The magic among the Roman walls returns in full glory this winter: “Advent in Pula – L’Avvento a Pola” turns the entire city center into a grand festive stage with programs at multiple locations, a spectacular ice skating rink inside the Arena, and the new panoramic wheel Pula Eye on the Riva. From November 30, 2025, to January 11, 2026, the festive spirit fills the streets, squares, and parks, while the scents of cinnamon, cloves, and warm drinks blend with music, light installations, and diverse content for all generations. If you plan to arrive from outside Istria, it is worth considering practical accommodation in Pula near the old town center so that all key points are just a few minutes of pleasant walking away.
Ice and Light: The Skating Rink in the Arena as an Unforgettable Experience
The magnificent Arena is once again the central stage for winter joys this year. Inside the stone rings of the Roman amphitheater, an ice skating rink expanded to about 900 m² is located, open from December 5, 2025 to January 11, 2026. Skating among millennial limestone blocks is truly an experience offered by only a few destinations in Europe. The atmosphere is further built by light tunnels, illuminated arcades, decorated snowy pines, and scenographic details inspired by the heritage of Istria and the ancient Mediterranean.
The organizer announces regular ice maintenance and clear organization of shifts for skaters, along with points for hot drinks and sweet snacks. Movement through the audience is marked, and certain zones within the amphitheater are accessible according to predefined routes to preserve the monumental complex. If you plan to come with children, count on a few extra minutes for entrance control – and for an easier rhythm of the day, choose accommodation in Pula on the edge of the pedestrian zone.
Pula Eye on the Riva: A View of the City from a New Perspective
From November 30, 2025, the Pula Eye spins on the city Riva, a new panoramic wheel about 28 meters high with 21 gondolas. Four people fit comfortably in each gondola, and the ride lasts approximately seven minutes – just enough for a best-of postcard: the Arena and Forum in the distance, the illuminated Giardini, the shadows of the ramparts, and the reflections of lights on the sea. For photography, we recommend the “golden hour” in the early evening – and if you are on an extended weekend, the ride and walk times are easily combined. In case of cold wind, bring a windbreaker or a thinner jacket, and for evening plans choose accommodation in Pula at a location that shortens your return after concerts.
Six Festive Zones: How to Connect Portarata, Forum, Giardini, Riva, and Arena
Advent in Pula is designed as a network of experiences at several key locations that are pleasantly connected by foot. Portarata is the day-and-night music center with the main stage. Forum offers jazz, classical music, and chamber ensembles in an ambiance that naturally emphasizes sound. Giardini are a promenade and meeting place, while Riva offers a new vertical thanks to the Pula Eye. Graz City Park turns into a children's joy polygon, and the Arena – naturally – remains the most photogenic frame of the entire Advent. How to connect it all? Simple: start from Portarata, pass through Giardini to the Forum, and then head towards the Riva and Arena; on the way back, stop again at Portarata and check the evening program.
Music at Portarata: Famous Names and Holiday Classics
From December 12, 2025, Portarata comes alive with special intensity. According to the announced program, a series of evenings is reserved for big domestic and regional names. The audience can expect performances by artists such as Vanna, Klapa Šufit, Hiljson Mandela, Psihomodo Pop, Buč Kesidi, Silente, Piknik Park, Mile Kekin, and Pips, Chips & Videoclips, along with other guests and occasional tribute programs. The Forum will, as in previous years, further enrich the calendar with jazz, classical ensembles, and Christmas evergreens. This schedule practically complements the “winter watercolor” of the Arena: day on the ice, evening under the arch.
Program for Children and Families: Workshops, Santa’s House, and Amusement Park
The youngest visitors have an entire “city of games” during December. Graz City Park offers workshops for making decorations, writing greeting cards, and small science experiments with a holiday theme. Santa’s House is a favorite stop for photography and short chats, and the amusement park with carousels and mini-trains keeps the rhythm all afternoon. Daily schedules are adapted for families coming from more distant places, so it is convenient to arrange a tour plan in advance and, if necessary, choose accommodation in Pula with a quick walking connection to the park and Portarata.
Gastro Scene: From the “Big Pan” to Hot Chocolates and Spiced Drinks
Festive stalls distributed around the center offer a whole range of flavors. Fragrant fritule and kroštule, sausages and stews, pulled burgers and fried delicacies, homemade chocolates with orange peel and pralines with winter spices – everything is here for a reason, and everything connects with warm drinks: mulled wine, punches, and non-alcoholic mixes with apple, ginger, and cinnamon. The City Market is especially lively on weekends, and the unavoidable “big pan” traditionally offers free seafood risotto. If you want to avoid the crowd, come a little earlier – and reserve energy for evening concerts. For foodie travelers: if you stay in accommodation in Pula with a kitchen, a morning jump to the market raises the entire stay to a higher level.
How to Organize 48 Hours: Itinerary for the Weekend
Day One start with a light walk from Portarata towards the Forum, with a short stop in Giardini. Before dusk, head to the Riva and board the Pula Eye gondola: the sunset and the first evening lights provide shots for covers. After that, head towards the Arena – a reserved skating slot in the early evening offers the best balance between atmosphere and crowd rhythm. To finish, return to Portarata and the music program which, from evening to evening, brings a different genre. If you are arriving by car, the recommendation is accommodation in Pula with a secured parking space or near a parking lot on the edge of the historic center.
Day Two dedicate to family content in Graz City Park, then visit the City Market and stalls with handicrafts. Reserve the afternoon for thematic photo spots: illuminated arcades of the Arena, decorative carriage, light tunnels, and snowy pines. If your schedule aligns, the “noon countdown” is popular among families, and in the evening you return to music again – perhaps with jazz at the Forum or a big concert at Portarata. If you are extending your stay, choose accommodation in Pula that makes it easier to combine early and late slots.
