Hum – The Smallest Town in the World

The world’s smallest town named Hum is located in Croatia, perched on a high hilltop, recognized by the Guinness World Records as the smallest town in the world with a population of 30 (in 2022).

The town is located in the centre of the Istria region, near the town of Buzet, only 100 meters long and 30 meters wide.

Visiting the smallest town in the world in Croatia

With a distance of about 40km from Rijeka or Umag, you can set foot in the smallest town in the world when travelling to this Croatia country. The number of people living here is only 30 people and the town of Hum has an area of ​​two streets and three walls.

Currently, Hum is known as a charming tourist destination with a bold Croatian cultural identity.

According to historical records, the town first appeared in 1102 with the name Cholm translated in Italian as Colmo. Originally, the small mountain town had only one watchtower, a defence system with the aim of keeping the bandits from attacking.

Gradually, around the watchtower, a small town grew and took shape, becoming inhabited by guards and their families. Today, visitors can see a picture of an idyllic small town, out of chaos and seemingly no traces of the tension in modern life.

The highlight of this peaceful picture is the image of the parish church and the ancient bell tower.

With such a scene, many people will mistake the town of Hum for nothing worth visiting. Hum may be the smallest place on the planet but it will leave many visitors with an unforgettable trip.

The town hall and parish church are very well preserved, offering visitors a glimpse into the history of this famous town.

The parish church of the town dedicated to the Virgin Mary was built in 1802. There is also a small Roman church of St Jerome built in the 12th century, where ancient murals are kept intact.

There is also an impressive street that takes you to the city of Hum called Glagolitic Alley. It is a 3km long road, decorated with giant stone sculptures bearing Croatian Glagolitic script and it connects the city of Hum with a small village of Roč.

Every detail in this wonderful picture records a piece of history, telling the story of formation and development by itself, all with a Croatian influence.

In the town, there is a restaurant with unique cuisine. At Hum, famous things like Humska Biska, a form of rakija (brandy) mixed with mistletoe and some other ingredients are ‘must try’ drinks.

This type of drink is considered the medicinal alcohol of the people, everyone coming here is invited to drink and soak up the flow of this town.

Hum is also the last stop on Glagolitic Avenue, a peaceful 7km road connecting Roč, with 11 special monuments. Statues in this arc are sculpted to pay homage to the Glagolitic alphabet, the first Slavic alphabet.

Located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, bordered by the Adriatic Sea, Croatia is a favourite destination for many tourists with many world heritage sites such as the old town of Dubrovnik, the Diocletian Palace in Split, and the St. James Cathedral in Šibenik. However, many tourists still want to find the smallest town in the world.

On a sunny day, with a blue background of clouds and sunshine, visit Hum and explore eagerly, you will be captivated by the pace of life and the scenery here, and it is hard to stop.

The sound of tranquillity, the slow pace of life full of pleasure from the people to nooks and crannies makes people lost as if separated from a great deal of noise, hustle and bustle outside a small town of only 30 people!