Opatija
Opatija is a seaside resort on the Kvarner Gulf in western Croatia, known for late 19th-century hotels and villas, parks with plants from around the world and a 12 km seafront promenade.
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Opatija is a seaside resort town on the Kvarner Gulf of the Adriatic, in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, western Croatia. It lies about 18 km northwest of Rijeka, the regional capital. Late 19th-century hotels and villas from the Austro-Hungarian era earned it the nickname Austrian Riviera. Villa Angiolina, built in 1844 by merchant Iginio Scarpa, stands in the Angiolina park and is now a museum. The Lungomare seafront promenade runs about 12 km from Volosko through Opatija to Lovran.
The town sits at the foot of the Učka mountain and nature park, where Vojak peak rises to 1,401 m, so walks start right behind the town. The climate is submediterranean, cooler and wetter than Dalmatia, with average highs of about 10 °C in winter and 32 °C in summer. Opatija is a popular summer and winter resort and the leading Croatian destination for congresses and seminars.
Opatija in five
- Walk the Lungomare in both directionsThe Lungomare coastal promenade is the town's signature walk, linking Opatija with nearby fishing villages such as Volosko. Start early in summer, and bring a swimsuit for the rocky bathing spots.
- See Villa Angiolina and the first tourist villaThe tourist board says Iginio Scarpa built Villa Angiolina in 1844 as the first building designed purely for leisure, which it calls the start of tourism in Croatia. Park Angiolina surrounds it.
- Plan a day on Učka Nature ParkThe tourist board lists Učka Nature Park and the hill village of Veprinac as nearby outings. A car or a guided trip makes the day simpler than a bus.
- Use the nearest airport that fits your routeThe tourist board says Zagreb, Ljubljana, Trieste, Venice, Rijeka and Pula airports are each less than two hours from the town. Rijeka Airport sits on Krk, so a car or transfer is needed.
- Pair Opatija with Rijeka for city eveningsOpatija is quiet after dark, while Rijeka has the Korzo, Trsat Castle and the island ferries. Rijeka is the practical base for the islands.Rijeka
Need to know
- Airport
- Rijeka (RJK) on Krk; Pula, Trieste and Zagreb are alternatives
- Getting there
- Road from Rijeka, Istria and Zagreb; buses along the coast
- Getting around
- On foot along the Lungomare; buses to Rijeka
- Best base
- The promenade, or Rijeka for ferries
- Time needed
- 1 to 2 days; 3 with Rijeka and Učka
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain14 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low1°Cold, quietJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 225 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryRain14 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh9°Low2°Cold, quietFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 233 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- MarchRain14 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh11°Low4°Cool, quietMarchRain
Poor
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 200 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh15°Low8°Spring, freshAprilPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 138 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, fresh
- MayRain16 rainy daysHigh19°Low12°Warm, calmMayRain
Mixed
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 195 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calm
- JunePartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh25°Low17°Warm seaJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 82 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- JulyPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh28°Low19°Hot, busiestJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 69 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busiest
- AugustClear8 rainy daysHigh28°Low19°Hot, busiestAugustClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 91 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busiest
- SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh22°Low15°Warm sea, calmerSeptemberRain
Good
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 205 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea, calmer
- OctoberRain12 rainy daysHigh17°Low11°Mild, quieterOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 257 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quieter
- NovemberRain14 rainy daysHigh12°Low6°Wet, quietNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 295 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, quiet
- DecemberRain14 rainy daysHigh8°Low3°Cold, AdventDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 239 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, Advent
Average daily high and low in Opatija, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Opatija
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
9
- Feels like
- 6°
- Humidity
- 71%
- Wind
- 29 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 23%
Opatija
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today15°11°23%Monday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 23%.
- Tue14°10°5%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Wed14°6°13%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 13%.
- Thu14°4°0%Thursday: Clear. High 14°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri15°4°2%Friday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sat12°9°18%Saturday: Rain. High 12°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Sun14°11°34%Sunday: Rain. High 14°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 34%.
Updated 06:45 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- FebRijeka CarnivalRijeka, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Rijekaby bus or carTrsat Castle, the Korzo and ferries to the islands.Read the guide
- Učka Nature Parkby road above the townForested hills with viewpoints over Kvarner Bay.
- Pulaby road via the Učka tunnelThe Roman Arena at the southern tip of Istria.Read the guide
Before you go to Opatija
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Rules for Opatija, checked
- The Opatija Tourist Board lists Zagreb, Ljubljana, Trieste, Venice, Rijeka and Pula airports as less than two hours from the town.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Opatija
Port city and island gateway next door
Read the guideKvarnerRijeka, Krk, Cres and Lošinj
Read the guideKrk IslandBridge-linked island south of Rijeka
Read the guidePulaRoman Arena at the tip of Istria
Read the guideRovinjIstrian old town along the coast
Read the guideAll of CroatiaCoast, islands, Zagreb and entry rules
Read the guideOpatija FAQ
Is Opatija worth visiting?
Yes for a seaside promenade, belle-epoque villas and a relaxed pace, especially before or after Istria. It is less of a beach destination than a walking and wellness one.
How many days do you need in Opatija?
One day is enough for the Lungomare and the parks. Two days add Volosko or a day on Učka, and three give time for Rijeka and the islands by day trip.
Is Opatija or Rijeka better to stay in?
Opatija is calmer and prettier by the sea. Rijeka has the ferries, the city's life and more transport. For island hopping, sleep in Rijeka; for walking and evenings, sleep in Opatija.
Does Opatija have sandy beaches?
The town has rocky and concrete bathing spots and small pebble beaches rather than sand. For sandy beaches, look to the islands such as Rab, reached from Rijeka.
When did tourism begin in Opatija?
The tourist board dates it to 1844, when Villa Angiolina was built as a summer residence, the first building designed purely for leisure. Villas and hotels followed over the next decades.