Riviera Šibenik

A lively center surrounded by quiet villages

Gazing at the St. Jacob Cathedral in Sebenik during the day and dancing to the rhythms of the Terraneo Festival at night; enjoying the beautiful beaches of Zablace, Brodarica, or Zaboric; absorbing the colors of the archipelago and the shimmering Adriatic Sea on Krapanj. Whether one looks for recreational swimming or adventurous vacation around the Mediterranean hills: The Riviera Sibenik is compellingly beautiful and enticing at once – due to its diverse history, cultural and natural treasures as well as lively events that communicate native traditions to visitors.

The center of the Riviera is Sibenik, which lies in a cove at the mouth of the river Krka and is thus embedded in a breathtaking panorama. The impressive surrounding leaves no doubts: Sibenik is perfect for an active vacation that includes hiking to the romantic waterfalls in Krka national park or rafting. While some visitors enjoy their view from the arch bridge on the on the meandering Krka, others get their adrenalin kick from bungee jumping off the bridge.

But the city can very well compete with the enticing natural environment. Sibenik inspires its visitors with the late medieval St. Jacob Cathedral, a UNESCO world heritage site, and the adjacent city loggia. On a walk through the historic, meandering alleys of Sibenik one experiences pure Mediterranean flair. The city’s markets are lively and active and there is a variety of restaurants that allow a great view on performances by musicians, fire-breathers, or painters who try to gain attention. During the summer the popular Terraneo Festival takes place and attracts thousands of music fans from all of Croatia.

Trips to marvelous islands

Grebastica is a romantic and secluded coastal town with idyllic beaches and shallow bays. To the west there is a peninsula with several small bays that are perfect for swimming and with a little luck one may enjoy them in solitude for the whole day. At the gates of Sibenik there is a new attraction as of recent. Located between Zablace and Brodarica is the Solaris camping resort with its aqua park. The aqua park Solaris guarantees a special swimming experience that will especially delight children. Still, enthusiasts of the open sea are not lost in Solaris. The coastal village has a well-developed marina, which marks the starting point for trips to the surrounding islands – for instance the archipelago off the coast with the Kornati national park. In Croatia Kornati national park belongs to the most interesting regions for mariners.

In Northern Dalmatia one generally finds a plethora of islands such as the archipelago Krapanj, whose main island is the most densely populated island of Croatia. Here, one tumbles between fragrant pine forests and the splendorous coast, which native fishermen and sponge divers return to in the evening. Across from Krapanj, at the coast of the mainland, lies Brodarica, a quiet village with picturesque stone houses and modern villas in which both tourists and natives seek recovery. Not only the scenic pebble stone beaches help with this, but also the many quality restaurants and the traditional taverns add to a pleasant stay. One finds remoteness in Zablace and Zaboric, two small coastal resorts with gently sloping, clean beaches. Zablace and Zaboric are quiet places that make for relaxing vacation.

Between green hills and deep gorges

One can marvel at Northern Dalmatia’s untouched nature in the surrounding national parks. On the way to Zadar lies Vransko jezero, a protected sweet water lake with considerable bird population that is popular not only among anglers. From Vransko jezero it is well worth taking a trip to Pirovac, a coastal resort with diverse vegetation and gently sloping pebble stone beaches. Pirovac is embedded in a narrow cove and thus has beaches with small waves – ideal for a family vacation. A few kilometers northeast of Zadar one finds the Velebit, Croatia’s most massive mountain range and location of Paklenica national park. The park, once setting for the Winnetou films, impresses with a unique karst landscape, deep gorges, and many hidden caves.

Southbound towards Split one drives through pretty coastal resorts like Sparadici that is located at the foot of the green hill Jelinjak. In Sparadici it is possible to go swimming in an azure-blue sea inside the Mediterranean landscape. A few kilometers farther lies the village Grebastica. Embedded in in a picturesque cove with nice pebble stone beaches that provide pure relaxation, Grebastica is also an ideal starting point for trips to Split, which is one of the most formidable cities in Croatia. Primosten, which is located on a peninsula a bit farther south, is surely worth more than one trip.