Popular tourist places
Discover Šibenik - Dalmatia
Šibenik - Croatian story! At the beginning, of course, interesting fact from history. Dalmatia is full of cities with long history, but the city of Šibenik is among them highlighted by the fact that was not founded by Illyrian tribes or Romans but by Croats after settling in these areas. The city was first mentioned in the scriptures of Croatian king Petar Krešimir IV on Christmas in 1066. In its long history, Šibenik has changed its lords from the Hungarian kings to Venice, Austria and the Italian occupation during World War II. One more interesting fact is that the city of Šibenik from December 1944 to May 1945 was de facto the capital of Croatia, because it was the seat of Zavnoh (Tito’s partisans).
There are many reasons why to visit Šibenik. The charm of old stone streets filled with restaurants, cafes, and nightclubs will make your stay interesting in this beautiful city. There are numerous sights worth visiting, especially Šibenik cathedral, fortresses; Šubićevac, Mihovil, Ivan and Nikola and the indispensable tour of the spectacular Sibenik channel. Sibenik cathedral of St. James is the most important architectural building of 15th and 16th centuries on the Croatian soil. Construction started in 1431. and the construction lasted until 1536. Because of its outstanding values, the Cathedral was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000. St. Mihovil fortress served as the main point of the city's defense system and was built in various stages from the 13th to the late 16th century, and today it has been restored and adapted to the open-air theater and represents the obligatory station for every tourist tour. Fortresses of St. Nikola and St. Ivan was built in the 16th and 17th centuries, and Fortress Barone is a special Šibenik story because it was built by Šibenik citizens in just two months before the invasion of the Ottoman Army. In today's Barone fortress you have the opportunity to experience the siege through the technology of expanded reality, so this fortress is an inevitable part of the sightseeing of Sibenik's sights. To be able to visit all of these wonderful sites, it is important to find comfortable and affordable accommodation. Accommodation offer is varied, from beach apartments and holiday homes to old town rooms. All this is possible through direct contact with the owners of the accommodation without expensive agency fees!
But in this central part of Dalmatia, apart from Šibenik, there are many other interesting places to visit. In the same county, there is a beautiful tourist town Vodice, whose CMC festival attracts the most popular names of the Croatian estrade in the summer, and is also home to the famous nightclub Hacienda. There is also a picturesque town of Primošten built on a small island connected with the mainland, with its beautiful city beach and the newly built statue of Our Lady of Loreto on the viewpoint above the sea, which you have to visit. Near Primošten there is another tourist pearl Rogoznica, which is also called the heart of Dalmatia. In the hinterland of Šibenik lies the well-known Krka National Park and its lush waterfalls, and the ancient royal town of Knin, which through history was the capital of the Croatian kings. On the hill above it is a monumental fort with a huge Croatian flag. From the island of Murter, you can visit Kornati national park, the densest island group on the Mediterranean. Like everywhere in Dalmatia, the tourist offer would not be complete without the culinary part and it is very impressive. A rich history has left its mark on the traditional Šibenik cuisine, which was under the influence of Venice, Austria-Hungary, Hungary, and Turkey. Today it is united with the traditional Šibenik dishes. From the dishes you have to try, we will mention asparagus and snails, luganige, small aromatic sausages made from a mix of pork meat, lamb, Drniš prosciutto and of course the famous Dalmatian pašticada.
So, after all, it's time for an adventure called Dalmatia and Šibenik. Thanks to the numerous apartments on the coast, rooms and holiday houses, and especially via direct contact with the owners of the accommodation it is never more convenient and more accessible! We wish you a pleasant stay in Šibenik region and Dalmatia!
Recommendations
The Cathedral of St. James in Šibenik is one of the pearls of Croatian cultural heritage. Built during the course of a hundred years at the turn of the 15th to the 16th century it was the most significant construction project in that period throughout Croatia. Sibenik cathedral was built as a three-nave basilica measuring 38 x 14 m and with the highest height of 38 m at the top of a stone dome.
The construction of the first cathedral in Sibenik was the centuries-long wish of its inhabitants to separate Sibenik from the Trogir Diocese and to build the cathedral this beautiful town deserves. The most famous Croatian and Venetian Gothic and Renaissance builders such as Juraj Dalmatinac worked on the construction of the cathedral, and it was built in three phases. The construction started in the Venetian Gothic style, and was completed in the style of the Tuscan Renaissance, depending on how the main builders changed. It was built on the south side of the main square of Sibenik, across the street from the city hall, on the site of the former church of St. James.
