Things To Do In Šibenik: Historic Attractions, Seaside & Walks
There are lots of things to do in Šibenik, a coastal city in Croatia. It also has a UNESCO-listed old town centre with pretty buildings, including a cathedral, fortresses, churches and palaces.
After spending 8 days in Šibenik, we found plenty to fill a short city break. The highlights for us were the fortresses, the historic old town and the easy access to Krka National Park by bus.
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Things To Do In Šibenik Old Town and Beyond
Some of the fabulous sites and activities that we enjoyed during our stay in Šibenik. There are also some fantastic tours and activities available on the Viator website.
The Cathedral of St James
The Cathedral of St James is in the old town and is visible from various points in the city, including the fortresses and the waterfront. St James’s Cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a must-visit.
The cathedral is a fusion of Renaissance and Gothic art and was built between 1431 and 1535. We saw the outside many times and got to see the stunning interior too. The stonework on the outside was a highlight of mine.
St Michael’s Fortress
There are four fortresses within the city, and the closest to the old town is St Michael’s Fortress, AKA Tvrđava sv. Mihovila. They have a ticket that grants access to all the fortresses for a week, except for the one on the island. St Michael’s Fortress was lovely to wander around and learn about the site’s history, from the Venetian era to its more modern uses during the War of Independence.
The views from the battlements were excellent, including out to sea and the key landmarks of the old town. They also have a stage for live performances during the summer and a cafe for refreshments.
Old Town
The old town area has lots of features and is a great place for sightseeing. It is home to some of the principal attractions and some not-so-well-known ones. It is completely pedestrianised and is formed by narrow streets and town squares.
You can see palaces, churches, monuments and old houses. There are also some shops for food and local goods throughout.
Krka National Park
A big draw for visitors is its proximity to Krka National Park. The national park is an epic place to visit, especially the Skradinski Buk waterfall. It is also an ideal place for hiking, with miles of trails.
I visited the waterfalls in the national park twice and found them wonderful. During the warmer months, they also offer boat trips that let you see the area’s key features. You can also book various tours to see these on the Viator website.
St John’s Fortress
The highest of the four fortresses is St John’s Fortress. It’s a bit of a trek uphill to reach, but the panoramas of the sea and Šibenik are wonderful. I used the combined ticket to see all the forts in the city centre. This is very close to Barone Fortress, so I only needed to climb the hill once.
The fortress was built during the Cretan War and successfully defended against Ottoman attacks in 1646 and 1647. It was named after St John the Baptist Church, which had been at the site since 1444.
Tvrđava Barone
Near St John’s Fortress is Barone Fortress, which was built during the Cretan War. This has excellent views and some cannons throughout the site. They also have a cafe for refreshments and a children’s play area.
Šibenik City Museum
I really enjoyed looking around the city museum, which is in a former palace. They have some Roman exhibits and even more from the Venetian period.
It tells the story of the city through a vast selection of artefacts. I found those from the various churches and the UNESCO-listed cathedral great. The bells and Roman relics also piqued my interest.
Crkva sv. Lovre – Monastery of St Lawrence
One of the unique churches in the old town is Crkva sv. Lovre. You can visit the church or look around outside. The monastery church has a history dating back to the 17th century, when the Franciscans arrived in the city.
One unique aspect is a small shrine built into the rocks beside the church.
Above this is the medieval garden, which is a tranquil place to chill. On my visit, I was the only visitor and met a gardener who showed me around the site. During the tourist season, there is a cafe here, which is a perfect location.
St Nicholas Fortress
St Nicholas Fortress is on an island where the River Krka meets the sea. It’s a good area for a walk, including on a wooden walkway to Školjic Island next to the fortress.
This is a former Venetian fortress, part of the Šibenik UNESCO World Heritage Site, built between 1540 and 1547. You can only access it by boat between April and October. It was closed during my visit, but I walked up close via Školjic Island.
St Anthony’s Channel Walk
St Anthony’s Channel is an excellent place for a walk. I started by taking the bus to Zablaće, then popped over to see the Pink Lake before heading to St Nicholas Fortress on the coast. I then followed the coast path back to Šibenik. There was pretty scenery and interesting features along the way, including caves and tunnels.
Dalmatian Cuisine
There are cafes and restaurants throughout the old town and on the seafront. I ate various baked items, octopus and scampi bužara. This was complemented with the local drinks, including beer and coffee.
Pellegrini Tambaca Palace
Near the cathedral, built into the medieval walls, is the Pellegrini Tambaca Palace. It was named after the Pellegrini noble family and formed by joining several medieval houses.
The palace has both Renaissance and Baroque features; the Renaissance parts date from the 16th century and the Baroque from the 17th and 18th centuries. It is lovely to look around the exterior, which includes a courtyard and a passageway with views of the cathedral; the main palace is now a restaurant.
Town Hall
The town hall is a special building in a square alongside the cathedral. It currently houses a restaurant on the ground floor, and you can see all the details up close. Šibenik Town Hall was originally built between 1533 and 1546 and then rebuilt after being destroyed in the Second World War. The building has colonnades, steps and arches.
Majatorska Grafička Radionica
While exploring the historic centre, I spotted Majatorska Grafićka Radionica, a very quirky building. This is the graphic workshop of painter and graphic artist Zvonimir Vila.
Croatian National Theatre
The Croatian National Theatre building has a history dating back to 1870, but was restored between 1996 and 2001 after suffering damage during the Homeland War. You can find out what’s on by visiting their website.
Fontana s Kornjačama – The Living Tufa Fountain
A unique monument that caught my eye was Fontana s Kornjačama, a fountain in the gardens next to the Church of Our Lady. It’s a natural fountain that has been constantly growing thanks to complex physicochemical and biological processes. Tufa is a rock formed by the precipitation of calcium carbonate.
Beaches
The central areas are a marina and a port and thus have no beaches; however, a few options are out of town. The nearest is Banj Beach, a short walk north along the coast. I really liked the remote beaches near Zablaće, St Anthony’s Channel and St Nicholas Fortress. These are all reachable on the number 5 bus from the town.
Aquarium Terrarium Šibenik
Aquarium Terrarium Šibenik is a small museum where you can learn all about the Adriatic Sea’s marine life. It’s primarily targeted at children but good for adults too.
Dječak s kišobranom
Dječak s kišobranom is a statue of a boy with an umbrella in the historic centre near the cathedral. It’s a new monument erected in 2001 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the International Children’s Festival.