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Opatija riviera is 40 km long and rich in beautiful nature, parks, walking paths near the sea, old Austro-Hungarian villas and beaches.
In the 19th century in Opatija Austro-Hungarian noblemen built spacious villas and spent their winters due to very mild Mediterranean climate. Even today you can see the heritage of lifestyle of noblemen from Austro-Hungarian monarchy in the architectural stiles of villas. Now, those villas are turned into hotels. Most of them are situated next to a famous walking path «lungo mare» which is 11 km long and winds along the sea. Be sure to visit nautical center Ičići, tourist destination Lovran, and Mošćenička Draga which will impress you with its 2 km long pebbled beach. Nature lovers can enjoy the peace and quiet of the nearby mountain Učka.
Parks with beautiful examples of indigenous plants, as well as exotic ones which arrived from Asia and Africa, cover much of the towns of Opatija's riviera. You can feel the past and the present of this picturesque place. Today on the Opatija riviera you can find comfortable hotels and luxurious villas, which suit even the most profound tastes. If you wish recover from stress of everyday life, you can join wellness programs in hotels.
General information
- Geographic position: Kvarner bay
- Climate: mild Mediterranean
- Average summer temperature: 25° C
- Average winter temperature: 10° C
Gastronomy
Opatija riviera is famous for good restaurants with excellently prepared meals, wide choice of wines and personnel that will know how to recommend an ideal combination of both.
In some restaurants you will be able to enjoy meals prepared according to recipes from the 19th century. Restaurants mostly offer fish and crabs specialties. You can depend on the personnel's recommendations to get to know the best from this cuisine. Be sure to try fresh fish and crabs prepared in a simple traditional way in a restaurant along the Lungomare, for example in villa Ariston.
In villa Kapetanović the meat menu is worth trying, among others the beef carpaccio or gnocchi filled with cheese served with a fine meat sauce.
Opatija riviera is famous for maroons, a special type of chestnut that thrives only in this area. Be sure to try maroon cake, and if you happen to come in the fall you can visit Marunada –a festivity dedicated to maroon chestnut gathering where you can eat backed maroons.
to topSport
You will have a wide range of sports and sport activities to choose from. You can combine sports with a short trip to the countryside. Let's start from the beginning: town playgrounds and sport facilities will give you the opportunity to play sports like for example tennis. Attractive walking paths near the sea are an excellent choice for jogging and walking. If you get bored take a trip to the countryside where you have many interesting things to visit.
Adventurers can take a trip to Učka and see how ready they are for a challange. There you can paraglide due to favorable winds coming from the mountain.
Opatija riviera is famous for marinas and nautical tourism. ACI Marina Opatija lies between Opatija and Ičići and it is open the whole year round. There is also a marina in Opatija where you can enjoy watching sailboats, even if you don't have one of your own. Experienced yachtsmen can find everything they need.
Moreover, bicyclists have several cycling paths at their disposal in the vicinity. Učka has been a popular challenge for some time, and a place where you can test your abilities and enjoy the beauties of nature.
For those who like challenge or adventure, they can go climb mountain Učka or head for the islands of Cres and Lošinj where there are excellent diving localities, even diving with dolphins. For more experienced and daring divers there are diving localities such as a sunken war ship from World War I.
to topFun and night life
There are plenty of summer events in Opatija. You can go to a good concert, watch a movie or visit an exhibition. A lot is going on on the Summer Stage, which is a place for concerts and various performances. The atmosphere on such concerts, due to interesting ambient, leaves a truly memorable impression. There are also interesting events like Flower Festival in June, Liburnia Jazz Festival in July or Bridge Week and Petanque tournament in October.
Opatija became more than ever a favorite place of those who do not search for parties in noisy discotheques but rather drink cocktails in some of the lounge bars. Still, there are places and choices for everyone. You can dance in some of the discotheques until the morning or have a pleasant conversation in one of the beach bars, depending on how you feel.
to topHow to get there?
BY CAR
Coming from direction of Zagreb (Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia, Austria) you will reach Opatija if you follow the highway Zagreb – Rijeka, and leave of in Rijeka for another 15 km towards West. If you are coming from direction of Slovenia and Italy you will enter Croatia through border crosses Pasjak and Rupe. Turn for Opatija in Matulji. If you are coming from direction of Dalmatia (Split, Dubrovnik, Zadar) follow Jadranska magistrala (regional road) until Rijeka and continue some 15 km towards West.
BY BUS
Since Opatija is the center of the riviera, it has direct bus lines with all main centers of Croatia and almost all Croatian towns have a bus connection with Rijeka. From Rijeka you can reach Opatija, which lies only 15 km away.
BY TRAIN
The town of Rijeka has a railway connection to Zagreb. From the railway station in Rijeka you can reach Opatija by bus or by taxi.
