Osijek

Osijek is a city in Eastern Croatia. It is an important transport hub and the principal city of Slavonia.

Due to its important location near the junction of the Drava and Danube rivers, this large and prosperous town (the fourth largest city in Croatia with a population around 120,000) bore much of the brunt of the recent conflict in the 1990s. Many fine buildings have been restored to their former glory, though do not be surprised to see some scars still remaining. Some buildings still have bullet holes or shrapnel markings in them, though like the local economy, the town is mostly back to where it was in pre-war days. Osijek is the largest city and the economic and the cultural centre of the eastern Croatian region of Slavonia, as well as the administrative center of Osijek-Baranja county. Osijek has a large student population, as it home to the University of Osijek where approximately 18,000 students attend.

• Kino Europa. Modernist architecture.
• Kino Urania. Secessionist architecture.
• Europska Avenija. Magnificent secession style buildings.
• Tvrđa is the self-contained 18th-century Hapsburg defensive fortress just east of the city centre. This immaculately-preserved baroque military compound, designed by Maximillian de Gosseau in 1721, contains many fine buildings to view by day, and at night becomes the hotspot with bars and clubs. Luckily there was no damage during the recent conflict to the site, ensuring great viewing and photos. Tvrđa is based around the main square, Trg Svetog Trojstva, and the Museum of Slavonia is located here with artefacts throughout history as early as Roman times. There are also situated high schools, and university of Osijek. On the main square is also Archeological museum, and Music school. Fortress is also the place for a good night-life with numerous bars, discos and restaurants.
• Co-Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul This is the tallest church in Croatia and has a spire of 90 m. The Co-Cathedral was planned by Josip Juraj Strossmayer, and the internal stonework is by renouned Austrian sculptor Hauser. The church contains many stunning stained glass windows and a large, fine-sounding pipe organ constructed by the Walcher firm of Linz, Austria. Co-Cathedral is often place for big concerts of classical and religious music.
• Croatian National Theatre, Zupanijska Ul. A beautiful building designed in 1886 and severely damaged in the 1990s conflict. A painstaking restoration has restored it to its former glory, though shortly afterwards a McDonald's restaurant opened up on the ground floor. Shows, concerts and opera are performed weekly.
• Promenada is located along the banks of the Drava River and is a pleasant walk past the marina, cafes, and parklands. In the Winter port are also many bars, and the second tallest building in the city, Hotel Osijek (4-star hotel).
• Pejacevic Castle is on the edge of the Upper Town and on the entrance to Retfala district. Part of the castle is owned by Little sisters of St. Mary, and they will be delighted to show you the whole castle and around it. Do not be afraid of the dog in the yard, which is a pet of the nuns. There are around 10 sisters in the convent, with few candidates.
• The Municipal Park of King Petar Krešimir IV and the Tomislav Park date from the beginning of the 20th century, and are protected national landmarks. They are excellent place for a relaxing break after walking around the city.
• Church of St. Roch is a little church in the Upper Town, and it is the first Catholic church built after Ottoman Empire ruled the city.
• Church of St. Michael is the second biggest church in the city, built in high baroque and royal style, by models from Vienna and Budapest. Priest lives right next door, and he will proudly take you inside the church, and explain everything about the past, style, and some interesting facts about the church. On the square in the front of the church can be seen traces where was before over hundred years ago a Muslim mosque.
• Water Gate the only remained entrance to the fortress from Habsburg Empire times. Near the gate is a path to the fortress walls which are surrounding 3/4 of the fortress.
• City Area Administration Palace is situated just across the street from the Croatian National Theatre, quite near the main city square.
• Zoo, Sjevernodravska obala 1, +385 31 285234. 09:00-17:00, tickets sold until 16:00. The largest zoo park in Croatia, with lots of species of animals.

Kino Europa. Modernist architecture.

Kino Urania. Secessionist architecture.

Europska Avenija. Magnificent secession style buildings.

Tvrđa is the self-contained 18th-century Hapsburg defensive fortress just east of the city centre. This immaculately-preserved baroque military compound, designed by Maximillian de Gosseau in 1721, contains many fine buildings to view by day, and at night becomes the hotspot with bars and clubs. Luckily there was no damage during the recent conflict to the site, ensuring great viewing and photos. Tvrđa is based around the main square, Trg Svetog Trojstva, and the Museum of Slavonia is located here with artefacts throughout history as early as Roman times. There are also situated high schools, and university of Osijek. On the main square is also Archeological museum, and Music school. Fortress is also the place for a good night-life with numerous bars, discos and restaurants.

