Rijeka

Digital nomads looking for an alternative scene in Croatia with access to the beach in the summer and hiking in the winter? Look no further than ‘Red’ Rijeka.

Rijeka was the European Capital of Culture in 2020, and if you are in search of an interesting arts and cultural scene, you have come to the right place.

Coworking (Updated 2022)

Rijeka currently has a brand new coworking space for you:

RiHub – a fully equipped and free to use space, part of the startup community, with a kitchen and meeting/Zoom rooms. It’s run by Emilija who speaks perfect English, so drop her an e-mail if you want to work from there – startup@rijeka.hr or call her on 051 209 940.

Community

There’s a vibrant startup and IT community in Rijeka, all with great English speaking skills, and with many based out of RiHub. Check out the IT Meetup page and the Digital Nomads Rijeka Facebook group for upcoming events.

When you’re not in the office and want to meet some locals, then go to Slon for coffee and cake. If you want something stronger, check out Rakhia for a young crowd, international music and free flowing alcohol or Bar Bar for a slightly older crowd and some wine.

If you’re more of the active type you can go for a daily kitesurfing session, run up the 538 steps to Trsat, or hike and even ski in the winter at Platak. There are also a number of dance, singing and creative courses at Dom Mladež.

When the weekend comes, then how about going to Gorski Kotor for the weekend, and hire an ATV to explore the whole area. Or just take it is, head to Opatija, and find a spa resort.

Living

Whether you’d prefer to live near a coworking space, or a bit further out, check what’s available on DNA Stay, our dedicated longer term rental website for digital nomads.

There are a number of launderettes around Rijeka, offering self-service to full service, so if your place doesn’t have a washing machine or you don’t have time, there’s an option for you.

The city market is the best place to buy your groceries, and we always recommend buying regularly and building up a rapport, learning a bit of Croatian along the way.

Connectivity

Rijeka is extremely well-connected for all types of transport so perfect for digital nomads.

It has an international airport on Krk nearby, but also check out the flights to Pula and Trieste (a short bus ride), as well as Zagreb, from where a shuttle connects to the city directly from Zagreb Airport.

Home to the Jadrolinija ferry company, Rijeka connects with Italy, islands and the rest of the coast.

The bus network around town is excellent, as are the national and international connections. There are also direct train connections, including special tourist trains from Slovakia and Czechia. Finally, Rijeka lies just off the motorway from Pula to both Split and Zagreb. 

A few other facts:

• • The Rijeka Carnival is the second biggest in Europe after Venice
  • The torpedo is a Rijeka invention
  • Some say Rijeka, Italians say Fiume – Italian influence (and interest in) Rijeka has been strong over the centuries.
  • Trsat Castle dominates the skyline and is a must-see, but Trsat is also one of Croatia’s most important religious sites, visited by Pope John Paul II.
  • Rijeka’s alternative music scene is very developed. The first Yugoslav rock band, Urigani (Hurricanes) was formed back in the 1960s. 

Festivals worth checking out:

• • Rijeka Carnival (February)
  • The square under the stars of a Rijeka sky (June)
  • Rijeka EnoGastro VIP Event (June)
  • Fiumanka (June to September)
  • Fiumare (May/June)
  • Summer on Gradina (June)