BY BOAT
If you wish to reach the riviera by boat you can use one of the ferries driving in direction of Rijeka from where you can reach Opatija by regional road called Jadranska magistrala.
The ferry line connects Rijeka with main towns on the coast and island of Rab: Rab, Zadar, Split, and Dubrovnik.
Ferry lines: more information on www.jadrolinija.hr
BY PLAIN
The nearest airport to Rijeka is situated in Omišalj on the island of Krk, which is connected by Krk Bridge with mainland. The airport has organized bus transportation to Rijeka (30 minutes drive). Opatija lies 15 km from Rijeka.
It is also possible to land in Pula airport (82 kilometers away from Opatija).
to topBeaches
Some of the beaches in Opatija riviera are completely equipped for those who look for comfort. Nature lovers in hidden bays and rocks can enjoy nature in its purest form. Nearby Mošćenička Draga is famous for its 2 km long pebbled beach, which is an excellent choice if you are on holiday with children. to topWhat to see?
St. Jacob Park
St. Jacob Park is one of the places you meet on your walk through Opatija. St. Jacob church was built on the foundations of ancient Benedict convent and it was first mentioned in 1439. To the left near the church there is a convent and cloister with a well in the center. Between the church and the convent there is a bell tower made of stone. This park is also a horticultural sight that covers more than 3,64 hectares with more than 160 different plants.
Parks in Opatija and Lovran
Walking through the parks of Opatija and Lovran is pleasant because these parks are well cared for so that people can enjoy sitting on a bench or just walking any time of year. Lovran was named after the plant laurel, which spread all over the town. The pleasant smell of laurel and mirth can be sensed at every step. There are many exotic plants that seamen brought home from their journeys around the world.
Park Angiolina-Villa Angiolina
Park Angiolina and villa Angiolina were built at the end of 19th century. Villa Angiolina was a role model for other villas built in Opatija. Characteristic style from that period of Austro-Hungarian monarchy is still kept today, and some of those elegant and luxurious villas are today redecorated to offer comfort and luxury requested by the modern age together with the splendor of the past.
to topWhere to go on a trip?
Trsat, Rijeka
There is an old medieval fortress and settlement on Trsat which is today one of Marian sanctuaries visited by pilgrims during religious festivities. Take a walk through Rijeka, a port town with the charm of a Mediterranean town.
Brijuni
Brijuni islands have been inhabited already in the time of Roman and Byzantine Empires. Remains of luxurious Roman villas and buildings as well as decorative mosaics witness of the appeal of the archipelago.
Most important are the remains of a Roman summer residence in Verige bay. Temples of Neptune and Venus were built within that complex.
Today on the island of Veli Brijun there are around 600 indigenous types of plants, mostly Mediterranean, and in the northern part of Veli Brijun there is a safari park where dears, zebras, ostriges, giraffes and other animals live freely.
Golf lovers can enjoy playing in such beautiful surroundings. It is a unique experience to bicycle through Brijuni; the bicycles are available in the Park.
Plitvice Lakes
National Park Plitvice Lakes are situated some 200 km from the coast. Sixteen beautiful Plitvice Lakes, crystal clear and turquoise, are situated one beneath the other in forested mountain area. High waterfalls are created when water decants from the higher lakes into lower lakes, which leaves the visitors breathless. Combination of continental and coastal climate results in pleasantly warm summers and snow rich winters, lush green springs and colourful autumns that have been attracting visitors for many years. Plitvice Lakes is a destination you can visit all year long; each visit will feel like the first.
Postojnska cave (Slovenia)
This whole area is exceptionally beautiful. There are underground water flows and caves; climate is especially mild and vegetation is lush. What is especially interesting in this area are caves, the biggest one being Postojnska Jama. It stretches over almost 20 kilometers of underground passages and hallways. Already 20 milion visitors witnessed its unusual beauty. If you sit on an electrical train that will take you through the entire Postojnska Jama, you will discover the world of stalactites and stalagmites shaped by limestone and water for a long number of years. In Postojnska Jama it is possible to see the olm, which is a pink lizard-like amphibian that lives in these caves and in the karst area.
Venice
Everybody knows that Venice is considered to be one of the most romantic towns on the planet. This fact is not surprising since its bridges, splendid Renaissance palaces and the square of St. Marco as a sort of center, inspired writers and poets throughout history. Get to know Venice by riding a gondola along the Canal Grande and see the Bridge of Sighs from which those sentenced to death said goodbye to the sun forever or have a cup of coffee on St. Marco square. If you come in the winter, forget about the everyday life and become what you choose during a large carnival. Venice has always been a synonym of splendor, and in the 15th century it was a center of world trade and the largest port in the world.
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