Plomin to Opatija is especially interesting. According to the kilometres listed on the EuroVelo 8 route, from the Plomin area to Opatija it is roughly thirty kilometres of driving.
That may not sound like much, but that is precisely the charm of this road. In a short drive one passes Plomin Bay, open views towards Cres and Lošinj, medieval Brseč, the steep slopes of Učka, Mošćenička Draga, Medveja, Lovran and finally Opatija. Although it forms part of the Croatian cycling route EuroVelo 8, this road should not be imagined as a lonely carriageway without cars. On the official route website traffic on certain sections is marked as moderate, and from Medveja towards Rijeka as heavy, so if you decide to cover it on four wheels, extra caution is recommended for cyclists.
