Port Guide | Croatia | Worth a Wander

Rijeka

August C. W. | Editor

Published on 2025-06-14

Welcome to Rijeka, the Croatian port city that most cruise brochures charmingly undersell as "quaint," largely because they haven't yet figured out how to market cultural complexity and Habsburg-era swagger in a snappy phrase. If your idea of Europe involves fewer souvenir magnets and more vibrant street festivals, bountiful cafes, and quirky historical trivia, you've docked well. Rijeka once hosted Europe's first torpedo factory in the 19th century, a quirky claim to fame that makes conversations at cocktail parties back home instantly more riveting. But practicalities first: orient yourself with a quick stroll down Korzo, the city's breezy artery lined with Austro-Hungarian elegance and refreshingly unpretentious locals sipping espresso in designer sunglasses. Keep an eye (well, mostly an ear) out-there's a good chance you'll stumble onto a summer festival, whether jazz, theatre, or whatever delightfully oddball event locals dreamed up this week. And should wanderlust call, consider hopping on a boat to nearby Krk or Cres islands, where postcard-worthy views pair nicely with an ice-cold Karlovacko beer. You've arrived: disembark bravely, explore irreverently, and order dessert first-you're in Rijeka now.