The Unexpected Pleasure of Rijeka, Croatia, Rijeka, Croatia (B)

There seems to be little of the Croatian coast that tourists are not familiar with these days. From Dubrovnik to Rovinj, tourists have flocked to admire this pristine coast and the delightful destinations found along it. Looking at a map of Croatia, I was rightfully confused when planning my most recent visit that I hadn’t heard more about Rijeka. It is after all, the third biggest city in Croatia. So why was it I hadn’t seen much about visiting Rijeka before?

Keen to find out for myself what the city offered, Rijeka was a natural fit in my Croatian itinerary. Before venturing onto Istria, I spent a few days in the city even though I didn’t know what to expect. I hedged my bet by staying somewhere where I could catch up on work too if needed. The rainy March weather did mean I spent a fair amount of time indoors, but I did get the chance to go out and see the city and came away thoroughly impressed by what this unassuming port city had to show me. It may not be the textbook Croatian coastal destination that people rush to visit, but Rijeka was a pleasure to visit nonetheless.