Sibenik is a beautiful and tranquil town on the Adriatic, yet it is often overlooked on travel routes because it is overshadowed by more famous cities such as Dubrovnik or Split. The city, as well as boasting some of the most spectacular cathedrals in the country, has a lot to offer in terms of history and culture. In this post, we tell you about things to see and to do in Sibenik and some other tips to help you prepare for your trip.
Must-see places in Sibenik
Sibenik is one of the most beautiful cities to see in Croatia, with its marble floors and white facades that have earned the city the name of the Pearl of the Adriatic. Here is a list of the must-see sights in Sibenik.
1. Old Town
Wandering through the old town is a must-do in Siberik. Despite the many stairs you’ll have to climb as the town centre is on a hill, it’s well worth the walk between white facades built on marble floors that give Sibenik an imperial feel. The entire old town is pedestrianised, which makes for a pleasant visit and encourages you to continue discovering the secrets hidden in its narrow streets.
2. Place of the Croatian Republic
The Croatian Republic Square is one of the most important places to see in Sibenik. There you will find important buildings such as the town hall, which had to be rebuilt after World War II when it was destroyed by bombing. In the square itself you can have a drink on one of the terraces while enjoying the view of the Venetian houses built on the hill.
3. Medieval garden of the monastery of San Lorenzo
The garden of St Lawrence Monastery is one of the most beautiful sights to see in Sibenik. It is accessed via a café and admission is free. Here you will find numerous medicinal plants and pleasant corners where you can relax. The café also has a terrace where you can have a drink. Next to the garden, you can also visit the Grotto of Our Lady and the Church of San Lorenzo. The most curious thing about the garden is that it was not renovated until 2007, 100 years after it was abandoned.
4. Cathedrals to see in Sibenik
Sibenik is famous for its unique, whitewashed cathedrals. The most important is St. James’ Cathedral, as it is the largest stone-built cathedral in the world. It is Gothic and Renaissance in style, and was named a World Heritage Site for its spectacular façades, where you can count up to 71 heads of saints. The cathedral is open daily from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm and admission is free.
5. St. Michael’s Fortress, a must-see in Sibenik
At the top of Sibenik’s hill is St Michael’s Fortress, a 15th-century castle that now serves as a museum and concert hall. Entrance costs €6.5 and includes the history museum and ramparts, from where you can see the whole town from above. At night the fortress is illuminated and concerts are held, especially in summer. The castle is open from 9am to 9pm.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
¿What to see around Sibenik?
If you thought there was nothing else to see in Sibenik, you’d be wrong. There are several national parks to visit around the town, including Plitvice, Kornati and Krka. The most curious thing is that all of them are characterized by being surrounded by water, either because they extend along an archipelago, as is the case of Kornati, or because they have been formed around a river or lake. Krka National Park is the closest to Sibenik and the best for a day trip, but the other two are no more than a two-hour drive away.
1. Plitvice Lakes
The Plitvice Nature Park is known as a water paradise as it is made up of 14 lakes and multiple waterfalls that cascade down along the way. The scenery is truly breathtaking, and although a day trip is possible, it’s generally recommended that you spend at least one night in one of the surrounding hotels.
Park entrance costs €20 in low season and €30 in high season. You can buy it at the park itself, online or at nearby hotels. And if you’re going in a large group, it’s advisable to buy it in advance. There are paying car parks and restaurants at the entrance to the park.
2. Kornati National Park
The Kornati archipelago, consisting of 147 islands and islets, is the largest in the Adriatic Sea and one of the most sought-after destinations in Croatia for its crystal-clear beaches. The characteristics of the islands are limestone rock formations and sparse vegetation.
The largest island in the archipelago is Kornat, but cruises are organised to most of the islands even if they’re not populated. That’s precisely the main attraction, that there are many unspoilt islands where you can disconnect from civilisation. The best way to visit them is with an organised cruise or on a sailing boat. For around €40/€60 you can spend the whole day discovering the archipelago’s best beaches.
3. Krka Waterfalls
The Krka River National Park is home to some of Croatia’s most impressive sites, with lush vegetation and rock formations that merge with the waters of the river. If you’re staying in Sibenik, this park is the perfect place for a day trip, as it’s only a 15-minute drive away. The trails are well-marked and signposted, so you can enjoy the scenery. There are also wooden walkways and bridges along the way for easy access. It’s definitely a great place to go with children.
The most spectacular features of the park are the Skradinski Waterfalls. Here, as well as taking a thousand photos, you can swim in the designated areas. In the area there are also food stalls, toilets and jetties from where boats leave to see the waterfalls at close quarters. Please note that you have to pay 200kn to enter the park, as it is a protected area.
