TravelManiac
Hotels in Šibenik

A stone town of a UNESCO cathedral, fortresses and the Krka waterfalls

Šibenik

LanguageCroatian
CurrencyEUR
TimezoneEurope/Zagreb
Temperature8-28 °C
Dial Code+385
Population3.9M
Area56,594 km²
SocketsType C / Type F
Tap waterDrinkable

Discover Šibenik

Šibenik is a Dalmatian town at the mouth of the Krka river, about sixty kilometres northwest of Split, which unlike other Croatian towns did not grow from a Roman foundation but was built by Croats in the eleventh century. It is dominated by St James's Cathedral, which Juraj Dalmatinac and others built over a century and which has been a UNESCO site since 2000 because it is made wholly of stone, with no bricks or wood. Above the town stand four fortresses, of which St Michael's offers the best view, and in the bay the islands of Zlarin and Prvić. Šibenik is a base for Krka National Park with its cascade of waterfalls and for the Kornati archipelago, among the most beautiful on the Adriatic. The beaches are rocky, but nearby lie the resorts of Vodice and Primošten with hotels and sandy beaches. From the Czech Republic it is about eleven hundred kilometres by car through Slovenia and Zagreb, so people fly to Split or Zadar and go on by bus. Prices are lower than in Dubrovnik and Split and the town suits families too.

What to see

The places worth your time in Šibenik, and what to expect at each

St James's Cathedral

St James's Cathedral

centre

A cathedral from 1431 to 1536 built by Juraj Dalmatinac and after him Nikola Firentinac, wholly of stone without mortar. The decoration of the apses consists of seventy-one stone heads, portraits of Šibenik's residents. It is the most important Renaissance building in Dalmatia.

Tip: A ticket costs about five euros and the cathedral is open at midday; come in the morning, before the groups arrive. Do not forget to look at the heads on the apses from the rear.

Admission:
about €5
Time needed:
1 hr

Šibenik Old Town

centre

Narrow stone lanes, steps and a small square by the cathedral, spread across a slope above the harbour. There are the town hall, churches and an open promenade. It is walked without hurry and locals live in the side streets.

Tip: It looks best in the evening, when the lighting comes on. You can easily get lost, which is part of the charm; a good restaurant is often in the side lanes.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
2–3 hrs

St Michael's Fortress

above the centre

A medieval fortress on the hilltop above the town, where concerts and festivals are now held under the Fortress of Culture project. From the ramparts there is a view of the cathedral, the harbour and the islands. It is the best viewpoint in Šibenik.

Tip: A steep path leads up in twenty minutes; wear sturdy shoes. The best light is before sunset, so check the concert programme.

Admission:
about €8
Time needed:
1–2 hrs

Barone Fortress

above the centre

A seventeenth-century fortress on a hill above the town, built by the Venetians, and today an interactive experience with virtual reality that tells the history of the siege. From the ramparts there is a view of the whole town. It is a good programme for children.

Tip: Entry is cheaper than at St Michael's and there are fewer people. It suits a hot afternoon, as there are shaded places inside.

Admission:
about €8
Time needed:
1 hr

St Nicholas Fortress

at the bay entrance

A fortress on an islet at the entrance to St Anthony's Channel that guarded the approach to the town and has been a UNESCO site since 2017. It was built in the sixteenth century and stands on a coastal rise. Boats run to it from the harbour.

Tip: Visits run at fixed times, so book in advance. The boat ride takes ten minutes and costs a few euros.

Admission:
about €10
Time needed:
1.5 hrs

Krka National Park

near Skradin

A park around the Krka river with a cascade of seven waterfalls, the best known being Skradinski Buk and Roški Slap. You walk on wooden boardwalks between pools and woods. Swimming is allowed below Skradinski Buk.

Tip: A ticket in season costs about forty euros, so book it online. Arrive at opening, or there is a queue. Swimming is allowed only in marked places.

Admission:
about €40
Time needed:
full day

The Kornati Islands

west of Šibenik

A group of more than a hundred uninhabited islands and rocks west of Šibenik that form a national park. Boats go there on full-day trips with swimming and lunch. The landscape is bare, stony and plain.

Tip: Book a trip in advance; boats leave from Vodice, Murter and Šibenik. Bring sun protection, as there is no shade on the islands.

Admission:
trip from €60
Time needed:
full day

Primošten

south of Šibenik

A small town on an islet linked by a causeway to the mainland, surrounded by vineyards of the Babić grape. Old lanes and a church at the top give a medieval atmosphere. Around are sandy beaches and wineries.

