Šibenik Offers a Stone City and Beautiful Waterfalls
A CITY THAT BEFITS AN EPIC FANTASY STORY
Sibenik is the only city along the Croatian coast originally built by Croats - though its ownership since is similar to the other major coastal cities. It’s been Byzantine, Venetian, and Hungarian - though the most noteworthy influences are the defenses built by the Venetians. What set Sibenik apart for me, though, is that it’s a hillside city built mostly of stone - from the only cathedral in Europe built entirely of stone to cobbled streets to stone arches. Especially because the Old Town is pedestrian-only, the overall effect is other-worldly - a place set apart not just in time but place. Plus, if you’re a Game of Thrones fan - it’s the filming location for Braavos - and it feels like it.
EXPLORE THE OLD TOWN
The gem of Sibenik is its old town; built cliff side and almost entirely of stone, this section of Sibenik is cool to explore throughout. The most famous site is the Cathedral of Saint James - a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It sits near the Town Hall and in the medieval town square, which are also noteworthy sites. I wouldn’t focus on getting to any particular location though, and just enjoy getting lost and seeing everything the Old Town has to offer.
HEAD TO KRKA NATIONAL PARK
Krka National Park is a preserved area of the Krka River that forms waterfalls, cascades and ponds located about 15 kilometers outside of Sibenik. To get there, you can take a local bus to Skradin - which is one of the two entrances to the park’s main waterfall (Skradinski Buk). I recommend this entrance because your ticket into the park will include a boat ride along the river to the waterfall, and if you walk back to Skradin, you’ll get cliff side river views and small secluded riverfront nooks to relax in. We even found a nook with a large fig tree, so we got to sit by the river eating fresh figs for about 30 minutes.
I wouldn’t expect hiking in this park - as it’s built to be more of a wood boardwalk that wraps through the various water features. The park is also quite expensive, about $30, so it’s not particularly friendly to a backpacker’s budget. If you’re heading to Bosnia, the waterfalls will be more affordable on the other side of the border, so you’d be fine skipping this park. If you’re only traveling through Croatia though, I think it’d be a missed opportunity to not go to either Krka or Plitvice (the other waterfall park).
OTHER THINGS TO DO
You’ll be able to explore Krka and Old Town within a couple of days, so if you’re in Sibenik longer you’ll be looking for other things to do. Here are some of the most common.
Take in the City from a Distance: Sibenik is unique among the major Croatian coastal cities because it’s built cliffside - which creates a unique and cool view from a distance. I think the best place to get the Sibenik skyline view is from the city beach (Plaza Banj) and the walk there.
Check out the Fortresses: Sibenik has four fortresses, each with good city and sea views. The most famous of them is Fortress of St. Nicholas - a Venetian defense that is a UNESCO heritage site - best known for the beach-filled path and wood bridges to get there.
Shop at a Produce Market: Sibenik has a large morning produce market - Gradska Trznica - just outside of the Old Town.
Visit the Nearby Islands: Like Zadar, you can use Sibenik as a base to explore nearby islands. You can take a boat tour of the Kornati National Park archipelago, or take a ferry for a day trip to one of the nearby larger islands - Zlarin, Kaprije, Zirje or Prvic.
I would be careful not to overpack your days in Sibenik. Leave plenty of time to just sit and soak in the natural beauty, the views, and the cool nooks and crannies in the Old Town.
