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Opatija, known as the “Nice of the Adriatic”, is a postcard-pretty tourist town, once the favourite holiday spot of Austrian royalty. You’ll feel like a 19th century aristocrat, walking amongst elegant villas, boutique hotels, manicured gardens and fountains. Opatija has been a popular tourist resort for more than 160 years, and has many attractions and activities. Visit the museum in the historical Villa Angiolina, take a stroll along the beautiful old seaside promenade or go on a day cruise around nearby islands. There are great swimming spots and beaches in and around Opatija, as well as hiking trails on the Učka mountain range.

Things to do

Take a day trip to nearby islands, where you can explore cute island villages and swim, snorkel or sunbathe at the gorgeous beaches. Go hiking up the Učka mountain range for a magnificent view, and the chance to see rare birds like the griffon vulture and the golden eagle. Visit Opatija’s beautifully manicured parks, Park Angiolina, Park of Sv Jakob and Park Margarita, all full of exotic plants and species from around the world. In Park Sv Jakob, you can also see the Maiden with the Seagull sculpture, which has become a symbol for Opatija.

Other places in kvarner

  • Kvarner Islands

    The Kvarner Islands are made up of four islands: Krk, Cres, Losinj & Rab. The islands have diverse vegetation. 

  • Opatija

    Situated at the bottom of the mountain and Nature Park Učka, Opatija has beautiful nature, climate and parks.

  • Rijeka and the Vinodol Coast

    With plenty of natural sites and recreational activities, these areas are sure to take you by pleasant surprise.

Wander along the Lungomare promenade, admire the pastel-coloured holiday homes, breathe in the sea air and find a nice swimming spot. The 12km promenade goes all the way to Volosko in the north and Lovran in the south, and is great for exploring the area on foot. A picturesque fishing village, Volosko has some great seafront restaurants. Opatija is also great for windsurfing and other water sports. If you feel like a drive, visit nearby Istria and see the historic towns of Pula and Rovinj or go wine tasting at a vineyard.

  • Kvarner Bay scampi

    Opatija has a great range of restaurants, from gourmet establishments serving seafood and truffles, to pizzerias and traditional taverns. Specialities you must try are Kvarner Bay scampi, locally grown asparagus, chestnuts cherries and Istrian truffles.

    For picnic or cooking ingredients, visit the Market Hall where you can buy fresh seafood, fruit, vegetables, cheese, honey and other local produce.

  • Beaches

    The beaches along Opatija’s waterfront are paved or rocky and great for swimming. If you want to lie on a pretty pebbly beach, go to Sipar beach in Mošćenička draga, just 10km from Opatija. If you want a Blue Flag beach, Icici beach is just 4km down the coast.

    The islands of Cres and Krk also have a lovely range of pebbly beaches, accessible by boat from Opatija.

  • Classical concert

  • Open Airt Theatre

Culture

Opatija has regular concerts and festivals to celebrate its rich history. Every September is Festival Kvarner, a classical music festival held by the sea. It features top musicians from around Europe and is inspired by the festive days of yore when royalty used to holiday in Opatija. Sv Jakov’s Day is July 25th, and each year Opatija has a week-long celebration with exhibitions, sports, music, arts, crafts and competitions. The Open Air Theatre of Opatija in Park Angiolina has regular entertainment including theatre, ballet, music and music festivals. There is a lot of public artwork in Opatija so look out for interesting sculptures and installations while you’re there.

History

  • Villa Angiolina

  • Grand Hotel Kvarner

In the late 19th century Opatija became a glamorous holiday destination for Austrian nobiliity and luxury hotels and villas were built along the seafront. Grand Hotel Kvarner, built in 1884, was the first luxury hotel and is still standing today.

To find out more about Opatija’s touristic history, visit the beautiful Villa Angiolina, an 1844 mansion which now houses the Croatian Museum of Tourism. Opatija has been settled since pre-Roman times. Opatija means “abbey”, and the town was named after the 16th century Benedictine Abbey of Sv Jakov in Sv Jakov park.

 

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