The most interesting fact is that the entire cathedral was built exclusively of stone without the use of binder mortars and wooden constructive elements, which is unique in Europe. It is also abundant with numerous stone sculptures, ornaments, decorated vaults, stone details (cherubim, angels, saints ...). Due to its uniqueness, the cathedral of St. James was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000. As one of the greatest attractions in Sibenik, the Cathedral with the renaissance city hall and the surrounding church, the narrow stone streets, the palace and the prince's palace, is the main reason for the ever increasing visit of tourists to this interesting Dalmatian town.
During the winter, the Cathedral is open to visitors every day from 08:30 to 12:00 and from 16:00 to 20:00, and during the summer tourist season it is open to visitors all day from 08:30 to 20:00. It is protected monument of culture, so the entrance is charged and the ticket price is symbolic 15.00 kuna ( 2 euros). If you want to attend a ceremony, the Mass is held every day at 09:30, 11:00 and 18:00. You can find accommodation in Sibenik in an attractive old town in old stone houses in private apartments and rooms where you can experience the unique atmosphere and spirit of some old times. If you spend the summer somewhere in the vicinity of Sibenik, come and visit this beautiful medieval Croatian town, its fortifications, old stone streets and of course the unavoidable Cathedral of St. James, a unique monument of European sacral architecture.
Krka National Park is located in the central part of Dalmatia in the Šibenik-Knin County and along the Kornati National Park is the most significant and most beautiful natural pearl of this part of Dalmatia. The National Park was proclaimed in 1985 and was the seventh national park in Croatia. It covers 109 km2, or the most significant and most beautiful part of the Krka River in the length of 50 km, where are many beautiful waterfalls, lakes and impressive canyons.
River Krka runs down from mountain Dinara near Knin and flows into the Adriatic Sea near Šibenik. Krka is a natural karst phenomenon, as it builds 7 sedimentary barriers, waterfalls, from which Skradinski buk is certainly the most impressive and most famous. 400 meters wide, and nearly 50 meters high, is the largest cascade and largest sedge barrier in Europe. These imposing waterfalls are the main reason for preserving this karst beauty. The best time to visit the park is in the spring and summer. In the spring, Krka and the waterfalls abound in water and show its full splendor, because snow is melting from mountain Dinara. During summer it is possible to swim under Skradinski buk or on Visovac lake, but because of the tourist season and the proximity of Šibenik, Vodice, Primošten and Rogoznica, the whole park is crowded with tourists.
There are several entrances to the park, and one of the most attractive is certainly from Skradin, a small picturesque town where the river Krka flows into the Prokljansko jezero (flooded part of river Krka by Adriatic sea). From Skradin, boats are regularly going through the beautiful canyon, up to the entrance to the National Park at the foot of the waterfall Skradinski Buk. Besides Skradin, some of the attractive places that are worth visiting are: Visovac lake, Roški waterfalls, Oziđana cave, Krka monastery and Manojlovački waterfalls. One of the attractions of the park is also the numerous stone watermills, which are no longer in use, but have been used in the past by the local population for the production of flour. Today inside them you can find local specialties or refreshment, because most of them are turned in restaurants or bars.
We recommend a visit early in the morning to avoid the summer crowds, but also because you need all day to see this beautiful natural wonder of Dalmatia and to enjoy the beauty of nature, water and stone. Ticket prices for the National Park Krka vary in what period you want to visit it, with the most expensive tickets during the summer months (July and August), when it is visited by the most tourists. If you choose to spend a holiday in the central part of Dalmatia, not far from Šibenik, you can find cheap private accommodation and apartments. We certainly recommend one day excursion and relaxation in this natural paradise of Dalmatia!
Our Lady of Loreto is the patron saint of the town of Primošten, one of the most famous tourist centers of Dalmatia, and one of the most picturesque small places on the Adriatic. In May 2017, a 17-meter high statue of Our Lady of Loreto opened on the top of a 170 meter high hill Gaj (Kremik), where the Lady is watching and safeguarding Primošten. In addition to the statue of Our Lady of Loreto, here is a beautiful viewpoint and perfect view on one of the most picturesque places in Dalmatia - Primošten. During nice weather from here you can clearly see town of Šibenik, Rogoznica, Kornati islands, the entire Šibenik archipelago and the open Adriatic sea.
