Matea

Rijeka is a charming port city on Kvarner Bay in the northern Adriatic Sea that boasts endless character, authenticity, incredible seafood, stunning Austro-Hungarian architectural gems, a vibrant nightlife, and a rich cultural heritage. With a proud working class background in shipping and ship-building that sees cranes adorn the same skyline as Hapsburg rooftops, this is an enduringly fascinating place that is quite removed from mass tourism. For those who want to find a vacation rental in Croatia but also want to experience a version of the country that is somewhat closer to the Croatia that locals know, then a holiday rental in Rijeka is just the thing. And, as the foodie culture is one of the city’s biggest selling points then be prepared to eat really, really well during your trip!

There are, of course, plenty of great places to eat while on vacation in Rijeka and plenty of places to shop for incredible local ingredients to bring back to a villa in Rijeka and prepare wonderful meals with your loved ones but a destination that combines both is the Rijeka City Market. A hotspot for locals who claim it the best place to eat since the 19th century, the main City Market is next to the shore and near the pier, leaving it mere footsteps from where fishermen deliver the freshest fish and shellfish you could imagine. 

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!

City beaches are always the best combination of both worlds; allowing you to enjoy the cosmopolitan delights and endless options and amenities of a city and a relaxing day at the seaside all in one trip! There are several great examples of city beaches to be enjoyed if you find a vacation rental in Croatia – including the charming little beach that fronts the iconic bay at Dubrovnik – but one of the best of the best among these urban strands has to be Rijeka’s Sablićevo Beach. If you are thinking of planning a vacation in this gorgeous seaside city and you have found your holiday rental in Rijeka then you should definitely make a point of spending some time on Sablićevo Beach during your trip.

Recently, we mentioned the lovely Sablićevo Beach in Rijeka. This, as we noted at the time, is a stunning city beach that those who have found a villa in Rijeka and are exploring the town can simply walk to easily or quickly get to via a short drive or journey on public transport – ideal for combining the cosmopolitan delights of a city break with the pleasures and relaxation of a seaside getaway. However, Sablićevo Beach is actually only one of several charming beaches in the gorgeous coastal city of Rijeka. Another of the best and most picturesque beaches to pay a visit to if you have found a holiday rental in Rijeka is Glavanovo Beach. 

There are already plenty of great reasons to plan a visit to the theatre if you book a holiday rental in Rijeka – a whole calendar of reasons! - but the building of the Ivan Zajc Croatian National Theatre itself is already compelling enough even if you weren't attending a performance in its hallowed halls.

Located on the bank of the Rječina River, not far from the port's docks, and by the main market in the city, the stunning theatre building dates to the late 19th century after the previous iteration of the city’s theatre was found to be a fire hazard in the wake of several fires in theatres around Europe at the time. With a legacy of productions and theatre culture in the city going back centuries, it was decided that a new and safer theatre would be built for Rijeka under the mayor, Giovanni Ciotta. A specialised design studio in Vienna was tasked with the project and architects Herman Helmer and Ferdinand Fellner led the team.