Croatia | 10x what to see and do during a city trip in Šibenik

Sibenik (Location here) is perfect for a short city ​​trip or a nice stopover during a tour of Croatia. It is a relatively small, but well-preserved city full of culture and European history. Not only is the old town itself a pleasure to view, its location is perfect for a multi-day visit. The city is in fact enclosed in some of the most beautiful sights of the region. It Krka National Park for example, is a stone's throw from the city and there is also a lot to see due to the special history of the bay, including the St Nicholas Fortress. This gigantic fortress protects it Sveti Ante channel, the only access to Šibenik from the open sea.

However, there is more. Because Sibenik is centrally located in Dalmatia, it is the ideal place to also taste the many traditional Dalmatian delicacies and dishes. You can read that and more in this article. These are my tips, 10 things you must see and do in Šibenik!

About Šibenik

Šibenik is located in Dalmatia, the central part of the Croatian Adriatic coast. It is the picturesque bay where the river Krka, one of the most beautiful karst rivers in Croatia, flows into the sea. With approximately 47.000 inhabitants, Šibenik is the administrative, political, economic and cultural center of the province Šibenik-Knin.

The province of Šibenik-Knin has 242 islands, islets and sea reefs. The most numerous archipelago are the Kornati (Location here), also one National Park. The Kornati Islands are distinguished by their remarkable beauty known all over the world. There are various tours to book to Kornati national park. Many start in Zadar or Šibenik.

What to see and do in Sibenik

First of all, Šibenik has two monuments that are under the protection of UNESCO: Of cathedral of St. James and the fortress of St. Nicholas. In addition, the town hall is worth a visit. Don't forget to explore the area as well. Below you will find my personal top 10 things to see and do in and around Šibenik.

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1. Cathedral of St. James

The unique building is not to be missed during your city trip. The centrally located Cathedral of St. James is a masterpiece of Christian art in Šibenik. It was built in the 15th century and the cathedral is part of it UNESCO World Heritage Site. The building is well known in European architecture, as it is built entirely with stone. It was designed and built as a domed basilica.

The construction of the cathedral started in the early 15th century and was not completed until 100 years later. The reasons for such a long construction time were the regular wars and lack of money.

Tip:: It is interesting to know that one episode of the fifth season of the popular Game of Thrones series took place at this cathedral. Do you know which episode it is?

2. City Hall

Šibenik Town Hall is a striking Renaissance building located on the medieval square in the heart of the city. It was built between 1533 and 1546. The beautiful facade consists of columns and arches, a balustrade and a balcony. On the ground floor there is a beautiful local restaurant, whose outdoor terrace offers an extraordinary view of the cathedral of St. James.

Although the town hall was completely razed to the ground during an Allied air raid in 1943, it was completely rebuilt and now looks exactly as it did before World War II.

3. Walking around aimlessly

You don't necessarily need a list of sights to tick off in this city. It is wonderful to just walk around the narrow streets without a goal. I also recommend doing this both in the morning and in the evening, so that you can experience the atmospheric town in a unique way. It is relatively easy to take beautiful, atmospheric photos here. A Valhalla for the hobby photographer.

Tip:: curious what I shoot with? Then view the display below.

4. Taste local dishes from Dalmatia

If there's one thing I like to do abroad, it's tasting local dishes. Croatia has some unique dishes that you can only taste here. Skip the Schnitzel with fries more often and see if you can find a local dish on the menu to try during your city trip. Is it not immediately clear what is local? Then ask for it!

Dalmatian Pasticada

How about this Pašticada, for example? Pašticada is a stewed beef dish cooked in a fragrant sweet and sour sauce and is immensely popular in the country. It often becomesDalmatinska pasticada' because it originated in Dalmatia, where it is often served at festivities and gatherings.

Granted, it tastes a lot better than it looks. The meal requires long and careful preparation. The meat and accompanying sauce are stewed for at least 24 hours and you can taste it. The large noodles that come with it are in most cases also fresh and home-made. Give it a try!

