Osijek Museums and Art Galleries

(Osijek, Slavonia, Croatia)

Although not as heavily endowed with museums and galleries as Zagreb and Dubrovnik, Osijek has a healthy supply of cultural attractions nonetheless. For one, the city boasts a 2,000-year history and also comes with an enviable architectural heritage in the old part of town, particularly so from the early 1700s.

See the main square and Europa Avenue for the best preserved architecture, with this part of Osijek being conveniently near to some of the top museums and similar offerings. The Museum of Slavonia is located in the Trg Svetog Trojstva square, along with the Archaeological Museum, and these two have some fantastic exhibits. For a look at quality Croatian art, the Gallery of Fine Arts is also a must.

Museum of Slavonia (Muzej Slavonije)

Address: Tvrda, Trg Svetog Trojstva 6, Osijek, Croatia, HR
Tel: +385 031 250 730
Documenting a long and eventful history of the Slavonia region of East Croatia, the Museum of Slavonia is amongst the leading attractions at the Trg Svetog Trojstva square, within the Tvrda attraction. It sits in the square's south-eastern corner and features a fine collection of archaeological remains, Bronze Age relics and artefacts right up to the days of the Romans. The Muzej Slavonije resides within the oldest Baroque building in the city, the City Magistrate Building, and is one of the most visited museums here, with its Roman coins, pottery exhibits and various household implements being especially noteworthy.
Open hours: Tuesday to Friday - 08:00 to 14:00, Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to 13:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children

Archaeological Museum (Arheoloski Muzej)

Address: Tvrda, Trg Svetog Trojstva 2, Osijek, Croatia, HR
Tel: +385 031 232 132
The Trg Svetog Trojstva is also home to another of Osijek's popular museums, the Archaeological Museum. Although the Muzej Slavonije has a worthwhile collection of archaeological finds, this Arheoloski Muzej is well endowed and covers much of the history of the region. The building itself is an attractive one, with its arcaded patio being topped by a glass dome. Guided tours with the curator are the best way to make the very most of your visit and these will generally last around 30 or 40 minutes. As you go round, you will learn about how the many Roman and Celtic artefacts on display were excavated in recent years, when the highway was built.
Open hours: Tuesday to Friday - 08:00 to 15:00, Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to 13:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for students, seniors and families, children seven years old and under are free

Gallery of Fine Arts (Galerija Likovnih Umjetnosti)

Address: Europska Avenija 9, Osijek, Croatia, HR
Tel: +385 031 251 280
The Fine Arts Gallery has collections across all media, including paintings, sculptures, drawings, graphics and even old medals, all of which are housed within a charming neo-classical mansion. Works date from the 18th century right up to the 20th century, some of which are deemed of such value to represent the Croatian heritage of art. For this reason, the Gallery of Fine Arts is well-known and highly regarded throughout the region.
Open hours: Tuesday to Friday - 10:00 to 18:00, Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to 13:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for students, seniors and children

Exhibition of the Water World (Izlozba Vodeni Svijet)

Address: Osijek, Croatia, HR
The Exhibition of the Water World is one of Osijek's more quirky museums. More than just a family friendly aquarium attraction, the Water World displays a wealth of exhibits from the deep and is, in fact, well respected on a continental scale. Some of the exhibits are quite rare and include snail shells, starfish, urchins, crabs, all kinds of fish and some real oddities. There is something to see from all the world's seas, along with some interesting marine fossils and freshwater molluscs. Themes include 'How a pearl is created' and 'How shells make the sound of the sea'.
Open hours: Tuesday and Wednesday - 10:00 to 16:00, Thursday - 10:00 to 20:00, Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to 13:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for students and children

Gloria Maris Museum (Gloria Maris Muzej)

Address: Svetog Josipa Radnika 35, Osijek, Croatia, HR
Tel: +385 031 273 008
Located on the outskirts of the city and within the Bosutsko Naselje area is the Gloria Maris Muzej, which is well worth the effort of finding. This unusual attraction boasts the huge and slightly eclectic private collection of Ivan Filipovic, made up of more than 250,000 pieces. The exhibits include shells collected from the Indian Ocean and the tooth of a giant Woolly Mammoth, which was discovered in the Sava River. Whilst guided tours are available, if you would like your guide to be fluent in English, you will need to arrange this prior to your arrival.
Open hours: Tuesday to Saturday - 10:00 to 13:00, 16:00 to 19:00, Sunday - 10:00 to 13:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children