All You Need to Know Before You go to the Opatija Riviera
In the gorgeous country of Croatia, nestled between Mount Učka and the Adriatic sea is the Opatija Riviera where the scenery is picturesque in all directions, vegetation is thriving and the climate is wonderful. The riviera, commonly referred to as the "Pearl of the Adriatic", is equipped with tens of luxurious villas (both hundred-year-old and modern) and scattered with beaches and parks. Some of the most popular towns in the riviera include Opatija, Ičići, Lovran and Volosko - all of which have their own unique charm and attractions. Deciding what to do and where to stay within this 25km stretch of breathtaking coastal territory can be a bit overwhelming, so this guide to the Opatija riviera will explain all you need to know before you go!
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Lungomare Promenade
One of the best things to do when visiting the Opatija riviera is to walk along the lungomare promenade (also called the Franz Joseph I promenade) which is a coastal walkway that stretches 12km along the sea from the towns of Volosko to Lovran. Access points to the promenade exist anywhere you can get near the sea between these towns. A favorite walkway for locals and tourists alike, the whole path has amazing views and is equipped with benches to sit and take it all in. You'll find many sets of stairs along the walkway that lead to hidden swimming spots along the rocks or small secret beaches. The water along the riviera is so clear, blue and inviting; you could spend hours at one of these spots, which I have done many times soaking in the sun and having picnics!
Along the promenade you will pass multiple parks that you can stroll through and explore, each full of bamboo forests, luscious greenery and vibrant flowers. My absolute favorite is called Park Angiolina which is filled with gardens, statues, and tropical plants & trees from all over the world. It is also the largest park in the riviera.
The lungomare will also take you past marinas, villas and famous landmarks. In Grad Opatija, near Hotel Palace Bellevue on the sidewalk nearest to the sea, you can walk over the Croatian stars. Called the Croatian walk of fame, it is similar to the famous Hollywood stars but of course dedicated to famous people from Croatia! Also located along the promenade in Grad Opatija is the statue of the maiden with the seagull which was completed in 1956; as she stands forever overlooking the sea, it has become a symbol of the Kvarner region and creates the perfect photo spot for tourists.
Grad Opatija
Located in the middle of the Opatija riviera is downtown (grad) Opatija. Being the center of the riviera, it is full of the most restaurants, villas, beaches, attractions and activities. There are also endless stores perfect for a day of shopping from local boutiques to well-established brands. With the town being so full of life and culture you are sure to find entertainment both on land and out at sea. I suggest giving yourself at least one day without an itinerary, wandering aimlessly and leaving your day in the hands of fate. While we were walking around exploring, we came across a wine and food event at Hotel Kvarner with live music - it was free to enter and we were able to buy tickets in exchange for wine and food tastings! The summer stage or open air theater near park Angiolina may have shows, concerts or festivals going on - you can check out their website here for schedules!
During the summertime the nightlife shines, and one of the bars I highly recommend visiting is Colosseum Lounge & Beach Bar. Grad Opatija is definitely the most lively of the towns in terms of tourists, but if you're a young traveller you should know that during the off-season it is pretty quiet with mainly older visitors - this means bars and clubs are mostly either closed or empty at night, even on weekends. However if you're visiting during off-season and are looking for good nightlife take the drive 30 minutes from downtown Opatija to Rijeka where there are plenty of places you can grab a drink and dance year-round.
Ičići
Mount Učka is particularly unique to Croatia as it has such rich and abundant vegetation on the side that faces the sea. In Ičići, the slopes of Mount Učka go all the way down to greet the sea which is in my opinion what makes it so special and arguably the most naturally beautiful compared to the other towns. The views from the slopes of the mountain are incredible and there are gorgeous villas lining the winding roads, perched all over the mountain. If you decide to stay in this cute little town, I recommend renting a car so you don't have to walk up and down the steep hills getting to and from your accommodation. When we were staying in Ičići for a month, in the interest of saving money we only rented cars on weekends - it was definitely a bit challenging going up and down the roads but it is doable. It really just depends on your budget and how long you'll be there... and whether you're prepared for a leg workout!
If you'd like to hike on Mount Učka there are several trails with varying difficulty that you can take, or you can visit Nature Park Učka located up the mountain behind the town of Lovran. There are incredible panoramic views from the top, and for the combination of easy and beautiful, I would suggest taking the Vela Draga educational trail which goes past the Vela Draga canyon.
We stayed in a beautiful villa in Ičići which was about a 10 minute drive from grad Opatija. It was very affordable as we paid around $800 USD for a months stay. In the villa we had a small studio apartment with a large shared pool, lounge chairs, a gorgeous outdoor dining area and of course amazing views.
Beaches
As I mentioned, the lungomare promenade has many swimming spots and you can pretty much hop in the water anywhere along the coast. In regards to beaches, the riviera does not have typical white sand beaches; instead, there are popular medium & large sized areas by the water that are made of tiny pebbles, rocks or concrete. They are serene and so unique as I'd never seen 'beaches' like these! Some popular beaches are Črnikovica beach, Slatina beach, Ičići beach, and Volosko beach. Sablicevo beach in Rijeka is also very beautiful and worth checking out. Most of these locations have chairs and umbrellas that can be rented, and all of them are nearby restaurants, cafes or shops. There are also endless water activities available in the riviera including kayaking, canoeing, boat rentals, sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving and more!
Island Trip - Beaches Off the Coast of Opatija
If you're looking for more of an adventure when it comes to beaches, you can take a trip to a nearby island to swim & sun-bathe there! Since you are in Croatia there are plenty of islands off the coast that are easily accessible. The island of Cres is closest to the Opatija riviera - it is about a 40 minute drive to Brestova where you can hop on a ferry from there to get to Cres. The journey by ferry takes 20 minutes and costs around 3-5 euro.
