If you visit Rijeka you will of course take the time to stroll around the pedestrian shopping street and to look at the people in the sun. But we recommend you to look at some of Rijeka’s main attractions as well. For the city certainly has sights you should take a look at.
The torpedo factory in Rijeka
The torpedo factory “Tvornica Torpedo” where the first torpedo was tested as early as 1866 can still be visited. The address is Jože Vlahovića 19. The torpedo factory is located a little west of the center of Rijeka and may be far to walk for anyone.
Cathedral of Rijeka
The St. Vitus Cathedral in Rijeka is dedicated to the city saint and erected in 1638. The cathedral’s form is very unusual in this part of Europe, and bears a clear mark of Baroque and Gothic architecture.
The Roman Arc (or Old Gate)
The Triumphal Arch, or the entrance gate it should be named, is in the street Ulica Stara vrata. Originally, this was something most people thought was a triumphal arch, and built by the Roman emperor Claudius Gothicus. Later, however, it turned out to be a portal for the Roman army leadership.
Trsat Fortress and Church of Sveta Marija
From the center of Rijeka you can take the 561 stairs up to the city’s highest peak where you will find the Trsat fortress. In the Middle Ages, this was the seat of the powerful Croatian noble genus Francophanes. You are then 138 meters above sea level.
The 561 steps lead from the city center, past the church of Sveta Marija, up to the fortress. The church is an end station for pilgrims from many countries who come to see the painting Marija by Trsat. The stairs were built by pilgrims and the one who started the work was Petar Kruzic, one of Croatia’s heroes in the fight against Turkey.
The bell tower in Rijeka city center
In the center of Rijeka you will find a beautiful baroque bell tower. The tower dates from 1876 and was designed by Filbert Bazarig. The bell tower is centrally located on the main street of Korzo.
Tourist in Rijeka
Few tourists will consider traveling to Croatia to spend their entire holiday in Rijeka despite the city being blessed with countless days of sunshine, and known for its fresh air and good drinking water. The town itself is not particularly beautiful, with its shabby container port, oil refinery and shipyards. But the area around Korzo shopping / pedestrian street and Rijecke Revolucije square is nice enough. And there are plenty of decent restaurants and night spots for everything from families with children to those who want a party to find what you want.
But once you’re here, you should try to take Rijeka’s Maritime & Historical Museum, located in an old governor’s palace higher up in the city, and the 13th-century fortress Trsat on a hill overlooking Rijeka.
Most tourists use Rijeka as a starting point to explore other parts of Croatia, and usually spend only a night or two here. The closest typical holiday town if you come from Rijeka is Opatija 14 kilometers west, a city that for over 130 years has been a destination for the nobility and the rich. Here you will find beautiful mansions and palaces on the mountainsides with fabulous views of the coast, and along the harbor promenade are restaurants, hotels, bars and eateries.
A little further west lies the Istria Peninsula, including the resort town of Pula. Another departure from Rijeka is a couple of hours’ train ride north to Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana.
You can also take a ferry from Rijeka along the coast to other Croatian cities such as Dubrovnik or Split, or to other Adriatic countries such as Italy, Greece and Albania.
The tourist office can be found in the main street Korzo, more specifically Korzo number 14. Here you will find lots of useful information about both Rijeka city and the surrounding area. The tourist office is open all year. During the peak season running from June to mid-September, the opening hours are from 0800 to 2000 all days except Sundays. On Sundays, the tourist office is open from 0900 to 1400. The rest of the year, the tourist office has closed Sundays, while on weekdays it is open from 0800 to 1930.