Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Opatija is basically a one-street town: Ulica Maršala Tita, lined on both sides by stately ho-
tels, follows the seafront. The town's focal point is its beach area, called Slatina. You can
walk from one end of the tourist zone to the other in about 20 minutes. (For a handy loop,
walk along the bustling main street in one direction, then back along the waterfront prom-
enade—or vice versa.) Look for a free Wi-Fi hotspot around Slatina.
Tourist Information
Opatija'shelpful TIisjust ashortwalk upulica Maršala Tita fromSlatina. Pick upthe map,
information booklet, and list of hotels (mid-July-Aug daily 8:00-22:00, progressively short-
er hours off-season until Nov-Easter Mon-Sat 8:00-17:00, closed Sun; from Slatina, just
head a block toward Rijeka and look on the left/non-sea side of road, Maršala Tita 128; tel.
051/271-310,
www.opatija-tourism.hr
)
.
Arrival in Opatija
Driving in from either Istria or Rijeka, just follow
Opatija
and bull's-eye signs and switch-
back down, down, down to the water. There's a parking lot at Slatina (the bus-station zone
above the main beach), another one behind Hotel Imperial, and ample street parking; all of
it costs the same (10 kn/hour).
Begin at Opatija's centerpiece, the waterfront beach-and-park area called
Slatina,
with
sweepingseaviews,amarbledCroatian“WalkofFame”(withoneortwonamesyoumight
recognize), and a seawater swimming pool. From here, Opatija lines upalong its main drag,
ulica Maršala Tita,
still fronted by ornate villas that would seem more at home in Vienna
than they do in Croatia. Austrians and other tourists stroll here hand-in-hand, taking in the
views, dipping into high-class boutiques, and snapping photos of the fancy facades as they
go.Joiningthem,you,too,maysoonfindyourselfthinkingofthisplaceasthe“MonteCarlo
of Croatia.”
A few steps toward the sea, stretching in either direction along the waterfront, is a
scenic promenade called the
Lungomare.
This is another wonderful spot for rocky seafront
strolling,anditoffersstrikingviewsacrossthebaytoRijeka(whichlooksmuchbetterfrom
afar). Near the Slatina end of the Lungomare is one of Opatija's trademarks: a
statue
of a
woman surrounded by seagulls, called
Greetings to the Sea
. Much as I'd like to relay some
romantic legend behind this evocative monument, the truth is that there's no story behind
