Discover Rijeka

Rijeka brings together performing arts, historic sites, museums and seaside views. If you are looking for a hotel in Rijeka, the city’s different cultural highlights can help you plan your trip: you might focus on theatre and architecture, natural history collections or walks with views of the city. The following places show the variety of interests you can explore in Rijeka.

Theatre, fortress and city history

The Croatian National Theatre Ivan Zajc presents Croatian and Italian drama, opera, ballet and concerts. Since 2004, the theatre has organised the Rijeka Summer Nights event. This reflects the city’s long-standing connection with performing arts, but does not indicate current event dates.

Trsatski Castle is a historic fortress on a hill overlooking Rijeka. It was first mentioned in 1288. On site, you can see exhibitions and a permanent educational display; open-air concerts and theatre performances are also held there. History and event venues share the same historic setting.

The 330-metre-long Rijeka Tunnel runs beneath the old town. It is a former military tunnel from the Second World War, and its entrance is next to the Cathedral of St Vitus. Today, you can visit the tunnel for an underground experience of Second World War history. Rijeka’s Art Neighbourhood offers another connection between past and present: it is located in a repurposed former industrial complex whose history began with an 18th-century sugar refinery.

Museums, collections and architecture

The Natural History Museum Rijeka is located in Nikola Host Park. Founded in 1876, it was the first regional museum in the Rijeka area. Its permanent exhibition spans the geological past of the Adriatic and oceanographic research, as well as minerals and marine animals. Topics include marine invertebrates, sharks and rays, and the region’s reptiles and amphibians. The exhibition thus ranges from the sea to local wildlife.

The City Museum of Rijeka has been housed in the Sugar Palace since the end of 2020; its permanent exhibition covers two floors. Another museum building is the Cube. There, you can listen to stories about the city’s history of trade, production, painting, architecture and photography. These different topics offer varied ways to explore Rijeka’s past, from economic life to art and architectural history.

The City Market also brings together everyday city life and architecture. Rijeka’s main market has served as a place to eat and to buy and sell fish, crabs and shellfish since the 19th century. Its main building was completed in 1916 and features elements of the Vienna Secession and stone decorations. A visit to the market therefore offers a chance to see a landmark building while keeping its architecture connected to its original purpose as a market.

Panoramic views and special interests

The Rijeka Astronomical Centre includes both an observatory and a planetarium. It offers films and presentations about the universe; from the terrace, you can enjoy panoramic views over Kvarner Bay. The centre thus combines astronomy with expansive views of the surrounding area.

Molo Longo is a 1,707-metre-long passenger terminal and promenade. A walk along Molo Longo gives you views of all Rijeka from the sea. This is a different perspective from the view from the higher-lying Trsatski Castle: here, the city unfolds before you from the seaward side, while the castle offers views from a hill.

Preluk Beach is associated with surfing because of its location and prevailing winds. Together with the planetarium, museums and historic sites, the beach shows how varied your interests can be during a trip to Rijeka.

For the broader travel overview: Municipality of Rijeka.