Dried ham, cheese and olives

Experience beautiful locations of vineyards in the region (more on that at point 6). Let yourself be pampered with the best flavors of Dalmatia during a tasting. That does not mean that you can only do this at a vineyard. Local hams and cheeses are available almost everywhere in Dalmatia. A glass of wine in the sun with a good serving platter full of local delicacies, who doesn't dream of that?

Especially the dried Croatian prosciutto ham (Pršut – more info here), is worth a try. You have it in different variants from dry and salty to greasy and sweet. You can see the different variants above on the serving board.

Croatian black risotto

Another dish that tastes way better than it looks. Provided you like fish that is – an important side note. What you see here is one Croatian black risotto. The risotto gets this color from the black ink of squid. More specifically: from the Cuttlefish (wiki here). Usually pieces of squid are also added to the risotto for extra flavour. Those who love fish dishes should definitely try this unique dish. Don't you like fish flavors? Then skip it because you won't find a stronger fish flavor like this quickly!

Award Winning Oysters

One of the bridges that connects Šibenik to the rest of Croatia offers a beautiful view of the city. That's nice for a photo, but you probably came here for another reason: to eat oysters! You will find it on the west side of the bridge Oyster22 (Location here), an award-winning oyster bar with a fantastic view.

It is not surprising that they have already won several prizes with their oysters. The oysters served here come from their own oyster farms that are located in the water in the photo above. So just 100 meters away. And because this water is a mix of freshwater and saltwater (because the crystal clear river Krka flows into it), the oysters get a unique, milder salty taste. In addition, they harvest the oysters for the day every morning. You won't get fresher than this!

Tip:: Want to discover more great places in Croatia? Then read our blog about the most beautiful beach in Croatia, Pasjaca Beach. Of course one can city ​​trip to Dubrovnik Also don't miss or read our articles about it Sibenik, Krka National Park, Advent Zagreb (Christmas markets), the new Peljesac bridge or plan a great one tour of all the highlights of Croatia. Need more inspiration? Then read our article about it free camping in Croatia.

5. St Nicholas Fortress

The St. Nicholas Fortress (location here), can nowadays only be visited via a tour or excursion. The tours and excursions that take you to this fortress can be booked at many places throughout Šibenik. Fortunately, you can still get close enough by boat (or on foot) to admire the fort. A wooden walkway can be seen in the photo below (location here), which will take you to the fortress (if the sea is low enough).

During my last visit to the city (it was already my 4th visit), I received permission to fly the drone with very few exceptions. I made these beautiful pictures of it St Nicholas Fortress and the Sveti Ante channelwith Sibenik on the background. From the air it is easy to see why Šibenik has historically played such an important role in Europe. The hilly landscape and narrow sea channel provided natural barriers so that the city could be well protected against, for example, the Ottomans.

6. Taste Posip

Posip is – by far – my favorite white wine. And I'm not saying this because I happen to be writing a blog about Croatia and this is a local wine... I don't know exactly what it is, but this fresh white grape gives a unique, summery taste to wines that, as far as I'm concerned, cannot be enjoyed by any French, Italian , Spanish or Portuguese wine can be beaten. The Pošip grape is unique in a way and grows almost exclusively in Dalmatia.

7. Visit wineries

I have visited several wineries in Dalmatia myself, an activity that I can recommend to everyone. In addition to enjoying delicious local wines, olives and prosciutto (Pršut), during these tours I learned for example that the pošip grape difficult to cultivate. It is a grape that does especially well on a hard, rocky surface in combination with a mild climate. Exactly what you will find in Dalmatia. According to the local winegrowers, these specific characteristics make it difficult to grow the grape elsewhere.

By the way, you don't just visit a vineyard for the wine tasting. It's the whole experience, shall I say. For example, is located just north of Sibenik Baraka Winery (Location here). You have a beautiful view over the vineyards and not unimportantly: they serve fantastic local dishes. The vineyard and the accompanying restaurant is a real family business. You can feel, taste and notice that in everything.

