Šibenik: A Hidden Gem of Dalmatia
Šibenik, Dalmatia - Things to know & a few facts
- Šibenik is an old town - Its foundation dates back to the year 1066
- The Cathedral of St Jacob (Katedrala sv. Jakova) belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage Site - and is really impressive
- Šibenik is built on a hill - and is a city of stairs: More than 2,800 steps leading through the small alleys and to sights and monuments
- With a population of around 42,000, Šibenik is the third largest city in Dalmatia
- Šibenik is a City of fortresses: Surrounded by a total of four castles, all of which are also UNESCO World Heritage Sites. it was well protected by its Venetian defence system
- Also in Game of Thrones Šibenik had an appearance: as City of Braavos
Places of interest in Sibenik
It is late afternoon when we arrive in Šibenik. The typical Dalmatian stone houses are bathed in golden light, the white, smooth walls radiate the heat of the day and create a pleasant warmth in the narrow streets. The coastal town is not big, so we just set off, let ourselves drift, follow the labyrinth of small streets, always following the glistening sunlight that guides us towards the seafront promenade. Quite automatically, we end up in the city's main square, with the Cathedral of St James and the town hall. And then the sky explodes and bathes the white buildings in an unreal violet light!
For your Šibenik holiday, I would also advise you to simply let yourself drift through the small alleyways - as Sibenik was built on a slope, you never know what view might be waiting for you around the next bend. But you certainly don't want to miss the most important sights in Sibenik. Here is an overview of the city's highlights.
Cathedral of St James
This building is probably best known not for its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but let's be honest, because Game of Thrones was filmed here. But at the end of the day, it doesn't matter why you want to visit this monumental building: The cathedral is simply worth seeing either way and you'll stumble across it on your holiday in Šibenik one way or another, after all, it's right on the city's main square, Trg Republike Hrvatske!
This glistening building made of marble and limestone towers over and outshines the rest of the traditional old town and is simply indescribable to look at, especially during the Golden Hour just before sunset. You can visit the church for a few euros, but the many frescoes and decorations on the outside are worth the sight in themselves!
The four fortresses
Šibenik is particularly famous for its four fortresses - truly unique in Croatia! Not all of the four fortresses are located directly in the old town centre, but you can visit all four if you wish.
Tvrđava svetog Mihovila (St Michael's Fortress) - You should definitely visit the most famous of Sibenik's fortresses for a marvellous view over the city. Admission costs 10 euros and the fortress is well signposted and easy to reach from the main square. But keep an eye on the opening hours (we were too late and couldn't get in...)
Tvrđava Sveti Nikola (Fortress of the holy St Nicholas) - The fortress of St Nicholas is located at the entrance to the canal that connects the city to the open sea. The coastal town is not located directly by the sea, as you might think, but is connected to the Adriatic by the sveti Ante canal. The fortress of St Nicholas can therefore only be reached from the water. However, you can enjoy the view of the fortress for free from St Nicholas beach and also walk along the Sveti Ante canal from here.
Tvrđava Barone (Baron Fortress) - Situated slightly higher than the fortress of St Michael, this fortress offers an impressive view of the old town of Šibenik. You can even take an AR tour into the past and culture of Croatia and Dalmatia here. All information on admission and opening hours can be found here.
Old Town
In my opinion, sightseeing in a Croatian city cannot be complete without simply drifting around and soaking up the Dalmatian lifestyle. As in every coastal town, Sibenik also has many small alleyways where you can just let yourself drift - after all, the best way to have an unforgettable holiday is to stumble across things you hadn't planned, right?
A few sights in the old town that you might want to include in a walk are the Cathedral of St James:
- The Trg Republike Hrvatske - the architecture, especially of the town hall with its loggia and porticoes, is really worth seeing
- The Church of St Barbara - also located directly near the main square and is now a museum
- The Monastery garden of the Laurentius Monastery - It is hidden behind the main square and the hustle and bustle of the city is suddenly far away.
