As we’re slowly going back to normality as we know it and foreign travel seems feasible in not so distant future, I’m taking you to Croatia once again. Another one of the daily trips I made last summer – this time, to a lovely city called Sibenik, located in central Dalmacia. Sit back and enjoy the tour!

Before we get to Sibenik though, we’re going to stop by in a smaller town on the way from Zadar, where the journey began. Welcome to Biograd na Moru, the former capital of the medieval Croatian Kingdom. Currently, it’s a tourist resort with perfectly clear, blue waters of the Adriatic Sea. It’s definitely a great place to stay in Croatia. Located a relatively close driving distance to multiple popular tourist destinations (Plitvicka Jezera, Krka and Split, to name just a few), but far away from city noise. There is also a publicly accessible pool filled with sea water on the coat. A perfect place for a relaxing family holiday.

After the brief stop in Biograd, let’s move to the main point of today’s trip – Sibenik. A unique fountain – a water clock – had been revealed there just a few days before our visit. Two streams of water act like two hands of a clock, and the fountain is illuminated at night to make reading it possible in the dark. Quite a unique idea, isn’t it?

The narrow Mediterranean streets are so charming. They provide cool, shaded getaway from the Croatian heat, but also have some romantic vibe to them. I’m sure the restaurant tables would have been filled if it hadn’t been for covid – it was empty everywhere we went, unlike during our visit two years before.

One of the hidden gems of Sibenik is this lovely garden placed in the heart of the Old Town. Getting there? Just follow the steps and keep going up! The garden – and a small cafe – are located in probably one of the highest spots in the town. That makes this secluded place a nice hideaway from the busier tourist areas. It also comes with a nice bonus – a lovely view from the top of the hill.  

Being a huge animal lover, I couldn’t pass the opportunity to visit the Sibenik Aquarium-Terrarium. It’s relatively small and located entirely indoors, placed within the Old Town, not far from the coastline – a perfect spot to attract tourists! We didn’t know about that place beforehand and decided to visit it on a whim. It took us around 45 minutes to see everything without a rush, so the place isn’t big at all. That’s reflected in the ticket price though, with the fee being around 40kn (that equals around £4.5).

From one of the first tanks, we were greeted by this cheeky crab. He kept dancing along the glass with a flattering headband made of fresh seaweed. How stylish!

Other tanks were inhabited by a big octopus, sea urchins and a lot of various species of fish, snails, crabs and shrimps.

One of the most impressive enclosures was the one that’s home to a spectacled caiman and a bunch of turtles. The happy little patchwork family is named after the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and rightly so! It probably takes some good amount of courage to risk walking over a caiman’s head. Poor Pablo!

Aside from aquatic enclosures, the Sibenik Aquarium-Terrarium also had a lot of terrestrial reptile tanks, hosting various species of snakes and lizards. Look at these adorable little dragons!

After leaving the Aquarium, we continued the stroll around the town. One of the most majestic buildings in Sibenik is the Sibenik Cathedral of St. James. It dates back to the 15th century and the rosetta is a common piece for Croatian churches.

Finally, after a long day, we had a large pizza in one of the restaurants by the sea (the same one we visited during our previous visit 2 years prior, actually!). The coastline near the Old Town is more of a marina style, without a beach – you can have a nice stroll along the promenade, admiring impressive (and, undeniably, really expensive) yachts.

On the way back to the car we walked past one incredible balcony. If I had a balcony myself, I’m sure it would end up that way too in non time! My newly discovered passion for houseplants (thanks, lockdowns!) is growing stronger and stronger every week, and I’m running out of place to put new green babies in my 1 bedroom flat. 

This concludes our lovely trip to Sibenik, Croatia. If you ever have a chance – do visit it! It’s one of the most charming towns in Croatia and the Mediterranean vibes are strong in the narrow, cobbled streets.

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