While you enjoy a glass of wine in the sun, the chefs work in a traditional way to provide you with delicious, local dishes. The homemade Pršut ham is sliced ​​wafer-thin before your very eyes. Meanwhile, the traditional barbeque is heated up to grill huge sirloin steaks, rib-eyes and lamb chops. The water is already on your lips here.

Unfortunately I can't explain in this way how it all feels, smells and tastes, but close your eyes and imagine it. This is something you absolutely want to do when you are in Šibenik!

Tip:: Testament Winery (Location here), just south of Šibenik, is also recommended if you are looking for an alternative vineyard to visit.

8.Krka National Park

Not technically located in Šibenik, but certainly close enough to be considered a local highlight. Krka National Park (Location here), is located just a few kilometers northeast of the city - about a 15-minute drive from the city center. This beautiful national park protects part of the river Krka and the forests along its banks. The activities in the park range from educational and scientific to recreational, touristic and cultural.

A visit to the Krka waterfalls is one of the highlights of a visit Croatia, so if you happen to be in Šibenik, consider visiting the park. After all, you don't get there every day.

Tip:: Can't get enough of this beautiful region? Primosten is a village on the coast about 40 minutes drive from Krka and Šibenik. It is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful villages in Dalmatia. Read all about it here: Primošten, the “sweetheart” of Croatia.

9. Book a ferry or boat tour

Everything is better from the water, including Šibenik. Get a unique view of this beautiful, hilly city from the water. There are several ferries and tours to book in Šibenik. Some transport you to Krka, but you can also simply choose to take one of the many ferries to go to an island. It's not only wonderful to visit one of the nearby islands, because of it Sveti Ante channel canal boating is an attraction in itself.

10. Barone Fortress

Barone Fortress (Location here) is located on an 80 meter high hill and offers a beautiful view of the city. It was built in 1646. This fortress, together with the three others in Šibenik, forms a unique defense system that has protected the city against external attacks for centuries. Today, the modernized fort is mainly used for catering (there is a restaurant), parties, weddings and other events. For example, I visited the fort during the Golden Pen Awards, where I won an award for best online publication about Croatia.

I didn't bring a camera on the day of the event, so for now you'll have to make do with the above, grainy photo taken with my smartphone. However, it does not take much imagination to see that this location is beautiful at sunset. As the sun sinks into the sea, you look out over the old city and the many islands.

Also read: Why you should NOT take pictures with your smartphone during a world trip

How do you get there

By car or camper

This is by far my favorite way to visit Šibenik and the surrounding region. Include a visit to Šibenik in a big one roadtrip / tour on the one of the most beautiful car routes in the world. The D8 coast road, also known as the Jadranska Magistrala, is Croatia's 600 kilometer long coastal road. This road is rightly seen as one of the most beautiful roadtrip itineraries in the world. Below you can see on my Google Map what this route will look like.

Tip:: The map is public and can be copied for free to your own Google account, including all stops and information. So you can customize and use it as you wish.

I have driven this route several times in my life and wrote an extensive article about it. You can read the full article via the link below:

Read also: Itinerary Croatia 2 to 4 weeks | Hints and Highlights

By bus

You can travel very cheaply in Croatia by bus. Šibenik has a central bus station which is very well connected to other bus stations across the country. Buses are easy to travel on if you don't have a car. Flixbus is also active in Croatia, so check the websites for all options and associated prices.

With the plane

Šibenik is a relatively small town and does not have its own airport. Nevertheless, flying to Šibenik is very easy. The nearest airport is namely the airport of Split, which is 56 kilometers away. Both Transavia, Easyjet en KLM fly directly to Split from Amsterdam. You can also find cheaper flights from Rotterdam, Eindhoven of Weeze (Germany) to the airport from Zadar, which is 80 kilometers away. Ryanair often stunt with prices to this destination.

Tip:: Because there are so many variants and companies to compare, it's best to go Skyscanner look for these deals. I don't say this without reason.

Of all the flight search engines out there, Skyscanner namely my best choice when it comes to finding cheap airline tickets and it save money to travel.

