Opatija in Advent 2025: “The Most Beautiful Advent by the Sea” turns the Queen of the Adriatic into a holiday fairy tale

Between the sea and the slopes of Učka, only about fifteen minutes' drive from Rijeka, Opatija is once again turning into a large holiday stage this winter. Under the brand “The Most Beautiful Advent by the Sea” from November 28, 2025, to January 6, 2026, the city is filled with thousands of lights, music, the scent of cinnamon and mulled wine, and diverse programs for all generations. With a rich hotel offer and an indented coastline, many visitors decide to extend their stay and look for accommodation in Opatija to spend the holidays by the sea.

The oldest Croatian tourist destination, once a fashionable health resort of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is today a serious year-round destination that shows its most luxurious face during Advent. Opatija has been built as a destination for rest and recovery for almost two centuries, so it is natural that the winter period, along with the mild climate of the Kvarner Bay, has become its trademark – a time when historical villas, parks, and promenades gain an additional holiday glow.

A city with a long tradition of winter holidays by the sea

Opatija grew around the medieval abbey of St. James, but the real tourist rise began in the 19th century with the construction of Villa Angiolina and the arrival of the first aristocracy from Vienna and Budapest. Today, the city is often called the “Queen of the Adriatic” and the “Pearl of Kvarner” – titles that especially come to the fore during Advent, when city parks, the Lungomare promenade, and historical villas turn into a scenography reminiscent of a movie postcard.

The sea and climate are still Opatija's greatest assets. Unlike continental Advent destinations, here the Christmas lighting reflects on the sea surface, and mild winter days allow for long walks without extreme cold. This is exactly why an increasing number of domestic and foreign guests organize a extended weekend or a multi-day stay to combine sightseeing, cultural programs, and wellness with a stay in warm hotel and private capacities. Many book accommodation near the Opatija riviera in advance so they can leave their cars in free parking lots and spend the rest of their stay on foot.

Advent by the sea: key locations and atmosphere

The official program of “The Most Beautiful Advent by the Sea” includes a series of points scattered throughout the city: from the city market – the popular Mrkat – through the parks of St. James and Angiolina, the coastal promenade Lungomare, the Summer Stage, and Slatina, all the way to Volosko. Each location has its own theme: from a classic Christmas market and musical performances, through an ice rink and children's content, to more intimate corners for photography and romantic walks.

Angiolina Park and St. James Park become magical settings with large light installations, a forest of dwarfs, “morešari” – charming coast guards – and sumptuously decorated trees that turn into natural advent “roofs.” A walk through the parks leads visitors to one of the most famous Croatian sculptures – the Girl with a Seagull – which during the holiday period receives a special glowing frame and becomes one of the most photographed places on the Opatija Riviera.

Lungomare, the more than 10-kilometer-long coastal promenade that connects Opatija with surrounding places, gains an additional dimension during the Advent period through the Xmas Street Lungomare Advent program. On the section from Hotel Savoy to Villa Madonna, a row of Christmas houses offers warm drinks, fritters, sandwiches, fish and meat specialties, and special sweets, while a photo corner is set up by the coast where visitors can take photos with holiday props. It is also one of the most pleasant routes for an evening walk after concerts and skating.

Christmas Eve, Christmas and Saint Stephen: tradition and family atmosphere

Christmas Eve in Opatija has a strong local signature. The morning program “Vilija božja na mrkate” in front of the city market, from 10 am to 12 pm, combines tradition and socializing. In this part of the city, which Opatija residents call the “belly of the city,” visitors can taste cod, fish specialties, and local sweets, along with a musical program featuring local performers and klapa groups. The atmosphere resembles a large neighborhood gathering: locals and guests toast the upcoming holidays, exchange greetings, and make plans for Christmas days.

Christmas and the feast of St. Stephen bring a calmer, family tone, but still a rich program. In the Milenij Choco World, a small Opatija “chocolate factory” within the Hotel Continental, workshops for painting and shaping chocolate sculptures for children and adults are organized. Participants learn how pralines are made, taste different types of chocolate, and draw or model edible figures themselves, making these workshops one of the most sought-after contents for families.

At the same time, in Angiolina Park, on the Summer Stage, and in Opatija's hotels, cafes, and bars, live musical performances are held – from classic Christmas standards and pop repertoires to jazz interpretations of holiday songs. Visitors can choose whether to spend Christmas walking by the sea, in an intimate hotel ambiance, at an open-air concert, or in a combination of all of the above.

