Šibenik stands out as one of the most captivating towns along the Croatian coast. Nestled along the shores of a stunning fjord where the Krka River meets the sea, it showcases a charming old town adorned with remnants of medieval Venetian architecture. St. James’ Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, graces the town with its majestic presence, epitomizing its rich historical tapestry.
Beyond its architectural splendor, Šibenik serves as an ideal launchpad for delving into the wonders of Dalmatia. This region entices visitors with its extraordinary culinary traditions and idyllic rural settlements. Just a short distance from Šibenik, adventurers encounter one of Croatia’s crowning jewels: Krka National Park. Here, cascading waterfalls and crystalline lakes paint a breathtaking natural panorama, inviting exploration and admiration alike. Krka National Park represents an indispensable stop for those seeking to immerse themselves in Croatia’s mesmerizing natural beauty.
What you will find in this travel guide to Šibenik:
- Šibenik: Interesting Facts and Things to Know
- Best Things to Do in Šibenik
- Best Restaurants in Šibenik
- How to Get to Šibenik
Šibenik: Interesting Facts and Things to Know
Šibenik is located along the southern coast of Croatia, between Zadar and Split, and is the third largest city in Dalmatia. It stands at the mouth of the Krka River, on a natural bay surrounded by three beautiful natural parks: the Krka National Park, located in the hinterland a few kilometers from Šibenik, the Kornati National Park which extends over the wonderful islands in front of the coast and the Nature Park Vrana Lake, just north of the city.
The Šibenik Old Town is arranged as an amphitheater around its port and up to the surrounding hills, at the foot of Mount Trtar. It is a city that is modern and lively, with a beautiful old town that retains its medieval charm intact, with fortifications and ancient buildings from the 15th and 16th centuries.
The origins of Šibenik date back to the 2nd century, when it was called Krešimirova, and it is said that it is among the oldest towns founded by the Croats. From the 5th century it became part of the Republic of Venice and had a great economic and commercial development until the fall of Venice in 1797.
The port and the city of Šibenik were often attacked by the Ottoman Empire, eager to conquer it, but never succeeded. After the collapse of the Republic of Venice, Šibenik came under Austro-Hungarian rule until the end of the First World War, when it became part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
With the Second World War it was occupied by Italian troops and became part of the Kingdom of Italy, and then became Yugoslavia from the end of the war until 1991, when Croatia declared its independence.
Best Things to Do in Šibenik
Šibenik Old Town
The beautiful Šibenik Old Town is located a stone’s throw from the port, and is a jewel of Venetian architecture, which also boasts two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the St. James’ Cathedral and the St. Nicholas’ Fortress.
Šibenik Old Town is closed to cars and can be easily visited on foot in a couple of hours. It is characterized by white stone buildings overlooking the sea and a maze of labyrinthine streets, stairways and beautiful medieval squares.
In Šibenik Old Town there are a large number of shops, cafes and restaurants, including excellent fish street food opportunities. You can also visit some of the main attractions of the city, starting with the wonderful St. James’ Cathedral, the main church of Šibenik, a jewel of Gothic and Renaissance architecture, the result of the work of some of the best architects from Tuscany and Northern Italy.
St. James’ Cathedral
St. James’ Cathedral is one of the main attractions of Šibenik and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. This iconic cathedral, symbol of the city, is located on the main square of Šibenik, Trg Republike, reachable by a beautiful monumental staircase that serves as the gateway to the Šibenik Old Town.
The majestic St. James’ Cathedral of Šibenik was built on the site of an ancient Romanesque church, parts of which have been reused, such as some columns and the lion located on the main door.
The works began in 1431 at the behest of Bishop Giorgio Sisgoreo and lasted for over 100 years. The project was initially entrusted to the Venetian architects Francesco di Giacomo, Antonio Brusato and Lorenzo Pincino and to the master Bonino da Milano. But the governor were not satisfied with the work done on the first floor of the church, and therefore in 1441 called the architect Giorgio Orsini, better known by the name of Juraj Dalmatinac or Georgius Mathei Dalmaticus, who continued the construction by expanding the building and following a Gothic and Venetian style mixed with new Renaissance elements.
The dome of the church was finished after the death of the architect by Nikola Firentinac, who also finished the facade. The works were completely finished in 1536. In the square in front of the Cathedral you can see a statue of the architect Juraj Dalmatinac.
