Is Rijeka in Croatia Worth Visiting for a City Break?

Rijeka is a big port on the Adriatic Sea and the third-largest city in Croatia. Its large port makes it the gateway to the northern Croatian islands. Often, this means many tourists just pass through on the way to the ferry port without seeing what the city offers. In addition to being an important ferry port, Rijeka has lots of nice architecture to see. This includes some Habsburg-style buildings in the city centre.

Some people describe Rijeka as Zagreb by the sea, since the two cities share many similarities. While sightseeing in the city, you will notice many similar buildings, and the cafe culture is the same: a leisurely place. There is also a lovely cathedral, fascinating architecture, and Trsat Castle, which overlooks the city. It also has a fantastic market which sells lots of delicious seafood and locally grown fruit and vegetables.

We found it easy to find dog-friendly accommodation, including some good apartment options. The city is rather hilly; thus, it can be a tough walk, especially with heavy luggage when arriving. Rijeka city centre also has dog-friendly places to dine out, including many that serve seafood. All of this made Rijeka well worth visiting for us.

Rijeka Visitor Guide

Some information about staying in Rijeka, so you can decide if it’s worth visiting for you.

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Why Rijeka Is Worth Visiting?

We mostly used the city as a place to stay before getting the Jadrolinija ferry to the islands. During our visits, we found many options for things to do in Rijeka. There are many places of interest, including historic buildings, museums, and churches. The castle overlooking the city is nice, but it’s quite a walk to reach.

Being by the sea means lots of pleasant views, including the marina and the Adriatic Sea. We also enjoyed a small beach in the city; however, there are plenty within easy reach. As in most cities in Croatia, many squares have cafes for a relaxing time.

What About Dining Out?

It is a fantastic city if you enjoy dining out, especially if you love seafood. Most of my favourite restaurants in Rijeka serve freshly caught fish landed locally from the Adriatic Sea. We dined out many times while visiting, and my favourite place is Restaurant Feral in the central area. Konoba Papalina is also a top place to dine out, which is a steep climb from the city centre.

Where To Stay in Rijeka?

Rijeka, on Croatia’s Adriatic coast, offers many affordable places to stay. These include fantastic holiday accommodation, such as apartments and hotels. We have stayed in the city several times and found some wonderful places to stay. We found it easy to find pet-friendly accommodation, especially with the pets-allowed filter on Booking.com. We had options for hotels, hostels, and apartments.

Apartman Fani

Apartman Fani is a lovely place on the hill above Rijeka. It is a 20-minute uphill walk from the train station or the city centre. Apartman Fani has one large bedroom, a lounge with a sofa bed and a kitchen that seats 4 people. The bed is comfortable, and the extensive wardrobe has plenty of space for hanging clothes. The lounge is spacious and air-conditioned.

The kitchen at Apartman Fani in Rijeka was fantastic and was fully stocked with cooking utensils. Overall, Apartman Fani is a great place to stay, and getting back from the city will keep you fit.

Old Town Inn: Hotel-Apartment in The City Centre

On other visits to Rijeka, Croatia, we stayed at the Old Town Inn. Old Town Inn is near all the city’s attractions. Their apartments are rather pleasant, with comfy beds and a good shower. They are dog-friendly; however, they charge extra for the pleasure. Overall, the Old Town Inn was a great place to stay.

Park Pomerio Apartment

Another nice place to stay is Park Pomerio Apartment. Park Pomerio Apartment is a big place with large rooms. The bedroom was nice with a big, comfortable bed.

Park Pomerio Apartment also has a big and well-equipped kitchen, which was great for cooking. Finally, the lounge was designed for chilling and featured comfortable sofas and armchairs. They were completely dog-friendly and made Henry welcome on arrival. This place was close to the attractions, making it a great place to stay. We booked this accommodation via Booking.com, and the process was smooth.

How To Get To Rijeka

Visitors have many options for getting to Rijeka, Croatia. These include flying, by boat, by train, or by bus. We usually use the train to get to the city and have travelled from many stations, including Zagreb and Ljubljana. Croatian trains are limited but usually run on time. We also use the local ferry port to get around, which offers many destinations. To find out other methods to get here, the Omio website is quite useful.

Nightlife

The city can be quite lively in the evenings and is a fun place to be. There are plenty of places to go out for drinks, including cool pubs and cafe bars with things on. One of our favourite nightlife experiences was a karaoke night at River Pub.

Shopping

Rijeka is a great place for shopping, and I often visit for supplies when holidaying on the nearby islands. First, the food shopping here is amazing, especially at the Rijeka fish market. When staying in the city, I always try to get access to a kitchen so I can cook market food. The city also has some great outdoor shops, which were essential for me to get some new walking shoes. Basically, Rijeka has everything you’d expect from a big city.

Getting Around Rijeka

You have many options for getting around Rijeka, including buses, taxis, e-scooters, and walking. The city centre is walkable and pretty flat, so it’s easy to get around. However, parts of the city are steep or a long walk away. Uber and Bolt are both available and are handy ways to get around quickly. Both have good prices, and wait times are pretty good.

During our visits to the city, we have used the bus to cover longer distances. You can find the correct bus using Google Maps, then find the best bus stop. On the bus, you can pay the driver in cash for your trip, which, in my experience, is usually 2 euros. You can find various options on the Autotrolej website, including options for longer trips.

Is Rijeka in Croatia Worth Visiting?

Rijeka is a pleasant place to visit, with many options to keep you busy. It has a relaxed vibe, like most places in Croatia. The city offers fun activities and serves as a gateway to the islands of Northern Croatia. Because of its transport links, I’ve now visited the Croatian city twelve times, most recently in 2025.