Osijek

Osijek combines baroque urban history, museums and cultural offerings with activities along the Drava. This lets you plan your stay around the things that genuinely interest you.

Tvrđa and museums between the Baroque and the present day

Tvrđa is Osijek’s protected historic core, showcasing baroque urban planning and military architecture. The layout brings together military, civic and religious elements around a central square. This makes Tvrđa a tangible way to explore the history of the city’s layout.

Muzej Slavonije has been located in Tvrđa since 1946. It comprises nearly 400,000 registered objects in around one hundred collections; the number may change as cataloguing progresses. Alongside its work with the collection, the museum presents exhibition projects, while individual exhibitions change over time.

Muzej likovnih umjetnosti interprets artistic heritage from the Baroque to contemporary art. More than 5,000 objects are assigned to the fields of painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture and medals; the holdings may continue to develop. The distinction between the museums is clear: Muzej Slavonije brings together many collections alongside exhibition projects; Muzej likovnih umjetnosti is defined by its art-historical scope from the Baroque to the present day. Their collection sizes differ considerably: nearly 400,000 registered objects compared with more than 5,000 works of art.

Cultural events and film

HNK Osijek opened on 7 December 1907 with a performance of Smetana’s “The Bartered Bride.” Europa Cinema is used for film screenings and occasional cultural events. The annual Osječko ljeto kulture offers programmes for different generations and interests at several locations around the city. If you are planning your trip around the festival, check the dates for the particular edition.

The Drava, cycling routes and nature

You can also explore Osijek by bike along the Drava: a cycle lane on the promenade connects with routes via European Avenue towards the baroque Tvrđa. The pedestrian and cycling suspension bridge links the green banks of the Drava. These offer different ways to include the river landscape in your travel plans: a cycling route and a bridge crossing.

ZOO Osijek covers 11 hectares in a natural setting along the Drava. In spring, you can reach the zoo by crossing the Drava on the free eko-skel, locally also known as kompa. The ferry is seasonal; check operating conditions before your trip.

Near Osijek lies Kopački Rit Nature Park, a Central European wetland known for nearly 300 bird species. This offers a different natural setting from the urban Drava promenade: here the focus is on a wetland and its birdlife, while there it is on cycling routes and a bridge by the river.

Discover more destinations: Tenja, Josipovac, Brijest.

Go to the overview of the wider area: Općina Osijek.