Ice Magic on the Summer Stage

The Summer Stage, one of the most recognizable open stages in the Mediterranean, changes its role in the winter months and becomes the center of “Ice Magic.” The ice rink located right next to the sea is accompanied by a suitable gastronomic offer in Advent houses, and in the evening, themed skating nights and musical performances are organized. Skating with a view of the islands of the Kvarner Bay is one of the experiences that visitors regularly highlight as unique.

The program on the Summer Stage is adapted to all age groups: during the day the emphasis is on family content and children's programs, while in the evening concerts, DJ sets, and social gatherings for adults prevail. Due to its proximity to the city center, many guests choose accommodation near the Summer Stage, so they can visit other Advent locations on foot without the need for a car.

Xmas Street Lungomare Advent: a walk by the sea with the flavors of Advent

For those who prefer to spend the holiday days in motion, Xmas Street Lungomare Advent is an ideal compromise between the seaside landscape and holiday gastronomy. On the promenade between Hotel Savoy and Villa Madonna, visitors can taste local specialties, from Kvarner fish and seafood to creative street food variations, along with the inevitable fritters, pancakes, and mulled wine.

A special charm is given by the close connection with the sea – while Christmas music plays in the background, the sea can be heard almost under your feet, and many visit this part of the promenade precisely to catch the sunset over Kvarner. With a suitable photo corner, many families and couples return home with beautiful photos, which often become their official “holiday greetings” to friends and relatives.

Photogenic Opatija: city symbols in holiday attire

Advent in Opatija is perhaps best illustrated by the scenes that visitors capture with their photos. The Girl with a Seagull, a sculpture by sculptor Zvonko Car from 1956, is one of the symbols of the city and the entire Kvarner. During Advent, she often receives an additional glowing frame, and nearby, themed installations and benches are set up, designed specifically for creating holiday photos.

Not far from the church of St. James is the Helios and Selene fountain, another recognizable motif of Opatija, which receives decorative lighting during the holiday period. Angiolina Park, with exotic plant species and old villas, turns into a kind of winter fairy tale – walking among dwarfs, nutcrackers, decorated trees, and light installations provides an experience that equally delights children and adults.

For those looking for the best view of the city and Kvarner, a new glowing Christmas tree on the viewpoint above the coast provides a spectacular shot. The night panorama of decorated Opatija, with illuminated waterfronts and settlements on the opposite side of the bay, is often described as one of the most romantic winter scenes on the Croatian coast.

Opatija hinterland and the “Feel & Taste” program in Veprinac

The holiday program does not stop at the coast. The Opatija hinterland, with historical towns located on hills above the sea, increasingly attracts visitors who want to get to know the authentic local story. One such event is the “Feel & Taste” program in Veprinac, planned for December 27, which combines eno-gastro offers, performances by klapa groups and accordionists, and a tour of the ethno-collection.

In Veprinac, visitors can taste local wines, homemade cakes, and dishes prepared according to traditional recipes, while musicians and performers take turns on the main square. The ethno-collection reveals the former way of life in this region: everyday objects, traditional clothing, and tools that served the inhabitants in the hills above Opatija for centuries. This trip is ideal for everyone who wants to experience the other, quieter, and more rustic part of the Opatija story.

Spectacular New Year's Eve celebrations at multiple locations

New Year's Eve celebrations in Opatija have been synonymous for years with a rich program and the possibility to experience the New Year in several different ambiances on the same day. Visitors can choose a daytime or nighttime celebration, family gathering or dancing until morning, by the sea or in historical buildings, outdoors or in hotel halls.

Four public celebrations are offered outdoors on December 31. The program in front of the Juraj Šporer Art Pavilion starts as early as 10 am and lasts until 3 am, with alternating bands, DJs, and appropriate animations. The popular Tomaševac beach, under the name “Last Noon in Opatija,” offers a daytime program from 11 am to 6 pm, ideal for those who want to welcome the New Year earlier, in a more relaxed atmosphere by the sea.

For the youngest, a children's celebration on the Summer Stage is specially designed, starting at 11 am. There, children can enjoy animations, playing on ice, and children's programs, and parents get the opportunity to experience the New Year's atmosphere without staying out late. The central New Year's Eve celebration takes place in front of the city market from 9 pm, with performances by Danijela Martinović, Mauro Staraj & La Banda, and DJ Vedran. Entrance is free, and the organizers emphasize that in recent years the celebration has been held without fireworks, respecting pets and the sense of security in the city center.

In addition to outdoor celebrations, Opatija hotels prepare festive New Year's dinners with several courses, live music, and themed programs. Some hotels have multi-day packages that include accommodation, a gala dinner, wellness facilities, and a late breakfast on January 1, so visitors who want a complete experience often book accommodation for New Year's packages in Opatija in advance.

