Opatija, the best place to go in Croatia

    

Located on the east coast of the Istrian peninsula, 150 km from Zagreb, below the mountain and Nature Park Učka and on the Kvarner bay coast, Opatija is a very popular resort for the locals as well as for Italians, Germans, Austrians and other neighbors.

It is easy to get here no matter where you come from, if you are from a neighboring country the best thing is to come by car this way you can see more things and its is more comfortable, if not the best choice is to fly in to Zagreb or Krk Island. It is not far away from Rijeca, only 10 km parts them.

Often called the Nice of the Adriatic even if its name comes from the old abbey San Giacomo della Priluca, Opatija is favored because of its beauty being surrounded by beautiful forests that combine with the coast and long history as a tourist resort. First records of a resort here date from the 15th century but the city officially began its activity as a resort in the first half of the 19th century when Villa "Angiolina” was built to attract the Austrian and Croatian aristocracy, then other places for tourists began to appear and so the first hotel called ”Kvarner“ was built in the late 19th century.

It is also one of the highly-ranked destinations in Croatia, most of the aristocracy having spent here their vacations. It is also a place where a lot of conferences are held and lots of important people show up every year.

The lush vegetation gives the air a fresh smell that combines with the sea breeze, a wonderful combination. Temperatures are mainly constant during the seasons and they are not very high in summer and pretty mild in winter making the resort perfect to be visited in any season, so climate in Opatija is relaxing and refreshing.

There are beautifully maintained gardens, wonderful beaches, a 12-km-long coastal promenade, excellent accommodation that ranges from five star hotels to apartments that can host around 6 thousands tourists, old Austrian villas, a great combination between old and new buildings, between crowded and quiet places, the colors of the landscape are magnificent and diverse. The parks are absolutely fantastic and the variety of plants and their colors enchant the visitors’ eyes. All these make Opatija an attractive destination.

Smaller resorts dot the coast around Opatija and they are all very picturesque hanging on rocky terrain. Actually the whole country can be seen as a long coast of resorts one more beautiful than the other and the residents, only 4.5 million are outnumbered by the incoming tourists.

The beaches are excellent and even if most of them are pebble beaches there are plenty of sandy ones too. In Opatija there are more types of beaches and you can choose between Slatina that is in the middle of the resort along Marshala Tita Street but it is set on a concrete platform so it is quite artificial, the Moscenicka Draga pebble beach is a nice one but too crowded.

The beautiful promenade called Lungo Mare is an Italian name meaning along the sea. It stretches along the coast and it is made of cobblestone and can lead you to other neighboring cities: Icici and Lovran. It is a very romantic place and lots of people walk along it especially during the evening. It is convenient as it has no sand, it is easy to walk and it is free of traffic, you won’t even see bikes or roller-skates. It is a good way to release stress and enjoy the view.

This beautiful and classy resort have always charmed visitors and the quality of the services is impeccable. Opatija has a lot of high quality hotels compared to other resorts in the country and this attracts the top notch. The number of activities and amenities available are great and the lush green scenery together with the mild climate makes it perfect for any tourist who can choose between having a quiet vacation enjoying nature’s gifts and taking a trip to Plitvice Lakes or Risnjak National Park and an active one swimming, joining wellness programs, playing in the casinos, watching a play in a summer theatre, taking part in carnivals and festivals, dancing the night away in a disco,

Opatija is also the perfect place for scientists who come to conferences, for business men who can combine pleasure with business and for those suffering from hearth diseases as there are therapy programs they can join.

All in all Opatija combines the air of a classy resort with the one of an old medieval one leaving room for the common people to enjoy!

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1. Aug 21, 2008 Opatija, the best place to go in Croatia (Opatija)

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