Osijek Tourist Attractions and Sightseeing

(Osijek, Slavonia, Croatia)

Essentially three cities in one, Osijek is a mishmash of architectural styles, although it lacks tourist attractions with the family in mind. The main attraction is really its multitude of old buildings. The Tvrda fortress is the best of them, a major highlight situated within the huge Trg Svetog Trojstva square.

Nearby is the wide Europa Avenue, which goes through this area and serves the Upper Town of Osijek. Tourists will find that the Europa Avenue is good for strolling along and taking pictures of old mansions.

There are several parks in the city, including the King Tomislav Park and the Municipal Park of King Petar Kresimir IV, with its national landmarks and attractions, while the Riverwalk and Promenade both take in the banks of the Drava River, providing the perfect place for a sunny afternoon walk.

Tvrda

Address: Trg Svetog Trojstva, Europska Avenija, Osijek, Croatia, HR
Osijek's top sight resides on the Trg Svetog Trojstva (the main plaza known as the Holy Trinity Square), which is near the river. The Tvrda is a well-preserved 18th-century citadel / fortress featuring Baroque forms courtesy of highly regarded Austrian architect of the period, Maximilian Gosseau de Henef. This Habsburg fortress complex comprises many interesting buildings, together with cobbled streets, plazas and mansions, and all can be seen as part of the same trip. There are also many restaurants nearby, clustered around the Trg Svetog Trojstva. Notable attractions in this part of the city include the Archaeological Museum (Arheoloski Muzej) and the Museum of Slavonia (Muzej Slavonije).
Open hours: daily
Admission: free, charge for some of the onsite attractions

Europa Avenue (Europska Avenija)

Address: Europska Avenija, Osijek, Croatia, HR
The Europa Avenue is Osijek's principal thoroughfare and also functions as the most impressive street in town, running to the Upper Town (Gornji Grad) from the Tvrda fort. Close to the riverfront, the Europska Avenija takes in several parks and attractions along the way, with the Kralja Drzislava Park being a particular highlight. Some of the buildings were erected in the early 1900s and are typically in the Art Nouveau style.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Croatian National Theatre (Hrvatsko Narodno Kazaliste - HNK)

Address: Zupanijska Ulica 9, Osijek, Croatia, HR
Tel: +385 031 220 700
The Venetian / Moorish Croatian National Theatre was built way back in the 1860s, although was not actually considered to be completed until well into the 1900s. This is one of the grandest buildings in Osijek, with its colourful Baroque-style facade. Extensive restoration work has seen it recover from the damage it underwent during the 1991 Serbian war, although the resident McDonald's 'Golden Arches' will likely irk purists. Tourists should note that the majority of the shows are staged from September to May.
Open hours: daily - hours vary according to show / performance
Admission: charge

City Zoo / Zoological Gardens (Zooloski Vrt Grada)

Address: Tvrdavica 1 / Sjevernodravska Obala 1, Osijek, Croatia, HR
Tel: +385 031 285 234
Residing on the left bank of the Drava River, the City Zoo was established in the mid-1950s and is currently the biggest zoo in the whole of Croatia, being spread over some 27 acres / 11 hectares. With just under 100 different animal species to see, together with aquariums and reptiles, there are plenty of attractions for children to enjoy at the Zoological Gardens. The animals themselves number more than 650 and live in spacious enclosures, many of which have been landscaped to replicate their natural surroundings. Expect to find antelope, bears, buffaloes, camels, crocodiles, giraffes, lions, llamas, tigers and zebras, as well as an educational Learning Centre. Clearly illustrating its popularity, annual visitor numbers now exceed 100,000 people.
Open hours: daily, March to August - 09:00 to 18:00; September to February - 09:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children

Riverwalk / Copacabana River Beach

Address: Riverwalk, Osijek, Croatia, HR
The centrally located Riverwalk is just that, a paved walkway flanking the meandering Drava River. This is a major attraction for walkers, joggers, skaters and cyclists, plus anglers also come here of an afternoon to fish. There is a bridge leading to the Copacabana River Beach (Kopika) and sports centre, with the open-air swimming pools soon filling up during the summer. The city's Riverwalk area is also home to decent shopping and nightlife options.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Municipal Park / Municipal Park of King Petar Kresimir IV (Park Kralja Petra Kresimira IV)

Address: Kralja Zvonimira / Zagrebacka / Europska Avenija, Osijek, Croatia, HR
The Municipal Park - full title, Municipal Park of King Petar Kresimir IV, is a popular patch of green in the city centre, next to both the Park Kralja Drzislava and the Perivoj Kralja Tomislava. Also close to the Post Office and the Kardinala Alozija Stepinca, this park dates from the turn of the 20th century and is a nice place to walk, picnic or people-watch. The Municipal Park is a lot more restful than the Riverwalk, suiting those who prefer more in the way of peace and quiet, plus there are several noted landmarks here.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Promenade (Promenada)

Address: Promenada, Osijek, Croatia, HR
The Promenade, or Promenada and it is known locally in Croatian, is another especially pleasant green area. Located along the banks of the Drava River, as with the Riverwalk, the Promenade comes with many pleasant cafes and small shops. There is a marina here where there are bars and eateries, while one of the city's top hotels also resides on this stretch - the 14-storey Hotel Osijek on the Samacka, where a restaurant on the top floor offers stunning views of the river, the Zimska Luka area and the surrounding cityscape.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free