It is possible to reach viewpoint by car, but also on foot, and the best time to visit this beautiful place is late in the afternoon before the sunset when you can clearly see islands of Hvar, Vis and distant Jabuka. All guests and visitors will be delighted by the unforgettable sunset, as well as the beautiful statue of Our Lady of Loreto, decorated in a mosaic of gold, silver and painted glass.
The history of Our Lady of Loreto dates back to 1835, when one of Primošten's inhabitants, Marko Prgin, who saw in the sleep Lady of Our Lady's image and heard the message that he would recover from serious illness if he take her picture from Loreto in Italy. This dream was so real and impressed him so much that he had no peace until he borrowed the bracelet, gathered people and headed to the Italian coast of the Adriatic - Loreto. There he found a picture in the tree of the Virgin Mary with a small child Jesus in her arms. Marko Prgin took the picture into a wooden chest and transported it by boat to Primošten. During the epidemic of cholera in the 19th century in Primošten, pastor Don Mate Livić organized a procession around the village with Our Lady's image on May 10, and thus made the promise of Our Lady of Loreto, and the widespread cholera disease was successfully suppressed.
The celebrations on May 10 are celebrated every year as the day of town Primosten, and a special celebration is organized. We invite all visitors and tourists to visit this unique viewpoint in Dalmatia and the statue of Our Lady of Loreto and to enjoy the view, the silence and the natural beauty of the Primošten and Dalmatia region in Croatia. If you wish to stay and spend great holidays here, Primošten offers huge selection of apartments, rooms and holiday homes in affordable private accommodation.
The Faust Vrančić Memorial Center is located in Prvic Luka on the beautiful small island of Prvic. Prvić is a small island in the Šibenik archipelago, about one kilometer away from the mainland, near Vodice. There is no car on the island, and the mainland connection is maintained by a ship line that travels several times a day on the route Sibenik - Prvic - Vodice. Island is characterized by peace, silence, beautiful nature, numerous pebble and stone beaches and crystal clear sea.
The Memorial Center was built in 2012 in honor of Faust Vrancic, the most famous member of the Šibenik noble family who was born in Prvić. Faust Vrancic was a famous Croatian polyhistor, inventor and diplomat born in 1551. He had a very interesting life path. He studied in Padua, he held various high offices; by Secretary of King Rudolf II. in Prague, the Bishop of Chanada and the commander of the town of Veszprem in Hungary, and kings adviser for Hungary and Transylvania. He died in Venice in 1617 and was, according to his own wish, buried in the church of St. Mary of Mercy in Prvic Luka on the island of Prvic.
On the island of Prvic, the noble family Vrancic, who was originally from Sibenik, owned a summer residence where Faust spent his childhood. With this special island he remained deeply connected throughout his life. He wrote the Dictionary of the five most prestigious European languages, Latin, Italian, German, Croatian and Hungarian, which was the first multilingual dictionary in Europe. Machinae novae - New Machines is probably the most famous piece of his work. In this collection of machines and technical constructions is the first printed parachute design, time measuring equipment with water and fire, different types of mills and bridges, life belt, cable car and many others. An interesting life, a rich creative opus, a collection of models of his invention, and his most significant written works, all this you can see if you visit this memorial center.
Visitors have audio guides available in five languages (Croatian, English, German, Italian and French), and the youngest visitors can try out the educational games. On the floor is a restaurant where you can relax with a beautiful view of Prvic bay, Faust's inventions in natural size and Mediterranean herbs. We invite all visitors from the Šibenik region to visit this beautiful small island and the Memorial Center, and find out why Faust Vrančić was so attached to this little island which is truly mediterranean paradise. If you wish to stay here, on Prvić there are numerous private accommodation and apartments offered by residents of Prvić Luka and Šepurine.
Kornati islands is the most dense archipelago of the Mediterranean Sea, and not so many islands in the world are located in such a small area. Specifically, about 140 islands is scattered on a surface of 320 km2. The Kornati are located in central Dalmatia, west of Sibenik, within the Šibenik-Knin County, and the national park was proclaimed in 1980, primarily for the protection of the marine ecosystem.
Of the total area of the park, only 1/4 occupy the land or islands, while the remaining part makes a rich marine ecosystem. The largest island in the archipelago is Kornat, with a surface of 32.44 km2 which occupies two-thirds of the National Park. The distinctiveness of the Kornati archipelago are small islands and islets, numerous coves and beaches, crystal clear sea, rich underwater world and high cliffs on the west side of the outer islands.