Visit Sibenik in 1 day
Sibenik is a city that can easily be visited in 1 day without much organisation. We recommend wandering through the streets of the old town and visiting some of the most picturesque spots such as the Croatian Republic Square, the medieval garden, St. Michael’s Fortress and St. James’ Church. You can also stroll along the coast and eat fish in one of the restaurants in the harbour.
Although Sibenik is a day’s sightseeing, it’s a strategic location for excursions in the surrounding area, as it’s well-connected. From there you can visit the national parks or some of Croatia’s most important cities such as Split or Dubrovnik.
¿How to get to Sibenik?
The most common way to travel to Croatia is to fly to Venice or one of the country’s main airports and then hire a car to travel around the country. If you prefer to travel by public transport, the best option is to fly into Split airport, and from the city centre there are several options for getting to Sibenik:
- Bus: From Split station there are direct buses to Sibenik which cost between €4 and €18. The journey time is 1h 30.
- Train: the train takes almost 2h30, but is cheaper. The ticket costs between €4 and €7.
- Hire a car: At Split airport, you can hire a car. The road trip is almost 90 km and takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to drive.
¿Where to eat in Sibenik?
Croatian gastronomy is characterised by the influence of the Mediterranean diet, so in its dishes we can see reflected cuisines such as those of Italy or Greece, where the star products are olive oil and good wine. Another predominant ingredient in Croatian cuisine is fresh fish and seafood, which you can try in any restaurant in Sibenik. Here is a list of some of our favourite restaurants in town.
- Konoba Nostalgija: this is an intimate and pleasant restaurant specialising in fish. The menu is not very extensive, but everything is delicious. We recommend starting with a soup and then moving on to the fish. The price ranges from 10€ to 25€.
- Konoba Gorica: another cosy, small restaurant specialising in fish. It is in the style of the previous one, and it is recommended to book in advance as it is in high demand.
- Bounty: is the best burger restaurant in town. The price is very affordable and the best thing is that you can eat overlooking the sea.
- Stari Grad:is one of the best restaurants in town. The specialities are fish and seafood dishes, which are not only delicious but also plentiful. Typical Croatian dishes are also on the menu. Although the restaurant is large, it is advisable to go early, before it gets too crowded so as not to have to wait.
Best accommodations in Sibenik
In Sibenik there is a wide variety of places to stay, from 5-star all-inclusive resorts to simple and inexpensive guesthouses. Holiday flats are also very common in Croatia. If you’re short on time, it’s best to stay in the old town so that you don’t miss out on anything to see in Sibenik. Here is a list of some of the accommodation you might be interested in.
- D-Resort ŠibenikSe: is a 4-star luxury resort with panoramic sea views from every room. The hotel has a swimming pool, spa, restaurant, parking and fitness rooms. An all-inclusive room costs €550 per night.
- Hostel Globo: is a charming guesthouse in the heart of the old town and only 6 minutes from the beach. It is simple, clean and very cosy. It also has a very pleasant terrace. The price of the rooms starts at 40€.
- New Studio Apartments Trlaja: are a complex of flats 300 metres from the beach and less than 1 km from the centre of Sibenik. The flats have a kitchen, terrace and car parking. The price per night is 113€.
- Fenice Palace: a beautiful 4-star hotel just 8 minutes from the beach. The rooms are fully equipped and the hotel offers special rooms for families. Car and bicycle rental is also available. Prices start at 160€ per night.
Travel tips to Sibenik
- The official currency of Croatia is the Kuna
- If you are travelling by car, the lights should always be switched on.
- We recommend that you exchange money before you set off on your trip, as it will be cheaper.
- As European citizens we don’t need a visa to enter the country either, just your ID card or passport is enough.
- Bosnia and Montenegro are very close to the south, so if you’re driving along the coast, make sure you have the right documents to hand.
- The best time to visit Sibenik is in spring and autumn, when there are fewer tourists and temperatures are more pleasant than in winter or summer.
- Be covered for possible medical emergencies: travel insured
- Croatia’s beaches are pebbly, so we recommend wearing crab shells so you can swim to your heart’s content.
Organize your trip to Sibenik
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.
- Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers
- Create your own itinerary and add suggestions from the app to it.
- Add the stops you’re most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organise your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes presented in the post)
- Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make any modifications you need to make, and you’re all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers things to do in Sibenik Croatia.
If you have any doubts about how to do this, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.
Frequently Asked Questions when travelling to Sibenik
The summer months are the best time as temperatures are warmer, however, there are also more tourists. Early spring is a good option if you want to avoid the crowds. From September onwards the rainy season starts, so if you are looking for sun and beach it may not be the best time.
Sibenik is a relatively small town that can easily be seen in a day or even a morning. In fact, many organised tours visit both Sibenik and Trogir in the same day.
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