Practical information
History of Opatija
Learn why Opatija is called the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’ and why the town’s history is so breathtaking. Let us acquaint you with Croatia’s ‘cradle of tourism’.
The Church of St. James in the centre of Opatija is one of the town’s most significant buildings. The story of Opatija is closely related to this church and its monastery, since this is where the town got its name (Opatija is the Croatian word for abbey). Four centuries after the construction of the church, Opatija emerged as a holiday resort for the elite.
The first holiday house in Opatija, the Villa Angiolina, was built by Iginio Scarpa back in 1844. This year is now officially considered as the beginning of tourism in the town. The Villa Angiolina played host to many famous historical figures, such as Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria-Hungary, the Empress Maria Anna and the Croatian Ban Josip Jelačić.
Today, you can learn more about Opatija’s interesting history in the Croatian Museum of Tourism, which has three exhibition venues: the Swiss House, Villa Angiolina and Juraj Šporer Art Pavilion, where you can acquaint yourself with the town’s intriguing history.
Reference: https://www.visitopatija.com/en
Getting to Opatija
Rijeka Airport is the nearest airport to Opatija; see our Getting to the Kvarner Riviera page for more details on flights from the UK and Europe to Rijeka. Pula Airport would also be suitable for reaching Opatija; see our Getting to Istria page for details of flights to there.
You could also fly to Trieste in Italy as there are direct buses from Trieste Bus Station to Opatija with Arriva.
If you arrive at Zagreb Airport, you can easily reach Opatija by bus from the Zagreb bus station.
The Arriva website is also your best bet if you want to check bus timetables for routes from elsewhere in Croatia to Opatija.
Reference: https://www.visitopatija.com/en
Sightseeing in Opatija
St James’s Church is built on the site of the abbey from which Opatija grew. Parts of the church are from the early 16th century, but the majority of its current structure was reconstructed in 1937.
Villa Angiolina, the first major building to be built in modern-day Opatija – in 1844 – still exists today. It is surrounded by a beautiful nature park, with plants brought (at that time) from India, China, Japan, South America and Australia.
The lungomare is the 12-km seaside promenade, initially constructed in 1889, which stretches all the way to Lovran. Originally intended for use in physiotherapy (as mentioned, Opatija was a health resort), the path winds past many of Opatija’s attractions and is a lovely wall to stroll along the sea.
One of the town’s most famous symbols is the Maiden with the Seagull (shown below). Built in 1956, this sculpture depicts a girl with her hand stretched out to a seagull, looking out to sea.
The main street in town has a ‘Walk of Fame’ on its pavement, modelled on Hollywood’s version! Stroll over it to see tributes to famous Croats; these include tennis player Goran Ivanisevic, skier Janica Kostelic and inventor Nikola Tesla.
Reference: https://www.visitopatija.com/en
What to do in Opatija
Gastronomy
Opatija’s superb cuisine is renowned throughout the area. Its numerous restaurants offer interesting recipes prepared with fresh ingredients. The town also hosts a number of festivals dedicated to selected specialities and quality food. Opatija is home to some of Croatia’s best restaurants. Opatija’s top restaurants and traditional konoba-taverns, which offer fresh local ingredients and extensive wine lists, round off the experience of this fantastic town for every visitor.
Wellness
Opatija is a town visited by many people for its relaxing atmosphere and numerous wellness centres that offer authentic anti-stress experiences. If you’d like to take a break from your daily worries, Opatija will help you invigorate your body and soul.
Did you know that Opatija was officially declared a climatic health resort for the aristocracy and prominent people of the time in 1889, and was the first of its kind in the entire Adriatic? Today, we can say that Opatija is one of the most popular wellness and health tourism destinations in Croatia and beyond.
After a cold winter, Opatija in March turns into a paradise for wellness lovers thanks to an annual series of events entitled “March – An Oasis of Wellness”. Fantastic massages, facial and body treatments, relaxing baths and sauna sessions, as well as soothing aromatherapy are all here to help you restore your energy. Special daily offers, weekend getaways, and personalised holiday packages will pamper you regardless of the length of your stay.
The Outdoors
The area’s walking, hiking and biking trails provide an excellent opportunity to become better acquainted with its beautiful natural scenery and eventful history that stretches back ten thousand years.
Enjoying the peace and quiet on the wooded slopes of Mount Učka, you will also encounter monuments to ancient cultures, such as the caves that were used by the first settlers who arrived here ten millennia ago, as well as reminders of more recent historical events like abandoned World War II bunkers. The area is also home to the important biological habitats of endemic species that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
For the more adventurous, the Opatija Riviera offers many challenges: eight bike trails on Mount Učka and a network of hiking trails that connect the coast and the peaks of Kvarner’s highest mountain and which also provide the ideal setting for learning about nature and local history. A special attraction of the area is the Trebišća-Perun Mythology and History Trail in Mošćenička Draga, which takes visitors through locations that are of particular importance in old Slavic mythology and informs them about the mythical “divine battle” between Veles, the god of the underworld, and the supreme thunder-god Perun, presenting Učka as the holy mountain of the ancient Slavs.
Učka also offers other types of activity holiday, such as horse-riding or caving, and is particularly popular among extreme sports enthusiasts. Not many experiences can match the rush of adrenaline that one feels on taking off from Vojak, the highest peak of Učka, when paragliding or hang gliding, enjoying the stunning panorama of the entire Kvarner Bay and Istrian peninsula below. The canyon of Vela draga is a world-famous attraction thanks to its 62 climbing routes and limestone towers, which represent a great challenge even to the most experienced climbers. However, those who succeed in climbing it will be rewarded with breath-taking views of the surrounding area.
Returning from the mountain to the sea: the Opatija Riviera offers various opportunities for water sports, such as water polo, sea kayaking and canoeing, water skiing, scuba diving with experienced diving instructors, or sailing in the company of world champions. The modern sports halls in Opatija, Matulji and Kastav, are ideal for indoor sports such as futsal, handball or basketball. If you are longing for some peace and quiet, there are well-maintained trails along Opatija’s Carmen Sylva forest promenade and in Matulji’s protected Lisina forest park.
Excursions
Thanks to its excellent transport connections, Opatija is the perfect starting point for inspiring daytrips to the nearby islands of Krk and Cres, the wooded hinterland of Gorski Kotar, or the famous city of Venice in Italy.
Reference: https://www.visitopatija.com/en