Tip: Taste Babić wine straight at the winery for a few euros. Raduča beach is calmer than the town ones.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
half a day
Vodice

Vodice

northwest of Šibenik

A resort with a sandy and pebbly beach, promenade, cafés and a harbour. It is the most popular town in the area and the starting point for trips to Kornati. In the evening it is lively and music plays.

Tip: The beaches are shallow and calm, suited to children. Boats to Kornati leave in the morning; book in advance.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
half a day

Photos: St James's Cathedral — Berthold Werner (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Vodice — Tadam (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Where to stay

Areas and districts, matched to the kind of trip you are taking

Old town

Best for: monuments and restaurants

Narrow lanes by the cathedral with small hotels, restaurants and shops. Everything is at hand, but in summer it is hot and the steps are steep. Suits a short stay and couples.

Waterfront and harbour

Best for: transport and trips

The area around the harbour with cafés and hotels, from which you walk to the centre. Transport and boats to the islands are available. A good choice for comfort.

Vodice

Best for: beaches and nightlife

A resort ten kilometres northwest with beaches and hotels. It is lively and the water is gradual for families. Suits a seaside stay.

Primošten

Best for: calm and wine

A town south of Šibenik with beaches, vineyards and hotels. It is calmer and easier to sleep. Suits couples and families.

Search hotels →

Getting around

From the airport

The nearest airports are Split (SPU), about eighty kilometres from Šibenik, and Zadar (ZAD), sixty. From the airport a bus runs to Šibenik in an hour and a half for about ten euros. From the Czech Republic it is about eleven hundred kilometres by car through Slovenia and Zagreb. Coaches run overnight from Prague and Brno.

Split Airport (SPU) · 80 km

  • Bus to Šibenik· 1 hr 30 min· €10
  • Taxi to Šibenik· 1 hr· €90

Zadar Airport (ZAD) · 60 km

  • Bus to Šibenik· 1 hr· €8
  • Taxi to Šibenik· 45 min· €70

Around town

Šibenik can be walked, but the streets are steep. Buses run to Vodice, Primošten and Krka National Park. Taxis and Bolt work. To Skradin and the waterfalls boats and buses run, but a car is best.

On footThe old town is walkable.
BusTo Vodice, Primošten and Skradin. · €3
Taxi and BoltAround town and the area. · €10
Car rentalFor Krka and Kornati. · €45

Useful apps: Google Maps, Bolt, Maps.me, Uber

When to go

Šibenik has a Mediterranean climate with a hot summer and a mild winter. In July and August it is around thirty-one degrees and the sea twenty-five. The best months are June and September. Winter is mild but rainy and the bora can be strong.

Best time

June and September

What to avoid

July and August (heat and crowds)

MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Day12°12°15°19°24°28°31°31°26°21°16°13°
Night5°5°7°10°14°18°21°21°17°13°9°6°
Rainy days788875346799
Sea14°13°14°16°19°23°25°26°24°21°18°15°

Food & drink

Šibenik cooking is Dalmatian: fish, seafood, oven-cooked meat, cheeses and olives. A main dish in a konoba costs fifteen to thirty euros. People drink Babić and Debit wine, red and white from the region.

What to try

Šibenik oysters

Fresh oysters and mussels from Prokljan Lake, served raw with lemon. Best in the winter months.

Pašticada

Braised beef in a thick sauce of dried plums, wine and spices, served with gnocchi. A festive dish of Dalmatia.

Peka

Meat with potatoes baked under an iron bell in hot embers. It is ordered in advance.

Black risotto

Rice with cuttlefish and its ink, black and intense. A typical dish of the coast.

Šibenik kuhani

A fish stew of several kinds of fish with potatoes and olive oil. Served as a main course.

Babić wine

Red wine from the Babić grape, which grows around Primošten. Full, sweet and good with meat.

Fritule

Small fried doughnuts with raisins, dusted with sugar. A dessert sold at festivals.

What it costs

Espresso

€1.5–2

Lunch in a konoba

€15–30

Pašticada

€15–22

A beer

€3–4

Cathedral

€5

Krka (entry)

€40

3★ apartment (night)

€70–150

Bus from Split

€10

Indicative prices that change over time — treat them as a guide, not a price list.

