Things To Do In Rijeka, A Port City In Croatia
Rijeka is the third-largest city in Croatia, so there are plenty of things to do. This includes some interesting tourist attractions and sights. One of my favourite places to visit in Rijeka is the hilltop Trsat Castle that overlooks the city.
We have made more than 12 visits to Rijeka, including staying in the city and making supply runs while on holiday on nearby islands.
Things to Do in Rijeka
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There are many options for things to see and do for visitors to Rijeka. Nearby are also some beaches to visit and hills for hiking.
City Clock Tower
The City Clock Tower is well worth seeking out. It is on Korzo, the city’s main promenade, and its archway leads to Kobler Square. This is one of the most recognisable symbols of Rijeka. The clock tower was one of the main entrances to the fortified town in medieval times.
It is a good example of a typical round tower access point. The tower is very easy to find and a popular spot for people on organised tours of the city and for those taking photos of the front of the tower.
Cathedral of St Vitus.
The Cathedral of St Vid (St Vitus Cathedral) is a unique Catholic cathedral in Rijeka. The church’s rotunda shape is very unusual in this part of Europe. Design-wise, the cathedral has both Gothic and Baroque elements and was built in 1638. The design was based on the Venetian church, Santa Maria della Salute.
It is a photogenic building, and the square to the front makes for some splendid views and photographs. The Cathedral of St Vid is a must-see building while exploring the central areas.
At certain times of the day, you can pop into the cathedral to have a mooch around, reflect or pray. The interior is nice and features many decorative touches.
Trsat Castle
Trsat Castle is one of the most visited sights in Rijeka. The castle is on a 138-metre-high hill above the city. Thus, it has some of the most beautiful views of the town and the entire Kvarner Bay. Trsat Castle dates back to the 13th century, and its ruins are fascinating. Visiting is free unless there are events on in the evenings.
You can walk around the fortifications and climb turrets to enjoy the spectacular views below.
Church of Mary of God of Trsat
The Church of Mary of God of Trsat is a pilgrimage site near Trsat Castle. The Shrine of Our Lady of Trsat is the largest pilgrimage centre in Western Croatia.
This church’s formation is related to the miraculous transport of the Nazareth barn and its stay in Trsat from 1291 until 1294. Shortly after the Mother of God’s house was relocated to Loreto, the first small church was built on the site.
The church then developed through the medieval period and was taken over by the Franciscans, who are its guardians; hence the Franciscan monastery next door. In more recent history, in 2003, Pope John Paul II attended a long pilgrimage procession.
The Church of Mary of God of Trsat is beautiful from the outside; you can also see various statues and artwork inside. The grounds are special too and include the graves of the Frankopan family.
Ivan Zajc Croatian National Theatre
The Ivan Zajc Croatian National Theatre is in an eye-catching building. It is very similar in design to some of the prominent buildings in the capital; hence, the city is sometimes called ‘Zagreb on Sea’. This theatre was completed in 1885 after 2 years of construction. The other major theatres in Croatia were also built in the second half of the 19th century, and all have similarities.
It is a beautiful building from the outside, set in Kazališni Park, a relaxing place to sit and enjoy the views of the architecture and statues. There are many performance options in the theatre, including plays, opera and ballet. You can find out more about shows on their website.
Church of Our Lady of Lourdes
The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes is an impressive and unique building near the FlixBus terminal. It is rather a new church, having been completed in 1929. However, it is stunning in its design and has many features. Architecturally, this is a neo-Gothic basilica with Venetian elements.
Local Markets
If you have a kitchen when staying in Rijeka, a fun thing to do is to visit the city’s markets. The markets are ideal for purchasing some fresh local food, including Istrian cheeses and Adriatic seafood. There are three decorative buildings at the market, and stalls overflow into the surrounding streets.
The building closest to the sea is the fish market, which is the most impressive I’ve seen, and the range of fresh seafood is fantastic. We purchased mackerel for lunch and a kilo of baby squid for a meal.
The cheese market was splendid too, and we got to try a few before purchasing some tasty cheeses. The vegetable market outside is also vibrant with people purchasing goods. It’s an ideal place to pick up some fruit for snacks when sightseeing.
The Ferry Dock
The ferry dock is a good place for views of the city across the water, including some of the city’s Habsburg architecture. The area’s main purpose is to catch a ferry to various Croatian islands, including the Jadrolinija ferry to Mali Lošinj. You can also purchase tickets for trips at the port. The area also has a few bars where you can sit and enjoy the views or wait for your boat.
Brajdica Dog Beach
The Brajdica Dog Beach is a 20-minute walk from the centre of Rijeka and is a great place for dogs. Brajdica Beach is shale and has views of the city’s dockyards, so it’s not so picturesque; hence, it’s given to the dogs. The beach is nice to spend time at, and the visiting dogs seemed to have fun.
Korzo
Korzo is the main pedestrianised shopping street in Rijeka and is great for some retail therapy or buying supplies. There are lots of things to see while walking along Korzo, including enjoying a coffee or ice cream at one of the many cafes.
There are buildings with some outstanding façades and Habsburg architecture. A standout building is the Jadrolinija hotel.
The Jadrolinija Hotel is in its namesake square, which has interesting street furniture and people selling fresh fruit, including local cherries.
Modelo Palace
Visible from Theatre Gardens is the striking Modelo Palace. The Modelo Palace is a beautiful building, built in 1885, with decorative features that are certainly eye-catching.
Kosi toranj – The Leaning Tower of Rijeka
Just like Pisa in Italy, Rijeka has its own leaning tower; however, it’s not so famous. The medieval tower, Ferde torony or Kosi toranj, is in front of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the city centre. It is in a lovely area and well worth seeking out while exploring the side streets. Kosi Toranj is a bell tower they built in 1377. Over time, the tower has tilted 40cm.
