There is a large choice of supermarkets around Pula, which are complemented by many small independent local supermarkets. The supermarkets are open seven days a week and are very similar to those we have in the U.K.

situated in Mercator centre is perhaps more upmarket, on par with Sainsburys or Tescos. It has a well-equipped deli counter and offers a wide range of household goods and electricals. There are some smaller shops within the shopping centre including a bank, café, restaurant, kitchen appliances, sportswear, and baby supplies, flower and clothes ware shops. There is also a small play area, with slide and ball pool. There is ample under-cover parking and it is based on the way out of Pula.

are very well stocked and cheaper priced food supermarkets. It is possible to buy some freshly cooked hot food at their deli counter, groceries, baby products and toiletries, but not home ware. We would compare them to Asda. Plodine is largely stocked with Croatian products, where as Billa also sell many well known makes including Heinz, Pampers etc. They are both positioned on the Pula bypass, minutes from each other.

http://www.billa.hr/eurobilla_cro/
http://www.plodine.hr/
http://www.konzum.hr/

is a cross between a supermarket and a cash and carry. You can buy most groceries and there is also a wide selection of electrical appliances, household and garden goods. Watch out for their special offers on their web site. You can get help from the store loading large items into your car, i.e. TV, fridge, cooker, etc.
http://www.getro.hr/

Sanitas is an excellent, primarily, kitchen shop, with a large choice of traditional, modern and contemporary kitchens. The sales assistant speaks very good English. The shop is in Vodnjan and is sign posted. (Istarska 11, Vodnjan, 052/512-637)

Goma is another well stocked kitchen and bedroom shop, with mostly modern design in mind. It is on Vidikovac. (Heiningerova 20, 052/506-227)

DOMUS a more tradition furniture and kitchen store, a bit like MFI. A good selection of better quality furniture with excellent instore help. Typically Croatian and Slovenian furniture, accompanied by brochures, giving a choice of colours and style for individual pieces or whole suites. Furniture is delivered free to your doorstep locally, but you will have to place the boxes in thier correct rooms, for free assembly by the store's carpenter. Please note it is located on the outskirts of Pula in a residential area, a map would be an idea, as there are few road advertisements as they trade on their reputation. (Vukovarska19, 052/542-778)

Mima is very easy to find as it is next door to Mercator. It's a large store with many displays of bedrooms, kitchens and living rooms, with a large proportion coming from Italy. Young assistants mostly all speak English

Artecasa Italian Design is on Punta, and as the name suggests, specialises in Italian furniture. (Punta 2, 052/218-460)

Most stores deliver for free within a certain radius, otherwise a small charge is made, so please check. Most stores offer a discount of 10 to 15% for cash. Furniture made in Italy will have a deliver time of up to 8 weeks.

Italunion a hardware store, very similar to Robert Dyas and stocks a bit of everything, including DIY and gardening tools. They also stock a good variety of general home wares and a selection of end of line furniture, all at very reasonable prices. (Istarske Brigade 10, 052/502-034)

Garden Centres are not as comprehensive as they are in Britain, as gardens in Croatia are traditionally used for growing vegetables, rather than recreational purposes. The tide of change is turning, like with most things in Croatia, so there are few well stocked nurseries offering a very good variety of plants.

Rasadnik (nursery) Skatari one of the first nurseries to be established in Pula, some 20 years ago. It is situated in the village Skatari, on the Pula-Sisan road. This nursery supplies many other smaller nurseries in Istria. Its run by a husband and a wife team, and the business has grown out of shear love for gardening, We had a pleasure of being shown the owners garden, which was spectacular. They also offer gardening services, including planting, maintenance, supplying and fitting irrigation systems. Prices are very reasonable in comparison to other nurseries and they always have large stocks of shrubs, bushes and trees. We would warmly recommend. (Begovica 36, Skatari. 052/570-149)

Agrofarmacija is a family business, consisting of a small shop selling tools and a well stocked nursery. They also offer comprehensive gardening services including computer-generated design, planting and general maintenance, as well as a huge variety of bedding, architectural, pot and container plants and seeds.
www.agrofarmacija.hr

Pevec - Pulas’ equivalent to a B&Q superstore. We thought we had landed in a different country when we walked through Pevec's doors. Wow, they have everything you could need for setting up a home, from electrical products including kitchen appliances and audio visual; kitchen units; lounge and bedroom furniture; bathroom suites and tiles; general hardware, tools and building supplies; garden furniture and plants; lighting and a huge array of other items, including a cafe and small bakery. It's located in one huge convenient location on the outskirts of old town Pula. Click on the dowload Kataloga for their latest offers. http://www.pevec.hr/