Opatija 2026 launches a new cycle of “Oases of Health and Wellness”: free walks, Thalasso Cardio Walk, SUP programs and a charity race in the spotlight of spring “resetting”
In March, Opatija once again opens a multi-month program dedicated to active отдых and habits that support physical and mental balance. The project “Opatija – an oasis of health and wellness” in 2026 again relies on what the destination has been known for for more than a century: a blend of maritime climate, coastal and hinterland promenades, and a robust health and wellness infrastructure. The tourist board also emphasizes the symbolism of the season’s start in March, the month that ties Opatija to the official history of health tourism – the status of a climatic spa on the Adriatic acquired on 4 March 1889 is often highlighted as the starting point of Opatija’s “health identity”.
For visitors planning a weekend trip or a longer stay, the program is structured so that activities can fit different rhythms: from guided walks on Saturdays to specialized sessions with physiotherapists, and summer sea programs in Volosko. Part of the content is also linked with local hoteliers and wellness centers that offer seasonal packages and treatments, while the organizers particularly refer to the idea that “recovery” does not have to be reduced to passive rest, but to structured movement and simple anti-stress techniques.
Why Opatija “starts” in March and why everything revolves around walking
Opatija is a city where walking has historically been part of the tourist experience: the Lungomare seaside promenade, parks, and forest trails in the hinterland create a natural stage for programs based on low to moderate intensity movement. In the “Oases” program this is visible through two main lines: regular Nordic walks/hikes and Thalasso Cardio Walk, a form of guided walking with professional support from healthcare staff. The organizers emphasize that the concept is designed to be “accessible to everyone” – from recreational walkers to those who are only introducing more movement into everyday life.
If you are coming beyond a day trip and want to stay a few days, it is practical to plan accommodation near the starting points of walks and events, especially around central Opatija and the Lungomare zone:
accommodation near meeting points in Opatija often means less logistics and more time for the program.
Outdoor programs: Nordic walking every Saturday, and in May a 23.6-kilometer challenge
The foundation of the spring part of the program is guided Nordic walks along Opatija’s historic trails. According to the program published on the destination’s official websites, the walks take place every Saturday at 10 a.m. on different routes, from March to the end of May and again from mid-September to mid-December, starting in front of Villa Angiolina. The concept is designed so that guided routes combine recreation and getting to know local heritage, with the possibility of joining walkers of different fitness levels.
The spring part also announces the “Opatija Nordic Walk Challenge”, a fitness challenge held on 3 May 2026 starting at 9 a.m. in front of Villa Angiolina. It is a circular route 23.6 kilometers long that passes through Opatija and nearby places, including Volosko, Pobri, Poljane, Dobreć, Oprič, Ika and Ičići, thus combining “blue” coastal and “green” hinterland segments in one route. The organizers thus target participants who want more than a classic walk, but also those who want a “measurable” motivation for training and preparation through the challenge.
In April, on the occasion of World Health Day, the 13th Croatian Festival of Sports Recreation in Nordic walking and hiking is announced, held on 12 April at the Summer Stage. The festival program, in addition to various routes, includes educational and accompanying content related to a healthy lifestyle, which fits into the broader logic of the project: health as a theme of public space, not just an individual choice.
For visitors who want to “extend” a weekend trip and avoid returning the same day, organizationally the simplest option is to base yourself in the city and “catch” the times from there:
accommodation offers in Opatija in that case make planning morning starts and evening returns easier without additional driving.
Thalasso Cardio Walk: a walk with a physiotherapist and information boards along Lungomare
A special segment of the program is Thalasso Cardio Walk – guided walks that combine coastal movement with a professional health approach. According to the information published for 2026, the walks are announced for 7 March, 18 April and 9 May, starting at 10:20 a.m. The meeting location is Lungomare, by the Thalasso Cardio Walk information board near Hotel Admiral. The organizers also mention educational boards along the route that offer practical data such as estimated time for sections, recommended walking speed, and guidelines for assessing activity intensity.
An important part of the story is the institutional background: the program is carried out in cooperation with the special hospital Thalassotherapia Opatija, which gives it an expert framework, but also signals that health tourism in Opatija does not rely only on “wellness” in the narrow sense, but also on a medical-rehabilitation tradition.
