-Europe.Croatia.Opatija-
Opatija is a well-known resort town especially to Austrians whose Kaiser Franz Josef I used to spend his winters in the mild Mediterranean climate here. The luxury buildings of those times survived until now and it is simply amazing to walk by and admire these impressive architectures. The influence of the Kaiser of Austria is alive and well here in Opatija with references to his name and his favourite food still being served in the Hotels. This is my first visit to Opatija and in winter too – the Kaiser sure has good ideas how to do a getaway. Read on to check out places to visit, eat and how to get here and around.
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What to do in Opatija
Opatija is on the coast and in summertime water is in the middle of activities there. We visited in winter and was still mesmerized by the calm water and the rocky coast. This has been a long established place for royalty and the rich to getaway for relaxation. There are marinas here for boat owners to dock and spend some time on the shore.
Spa and Wellness
Most of the Hotels are dotted along the coastline. Some of the Hotels here are well known for its spa and wellness programs. Saunas, pools massages help to remove the stress. Check out available hotels from the link below.
Walking the Lungomare Promenade
The promenade is simply lovely and is something you should not miss doing when you are here. It is seeing all the beautiful sights along the way and many opportunities of getting into the inviting water. The footpath is 12km long and stretches from Volosko to Lovran.
Volosko is a pretty little fishing village north of Opatija. We came here for some very fresh seafood.
We took a bus to Ika another fishing village to the south of Opatija and started the lungomare walk from there. Mount Ucka is the backdrop of this picturesque village.
Below are more photos from the Lungomare stretch.
If you prefer a video view, I get you
Maiden with Seagull Statue
This statue has become synoymous to Opatija and is the work of a sculptor by the name of Car. It stands here since 1956 the maiden with a gull perched on her outstretched arm. I managed to get a photo of a live seagull on her head too. The more the merrier I say..
Croatian Walk of Fame
The Croatian Walk of Fame at the side walk is a nice touch. It feels like walking the Hollywood version but this one is dedicated to Croatians who have contributed in fields of science, sports, culture and artistic ventures are eligible for this award. I unfortunately only know Nikola Tesla who contributed to the design of modern system of alternating current supply.
St Jacob Park
St Jacob Park is close to the maiden with seagull statue by the coast and the green lawn as well as the floral landscape is very well maintained. You can’t miss the famous view of the Helios and Selene fountain – The God of the Sun and Goddess of the Moon in Greek mythology. All well placed next to the church of Saint Jacob where right outside the gilded statue of the Madonna is erected in a shrine.
Slatina Fountain
Stop by and admire the Slatina Fountain that overlooks the Kvarner Bay and the Opatija Promenade.
Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Sitting on the hill area of Opatija, this church can be clearly seen from the sea promenade with its blue dome.
American Gardens
This secret green oasis is further up from the church. We visited in wintertime January and still could see the potential of the beauty in spring / summertime. I highly recommend coming here for a visit as the elevated position provides unparalled views of the sea below.
Park Angiolina
Along the Lungomare , this green park is near the Open Air Theatre. It’s a feel-good park with bamboos and many different plant species from other parts of the world. Here is where the camellia flower flourishes. Walking on the paths will lead to the wall of fame mural on the outer wall of the Open Air Theatre which is another thing to experience as well. At the time when we visited , unfortunately no shows were showing there.
Where to eat in Opatija
Our hotel provided us with Half Board included and so we did not eat out much. One thing to note is that in the center of Opatija there are many restaurants however its quite pricey.
We ordered fish soup and a platter of seafood at the Konoba Ribarnica Volosko : there is a board outside listing the prices per 100g. The Bill came to 16 Euros and the food came with a basket of bread too.
Our goto place for a good cup of coffee and pastry is Kavana Strauss in the center of Opatija. The prices were reasonable for such a location. The interior and exterior is cozy and comfortable. They have good options for pastry as well.
Where we stayed in Opatija
We found a Hotel which was fairly priced with a half-board package with a superb location right by the Lungomare and at the dreamy seafront –
Read about our Hotel and stay here
Getting To Opatija
1. By Car
We drove with the car from Austria over Slovenia. Since we visited after January 2023, Croatia has officially joined Europe Schengen which removes the border controls to the rest of Europe. The Euro is now the official currency replacing the Kuna. We breezed through empty border controls. Croatia does not use road tax but a pay-as-you-go toll when using the highways.
Parking in Opatija – there are blue boxes to park in Opatija with the fees written on the board. It is possible to park for full days with daily tickets.
The car always provides the best flexibility for visiting nearby attractions. Rentalcars.com is my go-to to rent a car.
2. By Train
Even though there is a train station in Opatija in nearby Opatija-Matulji – it is uphill from the hotels in the riviera where the guests stay. It is better to stop at Rijeka if you want to take the bus to Opatija. It is more convenient as the bus no 32 is just across the road from the train station and brings you to the center of Opatija.
3. By Bus
Flixbus is the only cheap bus option from major cities like Trieste to Opatija. Do bear in mind that Flixbus often has very long delays – late arrivals and you should really put in hours of buffer if you use it to get to the airport or plan to join up with other timed transportation.
Getting around in Opatija
We got around with the public bus – we could catch the bus from the bus station not far from Kvarner Strauss. People told us that we could buy tickets on board the bus but perhaps due to the change to Euro, this was not possible. We could buy the ticket from the Tobacco Shop right opposite of the Bus station. If you plan to take the bus both ways, its best to just buy it upfront like we did. Once on the bus, just validate it in the machine. As with our ticket below validate it one direction at a time.
A summary in video
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I am in absolute awe that the historical architecture that has been preserved even through the more recent conflicts from my childhood. I’ve got to say as a scientist, I love their version of the walk of fame.
For some reason, your photos aren’t loading, which makes me sad because Opatija sounds lovely! I’m also glad that it’s easy to get to by train, and the bus sounds ideal for once you get into the town. I’m all about being able to get around easily!
Oh that’s too bad because Opatija has lovely sights. Thank you for your comments
I love the blue skies and the green walks. The fountains are awesome, especially the Sun and Moon Gods. I can’t decide what I should be doing first, but I guess the lady with the sea gull would be my first step.
Opulence, that’s the word that conjured in my mind while you were describing and sharing about Opatija. I’d love to embark on a spa &wellness program there. It’s interesting that they also have the Croatian Walk of Fame for those relevant fields. I think that’s absolutely a good initiative!
We really want to plan a long return visit to Croatia. And the beach towns would definitely be on our list. What a great way to see the sights strolling through town. Love towns like this with lots of green space and fountains to relax. Thanks for the coffee recommendation.
Croatia has so much to offer. I have been to a couple of places in Croatia but not Opatija. Thanks for this, I will try to visit here. When I visit, I’d definitely like to stay at one of the sea side hotels with spa. The lungomare walk and watching the Mount Ucka is quite something. Spotting Nikola Tesla on the Walk of Fame is super cool! As someone who loves murals, Park Angiolina is something I wouldn’t miss.
Wow, loved the entire Opatija , it is beautiful and perfect in every way. I wish if I could run right way to chase a vacation at Opatija.
We haven’t had the chance to visit the place but I am happy to know that there is so much to see and do in Opatija. Appreciate the heads up about the food costs in that way we can adjust our budget accordingly. Thank you for sharing the video highlights. I enjoyed watching it.