Mobility and Accessibility: Movement During the Busiest Days
Advent zones in the city center are organized into “slow” perimeters adapted for pedestrians. It is most practical to leave the car in parking lots along the edge of the historic center and continue on foot. Signs and temporary signaling lead towards the Arena, Portarata, Forum, Giardini, and Riva. Access for persons with reduced mobility is clearly marked, and ramps are placed on key infrastructure. The skating rink in the Arena has a marked entrance, a service area for skates, and an assistance point. In peak times, expect increased entrance control and capacity management – all with the aim of safe and pleasant flow of people.
Holiday Photo Map: Where the Most Beautiful Photos Are Created
There are three “must” points: the interior of the Arena with ice and light installations, the Pula Eye gondola above the Riva, and Portarata with a view towards Giardini. At the Forum, look for a frame with the facade and the city loggia in the background, and in Graz City Park photos with children succeed best in the early evening hours. For night shots, the range of 17–19 hours is ideal, when the last natural light mixes with festive lighting. If you photograph intensively, it is convenient to book accommodation in Pula within a ten-minute walk from Portarata – you return for equipment in the blink of an eye.
Weather and Equipment: Smartly Assemble the Winter “Checklist”
December and January evenings on the coast can be deceptive: the bura wind lowers the perceived temperature faster than the forecast says, and short-term rain can postpone outdoor programs. Layered clothing, waterproof footwear, and thin gloves for skating will save the plan. For the panoramic wheel, a windbreaker is useful, and for children, a thermos with a warm drink and a change of clothes. If you are sensitive to drafts, a hood under a helmet or hat makes a difference. If you plan multiple evenings in a row, give preference to accommodation in Pula with heating and the possibility of quick drying of clothes and footwear.
Why Pula Attracts More Visitors Every Winter
The key asset is the Arena: rarely anywhere does one skate in a space that so directly testifies to ancient history. But the overall impression stems from a complete concept: thoughtful lighting, good pedestrian connection of zones, diverse musical repertoire, emphasis on family content, and the novelty Pula Eye which opens a completely new view of the city. The layering of the program allows personalization of the stay – someone combines ice and rock, someone jazz and street food, someone family workshops and sightseeing of antiquity. Hence the advice: make a plan roughly, and then “color” it according to the daily mood.
Safety, Rules, and Sustainability
Clear rules apply near the monumental heritage: climbing on stone structures is prohibited in the Arena, as well as entering outside marked zones. Proper skates and movement in the indicated direction are mandatory on the rink; the order service regulates the number of users on the ice and the rhythm of shifts. Increasingly, reusable packaging and waste separation are being introduced at stalls – small gestures preserve the ambiance we all come to experience. If you arrive in a larger group, agree on exact times and meeting places in advance; if you come with a stroller, check alternative walking routes without stairs.
Special Dates and “Peak” Moments
The opening on November 30, 2025 sets the tone, and mid-December brings the liveliest weekends. From December 12 Portarata enters full concert speed, while the days around Christmas are expectedly the most visited. Also popular are the “noon countdowns” for families, and New Year's Eve is the highlight of the evening program in the city center. On January 1 the rhythm calms down, and the skating rink in the Arena works until January 11, 2026 – an excellent opportunity for those who like quieter frames and more relaxed walking between zones.
Heritage and Entertainment: A Short Guide Through Layers of the City
The route Portarata – Forum – Arena is not just a tourist line, but a walk through two millennia. Under your fingers, you feel traces of amphitheater games, medieval alterations, and modern interventions. Therefore, insert a “heritage hour” into the itinerary: read info boards, peek into museum displays nearby, and silence your phone for a moment – the contrast of silence and festive bustle has a special weight here. If you choose accommodation in Pula in the old town center, you will easily combine morning heritage tours with evening concerts.
Tickets, Schedules, and Useful Notes
Part of the events is free, and for certain programs and skating slots, tickets are purchased through the organizer's official channels and marked sales points. Schedules, as always with large manifestations, can change – so it is smart to check the latest information right before arrival and on the day of the visit. For concerts of high interest, temporary entrance restrictions are possible for the comfort and safety of the audience. If you travel in “waves” around the holidays, arranging accommodation in Pula and reserving a table in catering establishments in advance – is the best strategy.
Plan for Those Staying Longer
If your schedule allows three or four days, use the mornings for short trips around the surroundings – the view from nearby castles and viewpoints in winter light is often the most beautiful part of the day. Return to the center in the afternoons and evenings: skating in the Arena, a ride on the Pula Eye in a different slot, then a concert or jazz set. Play with culinary arts too: morning market, mini tasting of olive oil and cheese specialties, and then street food at festive stalls. Given the crowds, it pays to be a step away from key zones – so keep accommodation in Pula with an emphasis on proximity to Portarata or the Riva in your search filter.
Without Conclusion – With an Invitation to Experience
Advent in Pula combines ice under the starry sky of the Arena, the concert energy of Portarata, children's playfulness in Graz City Park, scents of the Market, and the view from the Pula Eye. From November 30, 2025 to January 11, 2026, the city glows in the rhythm of the holidays, and visitors – locals and guests – create their own stories. If the road leads you to the south of Istria, let the lights and notes guide you; and for a carefree tempo just a few steps from stages and installations, don't forget – accommodation in Pula that suits your travel rhythm makes all the difference.
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Creation time: 10 December, 2025