You have probably heard of Hum, the smallest town in the world. Situated in the heart of Istria, Hum is a town with only two streets and three rows of houses. The legend says that giants built Hum when they were building other hilltop towns in Mirna valley. Unfortunately, they ran out of the stones, so Hum turned out so miniaturistic.
About Hum
Hum has less than 20 inhabitants but is considered the smallest town in the world, according to the Guinness Book of Records.
The town is a typical example of medieval architecture and is basically an open-air museum.
They care about tradition, so the old ritual called ‘Election of the Prefect for a year’ is still held every year on the 11th of June (The day of Hum). All the men gather at the Municipal Loggia (town hall) to elect the village superior by carving their votes into a wooden stick.
At the town’s end is a viewpoint with a bench. The only thing you can see is the woods all around the town. And sitting there, in that small hilltop town, you feel so tiny compared to nature.
Biska – Hum’s specialty brandy
Hum is also known for Biska – a brandy spiced with mistletoe.
Biska is unique because they make it with an old recipe originating from Hum. The recipe is more than 2000 years old.
Because of Biska, Hum hosts the Grappa festival, where brandy producers from all over Istria present their homemade products. It is held each year at the end of October.
Hum’s signature delicacies
Along with trying Hum’s famous Biska brandy, you can also enjoy various local delicacies like truffle products, olive oil, various wines and signature dishes like “Fuži” and “Kroštule,” and unique drinks like “Istarska supa” (Istrian soup).
Since Hum is the smallest town in the world, it only has one restaurant called Humska Konoba, where you can try the fantastic Hum and Istrian dishes.
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Best time to visit Hum
The best time to visit Hum is in the spring, summer, and autumn when the weather is pleasant.
Since Hum is the smallest town in the world, it can get a bit crowded in the summer. But at least the streets are much more alive then!
During September and later in the year, there are no crowds at all in Hum, so it’s when you’ll be able to experience the town for yourself.
How to get to Hum?
Hum is a perfect place in Istria to visit on a morning or afternoon trip.
Most people visit Hum independently, but there are also daily trips to Hum from Rijeka, Pula, Trieste, and Koper.
Best tours to Hum, Istria:
- Istria Highlights Tour from Rijeka or Pula
You can reach Hum by car in about 1 hour from Rovinj or Pula and only 45 minutes from Opatija or Rijeka.
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And you can also walk to Hum along the Glagolitic Alley.
Glagolitic Alley is a 7 kilometers long path of 11 big stone sculptures, each representing a part of the Croatian Glagolitic script.
You can combine Hum with visiting other hilltop towns nearby, like Motovun, Grožnjan, Buzet, or the small abandoned but picturesque village of Kotli.
You can also get to Hum by train to the “Hum u Istri” train station and then by walking for about 45 minutes (about 3 kilometers) over two hills to the town.
Where to stay in Hum?
Although Hum is so small, it still has a few accommodations where you can stay.
We didn’t stay in Hum, but we can imagine that staying overnight and waking up and strolling the empty streets of the world’s smallest town in the early morning must be quite a unique experience!
Best places to stay in Hum:
- Apartment Dores
- House Vera
- Adorma Hum
- Apartment Franko
Is Hum in Croatia worth visiting?
Although Hum isn’t big and there’s not much to do there, it’s absolutely worth visiting on your inland Istria exploration and should be added to your list of places to visit. And it’s easy for all types of travelers to enjoy Hum.
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Our other Istria travel guides: Motovun Travel Guide, Grožnjan Travel Guide
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