There are no permanent settlements or permanent residents on Kornati. Houses and several restaurants in well-protected bays like Vrulje, Kravjačica and Lavsa are used mostly during the summer and the tourist season. Most of the landowners in Kornati are from the island of Murter and from the island of Dugi Otok. Once in the past, the landowners lived exclusively from agriculture and livestock farming (sheep farming), while the pastures and later cultivated areas would come from the burning of low vegetation. The result of the burning of pasture today is almost the moon landscape of Kornati and some of the larger islands, eg Kurbe, Škuja, Lunge. One of the most striking views of the Kornati is its drywalls. Because all the big islands are elongated, all the walls are built from sea to sea, from one side to the other. The drywall was used to keep the sheeps, so they could not pass to other pastures or on isolated fences where olive groves were kept inside a wide drywall.
Kornati islands are mostly visited by organized tourist boats from Murter, and the price includes the entrance fee for the park, the visit to the park's greatest attractions and lunch on one of the islands. You can also dive on the Kornati with professional diving clubs, and experience all the beauties of protected underwater marine life. You can also walk on the well-kept trails that once used Kornati's cattle-breeders or enjoy the fish specialties in several beautifully-decorated local restaurants. If you are planning to spend a holiday in Central Dalmatia, in the Sibenik area, then Kornati is an inevitable destination because you will experience the Mediterranean as it once was.
Slanica beach is one of the most popular and famous beaches on the island of Murter, as well as on the entire Sibenik Riviera. It is located in town Murter, on the west side of the island Murter, with a beautiful view of the open sea and the Kornati islands.
Slanica is surrounded by dense pine forests that provide shade during hot summer days. From the many facilities available to guests, we can highlight water slides, beach volleyball, tennis, trampoline, jet ski, sanitary facilities, shower and several restaurants, where you can try some Dalmatian specialties. Part of the beach is sandy, partly concrete and rocky. Swimming is possible along the entire coast of the nearby Slanica camp on natural rocks. The sea is very clean and is shallow about 30 meters from the shore.
All this makes it ideal for families with children, young couples, and those looking for fun. Sports and active vacation lovers will enjoy playing beach volleyball, tennis and many other water sports. For the youngest there is an amusement park. During the high tourist season in July and August, the beach is overwhelmingly crowded and maybe not the right choice for those who want to spend their holidays in peace and quiet. If you come by car from nearby places, near the beach there is big parking. Nearby Slanica there are numerous attractions to visit, such as the possibility of organized diving and day trips to Kornati islands and boat rental, which will make your stay in Murter even more interesting.
Slanica is also attractive during the walks in the evening due to the spectacular view of the indented Kornati islands and the unforgettable sunsets. We recommend affordable but good quality private accommodation in Murter, where you can find cheap apartments, the best option for a carefree family vacation. We are sure you will spend wonderful moments with your loved ones on one of the most attractive beaches in Murter and Central Dalmatia.
Climate & Weather
Dalmatia is a historical region in Croatia that stretches from Zadar and the mountain Velebit in the north to Dubrovnik and Konavle in the very south of Croatia. In almost all of Dalmatia dominates the typical Mediterranean climate with dry, sunny and hot summers, mild and rainy winters. In the Dalmatian hinterland (Dalmatian Zagora) predominates submediterranean climate, which differs from the typical Mediterranean climate, because the winters are slightly colder and the summers are mostly slightly hotter than the average. Thanks to the multitude of sun and heat here dominate typical evergreen plants; holm oak, Aleppo pine, Dalmatian black pine and from agricultural crops; olives, figs, and vineyards.
Šibenik region is specific by fact that near Rogoznica lies Rt Ploče, the border of northern and middle Dalmatia. Here, there is often collision between different air masses, as well as the northern and southern winds, bora and jugo. This region is also characterized by the abundance of sun, clear skies and pleasant sea temperatures. Šibenik and surrounding area, as well as the Šibenik archipelago, are often the destination of tourists seeking a pleasant and unforgettable vacation in famous tourist resorts such as Vodice and Primošten. Quality and purity of the sea is a characteristic of the entire Dalmatian coast, especially Dalmatian islands due to the relatively low population density and underdevelopment of the industry. Many Dalmatian beaches are the bearers of the blue flag - a symbol of cleanliness, quality of service and ecologically preserved environment.
Below are average maximum and minimum daily air temperature and the sea temperature in Šibenik, which best reflects the pleasant Mediterranean climate.
* average air temperature (°C) during the year in region Šibenik - Dalmatia
* average sea temperature (°C) during the year in region Šibenik - Dalmatia
Accommodation Šibenik - Dalmatia