The church is built entirely of white stone extracted from the neighboring islands of Brač, Korčula, Rab and Krk and has no wooden or brick supports. The main facade, divided into three parts, reflects the three internal naves and features a large rose window, the work of Bartolomeo da Mestre, and a smaller one by Dalmatinac.
In the lower part of the facade it is possible to see The Last Judgment by Bonino da Milano while small sculptures of the 12 Apostles are visible on the arch of the main door.
On the north side is the Lion Gate, adorned with statues of lions, the symbol of Venice, one on each side of the gate. The lions support two columns with two large statues of Adam and Eve. Just above are the Renaissance statues of St. Peter and St. James, made in 1445 by Dalmatinac. The exterior of the apse is decorated with 74 sculptures depicting people with different expressions.
Looking towards the majestic dome you will be able to see the statue of St. Mark, patron saint of Venice and navigators, and of St. James, facing east towards the Ottoman Empire, with the intention of protecting the city from the Turks. St. Michael, facing north to the city and its fortress, represents a warrior who wins over a demon, an allusion to the defeat of the Turks, enemies of Christians.
The interior of St. James’ Cathedral is simple and modest, with six chapels on each side along the side aisles. Here you can see the tomb of Bishop Giorgio Sisgoreo, founder of the Cathedral and the tombs of other illustrious figures of the city, such as Bishop Giovanni Stafileo.
Among the most important artworks housed in the Cathedral, you can see the crucifix by Jurai Petrovic, dating from the 15th century and the altarpiece on the Baroque high altar, dating from the 17th century. Behind the apse, there is the beautiful Renaissance-style baptistery by Dalmatinac, with a baptismal font supported by angels.
Šibenik City Museum
The Šibenik City Museum is located in the former Rector’s Palace, just behind the St. James’ Cathedral. This museum, founded in 1925, features interesting exhibits on the history of the city and its rich cultural, artistic and archaeological heritage.
You will be able to see over 150,000 artifacts ranging from Prehistory to the fall of the Republic of Venice. The exhibition is spread over the two floors of the building and consists of four sections: as soon as you enter you will find an exhibition dedicated to archaeological finds from the region around Šibenik, divided by historical period, from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages.
Continuing along the rooms of the museum you will be able to see documents and sculptures from the time of the Croatian Kings, while on the first floor a section is dedicated to Baroque architecture, with wooden sculptures and religious artworks. You will also be able to see the exhibition dedicated to Venetian fortifications and buildings and defensive systems against Ottoman attacks. The ticket price ranges from 60 Kn in summer to 30 Kn in winter.
Šibenik’s Venetian Fortresses
Under the Venetian rule in Šibenik an imposing defensive system was built to defend the city from the continuous Ottoman attacks, which even if they did not end with the conquest of the city, led to continuous disruption of agriculture and trade.
Walls and mighty fortresses were built, some of which are still visible, such as St. Michael’s Fortress, St. Nicholas Fortress (located in the sea, facing the coast), St. John’s Fortress and Baron Fortress. Among these some are well preserved while others, such as St. John’s Fortress, only a few ruins remain.
St. Michael’s Fortress
The imposing St. Michael’s Fortress dominates the Šibenik Old Town and is one of the best preserved fortresses in the city. It stands on the site of an old church, St. Michael’s Church, built in the 8th century during the first wave of Christianization of Croatia.
Over the centuries, St. Michael’s Fortress became the main fortress of Šibenik, also following major fortification works carried out by the Venetians in the early 15th century. In 1663 part of the fortress and the church were destroyed by the explosion of the fortress powder magazine. Later they were rebuilt, but the fortress became reserved for the military and the residents of Šibenik could no longer use the church.
Having lost its military use in the 19th century, the fortress was abandoned. Only recently has it been restored and transformed into an amphitheater, capable of hosting concerts and shows. It also has a small museum with exhibits of old tools and equipment from the local culture.
The highlight, however, is the view. From here you can have a nice view over the whole city and the mouth of the Krka River, which forms a fjord around the city. On particularly clear days you can even see the islands off the coast.
You can get to St. Michael’s Fortress from two directions, from the north via Ana Rukavina park or from the south via the cemetery. From the fortress you can also see the old double bastion that goes down to the shore, where the remains of an old Gothic-style city gate are still visible. In the past it was used to transport equipment, weapons and food in the event of a siege.
St. Nicholas Fortress
The St. Nicholas Fortress is not actually located in the Šibenik Old Town, but in the sea at the entrance to St. Anthony Channel, just in front of the harbor.