Church of the Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary
Next to the leaning tower of Rijeka is the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The church is a lovely building, centuries old and free to enter for a look around or some time to pray/reflect.
This church has a fascinating history, including being built on the foundations of a Roman building in the Middle Ages. The current building was built in 1695; however, in the 18th century, chapels and altars were added. The interior of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is highly decorated, especially the nave and altar. The 18th-century altars were made from multicoloured marble. Inside the church are stucco and frescoes by Augusto Pagliarini.
Rijeka Tunnel
A unique thing to do is to visit the tunnel that passes under the city centre. The Rijeka Tunnel is a pedestrian tunnel that is great for a walk. The tunnel is 350 metres long, and its entrance is near St Vitus’s Cathedral. The tunnel goes all the way to Dolac Primary School in Old Town, which is also next to the Venetian House.
These tunnels are an ideal place to cool down on a hot day, and the air is refreshing. The temperature is usually 5°C. The Italian military built the tunnel during the Second World War to protect citizens from aerial bombings.
The Venetian House
I spotted what was called the Venetian House on Google Maps on Dolac Street when zoomed in, so I went to take a look. It is a rather impressive building to see on a side street in Rijeka. Venetian House is a palace belonging to Robert Whitehead, who was the inventor of the torpedo. The Venetian House was constructed in 1888 and features a variety of architectural styles. This includes the Venetian Gothic, the High Renaissance, and the Viennese Baroque.
Climb the Petar Kružić Stairway
The Petar Kružić Stairway is a tourist attraction for masochists, pilgrims and those with lots of energy. It is a set of stairs that ascends from the city centre near the Rječina River to the castle. The stairway is 138 metres above sea level and has 561 stone steps.
Originally, the stairway was built for pilgrims heading to the Church of Our Lady of Trsat. The stairway has lots of features, including an arch at the bottom and a statue of the Virgin Mary at the top.
The views from the steps towards the sea and the city are pretty special. Personally, I opted to do the stairs in reverse and found it enjoyable.
Local Cuisine
Many restaurants in the city have some delicious Croatian and Istrian dishes on the menu, including lots of seafood from the Adriatic Sea. Some of the most popular dishes in the restaurants in Rijeka include black risotto, fish stew, and ćevapi. As it’s quite a big city, there are options for cosmopolitan cuisine too.
Kobler Square
Behind the clock tower is Kobler Square, a lovely place to hang out. There are lots of cafes where you can sit and enjoy the vibe and views of the tower. There’s also a fountain with millstones to see while in the square. The side streets around Kobler Square are also nice to explore, including the one leading to the cathedral.
Roman Archaeological Park
If you enjoy visiting Roman sights, then visit Arheološki park Principij, an archaeological park in the city centre. It’s an open space you can visit at any time of the day. The ruins date from the 3rd century and were the military command of Roman Tarsatika. There are information boards on site to learn more about its history.
Also nearby, you can see an old Roman arch which was being repaired during my visit. The Roman Arch used to be the entrance to the city centre. However, during the Middle Ages, they built many buildings around it.
Maritime and History Museum of the Croatian Coast
A fascinating place to visit is the Maritime and History Museum of the Croatian Coast. The museum is in a grand building which used to be the governor’s palace. They cover a variety of topics in the museum, including all things maritime.
It also has sections about local culture, an ethnographic exhibit, and some archaeology. I really enjoyed seeing the marine artefacts and models of historic boats.
Riva
‘Riva’ in Croatian basically means ‘waterfront’, and the Rijeka waterfront is a lovely place to visit. There are many beautiful buildings to see and places to sit and enjoy the views. The section by the marina is my favourite part, and it has some bars to visit.
Further each way, the coastline gets industrial, as you’d expect from a busy working port. In the main marina, you can see some pretty impressive yachts moored up.
Canal Muerto
Another pleasant place to look around is Canal Muerto, or Mrtvi Kanal. There are lots of small boats to see here, and the area is nice too. Construction of the canal began in 1885 to help prevent the river from flooding the city. There are many interesting buildings nearby, including the 16th-century house of Simeon Adamić.
Other notable sights near the canal include the Monument of Liberation and the Chapel of St John of Nepomuk. You can also see the Bridge of Croatian Defenders from the Homeland War.
Torpedo Museum
A popular attraction in Rijeka is the Torpedo Museum. They created the first torpedo in Croatia, and this is a place to find out more. There are also statues in the city that highlight this part of its history. There are other monuments in the city highlighting this.
Rijeka City Museum at The Sugar Palace
The city’s main museum is in the Sugar Palace, a beautiful building. This was a sugar refinery, which was the first and oldest industrial plant in Rijeka. It was founded in 1750 to process sugarcane and raw sugar. This museum covers the complete history of the city from when it became a free royal port in 1719 up to the present day.
Other Museums
There are many other museums in Rijeka to choose from, depending on your interests. There is a pharmacy museum in the city centre which covers the history of Croatian and world pharmacy. Another popular attraction to visit is Peek & Poke. Peek & Poke is a computer museum with lots of historic IT equipment to see and even use, including playing old games.
Walk along Molo Longo
Molo Longo is the seawall at the ferry terminal. You have the marina and Riva on one side and views out to the Adriatic Sea on the other. You can also see the industrial side of the port from here.
Smaller Churches of The City
The smaller, lesser-known churches are usually free to visit when open and quite tranquil. There are quite a few just outside the central areas of Rijeka. One I enjoyed visiting was St Jerome’s Church, tucked away in a backstreet. Inside was some lovely Baroque decor, and I had the place to myself. The church is part of a monastery complex which dates from the 14th century. After an earthquake, the current church was rebuilt in 1750.