For absolutely all the cheap tickets I buy, I use Skyscanner's website – which does not mean that I always book with them. I wrote an extensive article about finding the best deals. I literally save thousands of euros every year with this.

Also read: Skyscanner | How to save (a lot of) money on flights

Once you have arrived in Croatia by plane, you can then choose to book a rent a car, arrange a transfer or with the bus to travel further. If you choose a car: the roads and associated infrastructure in Croatia are generally good and people certainly drive if you compare it to, for example Italy, very controlled and calm. So you don't have to be afraid to get into the car in this country - apart from the many hills and mountains, it is almost the same driving as in The Netherlands.

Where to stay

Hotels & apartments

Are you someone who likes luxury and prefers to have everything within walking distance? It Bellevue Superior City Hotel enjoys a privileged seafront location in the center of Šibenik. It offers modernly furnished rooms, each with a beautiful view of the sea or the city. The hotel is a short distance from the Saint James Cathedral. The fortresses barone en Saint Michael both are less than 1 km away. I stayed three days in this nice hotel. The intercontinental breakfast is also worth mentioning, so don't miss it.

Tip:: It Amarun Hotel is comparable in terms of luxury and is also very well regarded in terms of reviews in Šibenik. Are you looking for options for a smaller budget? Then take a look Center Luxury Rooms, Mediterranean Rooms en Jimmy Apartments.

Campsites

Are you going in high season? Look and book your camping pitch in advance via allcamps of Voda tent. There are also many small campsites in the region, which are not affiliated with the major websites. Sometimes they can't even be found online at all. Fortunately, I see more and more small-scale campsites appearing on apps like Park4night en iOverlander. There you will also find many places for wild camping, if you want to camp completely free in Croatia. Please note that there are rules attached to this - you are not allowed to just stand anywhere.

Best time to travel

The Šibenik region is characterized by a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and dry and mild winters. I have been to Šibenik in spring, summer and autumn in different years. One time I was passing through, the other time for a city trip. As far as I'm concerned, the best travel time for Šibenik is spring or autumn, when temperatures are moderate and it is not yet very busy in terms of tourism.

Spring

The months May and June are great. In May there is still a reasonable amount of precipitation on average, but this is guaranteed to be interspersed with many hours of sunshine. May and June are usually the two greenest months of the year. Expect occasional showers with average temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees.

Sometimes this warmer period starts earlier in April, but this month is historically very difficult to predict. It might as well still be very wet and chilly.

Summer (high season)

The months July and August are generally dry and warm. Temperatures above 35 degrees are normal during this period, this can even last for weeks. They are also the busiest months. Many Europeans spend their summer holidays in Croatia and the region of Šibenik is no exception.

Autumn

The months September and October are similar in temperature to May and June. With between 20 and 30 degrees during the day it feels very pleasant and at night it noticeably cools down a bit more. Also november can still be very pleasant but like April, is quite unpredictable.

Winter

The Adriatic Sea has a major influence on the climate. This influence ensures, among other things, that the temperature is somewhat tempered throughout the year. The winter months are less cold than you would expect. In December, January and February summer temperatures are no longer the case. Winters in Šibenik are typically Mediterranean, mild and mostly wet.

Conclusion

I have visited Croatia more than 20 times. For Sibenik en Krka National Park it was (this time at the invitation of the Croatian National Tourist Board) already my fourth visit. I love coming back here and that has everything to do with the versatility of the country. Because there are no sandy beaches, the sea water here is always crystal clear. The gastronomy is fantastic and Croatia has a lot to offer in terms of culture and history. And I haven't even talked about nature yet...

Those who go outside the high season also save a lot of money. Dalmatia and so too Sibenik are perfect for a city trip in the spring or autumn, when the crowds are not that bad, the temperatures feel pleasant and the prices are low. That Sibenik is also the ideal starting point for a visit to one of Europe's most beautiful national parks, the Krka National Park, is of course also a nice bonus. This is how you combine this city trip Sibenik also with a day in the beautiful nature.