Mindfulness in nature and “home wellness”: the program expands to stress, breathing and care routines
In addition to movement activities, the project increasingly relies on content targeting stress and mental balance. The announcements highlight mindfulness workshops in nature led by experts, with an emphasis on attention and breathing exercises and consciously “reading” the experience of the space – smells, sounds and light. In the program published for the season, dates in March, April and May are listed, with locations such as Margarita Park and the Carmen Sylva promenade.
In parallel, the emphasis is also on workshops that can be transferred into everyday life outside the destination. The announced cycle mentions home care and wellness topics, from anti-age workshops to practical recipes and tips for natural care. In the original project announcements, the educational workshop “Motar – retinol from the sea” is highlighted as the start of the season on 1 March, followed by clay mask-making workshops in May and a zero-waste solid shampoo-making workshop against hair loss in September, while October is linked to “Face Yoga” and self-massage exercises. These workshops are presented in the project’s communication as a blend of practical knowledge and natural ingredients, with the aim that participants take habits from Opatija that can be continued at home.
In the same direction fits a novelty that appears in the tourist board’s planning documents for 2026: the workshop “Reset through wave frequency”, described as a relaxation and mental regeneration technique using sound vibrations and rhythms aimed at reducing stress and a sense of inner stability. This further positions the program at the intersection of recreation and contemporary anti-stress practices, which in recent years have been gaining more and more space in tourism products.
Summer part: SUP in Volosko, plus sunset tours with a view from the sea
As temperatures rise, the focus shifts to the sea. In the summer part of the program, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) is highlighted as a combination of recreation and experiencing the coast from a different perspective. According to the seasonal program, SUP Experience in Volosko is planned through several sessions in June, July and August, with a morning start. For more experienced participants, a SUP Sunset Tour is also announced – guided tours at dusk, with an emphasis on experiencing the coast “under a starry sky”, with a route leading from Volosko toward Opatija.
For visitors coming specifically for the summer sessions and wanting to stay close to the start point in Volosko and have quick access to Opatija, it is often most practical to balance accommodation location between the offerings:
accommodation for visitors to Opatija and Volosko usually means shorter transfers and more flexibility.
Autumn brings “Heart Days” and the charity race “We Run for the Heart”
The autumn part of the project introduces an event with a clear public health message. According to the program published for the season, the charity race “We Run for the Heart” takes place on 27 September 2026 as part of the Heart Days event, with an organizational role of Thalassotherapia Opatija and the support of the tourist board and the city. The focus is on raising awareness of heart health and the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, shifting the project from tourism to the field of social solidarity.
How to participate and what to expect on site
The program is designed as publicly accessible and largely free, but the organizers emphasize that for some activities, due to a limited number of places, prior registration is required, while for some walking programs registration is not needed. The key idea is simple: arrive on time at the meeting location, follow the leaders’ instructions, and adjust intensity to your own fitness. In this way, the “Oasis” seeks to move away from an elitist image of wellness and bring it closer to a broad audience – both tourists and local residents.
In a broader sense, the project is also a message about the destination’s direction. Alongside classic holiday motives, Opatija is increasingly positioning itself as a place where rest is “programmed” through movement, professional support, and habits that continue after returning home. This combines the historical reputation of a climatic spa, a modern healthcare system, and a tourism product that aims to stretch throughout the entire year. For a city that wants to extend the season and offer content beyond the summer peak, such a schedule – from March to December – is the clearest signal of the ambition for Opatija to be not only a sun-and-sea destination, but also a destination of healthy rhythms.
Sources:- Opatija Tourist Board (Visit Opatija) – official description of the event “Opatija – an oasis of health and wellness” and offer context ( link )
- Opatija Tourist Board (visitopatija.eu) – program and schedule of key seasonal activities, including Nordic Walk Challenge, Festival of Sports Recreation, SUP programs and “We Run for the Heart” ( link )
- Opatija Tourist Board (visitopatija.eu) – Thalasso Cardio Walk 2026 details (dates, location, start time) ( link )
- Visit Opatija (official destination portal) – historical data on climatic spa status (1889) and health tourism context ( link )
- Opatija Tourist Board – annual work program and financial plan for 2026, with descriptions of individual activities and highlights ( link )
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