Off Season on the Adriatic in Opatija, Croatia

The first time we went to Opatija was during high season in August, and it was packed; we literally could not find a free spot on any of the beaches or a parking spot. Not ideal with a newborn and toddler anxious to get out of the car! I’d read on Frank About Croatia that the best time of year to go was in the off season; so I took my Mom, Grandmother, cousin and Gracie at the end of October for a girls day. We waited until the weather report had a day with clear skies and in the 70’s. There were no crowds, it was quiet, easy to find parking and a restaurant for lunch. The only down side was the water was too cold to swim without Cam there to dare me to jump in!

Sunshine and those beautiful blues of the Adriatic are good for the soul. I’m breathing a sigh of relief even just looking at these photos again! It’s a beautiful and quiet place to walk along the Lungo Mare and through Volosko fishing village while taking in those views. I think my favorite was wandering the steep and narrow stone walkways in Volosko up to the cathedral and a late afternoon coffee with my family along Moscenicka Draga. The stretch of beach is lined with pine trees and a few restaurants and cafes. There were only a handful of people walking around so it was a breeze to find parking and a free table with a beautiful view.

Opatija really is lovely on a sunny day out-of-season! It’s about an hour and a half from Zagreb so it’s a nice daytrip. Also, the very pretty and tiny hilltop town of Moscenice that we loved and had the best lunch in, is just above it.