Rijeka Museums and Art Galleries

(Rijeka, Primorje Gorski Kotar, Kvarner, Croatia)

A variety of museums are located in Rijeka, with natural history and the fascinating maritime tradition of the city in fine focus.

Several of Rijeka's top cultural offerings are set in buildings that are museums in their own right and well worth exploring as such. A don't miss, especially if you are travelling with youngsters, is the fairly new Computer and Calculator Museum (Racunalo i Kalkulator Muzej), which provides a look back to the early days of the invention that changed the world faster than the invention of the wheel.

Natural History Museum (Prirodoslovni Muzej)

Address: Lorenzov Prolaz 1, Rijeka, Croatia, HR
Tel: + 385 51 553 669
Set in a 19th-century villa, the city's Natural History Museum hosts a variety of displays of diverse subjects connected with the city and its outlying areas. Categories include the geographic, with minerals, paleontological collections, fossils and marine invertebrates. Some of the finest examples are not on display, but can be viewed as part of a special tour. Particularly interesting are the botany and geology exhibits related to the Adriatic region, along with the multimedia centre with its resident fish, frogs, snakes and insects. After your visit, head next door to the landscaped botanical garden, where literally hundreds of indigenous Croatian plants grow.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:00 to 19:00, Saturday - 09:00 to 15:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for students

Maritime and Historical Museum of Coastal Croatia (Pomorski i Povijesni Muzej Hrvatskog Primorja)

Address: Muzejski Trg 1, Rijeka, Croatia, HR
Tel: +385 051 553 666
The fascinating Maritime and History Museum is set in the splendid Governor's Palace and shows a range of nautical equipment, model ships and artefacts associated with the city's maritime tradition. Also on view is an assortment of antique furniture, together with an ethnographic collection, various model ships, navigational instruments and seafaring charts. This attraction is well worth a visit after you've marvelled at the Hungarian architecture of the palace itself. The self-guided tours include an English-language leaflet, allowing you to make the most of the exhibits.
Open hours: Tuesday to Friday - 09:00 to 20:00, Saturday - 09:00 to 13:00
Admission: free

Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (Muzej Moderne i Suvremene Umjetnosti)

Address: Dolac 1, Rijeka, Croatia, HR
Tel: +385 051 492 611
Rijeka's Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art has been supporting the development of these exciting styles since 1948, by hosting travelling exhibitions and encouraging art education. The gallery's vast collection of permanent art works includes over 5,000 pieces in all kinds of different media, from the present day back to the late 19th century. Many well-known local former and contemporary artists are represented here.
Open hours: Tuesday to Friday - 10:00 to 13:00, 18:00 to 21:00, Saturday - 10:00 to 13:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for students

Computer and Calculator Museum / Peek and Poke (Racunalo i Kalkulator Muzej)

Address: Ivana Grohovca 2, Rijeka, Croatia, HR
Tel: +385 051 431 304
The history of the greatest invention of the 20th century, the computer, as well as the background to calculators, is explored in this offbeat museum 'with a difference'. Over 1000 retro and more modern exhibits are displayed here at the 'Peek and Poke', ranging from the Apple II to Croatia's very own Galeb and Oroa machines. The highlight for many is an award-winning model designed as an astronaut's helmet, complete with visor.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 10:00 to 20:00, Saturday - 10:00 to 14:00
Admission: free

Croatian Museum of Tourism (Hrvatski Muzej od Turizam)

Address: Park Angiolina, Vladimira Nazora 3, Opatija, Croatia, HR
Tel: +385 051 271 710
Aptly located in the oldest and most famous tourist destination in the country, the neighbouring resort town of Opatija, is Croatia's recently established Museum of Tourism, which stands in the Villa Angiolina, within the Park Angiolina. Expect displays of everything that makes the country a vital tourist destination, as well as glimpses of Opatija's illustrious 19th-century visitors and their environment. Amongst the collections are large numbers of old postcards, photos and posters, while the interior of the villa itself is very endearing, with its floor mosaics and elaborate frescoes. The surrounding park provides the ideal place to unwind, with its mature trees and seasonal flowers. Each year, the museum also hosts events of interest to visitors.
Open hours: Tuesday to Sunday, June to September - 09:00 to 13:00, 17:00 to 21:00; October to May - 10:00 to 18:00
Admission: charge

City Museum (Muzej Grada Rijeke)

Address: Muzejski Trg 1 / 1, Rijeka, Croatia, HR
Tel: +385 051 336 711
This interesting facility doesn't have many permanent collections on display, since its main function is to systematically collect, analyse and evaluate new material. However, the Muzej Grada Rijeke does feature some very reasonable collections ranging from arts and crafts, to coins, medals, militaria and stamps. There are also a number of photographs on display, together with changing exhibits from Italy. All of the collections can be viewed and studied at will. Do note that the admission charges are waived on Mondays.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 10:00 to 13:00, 17:00 to 20:00, Saturday - 10:00 to 13:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for students

Glagoljica

Address: University Library, Rijeka, Croatia, HR
Tel: +385 051 336 129
Esoteric though this may sound, the Glagoljica is really quite interesting. This museum, linked to the city's university, is home to displays of ancient manuscripts written in the original Glagolitic script of the region. The script is the heart of Croatian national identity and this unusual attraction bears inspection if you've more than a passing interest in the country's heritage. Do note that the hours can vary, and so it may be worth phoning ahead of your visit, to make sure that the Glagoljica is open.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 08:00 to 15:00
Admission: charge