Rijeka
From Wikitravel
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Rijeka is a city in Kvarner. It is the principal seaport of Croatia, located on Kvarner Bay, an inlet of the Adriatic Sea. It has 144,043 inhabitants (2001) with greater city area reaching up to 200,000 and is Croatia's third largest city.
[edit] Get in
[edit] By car
Travellers heading from Zagreb (185 km) should take the A1 to Bosiljevo and then take the A6 to Rijeka. Portions of the A6 is a 4-6 lane motorway.
Travellers from Trieste (76 km) should take A7 upon entering Croatia at Rupa border crossing.
Travellers from Split (380 km) can take A1 to Žuta Lokva and then proceed via Senj and Crikvenica to Rijeka.
[edit] By plane
Zračna luka Rijeka - Rijeka airport [1] is situated on the nearby island of Krk, around 35 km from the railway station in Rijeka.
- Tuifly [2] connects Rijeka with Bonn/Cologne, Hannover and Stuttgart.
- Norwegian [3] connects Rijeka with Oslo.
- during summer time, Ryanair connects Rijeka to Stockholm and London.
There is a designated bus service from the airport into Rijeka.
There are regular bus services from Rijeka into Zagreb Airport for connections there. The Croatia Airlines website has more information.
Rijeka is major Croatian port. It is located in the very heart of Kvarner Gulf. Because of it's location, Rijeka is a crossroads of land and sea routes connected with the rest of the world by air, bus, train and ship lines. Rough Guides describes Rijeka as a "Row of cumbrous cranes and rusty, sea-stained tankers in front of the soaring apartment blocks".
Despite this description by very reputable guide book, Rijeka is still nice place to visit as it has a great architecture in the old parts of the city, as well as some very interesting places to go (such as Rijeka Natural History Museum - see link bellow) ....
If you are in Rijeka, trying probably to get ferry to sail along Croatian coast, take some time to discover this city! You will be surprised how much is to see here... Rijeka airport is on the island of Krk, about 30 km from the Rijeka city centre. The Railway station is in street Kresimirova 5. Info tel: 060/333-4444. Scheduled bus lines connect Rijeka with larger Croatian and European cities - bus terminal in the city centre : tel. 660-360. Bellow are some useful links for Rijeka to start to explore.
Take your transfer from Airport Rijeka to Rijeka Main Bus Terminal with official Rijeka Airport Taxi Transfer Service. All information you can take on our official website [4].
[edit] By train
Rijeka has been an important railhead since its early days as one of the major ports of the Austro-Hungarian empire, and is connected with direct services to other major cities in Croatia (Zagreb, Osijek) as well as twice daily services to Ljubljana in Slovenia, and one train via Zagreb each day to Budapest. Services to Pula by train are possible, though as the two cities are not connected in Croatia by rail (the connection is now in Slovenia), a designated bus is timed to take you that part of the journey.
The Railway station is in 5 Krešimirova Street, at the northern edge of the town area. Information on rail services is available on the information counter, or on the telephone +385 60 333-44-44. You can buy tickets or make reservations at the station ticket-office (+385 51 21-33-33). The railway station has a luggage lockers open from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, ans is charged 15 kn. There is also a tourism information office in the station building, but is open odd hours - although there is a large map at the front of the station building. There is also an ATM at the station.
The Croatian Railways [5] website contains good information on train times and prices, and there is also some information for travel Rijeka-Ljubljana on the Slovenian Railways [6] site.
[edit] By bus
Rijeka is connected by bus with bigger cities in Croatia, Slovenia and elsewhere in Europe. The busy bus terminal is in the city centre at the foot of the imposing Capuchin church, on Trg Žabica. You can find good information on timetable and fares at the Autotrans office (which also sells tickets), at Žabica 1 or by telephone +385 (0)60 30-20-10. Timetable is also available on the company's website [7]. There is a left-luggage office next to the newspaper and cigarette stand, open from 5:30AM till 10:30PM (the latest of all the transport modes in Rijeka). Luggage safekeeping is charged 9 kn.
[edit] By ship
As one of the largest ports of the Austro-Hungarian empire, and the largest port in Croatia, ships play an important role in the life of Rijeka.
Of best use to travellers from Rijeka is the Jadrolinija [8] ferry service. The state-owned company operates small fast vessels to the nearby islands, as well as large car-carrying ferries down the Adriatic Coast to Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik before travelling to Bari in Italy. Ferry operates the year round, with departure on Mondays and Fridays at 8 PM (in winter at 6PM). The passenger terminal is in the city center, and on the waterfront just near the Jadrolinija office building (where one buys tickets on the ground floor) is a left-luggage office.
[edit] Get around
[edit] By foot
Most of Rijeka is accessible on foot, and traffic is actually banned on Korzo in the heart of the city.
[edit] By public transport
For those that are further away from the city or tired, an efficient local bus network operates operating in a single-direction, circular movement around the central city area, and fanning out in all directions. Buses #2 and #8, to Trsat, are probably the most useful for tourists, and a good alternative to the 538 stair climb to the top of the hill.