Practical information

SocketsCEuroplug, two round pinsFSchuko
Voltage230V / 50Hz
Tap waterTap water is drinkable — Tap water in Croatia is excellent and drunk without restriction. Croatia has been in the eurozone since 2023.
TippingTipping is customary, ten per cent in a restaurant or rounding up. For taxi drivers rounding up is enough.
Driving on theright
SafetyŠibenik is safe. Mind the steep steps and slippery stones in rain. In the sea watch for sea urchins. The emergency number is 112, ambulance 194.
Opening hoursShops are open from eight to eight, mostly closed on Sunday. Restaurants serve lunch from noon and dinner from six. Fortresses are open from morning to evening.
Customs & etiquetteCroats are friendly and 'dobar dan' is enough. In the cathedral do not wear swimwear and cover your shoulders. Do not sunbathe topless on beaches.
A few local wordsGood day — Dobar danThank you — HvalaPlease — MolimHow much is it? — Koliko košta?Cheers — ŽivjeliThe bill, please — Račun, molimWhere is the toilet? — Gdje je WC?

How to plan your days

1 day

A day in Šibenik

  1. 1Morning the cathedral and the old town.
  2. 2St Michael's Fortress.
  3. 3Lunch in a konoba.
  4. 4Afternoon Barone Fortress.
  5. 5Evening a stroll along the harbour.

2 days

Two days: Šibenik and Krka

  1. 1Day one as above.
  2. 2Day two Krka National Park.
  3. 3Afternoon swimming below Skradinski Buk.
  4. 4Evening return.

3 days

Three days: Šibenik and Kornati

  1. 1Days one and two as above.
  2. 2Day three a boat to Kornati.
  3. 3Afternoon swimming and lunch on an island.
  4. 4Evening return.

Day trips

Trogir

65 km · 1 hr by car

A medieval island town, a UNESCO site. It suits half a day and can be combined with Split.

Zadar

85 km · 1 hr by car

A town with a Roman forum, the Sea Organ and the Greeting to the Sun. It suits a full-day trip.

Plitvice Lakes

130 km · 1 hr 45 min by car

A national park of sixteen lakes linked by waterfalls, a UNESCO site. It suits a full day.

Frequently asked questions

Is Šibenik suitable for families?+

Yes, it is a safe town with fortresses and nearby beaches and Krka National Park. Children enjoy the Barone fortress with its virtual reality. For swimming, Vodice and Primošten are better.

How do I get to Šibenik from the airport?+

From Split a bus takes about an hour and a half and costs about ten euros, from Zadar an hour. A taxi from Split costs about ninety euros. The most convenient is a rental car.

When is the best time to visit?+

June and September, when it is warm and less crowded. In July and August there is heat and crowds at Krka. In winter it is quiet, but some businesses close.

Is Krka National Park worth it?+

Yes, the waterfalls are among the loveliest in Croatia and swimming below Skradinski Buk is an experience. Tickets are bought online in advance and in season cost about forty euros. Arrive at opening.

What is the UNESCO cathedral in Šibenik?+

St James's Cathedral, built wholly of stone without mortar, with apses decorated by seventy-one portraits. It has been a UNESCO site since 2000. Entry costs about five euros.

Are there beaches in Šibenik?+

In the town only small rocky ones, but nearby are the resorts of Vodice and Primošten with sandy and pebbly beaches. A bus takes half an hour.

Is Šibenik expensive?+

It is cheaper than Split and Dubrovnik. Lunch in a konoba costs fifteen to thirty euros, an apartment seventy to a hundred and fifty euros a night. Lunches and wine are cheapest.

Do you pay in euros in Šibenik?+

Yes, Croatia adopted the euro in January 2023. Cards are accepted nearly everywhere, and cash is useful at markets and in smaller konobas.

Visa Requirements

Check the latest visa requirements for entering this country. Some nationalities may need to apply for a visa or e-visa before travel.

Check visa requirements

Emergency Numbers

Police192Ambulance194Fire193

Language

Croatian

Currency

EUR

Timezone

Europe/Zagreb

Dial Code

+385

Population

3.9M

Area

56,594 km²

Voltage

230V / 50Hz

Driving Side

Right

Top Hotels in Šibenik

Live prices from 500+ properties

Loading hotels...

Plan your trip – Šibenik

More destinations in Croatia

Baška VodaBračDubrovnikHvarKrkMakarskaOpatijaPag and NovaljaPodgoraPoreč

Planning a trip to Šibenik?

Compare hundreds of hotels, find the best price, and book with free cancellation on TravelManiac.