One of the most popular beaches on Cres island is Lubenice Beach (also called Saint John in English or Sveti Ivan in Croatian). Lubenice beach is a bit difficult to get to as its located beneath steep cliffs under the town of Lubenice, but it is very much worth the effort. You can hike down - it will take around 30-40 minutes and is a moderate descent, but going back up is a bit more challenging so be sure to wear the proper shoes or simply have a boat take you. It is a lovely, quiet pebbled beach that has a blue grotto you can enter nearby.
Mali Bok (also called Orlec beach) is another gorgeous beach that is made of larger rocks and is smaller than Lubenice. Like Lubenice, it is a bit of a hike to get to the bottom of the cliffs to access the beach but the views from the top will give you all the inspiration you need before heading down. Being below cliffs and thus fairly distant from the nearest villages, neither Mali Bok nor Lubenice has restaurants/shops so be sure you come prepared. If you are looking for a beach that is easier to get to and therefore is close to restaurants, shops and bars, Raca beach is right for you. Lined with luscious pine forest, this pebbled beach in the village of Valun has plenty of natural shade if you aren't equipped with an umbrella.
Krk island is another option not too far from the Opatija riviera and is one of the largest islands in the Adriatic sea. This island is connected to the mainland by a bridge and would take about 1 hour to drive there from grad Opatija. If you don't want to drive, there are busses that go from Rijeka to Krk town (which takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes); since there are no direct busses from Opatija to Krk, you can take a bus from the Opatija riviera to Rijeka and catch the bus going to Krk town from there. Krk is full of culture and is so diverse in attractions, sights and activities. From ancient towns to rural villages, large popular beaches to small hidden coves, and from busy bars to quiet cafes, Krk really has it all. Some of the nicest beaches on Krk island are Zgribnica Beach in Vrbnik which has a beach bar, cliff jumping and sunbed/umbrella rentals, Punta Debij Beach in Punat which uniquely offers sand beaches, and Škrila Beach in Stara Baska which is surrounded by hills and cliffs and offers kayak or canoe rentals.
Day Trips
The Opatija riviera is within close distance to many popular destinations. Driving along the coast is incredibly beautiful with endless sea views and the further from the coast you go you're submersed in a striking mountainous landscape. We did a lot of driving during our two months in Croatia and I am not exaggerating when I say everywhere we drove was so gorgeous.
Two day trips from Opatija that are a must include a trip to Pula and a walk through Plitvice Lakes National Park. First let's start with how to get there! We would rent a car every weekend from the company Sixt. Sixt is located in downtown Opatija in Hotel Ambasador. Renting from this company was always quick and easy - they have great rates on rentals and the employees at this location were very kind. Since we were staying in Ičići we walked each weekend along the lungomare promenade to get to Sixt; it took us about 30-40 minutes and we enjoyed the walk each time. If you are also staying a distance away from grad Opatija and don't want to walk, Croatia uses the app 'Bolt' for easy taxi service.
Pula
In about a 1.5 hour drive you can get to Pula, which is a large old town full of cobblestone streets, ancient architecture and historical landmarks. Some of the most popular landmarks that are a must-visit when in Pula are:
Pula arena - one of the worlds six largest preserved Roman amphitheaters
Temple of Augustus - a roman temple built between 2BC and 14AD dedicated to the emperor Augustus
Arch of the Sergii - a roman arch once used as a city gate
Church and monastery of St. Francis - a 14th century romanesque and gothic style monastic complex
The lively forum square is next to the temple of Augustus where i highly recommend getting a drink and some food before taking a walk near the water to watch the sunset. As a little side note there are lots of stray cats roaming around Pula, so if you're like me and love animals, carry a bag of cat treats in your backpack!
Plitvice Lakes National Park
To get to Plitvice Lakes you can drive on your own (which takes around 2.5 hours), join a tour and have your transport arranged through the tour company, or hop on a bus. Plitvice lakes is a 300km2 protected park in central Croatia and is one of the most beautiful national parks I have ever been to. Walking through it is a must when visiting Opatija. There are eight different trail options, each full of rivers and waterfalls and are complimented with tons of stunning views. For more information on how to get there, which trail to take and what to expect, read my comprehensive guide to Plitvice Lakes National Park.
Restaurant and Cafe Recommendations
We cooked at home most of the time, but when we did go out to eat the food was AMAZING. We received many recommendations from our hosts at the villa; as locals, of course they knew the best food spots! We ate at the restaurant Romero multiple times - they have the most incredible menu. The breakfasts were certainly our favorites and we repeatedly ordered the Romero slider and creamy cheese croissant, both of which I highly recommend trying! Roko restaurant had the best pizza, sea food and pasta (and is a bit on the pricier side), and lastly Ružmarin which has a very large menu, mainly Italian with a local Croatian touch. These are just some of my favorites, though nearly every restaurant we ate at had fantastic food.
For cute coffee spots, I recommend Caffe bar Galija located next to a small marina along the lungomare promenade (it turns into a bar at night but is quiet and peaceful in the mornings with delicious lattes), and Tabù lounge which is also along the lungomare in a more hidden location and therefore more intimate.
Opatija Riviera Map
We covered a lot, so please feel free to explore this map I created using all the locations that are mentioned in this blog post!
Map Color Guide:
Yellow = Riviera Beaches, Dark Green = Parks, Bright Purple = Locations of Riviera Attractions/Activities, Red = Restaurants, Cafes & Bars, Orange = Day Trips, Blue = Island Beaches, Grey = Car Rental, Deep Blue = Popular Towns of the Opatija Riviera, Light Green = Other Towns
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