Šibenik Travel Guide
Šibenik is a small city on the Adriatic coast of Croatia Located between Zadar and Split, it is a must to make during your visit of the Croatian Coast. We visited in a road trip day by car from Plitvice to Split in August 2021.
It’s known as a gateway to the Kornati Islands, a group of islands located next to Šibenik.
But the best part is the old town of the city, made of cobble stone streets and filled with old stone building. It’s a wonder to just walk around and discover along many historical buildings and even a fortress.
We spent a couple of hours in Šibenik and found that it was enough to get the most of it. But of course, if you are staying longer, you won’t be disappointed either as the town as a lot of offers.
Table of Contents
Mapping the day
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Getting there
If like us you are on a road trip, then reaching Šibenik is pretty easy. If coming from Zadar, you can follow the Jardranska Magistrala, a road following the coast. Or you can also use the highway.
If you are in Croatia using public transportation, then the best is to get to a main city (by bus or by plane), like Zadar, Split and then hop on a bus.
Moving Around
Once you are in Šibenik, you will want to stay in the old town and for therefor will be able to simply walk around. Šibenik is not that big of a city.
When to Visit
The best time to visit Šibenik is from April to October. Though it is good to know that July and August are the warmest month as well as the most crowded.
The best recommendation would be June or September when you get into the lower tourism season and out of the peak temperatures.
Things to do in Šibenik
Poljana Square
If like us you ae coming by car, this is the square you will exist the parking from. It is a nice and modern square with a quite cool solar clock.
Crkva Gospa van Grada
Next to the square is this cute little church, ‘Our Lady Out of Town. It was erected on the site of the medieval cemetery and the small church of Sts. Cosmas and Damian
Springbrunnen
And before stating to explore the old town, let’s pass by this nice little park to get some greenery and shade 😊
Katedrala sv. Jakov
Also known as the Cathedral of St. James, this UNESCO world Heritage site was built in the 15th century under the Venetian governance. The cathedral has 71 unique faces representing townsfolks, a Gothic lower level and Renaissance upper level.
Church Museum of St. Barbara
Located right behind the cathedral stands this pretty little church. The church serves as a museum with sculptures and painting dating back between the 14th to 18th century
City Hall Šibenik
Located in the main square, this is quite a splendid town hall to see. Known as the Gradska vijecnica, it is located opposite of the cathedral and feature stunning Renaissance columns, arches, and balustrade. It was almost completely destroyed during WWII but was fully renovated.
St. Michael's Fortress
St. Michael’s Fortress is one of the 5 Fortress in town and is the one at the origin of the city. If you have to visit one of them, it is this one. Sitting in the middle of the old town it offers stunning views. And has within its walls, a stage for event. Entrance is not free.
Dalmatian Ethno Village
A most modern attraction to do is to visit the Dalmatian Ethno Village that provides a first-rate insight into the lives of the area’s local people through the centuries. We didn’t know but it is part of a beach resort and is actually a restaurant. Yet it is quite nice to visit.
Other things to do
St. John's Fort
Šibenik was one of the most protected towns in the 16th century. St. John’s Fort is the highest fortress in town. It takes some 10-15min to reach the fortress and is a cool place to visit if you have some spare time or are fan of old fort.
Barone Fortress
The Barone Fortress is an early modern fortress constructed in 1646 and is also part of the fortification system of the town. it played a significant role in city’s defence from the Ottomans during the Cretan War.
St. Nicholas’ Fortress
Siting at the entrance of the Šibenik sea, the fort stands in the middle of the ocean. It was used to defend the port from Turkish attached. A cool thing is that there are only 3 fort like that in Europe (with Venice and Malta).
The Count's Palace (Civic Museum)
If you are into museum, you may be interested in this one. The late Renaissance-era Rector’s Palace was originally built to serve as the governor’s residence during the 16th century.
Today, it is the city’s Civic Museum (Muzej Grada Sibenika) featuring many local archeological artifacts dating from Neolithic to Roman times.
Krka National Park
If you spend a few days in Šibenik, you may want to visit this national reserve. As the river Krka goes down, it meets with stunning lakes and creates waterfalls.
Itinerary
We only spent a couple of hours there and we just hang around.
Bogu iza nogu ‘Behind God’s legs’: In the middle of nowhere.
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