Rijeka

Shop

Get even more with a Lonely Planet guide.

Western Balkans

$29.99

Shop Book

Downtown Rijeka from Trsat Castle, Croatia

Getty Images/Moment RF

Overview

Croatia’s third-largest city, Rijeka is a bustling blend of gritty 20th-century port and Italianate Habsburg grandeur. Most people speed through en route to the islands or Dalmatia, but those who pause will discover charm, culture, good nightlife, intriguing festivals and Croatia’s most colourful carnival.

01 / Attractions

Must-see attractions

Trsat Castle
Rijeka
High on a hill above the city, this semiruined 13th-century fortress offers magnificent vistas from its bastions and ramparts, looking down the Rječina…
Our Lady of Trsat Church
Rijeka
According to legend, the angels carrying the house of Jesus' mother from Nazareth rested here in the late 13th century before moving it to Loreto across…
St Vitus' Cathedral
Rijeka
North of Rijeka's Roman Arch is this unusual round cathedral, built by the Jesuit order in 1638 on the site of an older church and dedicated to Rijeka’s…
Maritime & History Museum
Rijeka
The star of this museum is the building itself, the former palace of the Austro-Hungarian governor. It's a splendid showcase of Hungarian architecture,…
Astronomical Centre
Rijeka
High on a hill east of the city, Croatia’s first astronomical centre is a striking modern complex encompassing an observatory, a planetarium and a study…
City Tower
Rijeka
One of the few buildings to have survived the 1750 earthquake, the distinctive yellow City Tower was originally a gate from the waterfront to the old town…
Petar Kružić Stairway
Rijeka
To follow in pilgrims’ footsteps to Our Lady of Trsat, climb this stairway from Titov trg, built in 1531 for the faithful on their way to the church. The…
Natural History Museum
Rijeka
Located in a very grand 19th-century villa, this museum is devoted to the geology, botany and sea life of the Adriatic area. There’s a small aquarium,…