New Year's plunge of the Opatija Kukali and a sea postcard from Kvarner

The first day of the new year in Opatija has a special rhythm. Along with the Mayor's New Year's toast, members of the Opatija Kukali Association gather on Slatina, who open the new swimming season in the city with a traditional New Year's plunge. Despite the colder sea, numerous swimmers bravely jump into the waves, while the audience cheers them on from the shore. Often guests from abroad join them, wanting to experience this unusual combination of winter, sea, and optimism.

The New Year's atmosphere is further enhanced by the Lovran Brass Band, Dino Antonić Trio, and other musicians performing as part of the program, while rowers of the VOP SUP team on paddleboards row from Volosko and join the toast by the sea. This combination of swimming, music, and socializing outdoors has become one of the postcards of Opatija that domestic and foreign media regularly broadcast at the beginning of the year.

On the evening of the same day, January 1, a “reprise” of the New Year's Eve celebration is often organized in Opatija, for example on the Summer Stage, with performances by artists such as Dražen Turina Šajeta and guests. In this way, the day flows from the morning relaxed atmosphere by the sea into an evening musical spectacle, and the city maintains its holiday pace during the first days of January.

Parking and accessibility: free weekends and holidays

To make it easier for visitors to come to the city during the busiest part of the year, the City of Opatija and the city company Opatija 21 have been introducing special parking benefits for many years. In the period from December 16 to January 15, parking is not charged on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays at all open public parking lots. This means that guests arriving by car can leave their vehicle near the city center and then tour Advent locations on foot.

This measure, introduced as part of the general parking conditions and price list of the city concessionaire, further encourages one-day and weekend visits, but also relieves traffic in the center itself. Visitors who still want to use closed garages or parking lots within individual facilities pay for the service according to the valid price list, while most open street parking lots are free of charge on weekends and holidays in the specified period. Combined with a well-developed network of promenades, this makes Opatija a destination where it is most practical to leave the car aside during Advent and get to know the city by walking.

Arrival in Opatija and the broader context of Kvarner

Opatija is well connected with the rest of Croatia and neighboring countries. It is located along the Adriatic Highway, directly next to the exit from the A7 motorway and the bypass around Rijeka, so guests from Zagreb, Istria, Dalmatia, or Slovenia usually arrive by car. Several airports are nearby – Rijeka on the island of Krk, Pula, and Trieste – from which transfers to Opatija are organized. Thanks to short distances, many combine Advent in Opatija with a visit to Rijeka and other Kvarner destinations.

In addition to the recognizable Advent attire, the city also offers everything that makes it attractive during the rest of the year: walking the Lungomare, visiting Villa Angiolina and the Croatian Museum of Tourism, trips to Učka and surrounding places, and a rich gastronomic scene. The Advent program thus upgrades the existing assets of the destination, and for many guests, a holiday visit becomes an introduction to some future spring or summer trips to the same area.

For those who want to plan a multi-day stay, it is important to note that the biggest crowds are expected around weekends, Christmas, and New Year's Eve, so accommodation in Opatija for the holiday period is recommended to be booked in time. Whether they choose luxury hotels, smaller family facilities, or apartments, visitors can count on a rich selection and content adapted to winter guests: wellness, indoor pools, themed dinners, and musical programs.

Advent in Opatija thus combines several different experiences: walking by the sea under thousands of lights, outdoor skating with a view of Kvarner, concerts and workshops in city parks, trips to the hinterland, and the experience of New Year's Eve at multiple locations on the same day. In combination with free parking on weekends and holidays, rich gastronomy, and the tradition of winter holidays, Opatija confirms its status as one of the most organized and attractive holiday destinations on the Croatian coast.

Sources:
- Opatija Tourist Board – official program “The Most Beautiful Advent by the Sea 2025” (Advent in Opatija) (link)
- City of Opatija – announcements and descriptions of Advent events and New Year's Eve programs (link)
- Opatija 21 d.o.o. – general conditions and parking price lists and the decision on free parking from December 16 to January 15 (link)
- Regional and local media (Novi list, Fiuman.hr, Riportal, Torpedo, Podučkun.net) – reports on the “Most Beautiful Advent by the Sea” program, New Year's Eve celebration and the tradition of the Opatija Kukali (link, link, link, link, link)
- Visit Opatija and other tourist portals – history of Opatija, description of Lungomare, Angiolina Park and the sculptures Girl with a Seagull and the Helios and Selene fountain (link, link)