Šibenik is a city that quietly invited us to stroll in a pleasantly aimless fashion. Located near Croatia’s stunning Dalmatian Coast and Krka National Park, we didn’t find an abundance of things to do in Šibenik, but that just added to its charm. Instead, we mingled with locals and a friendly feline and people-watched from the window of a cozy café while sipping coffee.
A child skipped by with a red balloon in hand. Others played on the centuries-old lions that guard the town’s famous cathedral.
Šibenik is the oldest Croatian town on the eastern side of the Adriatic Sea, whereas other cities along the coast were founded by the Romans, Greeks, and Illyrians.
The Cathedral of Saint James (Croatian: Katedrala sv. Jakova) is Šibenik’s crown jewel, and is considered to be one of the most important Renaissance monuments in all of Croatia.
Built entirely from stone, the church also possesses quirky characteristics – most notably the more than 70 faces of adults and children from centuries past.
The cathedral was built between 1431 and 1535 marrying both Gothic and Renaissance elements and it demonstrates the exchange of ideas that took place between Northern Italy, Tuscany, and Croatia’s Dalmatia region in the 15th and 16th centuries. It was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2000.
Šibenik has four fortresses:
- the seaside St. Nicholas Fortress (Tvrđava Sv. Nikole)
- Tvrđava Sv. Mihovila (St. Michael’s)
- Tvrđava Sv. Ivana
- Tvrđava Šubićevac
We ascended the hill to St. Michael’s Fortress, only to find that it was undergoing construction. This allowed us to mingle with a pregnant cat in the neighboring cemetery, while taking in the area’s magnificent views of the sparkling water below.
Where in the World?
Planning Pointers:
- Šibenik is located about 85 km (50 miles) from Split and 50 km (30 miles) from Trogir. We took the bus from Trogir to Šibenik for a day trip and the journey lasted about one hour each way. We had hoped to visit Krka National Park at the same time, but since it was the wintertime Krka’s boat schedule was limited and we wouldn’t have been able to make it there within the park’s opening hours.
- Would you like more ideas to help plan your Croatian holiday? This link contains an index of all my posts from Croatia.
Accommodation in the Split Area:
Shawn and I have spent a total of five winters and one summer in and around the city of Split, using it as a base to explore Croatia’s popular Central Dalmatia region. We’ve made it a habit to create new memories by staying in a different property each year. Over the years, we’ve had long-term stays in Split, Trogir, Solin, and Makarska. We would happily revisit all of the following apartments. (Please note that some are affiliate links.)
- Kaleta Apartments (Split) – These lovely apartments are located within Diocletian’s Palace (well, technically just a few meters from the Iron Gate). Our elegant studio apartment, called the “Diocletian’s Suite,” had lots of character — including Roman brickwork embedded into the wall. We had overhead views of life on Split’s Old Town streets, and we enjoyed chatting with the friendly owners, Novica and Negri. We spent about 2.5 months here.
- Guesthouse F (Split) – This cozy studio apartment is located in Split’s Varoš neighborhood, just a few minutes’ walk from Diocletian’s Palace. With its quirky narrow streets and stone homes decorated with hunter-green shutters and flower boxes, Varoš is charming. One of Guesthouse F’s apartments was originally a horseshoe maker’s workshop, owned by Anja’s grandfather. Shawn and I dubbed it the “horseshoe cottage.” Aside from our central location, we loved having a tiny terrace. We also appreciated the kindness of our hosts, Anja and Miro. In total, we spent about 2 months here.
- Viola Apartment (Split) – We spent roughly 3 months in this wonderful 2-bedroom apartment, which is also in the Varoš neighborhood of Split. The apartment also has a lovely sun porch and garden. It is in an old stone home, but the interior has recently been remodeled. We were in a perfect location for accessing Diocletian’s Palace and Marjan Forest Park, too. On foot, it takes about six minutes to reach Split’s most famous lookout point near the Caffe Bar Vidilica. The owner, Ljubica, lives upstairs. She is easygoing and helpful.
- Apartments Mirkec (Trogir) – We spent 7 wonderful weeks in this studio apartment, which is located in the heart of the town of Trogir. The apartment had good Wifi and a kitchen with all the basics. It was also perfectly situated in the heart of Trogir’s gorgeous Old Town, just a minute’s walk from the seaside walkway, the Riva. Trogir’s bus station was about a 5-minute walk from the Apartments Mirkec, making day trips using mass transportation easy. Note: As of 2025, I think this apartment has permanently closed. However, the owner’s popular restaurant (Pizzeria Mirkec), which is located underneath the apartment, is still cooking up delicious pizzas in their wood-fired pizza oven.
- Apartments Vesna (Makarska) – This 1-bedroom apartment was our home for about 12 months. The apartment is on the top floor and features skylights. A small balcony on the back of the apartment overlooks Makarska’s harbor — the views of Makarska’s dramatic mountains are wonderful! It takes about 8 minutes to reach Makarska’s bus station on foot. In a matter of minutes, you can also walk to Makarska’s Riva (seaside promenade), several grocery stores, restaurants, and cafés. The owners, Mise and Anna, are exceptionally friendly and helpful.
Photography & text © Tricia A. Mitchell. All Rights Reserved.
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