Only 20 minutes away from Rijeka is Opatija Riveria. One of Europe’s best kept secrets as it is really only locals from Central Europe. If you want to meet locals, and stay away from tourists, this is the place to go. Experiencing the big beach towns such as Nice, and San Marino are far from what this small seaside resort town is like. It was such a fun and relaxing place full of colour. I loved how there were people of all ages, rather than just teenagers, or honeymooners. When I travel, that’s one thing I really look for – how genuine a place is. Opatija had both sea and sun, but was also located in between mountains. The pure air in Opatija, was unlike anywhere (besides Salzburg and on the Julian Alps) that I’ve experienced.
For many people that know me, they know that I love to walk. I hate using transit, especially when traveling. Opatija provided just that. Most commonly referred to as the Vienna by the Sea or Queen of the Adriatic, it was both charming in the sense that you could literally walk on a seafront promenade for 12 km and not be bored. There were also many parks, and restaurants to enjoy… for the food and nature lover in all of us.
To get to Opatija, I took local transit from Rijeka. I stayed at Hotel Opatija ($106 CAD/Night). For a 3 star, it was awful. I should have just slept on the beach chairs outside. Thank goodness for my Omni-Freeze Colombia Sportswear that night, because I literally had to shower with my clothes on (in order to stay cool), and then go to bed (as it was WAY too hot). The positives? Shelter in a storm. The Negatives? Everything. I would not be surprised if this building is haunted by ghosts. *BIG TIP* If you’re going to visit Opatija in the summer, be sure to book in advance. Summer time is PACKED with tourists (from Europe), while unfortunately making hotel rates a lot higher.
I stayed in Opatija for one night as it was pretty expensive. I spent more than half the day on the beach, but also got to enjoy some of the sights and restaurants below.
During my 1 night stay in Opatija, I visited the following sites:
Lungo Mare: The coastal promenade that stretches from Volosko to Lovran. There is also a lot of coastal vegetation – beautiful plants and trees that you don’t see everyday.
Volosko: Inspired by Croatia’s most significant scientists, Andrija Mohorovičić – It’s basically like a mini fishing village, with stone-paved paths with a cool local flare. There are several art galleries and restaurants along the path.
Maiden with a Seagull: Symbol of Opatija and the Kvarner region. Represents Madonna Del Mare
Slatina Beach: One of the hot spots in Opatija. Opatija doens’t really have any “beaches”, but this is as close as you are going to get – Lots of swimming though!
Villa Angiolina: Houses the Croatian Museum of Tourism
Food/Bars:
Valle Losca, Pizzeria Roko (AMAZING), Ruzmarin, Restaurant Villa Ariston, Caffe Wagner, Hemingway Beach Bar