[edit] By Taxi
Rijeka has a cheap and well organized Taxi service, they will get you anywhere in the city for approximately €10 or less.
- JAM Transfer, [9]. Taxi usually comes within 10 to 15 minutes from the call except in busy summer season where it depends on how much business they have. Online booking available. edit
- Taxi-Rijeka [10], tel: 00385 91 / 516 5236, taxirijeka@net.hr.
[edit][add listing] See
Rijeka is unfortunately more of a transport hub and port city than a destination in itself. Still, if you have time to spare between connections, it can be filled by a stroll along the pedestrianized Korzo (look for the large clock), or a visit to a museum such as the maritime museum. The stunning National Theatre building (similar to the one in Zagreb and Budapest) occupies a prominent location in the city. For a little exercise, climb the stairs to Trsat to visit its recently-restored fortress and several historic churches, or catch the #1 bus to Bivio, with its seaside paths and catwalks.
[edit][add listing] Do
Rijeka offers rich night life on weekends during the whole year and some football matches of local NK Rijeka club are also an event not to be missed if you are a fan. Cultural life is also wealthy.
[edit][add listing] Buy
Rijeka has many large shopping centres as well as numerous small and medium stores for everyone's taste. Rijeka Tower is one of the newest and largest shopping malls in this part of Europe.
[edit][add listing] Eat
There are numerous restaurants offering domestic and international food. There are also many fast-food restaurants, some of them open 24 hours.
[edit][add listing] Drink
Wherever you go in Rijeka, you will find a place to drink and relax. There are hundreds of bars and cafes across the city. There are two ships docked in the harbour (city center) with bars, casino, and a night club.
- Hemingway bar (Hemingway bar), Korzo. expensive. edit
- Arca Fiumana (Arca), Port (cafe and fish restaurant on the boat anchored in city port). moderate. edit
[edit][add listing] Sleep
There are more places to stay in neighboring Opatija than in Rijeka.
[edit] Budget
Many locals will rent out rooms in their houses to travellers. Virtually all tourist/travel agencies will have information on available rooms. You are more likely to get a room if you stay for at least two nights. Talk to a travel agent, and if there are any vacancies, they will give you directions to the house. The rate is usually €20 per person per night. This is relatively cheap and is an excellent way to get to know a local family. If you don't have any luck in Rijeka, try taking bus #32 (14kn) to nearby Opatija.
- Youth Hostel Rijeka, Šetalište XIII. divizije 23 (10 minutes walk from city centre), ☎ 00385.(0)51.406.420. checkout: 10AM. Free WiFi in reception. Dorm bed: €21; Double: €50, including breakfast. edit
[edit] Mid-range
[edit] Splurge
- Grand Hotel Bonavia, +385 51 357-100, [11]. The 125 old and completely refurbished 4-star hotel with 242 beds located in the very heart of Rijeka. It belongs to the Wren's Hotel Group and has its own car park and garage. [12]
- Hotel Jadran, +385 51 216-600, [13]. is a four-star establishment located by the sea. It was reopened in December 2005 after thorough reconstruction. It has 66 single and double bedrooms. Every room is air-conditioned, and has a satellite TV and radio, direct telephone line, Internet connection, safe and mini-bar.
- Hotel Continental Rijeka, +385 51 372-008, [14]. A two star hotel built in 1888 with 37 double bedrooms, 1 single bedroom and 4 hotel suits on two floors. All rooms are equipped with a TV and a direct telephone line, while the access to the Internet is possible via modem, using the telephone connection port in the room. A complete warm breakfast in included in the price of approximately 400 HRK (57 EUR) per night for a single.
- Hotel Neboder, Strossmayerova 1, ☎ +385 51 373 538, [15]. checkin: 14:00; checkout: 12:00. Renovated in 2007, this 14-story hotel is part of the complex of the Croatian Cultural Centre (Hrvatski kulturni dom). The best part about the hotel is the amazing view of the eastern part of the Istrian peninsula and Učka, Opatija, Rijeka, the small towns of Kostrena and Kraljevica and the island of Krk. edit
[edit] Get out
- Opatija, once the secluded seaside resort of the rich and famous, is just a short 20-minute bus ride along the coast from Rijeka. Bus #32 departs frequently. It is a great place to go swimming. There are many fine restaurants and hotels (both of which seem to be lacking in Rijeka). Try to get a table at Le Mandrac in Volosko harbour, it is one of the finest restaurants in Croatia.
- Accessible by Jadrolinija Ferry [16] are Dubrovnik, Split, Stari Grad, Korčula, and Bari in Italy. Journey time is up to twenty hours, so getting a cabin is highly recommended. On the boat, the restaurant serves up some decent food at surprisingly reasonable prices, but bear in mind that the 23% tax is not included on the menu. There is nothing in the way of entertainment, so bring some entertaining company or a good book.
- Islands of Rab, Pag, Losinj, Cres, Susak, Unije and Ilovik also can be reached by daily catamarans, which leave Rijeka at afternoon. One-way prices for adults are up to 40 kn, depending on destination.
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