Rijeka to close part of the center on Saturday for the Children's Carnival Parade: traffic and parking bans, bus line changes and temporary taxi stands
In Rijeka, on Saturday, January 31, 2026, the 29th Children's Carnival Parade will be held, one of the most visited and recognizable manifestations of the Rijeka carnival program. Thousands of children in masks, accompaniment from schools and kindergartens, and a large number of citizens and guests traditionally fill Korzo and the wider city center, which is why a temporary regulation of traffic and parking is introduced, along with changes in the organization of public transport and taxi services.
Organizers emphasize that the goal of the measures is to ensure the flow of the parade movement and the safety of participants, and drivers are advised to plan their arrival on time, use alternative routes and parking lots outside the closing zone, and count on possible delays at the approaches to the center. For those coming to Rijeka for a one-day trip or weekend, it is practical to consider in advance
accommodation in Rijeka, especially if staying in the city after the end of the program is planned.
When traffic closes and where the parade passes
According to the maintenance plan, the gathering of carnival groups is planned at the Karolina Riječka Pier and the Passenger Embankment, where the parade forms before the start. The start of the parade itself is announced for 12:00 PM, while the traffic closure in the event zone is introduced earlier, from 11:00 AM, to allow for the safe setup and movement of participants and the unhindered work of services on the ground.
The parade route leads through central city streets and squares: Riva Street – 111th Brigade of the Croatian Army Square – Adamićeva Street – Republic of Croatia Square – Korzo – Scarpina Street – Jelačić Square – Ribarska Street – Hinko Bačić Street – Grobnička Riva (to the Export Delta space). Stages are set up at several locations along the route where groups briefly present themselves, which additionally affects movement dynamics and the need for a wider safety corridor.
For visitors coming from other regions who want to avoid logistical stress, it is useful to consider
accommodation near Rijeka center so that the parade route can be reached on foot, without relying on a car during the busiest part of the day.
Traffic ban and redirection: which streets enter the restricted zone
Due to the holding of the Children's Carnival Parade, on Saturday, January 31, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, traffic is prohibited for all vehicles in a series of streets in the center of Rijeka. The ban covers the streets: Fiumara, Veslarska, Scarpina, Adamićeva, Ignacia Henckea, Zanonova, Splitska, Zadarska, Trpimirova, Riva Street, Ivana Zajca Street, and Ribarska Street.
In addition to the above, traffic will be disabled at certain key points for access to the coast and large parking lots: at the Istrian Wharf (in the direction of the exit from the Passenger Embankment), at the entrance to the Grobnička Riva Parking lot, and at the southern and eastern entrances to the Delta Parking lot. In these zones, restrictions apply from 12:00 AM to 6:00 PM on the day of the parade, which means that the ban regime is introduced as early as midnight.
Physical traffic management will be carried out by police officers and traffic warden officers, and drivers are invited to take the instructions on the ground as binding, given that the situation can change depending on the movement of the parade and the density of pedestrian traffic.
Žabica Bus Station and intercity lines
For intercity buses whose destination is the Žabica bus station, limited traffic is planned. In practice, this means that, with adjustments on the ground, access to the station will be enabled by driving through Krešimirova Street, without entering the zone closed due to the parade.
Passengers are recommended to check arrival times and possible changes in the disembarkation regime, especially in the period around noon, when the most intense movement of participants and spectators is expected. If you plan an arrival with your family and want to avoid crowds on the return, it is reasonable to also consider
accommodation offers for visitors in Rijeka, especially if staying for carnival events even after the parade.
Parking ban: locations, deadlines, and "tow truck" removal
Special measures relate to parking, as precisely an improperly or forgotten parked vehicle is the most common cause of problems in the realization of large manifestations in the center. A parking ban is introduced from 12:00 AM to 6:00 PM at several locations, including the Delta Parking lot and the Grobnička Riva Parking lot, as well as parts of the roads along the route and contact streets.
The parking ban applies to:
- Delta Parking lot
- Grobnička Riva Parking lot
- Riva Street (from Žabica Square to the intersection with I. Hencke Street)
- Passenger Embankment
- Zadarska Street
- Splitska Street
- Zanonova Street
Drivers are invited to remove vehicles from the specified places no later than 6:00 AM on Saturday, January 31, 2026. After that time, vehicles found in prohibited places may be removed by a special "tow truck" vehicle and moved to the Delta parking lot, depending on the organization on the ground and the need to free the route.
How city and suburban transport will function
During the traffic ban in the city center, public city and suburban transport is adapted to maintain the basic east-west connection without entering the closed zone. City transport buses coming from the eastern side at Tito Square will be directed over the northern bridge to Školjić Street and Ivana Grohovca Street and to the northern corridor, from where they continue westward. Buses coming from the west and normally traveling through Riva Street to the east will be redirected to the northern traffic corridor at the intersection of Krešimirova and Manzonieva streets.
For suburban lines, a similar redirection model is planned, using streets that allow access to the suburban traffic terminal at Delta. Boarding and disembarking of passengers for suburban lines will be carried out at the Delta suburban traffic terminal, and buses will stop at all marked stations on the route they travel during the temporary regulation.
For all bus lines, an additional bus stop is also planned on the middle bridge in Rade Šupića Street (monument bridge). Also, instead of the bus stop at the railway station, a temporary stop is introduced in Nikola Tesla Street for suburban buses traveling in the east-west direction and having a route through that street. Suburban lines coming from the west use the existing station at the railway station, while for lines from the Pehlin direction and others coming from the west or east, temporary bus stops are introduced in F. la Guardie Street.
Taxi stands: which are out of function and where they move temporarily
In the period of the traffic ban, taxi vehicles will not be able to access the taxi stand at Jelačić Square, the taxi stand at the Passenger Terminal, nor the taxi stand at Žabica, so those stands will be out of function at that time. Additionally, due to the traffic ban on Riva Street, the taxi stand usually located in that street will be temporarily moved to Ivan Pavao II Street, so that the taxi service remains available in the contact zone of the center.
Practical tips for citizens and visitors
If you must go to the center of Rijeka by car, it is most important to count on the ban regime being introduced as early as midnight at key entrances and parking lots, while the complete traffic ban in several streets applies from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. This is the period in which, besides the parade itself, the gathering of participants, equipment setup, and the control of passages and safety corridors take place.
Citizens who live or work in the zone covered by the bans are recommended to perform necessary drives and deliveries earlier and to move vehicles from locations where the parking ban applies on time. Visitors coming from outside Rijeka are advised to arrive earlier during the morning or use public transport and pedestrian approaches to the center.
For those planning a full-day stay in the city, especially families with children, a practical option may be
accommodation near the event site, as it allows for a more flexible schedule without dependence on traffic restrictions and parking.
Sources:- Visit Rijeka (Tourist Board of the City of Rijeka) – announcement and basic information about the Children's Carnival Parade 2026. (link)
- Visit Rijeka – official PDF with instructions for participants of the 29th Children's Carnival Parade, including timeline, traffic closure, and movement route (link)
- RIJEKA plus – overview of parking ban practice and temporary regulation during the Children's Carnival Parade (link)
- Novi list – example of detailed traffic and transport changes during carnival parades in Rijeka (buses, temporary stops, and taxi regime) (link)
- Visit Rijeka – notice on traffic redirection and public transport organization during major carnival parades (example of measures implementation) (link)
Find accommodation nearby
Creation time: 2 hours ago