Rijeka (Rijeka, emphasis on the "e"), Croatia's third largest city after Zagreb and Split, lies on the shores of the Bay of Rivers on the Adriatic Sea. To this day, the city is still defined by its two ports, one for cargo and one for passengers, which also provide the bulk of Rijeka's income, as does tourism. The city is connected to the main cities of Croatia (as well as some Italian and Slovenian cities) by a good road.

How to get there

• By Plane

The nearest airport is located 30 km from the city, on the island of Krk. From there, one can get to the coast near Rijeka via an archway bridge by taxi or bus. There are shuttles from the airport to the city, and the ticket costs about 43 HRK. The prices on this page are for December 2021.

• By train

The train line from Zagreb to Pula passes through Rijeka, so you can take the train to the Croatian capital before arriving in Rijeka: the train takes 3.5-4.5 hours and tickets start at 110-120 HRK.

• By Car

Rijeka is connected by good roads with the most important cities in Croatia (as well as some Italian and Slovenian cities).

• By ferry

Rijeka is home to Croatia's largest port. Ferries run between the city and Zadar, Split, Dubrovnik and the nearby islands.

Business tourism in Rijeka

Rijeka's bustling traffic and lively commercial activity has made it the centre of business tourism in Croatia. Despite the city's many attractions, there is great interest in the regular exhibitions, symposia and trade shows, which attract business people from all over Croatia and many European countries (most often Slovenia and Italy). Business people from all over the world come to Rijeka to attend the major trade fairs, such as the Motor Show, the North Adriatic Exhibition and the Nautica.

Hotels in Rijeka

Hotels in Rijeka are numerous: from modest city hotels to the luxurious Hotel Continental, one of the symbols of Rijeka, which is located in the very centre of the city in a building dating back to the 19th century. All of the hotels are well catered for and very much in keeping with their classification. Due to the business reputation of the city, many hotels and restaurants offer corporate services and have rooms for conferences and large meetings.

A bit of history

Archaeological excavations have shown that people began to settle in this area in Neolithic times. Before Christ the place was inhabited by Celts, their settlement was called Tarsatica (now part of modern Rijeka under the name Trsat). In the 1st century B.C. the Romans took over the town, and until the 5th century, until the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the city was under their control. During the following centuries Rijeka passed from hand to hand: the Franks, Goths, Turks, Slavs and many other peoples rightly considered the geographic position of the settlement to be very favourable, and constantly defeated this strategic port. In the 15th century Rijeka became part of the possessions of the Austrian Habsburgs and received two new names: Fiume (as it was called by the Italians and Hungarians) and Flaum (Austrian name). During the 19-20th centuries the long-suffering town constantly passed from one state to another, sometimes Italian, sometimes Hungarian, sometimes Yugoslavian, until finally becoming a part of Croatia in 1991. Today, the city's architecture reflects the variety of styles and influences from different epochs.

Amusements and attractions in Rijeka

The oldest landmark of the city is Stara Vrata, the Old Roman Gate from the ancient times. The lights were once part of the ramparts defending the city. The most famous, however, is the castle on Trsat Hill. It is from here that you have a magnificent view of the city and the harbour area.

The historic centre of Rijeka - the old town - captivates travellers with its narrow winding cobbled streets, picturesque houses with red-tiled roofs, and plenty of greenery. Kroso pedestrianised, in the tradition of Austro-Hungarian architecture, provides an insight into the bustling, cheerful atmosphere of the port town. Krozo begins at the foot of the remarkable City Tower with its Baroque clock. The Capuchin Catholic Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, the Gothic-style Church of St. Jerome, and the Baroque St. Vitus Cathedral, built by the Jesuits in the form of a rotunda, are striking features in Rijeka. Modern buildings are very unobtrusively blended in architectural ensembles in which a variety of styles co-exist.

Other sights in Rijeka:

• The Oblique Tower of Rijeka - a Venetian tower, built at a slight angle, dates back to the 14th century.
• Trsat area - former Celtic settlement.
• Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art - you'll find paintings, sculptures, posters, films and videos on permanent display. This museum is the centre of artistic life in the city. Address: Rijeka, Kresimirova ul. 26c.
• The Pomeranian Museum is the main museum in Rijeka where you can learn about the history of the region (Rijeka was once its cultural centre), see archeological finds, exhibits from the Antiquity, Middle Ages and Renaissance, nautical charts and ship equipment, and collections of personal belongings of important people of the city. One of the jewels of the museum's collection is a collection of clocks made by European craftsmen in the 18th and 20th centuries. Address: Rijeka, Muzejski trg 1.

Events

Rijeka's Italian past still lives on - the city has a long tradition of annual carnivals, which combine features not only from Venice but also from Austria and Slavonia. It's a mix of western European carnivals and eastern European fiestas with fancy dress. Carnival festivities take place before Lent (in 2019 from 17 January to 6 March) and last for weeks. In the weeks leading up to the main event, streets and squares are decorated, a queen and baron of the carnival are chosen and a children's procession takes place. To add to the excitement of the festivities ahead of the main carnival revelry, an evening procession takes place along the Korzo pedestrian street to warm up the place and attract the crowds, before the carnival begins on a grand scale in Croatia.

People dress up in colourful costumes and masks, with the most popular ones depicting bulls - usually the participants in the 'Bull and Shepherd Procession' - a tribute to Slavic traditions. The Carnival Queen and Baron are accompanied by a group of Moorish characters, usually young girls disguised as Africans and Arabs. The Moors are a symbol of the carnival, as is the leaning tower of Rijeka, and are portrayed on all souvenirs and flags. The carnival involves not only traditional processions, but also DJ sets and even snowboarding competitions. For dates and more information about Rijeka Carnival, visit the official website.