August 3, 2015 ---- Rijeka is probably not on anyone's list when visiting Croatia. The most beautiful coastal areas are mostly toward the south of the country, such as around Split and Dubrovnik. However, if you have little time but want to see the ocean, Rijeka is an easy choice for a day trip from Zagreb. Nathan and I didn't really care much about the beach on this part of the globe because we know that it is better around the equator like the beaches in Thailand and Mexico.
We decided to take a day-trip to Rijeka just for the sake of seeing Croatia's coastal area and trying some seafood. The bus ride took about 2 hours from Zagreb Bus Terminal, and we bought a round-trip ticket online (https://www.autotrans.hr/en-us/home). Seats were assigned on the ticket and Free WiFi was available on board but wasn't very good.
Rijeka is quite pretty. We were glad we made a trip there. The city was bustling with tourists and locals because it was a great day for the beach. We went to the Tourist Information Center asking for directions to Trsat Castle and Ploče Beach. Both places are easily reached by the public buses, and you can buy the bus ticket (single or day ticket) from the book-stands located across from the Tourist Information Center.
Trsat Castle is really worth a visit. From there you will get the best view of Rijeka and the Adriatic Sea. Ploče Beach is the most popular beach in Rijeka. It has a big facility with swimming pool, showers, cafes and restaurants right on the beach. A lot of tourists and locals like to hang out there for sun-bathing, swimming and fishing. The pebble beach is very beautiful but can be painful to walk on with bare feet, so it's wise to bring flipflops or swimming shoes. The Adriatic Sea is very clear and clean, but I think the water is cold even in August. (Well, I'm more used to the tropical beaches.)
Overall, it was very nice and relaxing in Rijeka. If you are based in Zagreb and don't have much time to travel far, Rijeka is not a bad choice at all. ;-)
The scenery along the way from Zagreb to Rijeka
Korzo -- Rijeka's Old Town
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| Korzo, Rijeka |
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| Rijeka's Tourist Information Center |
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| Rijeka's City Tower |
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| Bus tickets can be purchased at a book shop across from the Tourist Info Center |
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| Bus Stop in Rijeka |
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| Public Bus in Rijeka |
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| Taking the bus to Trsat castle... |
Trsat Castle
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| It's free to explore the Castle grounds. |
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| A great view of Rijeka from Trsat Castle |
Ploče Beach
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| Ploče Beach is the most popular beach in Rijeka. |
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| Apparently fishing is allowed at Ploče Beach. |
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| Bring flipflops if you don't want to hurt your feet walking on the pebble ground. |
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| The water was cold! |
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| Showers, swimming pool, restaurants, and many more services are available at Ploče Beach. |
Dinner at Konoba Feral
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| A bus ride back to Zagreb |