The Outdoors

The area's walking, hiking and biking trails provide an excellent opportunity to become better acquainted with its beautiful natural scenery and eventful history that stretches back ten thousand years.

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Enjoying the peace and quiet on the wooded slopes of Mount Učka, you will also encounter monuments to ancient cultures, such as the caves that were used by the first settlers who arrived here ten millennia ago, as well as reminders of more recent historical events like abandoned World War II bunkers. The area is also home to the important biological habitats of endemic species that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

For the more adventurous, the Opatija Riviera offers many challenges: eight bike trails on Mount Učka and a network of hiking trails that connect the coast and the peaks of Kvarner's highest mountain and which also provide the ideal setting for learning about nature and local history. A special attraction of the area is the Trebišća-Perun Mythology and History Trail in Mošćenička Draga, which takes visitors through locations that are of particular importance in old Slavic mythology and informs them about the mythical "divine battle" between Veles, the god of the underworld, and the supreme thunder-god Perun, presenting Učka as the holy mountain of the ancient Slavs. 

Učka also offers other types of activity holiday, such as horse-riding or caving, and is particularly popular among extreme sports enthusiasts. Not many experiences can match the rush of adrenaline that one feels on taking off from Vojak, the highest peak of Učka, when paragliding or hang gliding, enjoying the stunning panorama of the entire Kvarner Bay and Istrian peninsula below. The canyon of Vela draga is a world-famous attraction thanks to its 62 climbing routes and limestone towers, which represent a great challenge even to the most experienced climbers. However, those who succeed in climbing it will be rewarded with breath-taking views of the surrounding area.

Returning from the mountain to the sea: the Opatija Riviera offers various opportunities for water sports, such as water polo, sea kayaking and canoeing, water skiing, scuba diving with experienced diving instructors, or sailing in the company of world champions. The modern sports halls in Opatija, Matulji and Kastav, are ideal for indoor sports such as futsal, handball or basketball. If you are longing for some peace and quiet, there are well-maintained trails along Opatija's Carmen Sylva forest promenade and in Matulji's protected Lisina forest park.