- The waterfront promenade with its numerous cafés and restaurants
The best panoramic view of Šibenik
Of course, the view from all the fortresses down to the city and the sea is breathtakingly beautiful, but from where do you have the best view? on Šibenik with its unique location, built into the hill? If you want to take the same photo as I did here below, then it's best to take a 15-minute walk from the old town centre to the "Panoramski vidikovac na grad Šibenik" (just enter the exact name on Google).
This viewing platform is also located right next to one of the city beaches, so you can combine swimming and sightseeing. The beach has a small beach bar and when we were there (out of season) it was almost deserted.
Stroll along the promenade at sunset
At sunset, simply sit at the ObalaWalking along the beach promenade is almost a must when you're on holiday in a coastal town, isn't it? There are numerous restaurants and cafés along Sibenik's waterfront, from where you can enjoy a great view to the west.
We sat comfortably in the bar Azimutha cool student pub that sometimes hosts concerts or events.
Swimming in Šibenik: Banj beach
As Šibenik is not located directly on the Adriatic Sea, there are beaches around the city, but the choice in the city is not so great. The city beach Banj Beach, which also offers the most beautiful panoramic view of the city itself, is the best choice for you if you want to spend a day at the beach.
And just like everywhere else in Croatia, you need to pack sturdy flip-flops for a beach holiday - they may not be sexy on a pebbly beach, but they are a necessity.
Šibenik: The best time to visit
If you want to go on holiday in Sibenik, be aware that the Adriatic coast is generally a popular tourist destination, which means that everywhere in Dalmatia gets crowded - and hot! The climate on the Dalmatian coast is Mediterranean, which means you can expect hot summers and rainy, windy winters.
My recommendation for Croatia is always the low season, from April to the beginning of June and then again from mid-September it is less hot and crowded in Croatia. I generally postpone my holiday like to refer to the so-called shoulder seasonin other words, just before or after the peak season. This way you can also save money when booking - because accommodation is also cheaper then.
Is one day enough for Šibenik?
Personally, I think so: Take two days.
Yes, the town is small and you can easily explore most of Šibenik's sights in a day or even a long afternoon. But simply spending a cosy evening on the promenade, sitting on the balcony the next morning with a coffee - maybe even with a sea view? - and simply having time to really take in the city has become priceless for me.
There is also much more to discover around the city, making Šibenik a great base from which to explore the region.
We had a really great, local accommodation in Šibenik - I always love booking local flats. A bit out of the city centre, but with a small terrace surrounded by pomegranate trees and a hot tub on the rooftop! You can find our accommodation in Šibenik here.
More to discover: Great day trips in the surrounding area
Around Šibenik you have numerous opportunities for sporting activities, swimming or to experience nature and other historical sites and cute little villages.
Day trip to Primošten
This firn village is truly a jewel on the Adriatic coast - I have been in Primošten really is a little bit in love. Situated on an island, the small town is only connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of coastline and therefore offers views of the deep blue sea all around. We were there in the shoulder season (I'm a fan, as I've already mentioned!), and there really wasn't much going on. Some of the restaurants were even closed.
In Primošten, you can take a wonderful stroll along a small coastal path around the old town centre and let yourself drift through the narrow alleyways. The church of Sveti Juraj is enthroned at the highest point above the town - it's well worth a walk up there!
Krka National Park
Šibenik is of the The starting point for a visit to Krka National Park - it only takes around 20 minutes by car to reach this natural wonder. The cascading waterfalls of Krka National Park are impressive and numerous hiking trails in the park ensure that you can spend the whole day travelling between small rivers, lakes, waterfalls and green nature. You can also go canoeing or kayaking around the Krka National Park.
A visit to the city of Zadar
The city of Zadar is also nearby - you only need to plan around an hour's drive. A highlight of the city on the Croatian coast are the Roman and Venetian ruins of the old town. Zadar is a great place to simply stroll around and soak up the Croatian way of life.
So there you have it - my best travel tips for Šibenik in Croatia - a little gem that has not yet been overrun by tourism!
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Have you ever been to Cape Town? If so, how did you like it? Do you have any additional tips and experiences? I look forward to reading about them in the comments!