This fortress built by the Venetians in the 16th century and designed by the famous Venetian architect and builder Giangirolamo Sanmicheli, is included in the UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list as part of “Venetian Works of Defense between the 16th and 17th centuries”.
It looks like a triangular fortress (there are only 2 others like this in the whole Mediterranean, one in Venice and one in Malta), with mighty walls and gun emplacements, and on the surface it looks like the most fortified among the fortresses of Šibenik, which perhaps explains why this fortress, unlike the others around it, was never seriously attacked.
The St. Nicholas Fortress can be reached by boat or on foot, along the path that starts from the marina (Kanal sv. Ante šetnica) and which allows you to reach the island of St. Nicholas Fortress passing over a strip of rocks. Along the way there is also an underwater tunnel that locals refer to as “Hitler’s eyes” and which was built by the Germans during WWII to provide shelter and safe access to the harbor for military boats.
Baron Fortress
The Baron Fortress is located just outside the Šibenik Old Town and dates back to the 15th century. It was built by Baron Cristoph Martin von Degenfelda, from whom it takes its name and houses an interesting interactive museum dedicated to the history of the Šibenik fortresses.
The museum in the Baron Fortress also organizes guided tours that allow you to learn more about the battles between Christians and Ottomans.
St. John’s Fortress
Close to Baron Fortress, is St. John’s Fortress, famous for being one of the places where the Game of Thrones TV series was filmed.
This fortress was built in the mid-1600s, designed by the Venetian engineer Antonio Leni and finished in just 50 days. The north side is fortified with high pincer-shaped walls and therefore nicknamed “Tanaja”. The name of St. John’s derives from an old church that once stood on the spot.
St. Francis’ Church
St. Francis’ Church is located at the southern end of Šibenik Old Town, in Trg Nikole Tomasea 1, a stone’s throw from the port and the city park. It is a beautiful Gothic church, with Baroque influences, built in the 14th century and is part of the sanctuary dedicated to St. Nikola Tavilić, a Franciscan missionary, martyr in Jerusalem in 1391.
The church features a beautiful wooden ceiling, made in 1674 by the painter Matej Pončun, while in the courtyard there is a small museum with exhibits on the history of the church. The church also boasts a valuable library which houses documents, books and manuscripts from the 13th century.
The Museum of Victory and Liberation of Dalmatia
The Museum of Victory and Liberation of Dalmatia is located in Šibenik Old Town and is entirely dedicated to the history of the resistance of the Croatian partisans against fascism.
It is the only museum in Croatia to tell the facts of WWII from the point of view of the Croats and the partisan troops led by Josip Broz Tito, and tells, through photographs and multimedia exhibitions, the battles and guerrilla actions of the partisans for the liberation of Dalmatia in 1944.
The museum also preserves an interesting archive of historical documents, period photographs and films and old maps that help reconstruct and depict the history of the Second World War in Dalmatia.
Šibenik City Hall
Adjacent to St. James’ Cathedral, you can’t fail to notice the elegant two-storey Venetian-style building, now housing a cafe and restaurant. This was once the Šibenik City Hall, the palace that housed the Venetian governor of the region.
The building is located right on the main square of Šibenik, which frequently hosts concerts and events in the summer. The original building, dating from the 16th century and designed by the renowned Venetian architect Michele Sanmicheli, was heavily damaged during the Second World War. The Šibenik City Hall was then rebuilt according to the original designs in the mid-1900s.
It is worth stopping to admire the elegance of its Venetian-style façade, arranged over two floors and characterized by a portico (loggia) with arches and columns. The upper floor of the Šibenik City Hall still houses the town hall offices.
St. Lawrence Monastery and the Medieval garden
The charming St. Lawrence Monastery is located in the heart of Sibenik Old Town, almost opposite the Cathedral, towards the Svete Ane cemetery.
It consists of a church, a monastery and a beautiful medieval garden, dating from the 17th century. Recently renovated after many decades of neglect, the complex now houses a café and the garden, with its aromatic herbs, plants and flowers, is recognized as one of the most beautiful medieval gardens in Dalmatia.
Krka National Park
The most famous attraction of Šibenik is located just 20 km from the city center and is the Krka National Park, a wonderful complex of lakes, waterfalls and ancient monasteries that stretches for almost 100 km in the Dalmatian hinterland.
Krka National Park and its scenic waterfalls are easily accessible on a day trip from Šibenik. You can go there by car, and maybe stay overnight in the surrounding area, or book a convenient guided day trip from Šibenik.
