Opatija
© Petar Trinajstić

Opatija travel guide

Read our essential Opatija travel guide for the best things to do, attractions, hotels, restaurants, bars and more...

Written by
Justin McDonnell
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One of Croatia’s first modern-style seaside resorts, Opatija was attracting royalty and the well-to-do more than a century ago. They stayed in grand villas and sought to invigorate their health by strolling the Lungomare, a stunning seaside walkway that offers some of Croatia’s best vistas. The vistas, villas and Lungomare remain, as do the many imposing fin-de-siècle hotels that enhance Opatija’s distinctive Habsburg-era look. This sophisticated destination also boasts a competitive restaurant scene that’s made it an important gastronomic hub in Croatia – and a great place to eat out. Opatija is fancier and pricier than many other Croatian resorts, but if you want a luxurious holiday you can find it here.

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Opatija overview

Opatija overview

In the late 19th century, when the Austro-Hungarian empire reached its apex, the Habsburgs made this town of dazzling vistas and rocky beaches one of the...

Opatija hotel guide

Opatija hotel guide

Opatija’s long history as a resort town means it’s full of elegant hotels, built at the turn of the last century. Many of these old gems have been renovated to...

Restaurants and bars in Opatija...

Opatija restaurant guide

Opatija restaurant guide

Opatija, and specifically its satellite of Volosko, is a gastronomic destination boasting some of the best restaurants in Croatia. If you only have one night...

Le Mandrać

Le Mandrać

  • price 1 of 4

This classy and inventive spot in the Volosko gastro enclave employs local ingredients to create nouvelle-style cuisine and fusion recipes. Croatian star chef...

Konoba Tramerka

Konoba Tramerka

  • price 3 of 4

Just up the steps from Volosko’s two great harbour-side restaurants, Plavi Podrum and Le Mandrać, this rustic cellar space, with exposed stone and wood beams,...

Bevanda

Bevanda

  • price 3 of 4

Bevanda has undergone an extensive and highly impressive recent renovation to add a 10-room hotel and bar to it's previous life as a renowned restaurant. The...

Plavi Podrum

Plavi Podrum

  • price 3 of 4

A Volosko destination par excellence. This is the oldest restaurant on the Opatija Riviera, today run by Daniela Kramarić, an award-winning sommelier, backed...

Bistro Yacht Club

Bistro Yacht Club

  • price 3 of 4

Non-sailors can be pampered at this superb seafood restaurant on the water at Opatija’s marina. The kitchen handles all the basics expertly, while throwing in...

Where to stay in Opatija...

Opatija hotel guide

Opatija hotel guide

Opatija’s long history as a resort town means it’s full of elegant hotels, built at the turn of the last century. Many of these old gems have been renovated to...

Hotel Miramar

Hotel Miramar

  • price 4 of 4

The 1876 Villa Neptune was superbly renovated and expanded to include three guest villas, creating a full-service resort hotel with its own rocky beach....

Hotel Ambasador

Hotel Ambasador

A masterpiece of 1960s architecture that has been fully renovated, the Ambasador is an impressive, five-star spa hotel of ten floors, 180 rooms, a private...

Design Hotel Astoria

Design Hotel Astoria

  • price 3 of 4

This hotel, originally constructed in 1904, was stylishly renovated in 2006, a slick, modern interior in a classic old building creating a splash on Opatija’s...