Looking for a beautiful and uncrowded historical city to visit in Croatia? Šibenik should be on your summer bucket list with its UNESCO-listed sites and impressive four fortresses surrounding the city. Exploring Šibenik guarantees an extraordinary day filled with ancient alleyways, delicious cuisine, and Mediterranean sunshine.
Is the biggest city of Šibenik-Knin County worth visiting?
For those prioritizing a serene and uncrowded getaway, Šibenik, with its proximity to magnificent national parks boasting stunning waterfalls, emerges as an ideal choice for your next adventure. The region abounds in opportunities for swimming and hiking. Despite gaining popularity, it maintains its authenticity and is typically less crowded.
Optimal times to explore the Šibenik region fall between April and June, as well as September to October, when the weather is mild and the crowds are sparse.
What is Sibenik known for:
- First City in Europe with a Street Lighting System
- Fortress-Encircled Old Town
- The iconic St. Nicholas Fortress in Šibenik was used as a filming location for the popular TV series Game of Thrones. It served as the setting for the city of Braavos in the show’s fifth season.
- Sibenik has a unique water supply system called the Šibenik Water Wells. Created in the 15th century, it consists of several wells and channels that were used to collect and distribute water to the city’s inhabitants.
- Tesla’s father, Milutin Tesla, was born in the nearby village of Smiljan, and the Tesla family had roots in the Šibenik region.
- Babić Wine and Debit Wine pair really well with local Dalmatian cuisine, particularly seafood and grilled meat
- Šibenik Travarica is a herbal brandy from this region
- Sage, Lavender or Rosemary herbal teas with medical properties are surely worth trying
- Mediterranean Spice Mix (Mediteranska mješavina začina) of herbs such as oregano basil, thyme, rosemary and marjoramcommonly used in this region
One day itinerary
Food and drinks:
- Go to a local bakery for a late breakfast or brunch to grab a burek, savory pastry filled with cheese, meat or spinach
- Have a coffee at a local “kavana”. The coffee choice to buy as a souvenir would be the croatian Franck available in the local grocery shops
- Join olive oil tasting to appreciate the different aromas of the high-quality olive oil from the Sibenik region such as Jurkovic family olive farm, Uljara Bralić, Uljara Laća, Uljara Bibac. Learn more here about Olive oil in Dalmatia.
- For a diner or lunch try local dalmatian dishes: Peka, Pašticada with gnocchi, codfish in white, drniš prosciutto, mussels alla busara, brodet.
- Traditional desserts include caramel custard (rožata), doughnuts (fritule), sweet pastry knots (kroštule), almond cakes (favete).
City wonders of Šibenik worth discovering:
- Visit the true architectural marvel, St. James Cathedral, UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has been build solely out of stone including the roof. No binding materials or wood were used which is an exception for Gothic cathedrals.
- 50 meters from the cathedral there is a square with the water supply facility Four Wells
- Get lost in the maze of narrow medieval streets and yards surrounding Sibenik old town
- St. Michael’s Fortress (Tvrđava Sv. Mihovila) is one of the four fortresses surrounding the city. It offers a fantastic panoramic view overlooking the old town and the Adriatic coastline
- Discover the medieval garden with Mediterranean herbs snext to the St. Lawrence Church and Monastery
- Have a walk down the St. Anthony’s Promenade
- Take a car ferry from Šibenik D-Marin Mandalina Marina to Zlarin Marina, to explore the small island in the Šibenik archipelago. This journey takes 25 minutes. Zlarin is known for its pleasant promenade and the highly reputable Blue Flag Beach. The Zlarin Marina is famous for its very peaceful atmosphere and scenic views.
How to get to Sibenik
- The distance from Sibenik to Zadar Airport (ZAD) is only 80 km. You would need to travel approximately 1hour and 30 minutes by car.
- From the airport of Split to Sibenik there is 45 km (SPU). It takes about 1 hour by road.
Hidden Sibenik beaches for more secluded experience
- Jadrija Beach (Jadrija plaza): It’s a pebble beach located 11 kilometers west of Šibenik, is accessible by boat or car. The beach is surrounded by pine trees giving natural shade, which makes the place perfect for families. At place you can find toilets and showers.
- Zablaće Beach (Zablaće plaza): Situated a short 10 km drive from Šibenik, this sandy beach provides additional amenities and facilities like toilets and showers. There are some beach bars and restaurants. There is not much shade at the beach.
- Raslina Beach (Raslina Plaza): Approximately 20 kilometers northeast of Šibenik, the small, lesser known beach is surrounded by lush greenery making it a great spot for swimming and sunbathing.
- Prvić Šepurine Beach: Take a short boat trip from Šibenik to the island of Prvić and discover the beautiful village of Šepurine. This beach offers a picturesque setting surrounded by old stone houses.
What is nearby?
- Lake Prokljan, several nearby springs and the Krka River
- The archipelago of small Sibenik islands such as Zlarin marina and Prvić
- Krka National Park with its hiking trails
- Kornati National Park with boat tours
