When one imagines a vacation in Croatia and time spent enjoying the coastline, they tend to think of hot summer days, sprawled out on the beach or splashing around in the water. However, there is so much more to Croatia than just sun holidays. There is a wealth of incredible natural beauty from towering peaks to glittering lakes to fascinating swamps to lush valleys where all sorts of outdoor pursuits can be enjoyed from hiking to zip-lining, to rock-climbing to, even, skiing. Yes, skiing! Many don’t think of skiing when it comes to Croatia and, certainly, it is not a major ski destination by any stretch of the imagination but there are some mountains across the country that support ski holidays during the colder months. These same mountains are also excellent spots for other leisure activities throughout the rest of the year so even if you miss the ski season, they are still worth seeking out if you like to stay active and take in the great outdoors while on vacation.
If you head to Rijeka during the winter, for example, you can head to Platak, a charming ski resort that is ideal for intermediate skiiers and that boasts views over the coast from its snowy peaks. Then, during the spring, summer, and autumn, you can also head to Platak for a different sort of thrill by trying your hand at mountain biking or enjoying the many different hiking trails around the area that afford truly stunning panoramas over the surrounding countryside and coast. So, just find yourself a villa in Rijeka and then come to enjoy the adventure and natural bounty on offer in this part of Croatia, no matter the weather or when you happen plan your trip!
Due to its location, in a place where the mountain and Mediterranean climes mix perfectly, Platak has snowy and cold winters, despite the proximity of the sea, which is just 10km away. As a result, Platak is a relatively rare spot in this part of the world where you can go skiing, snowboarding, or tobogganing during the day, warm up with a coffee or some mulled wine, and then go watch the sun set over the Mediterranean on a beach (don’t expect to do so without a few layers, of course, but you’ll still get some stunning coastal views!) - sounds pretty magic to us!
The resort on Platak has facilities to rent skis, boots, poles, helmets, snowboards, snowboard boots, sleds, and snowmobiles and there are seven different pistes to choose from, including a nursery slope, with ski lifts to deliver you swiftly to the top of each. Next to Veliki Dom there is also a well-kept sledding area that has an 80m long ski lift of its own. Furthermore, there are tracks available in the resort for alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, and cycling. There are teachers on hand for those who would like instruction or who are just starting out and there are floodlights on some of the pistes to allow for night-skiing on certain days (see their website for the most current information), weather permitting. Finally, there are ski bikes and snowmobiles that can also be rented and can be taken to better discover Platak's trails and forests – a very fun and exciting way to explore the area!
Of course, Platak is not just a leisure hotspot in winter, as we mentioned. It is a very popular spot for hiking and mountaineering and there are a range of landscaped and marked trails that will take you up to the Risnjak and Snježnik peaks. At various points, there are belvederes, from which you can expect some truly spectacular panoramas. It is from the highest peak of the ski resort, Radeševo, that one can expect the best of those sea views, over the islands and Kvarner Bay. This can be reached by the funicular (riding this is also a lovely experience and affords charming glimpses of the scenery as it climbs up and delivers you to the top). Mountain biking is majorly popular here and there are nine different specific bike trails and a bike park with two trails (downhill and flowhill). That isn’t where the fun and activities end, however, with additional facilities for volleyball, basketball, badminton, soccer, trampolines, and pedal cars, a park, and zip-lining for kids, and more. All of this is just a half hour drive from the city, making it an ideal day out for those on vacation in Rijeka.
So, if you were thinking about heading to a villa in Rijeka, in snow or sun then know that the nearby Platak Resort will always be waiting to offer exciting adventures in Croatia!