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Travel InformationRijeka Cruises, Croatia
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Although a busy working port, Rijeka has plenty of old world charm squirrelled away. Peach and lemon-coloured buildings march along the pedestrian streets, topped by terracotta roofs and carved arches. Rijeka also serves as a gateway to the islands filling the Kvarner Gulf. They’re a rural, laid-back bunch punctured with coves and beaches.
• Wander through the traffic-free Korzo district and you’ll discover Baroque clock towers, a main square with fountains, and locals sipping coffee on café terraces.
• There’s a daily canalside market. It’s less than a 10-minute walk from the harbour, and you’ll get a real taste of everyday life among the flower and food stalls.
• Krk is the closest island – it’s just a half-hour drive away via an arching bridge. Miles of beaches and a pretty capital city are among the highlights here.
SHORE EXCURSIONS View all excursions
Opatija & Kastav
You can tick two popular Croatian towns off your list on this tour. Opatija occupies the foothills of Mount Učka, and stretches right down to Kvarner Bay. It’s a lovely place to explore – Venetian-style villas freckle the cliffsides, leafy parks spread out for acres, and there’s a traffic-free coastal promenade that was made for strolling. There’ll be a walking tour of the town and, afterwards, you’ll move on to Kastav. It’s only a 15-minute drive from the first stop-off, but you’ll climb an almost 400-metre-high hill in that time. Kastav is located right at the top, so expect spectacular views on the way up. The big highlight here is the historic old town. Its stone walls wrap around a castle dating back to the 13th century.
Plitvice
Croatian scenery doesn’t get any more spectacular than at Plitvice National Park. This huge body of land spreads out over more than 73,000 acres, in the mountainous area of central Croatia. It’s so impressive, it was one of the first natural sites to make it onto the coveted UNESCO register. You’ll lace up your hiking boots for a walking tour of the place today. There are 16 lakes here – some tiny, some vast – and they’re watched over by soaring cliff-faces cloaked in moss, and foaming waterfalls. There’ll be a guide with you, so you can learn about the wildlife thriving in the park’s perimeters. Around 50 different species of mammal live happily in these parts, including the European brown bear.
Rijeka & Trsat
You’ll tick off two Croatian towns on this tour. We’ll start off in Rijeka itself, beginning our route through the town at the mouth of the River Rjecina. From here, we’ll pass through the City Tower into the old town, where we’ll wander through the narrow streets, pit-stopping at sights including the Roman forum, the cathedral and the ‘leaning tower’ of Rijeka. Once we wrap up here, we’ll jump on a coach and head up to Tstat hill, the oldest part of Rijeka. Up here you’ll find the Sanctuary of the Virgin Mary – the oldest in Croatia – and the ancient Gradina Castle, which has watched over Rijeka and Kvarner for centuries.