Town in Kvarner
Opatija
- Best time to go
- Apr, May, June, Sept, Oct
- Part of
- Kvarner
Opatija is the Habsburg-era seaside resort of the Kvarner Gulf, where Austrian and Hungarian society once came to spend the winter.
Grand hotels, villas and subtropical parks line the shore below Mount Učka, and a long seafront path links it with the villages on either side. It is more about strolling, coffee and swimming from rocks and concrete platforms than about sandy beaches. Mild winters and the Advent season make it a pleasant place outside summer too.
Things to do
Don't miss in Opatija
- Walk the Lungomare, the seafront promenade that runs for about 12 km from Volosko through Opatija to Lovran.
- Visit Villa Angiolina and wander its park, the villa where Opatija's life as a resort began in the 1840s.
- Look out for the statue of the Maiden with the Seagull on a rock off the promenade, the town's best-known landmark.
- Have dinner by the harbour in Volosko, the old fishing village at the eastern end of town.
- Hike or drive up to Vojak, the highest peak of Učka Nature Park, for a view over the Kvarner islands and Istria.
- Swim at Slatina, the main town beach, or carry on along the coast to the pebble cove at Mošćenička Draga.
- Walk through the old town of Lovran, known for its sweet chestnuts and its autumn chestnut festival.
Where to stay
Pick your neighbourhood
Opatija centre
first-time visitors who want the parks, villas and seafront promenade on their doorstep
Volosko
couples and food lovers; a small fishing village with restaurants by the harbour, a short walk from the centre
Ičići and Ika
families who want a quieter beach and the marina, linked to Opatija by the promenade
Lovran
slower stays in an old stone town at the end of the promenade, with easy access to Učka
Tours and getting around
Day trips from Opatija
From Opatija you can join boat trips around the Kvarner Gulf and to the island of Cres, or take a day trip by road to Istria's hill towns, Pula or Rovinj. Hiking and mountain biking trips go up into Učka Nature Park, and Rijeka is close enough for a half-day visit by bus. Further afield, Plitvice Lakes is a long but popular day out.
You can manage without a car in Opatija itself, since the promenade and local buses connect everything along the coast. A car helps for Učka, Istria and Krk, but parking is tight in the centre. E-bikes are a good way to tackle the hills, and you can rent a small boat in the nearby marinas to explore the coast.
Getting there
How to get to Opatija
Rijeka Airport on the island of Krk is about 45 minutes' drive away, and Pula, Trieste and Ljubljana airports are each within about one and a half to two hours. From Zagreb, take the A6 motorway towards Rijeka and then the coast road, about two hours in all; from Istria you come through the Učka tunnel. Local buses run often between Rijeka and Opatija and continue along the coast to Lovran. Parking in the centre is limited and mostly paid, so choose accommodation with a space if you drive.