Rijeka brings together a rich cultural history and different perspectives on the city: Croatian and Italian productions take to the stage, while museums explore natural and urban history. There is also a former military facility beneath the old town, a terrace with panoramic views over Kvarner Bay and a long promenade. To plan your city break, you can organise these highlights by interest: performances and collections, industrial history or a walk by the water.
Theatre, a Fortress and Museums
The Croatian National Theatre Ivan Zajc presents Croatian and Italian drama, opera, ballet and concerts. Its programme brings together different performing arts while also highlighting Rijeka’s cultural diversity.
Trsatski Castle is a historic hilltop fortress overlooking Rijeka. It was first mentioned in 1288. The fortress houses exhibitions and a permanent educational exhibition; it also hosts open-air concerts and theatre performances. The site offers both an insight into the history of the fortifications and a glimpse of a current cultural programme.
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 explores the geological past of the Adriatic and oceanographic research, as well as minerals and marine life. Other topics include sharks and rays, along with reptiles and amphibians from the region. The exhibition thus ranges from the natural environment of the Adriatic to the animal groups featured in its local collections.
Since late 2020, the Sugar Palace has housed the Rijeka City Museum. The permanent exhibition spans two floors. At the City Museum’s Cube, visitors can listen to stories about Rijeka’s trade, manufacturing, painting, architecture and photography. The two buildings offer different ways to explore the city: the permanent exhibition takes centre stage at the Sugar Palace, while the Cube focuses on stories about its history.
Rijeka’s Art Neighbourhood has repurposed a former industrial complex. Its history began with the 18th-century sugar refinery. The site thus connects the city’s industrial past with its present-day cultural use.
Beneath the Old Town and Under the Stars
The Rijeka Tunnel is a 330-metre-long former military tunnel beneath the old town. Its entrance is next to the Cathedral of St Vitus. The tunnel is open to visitors and offers an underground experience relating to the history of the Second World War. Its historic use and its purpose as a visitor attraction today are closely connected.
The Rijeka Astronomical Centre houses an observatory and a planetarium. Films and presentations explore the universe, while the terrace offers panoramic views over Kvarner Bay. The centre has a different focus from the tunnel: it is devoted to astronomical topics and views over the bay, while the tunnel explores history beneath the old town.
Promenade, Market and Surfing
Molo Longo is a 1,707-metre-long passenger terminal and promenade. A walk there offers views of all of Rijeka from the sea. This makes Molo Longo a distinctive way to see the city from a different perspective.
Rijeka’s central city market has been a place to eat and buy fish since the 19th century. Its long trading history includes fish, crabs and shellfish. The main building is also worth a closer look: completed in 1916, it features elements of the Vienna Secession as well as stone decorations. The market can therefore be viewed not only as a place with a tradition of food and trade, but also as part of the city’s architectural landscape.
Preluk Beach is associated with surfing because of its location and prevailing winds. Those interested in the sport will find another, quite different Rijeka highlight alongside its theatres, museums and historic sites.
For the broader travel overview: Municipality of Rijeka.