Krka waterfalls and lakes are among the most famous attractions in Croatia, almost like Plitvice Lakes, which are also quite similar. Also in Krka National Park there are wooden walkways that allow you to explore beautiful emerald lakes, sumptuous waterfalls (including the famous Skradiski Buk, probably the most famous in Croatia) and spectacular natural landscapes.
Best Restaurants in Šibenik
Pelegrini
The Pelegrini restaurant is undoubtedly one of the most famous in Šibenik, located just a stone’s throw from the Cathedral, in a wonderful setting. The interiors are simple and welcoming, but the highlight are the wonderful terraces and courtyards, perfect for a romantic alfresco dinner.
The Pelegrini restaurant has been awarded 1 Michelin star, and serves fine specialties of traditional Dalmatian cuisine with French and Japanese influences. The tasting menu (from 600/900 Kn) is a journey through the rich history and gastronomic culture of Šibenik, with a mix of Mediterranean, Venetian, Austrian, French and Turkish flavors. They also have a very respectable wine list.
The Pelegrini is normally closed in winter. Reservations are recommended.
Dalmatian Ethno Village
The Dalmatian Ethno Village is located about 7km from Šibenik, within the Amadria Park Resort, and is a very picturesque reproduction of an old charming local village, with old traditional houses and beautiful terraces and courtyards where you can dine alfresco in the summer.
It serves excellent regional specialties, such as grilled meats, dalmatian dry-cured ham (pršut), pašticada (dalmatian beef stew), and delicious local cheeses. You will also be able to see how some traditional recipes are cooked and how bread, cheese, oil and brandy are made with traditional methods and tools.
It is open every day from 12.00 to 22.00. Reservations are recommended.
Konoba San Antonio
Konoba San Antonio is located on Dobrić Street in Šibenik Old Town. It is a rustic and traditional restaurant that serves good local specialties and grilled fish and meat. It also has some outdoor seating and, especially in summer, is quite popular.
RestAurant Sky
Those looking for a luxury experience could reach the town of Vodice, 12 km north of Šibenik, where there is the eclectic Restaurant Sky, located on the rooftop of the wonderful Hotel Olympia Sky, undoubtedly one of the best resorts on the coast, which boasts also an excellent spa, indoor and outdoor pools (including a rooftop infinity pool), a beautiful private beach, and modern sea-view rooms.
Restaurant Sky features huge floor-to-ceiling windows with insane sea views, and serves great seafood and local meat specialties, as well as international cuisine and some vegetarian options.
Fry Guy
This is not a restaurant, but true street food lovers will thank me for this tip. Fry Guy is located in the heart of Sibenik Old Town, a few steps from the Cathedral and the beautiful Church Museum of St. Barbara, and serves good portions of fried fish: squid, girice (a kind of small fish, delicious!) and sardines, with prices starting at 28 Kn for a portion.
How to Get to Šibenik
The best way to get to Šibenik is by car, which also allows you to easily visit the surroundings, such as the nearby Krka National Park and the many beautiful villages on the coast and in the hinterland.
It is also possible to rent a car in Šibenik and explore the region on your own. You can find the best deals from reliable car rentals on Rentalcars or Discovercars. If you travel in the summer it is advisable to book your car well in advance.
Getting to Šibenik by Bus
The Šibenik Bus Station is located along the coast, at Draga Street 14, and offers daily connections to and from the major cities of Croatia, including daily departures to Dubrovnik (6 hours), Zadar (1.5 hours), Rijeka (5 hours) and Split (1.5 hours). There are also buses to Zagreb (7 hours). The routes are operated by FLIXBUS and some local companies.
Getting to Šibenik by plane
The nearest airports are Split, which is almost 60 km away, and Zadar, about 70 km away. From Split Airport you can take the bus to Split Bus Station from where there are several buses to Šibenik (1.5 hours) operated by Arriva and other local companies. Schedules and tickets on Trainline.
From Zadar Airport you can take the bus to the Zadar Bus Station from where some buses leave for Šibenik (1.5 hours). Buses are operated by FLIXBUS, Arriva and other local companies. Schedules and tickets on Trainline.
Getting to Šibenik by Train
The Šibenik Railway Station is located along the coast, in Ul. fra Jerolima Milete, a short distance from the Šibenik Old Town. There are trains to and from major Croatian cities, such as Zagreb (6 hours) and Split (2 hours), in both cases you will have to change trains in Perkovic. Timetables and info on the Croatian railways website. However the train is the worst solution, because it is an unnecessarily long journey. Locals usually prefer to travel by bus or car.