Co-Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul This is the tallest church in Croatia and has a spire of 90 m. The Co-Cathedral was planned by Josip Juraj Strossmayer, and the internal stonework is by renouned Austrian sculptor Hauser. The church contains many stunning stained glass windows and a large, fine-sounding pipe organ constructed by the Walcher firm of [[Linz]], [[Austria]]. Co-Cathedral is often place for big concerts of classical and religious music.

Croatian National Theatre, Zupanijska Ul. A beautiful building designed in 1886 and severely damaged in the 1990s conflict. A painstaking restoration has restored it to its former glory, though shortly afterwards a McDonald's restaurant opened up on the ground floor. Shows, concerts and opera are performed weekly.

Promenada is located along the banks of the Drava River and is a pleasant walk past the marina, cafes, and parklands. In the Winter port are also many bars, and the second tallest building in the city, Hotel Osijek (4-star hotel).

Pejacevic Castle is on the edge of the Upper Town and on the entrance to Retfala district. Part of the castle is owned by Little sisters of St. Mary, and they will be delighted to show you the whole castle and around it. Do not be afraid of the dog in the yard, which is a pet of the nuns. There are around 10 sisters in the convent, with few candidates.

The Municipal Park of King Petar Krešimir IV and the Tomislav Park date from the beginning of the 20th century, and are protected national landmarks. They are excellent place for a relaxing break after walking around the city.

Church of St. Roch is a little church in the Upper Town, and it is the first Catholic church built after Ottoman Empire ruled the city.

Church of St. Michael is the second biggest church in the city, built in high baroque and royal style, by models from Vienna and Budapest. Priest lives right next door, and he will proudly take you inside the church, and explain everything about the past, style, and some interesting facts about the church. On the square in the front of the church can be seen traces where was before over hundred years ago a Muslim mosque.

Water Gate the only remained entrance to the fortress from Habsburg Empire times. Near the gate is a path to the fortress walls which are surrounding 3/4 of the fortress.

City Area Administration Palace is situated just across the street from the Croatian National Theatre, quite near the main city square.

Zoo, Sjevernodravska obala 1, +385 31 285234. 09:00-17:00, tickets sold until 16:00. The largest zoo park in Croatia, with lots of species of animals.

• Visit the Franciscan monastery of St. Cross, situated in Tvrdja (Fortress). Franciscan monks will be delighted to show you the beautiful church, with interior decorated in high baroque style. They can also take you to see the rich monastery library. Franciscans are very, very polite and they will help you if you have any questions, not only about the monastery, also about the city.
• There are numerous shops and mall centres across the city, such as Esseker Centre, Emezetta, Ipercoop, Kaufland, Interspar, Mercator etc. Company Konzum has shops and market centres all around the city, and it is really easy to notice them.
• Go with a bicycle on a route from Osijek to village Bilje (about 10 km from Osijek), and explore the beauty of golden fields and green forests. Pay attention on "Mine field" signs, and do not go in the forests on your own.
• Visit numerous festivals in the city: Osijek Cultural Summer; Autumn in Tvrdja; Osijek Beer Festival; UFO - Urban Fest Osijek; Kristfest; Festival of Tamburitza music
• If you would like to see some excellent folk dance shows, there are two very good folk ensembles holding concerts around not only the city and country, also in the world. HKUD "Osijek 1862." and HKUD "Zeljeznicar" are one of the best folk ensembles in the country.
• Visit the open market place, right in the centre of the city. Explore the thrilling feeling while walking through a mass of people, sounds of offers to buy something, two grandmas arguing whose stuff is more better, sexier or with high quality.
• Visit the factory of chocolate "Kandit" which is one of the biggest in the country, and it is well known for the rich and full taste of candies and chocolate
• In summer time, refreshment can be found in the open-air swimming pools on a river beach called Copacabana, or Kopika. And the best thing is, it is free. If you prefer closed swimming pools, there are also City pools, in the southern district of the city.
• Osijek has one of the best night-life in the country. Discos and bars are open during the day and night.
• Watch football (ie soccer) at NK Osijek, who play in Prva HNL, the top tier of football in Croatia. Their home ground is the multi-purpose Stadion Gradski vrt, capacity 17,000, one km south of the railway station.

• Handmade ethno souvenirs can be bought in a little shop "Rukotvorine" not far from the Croatian National Theatre. Antiquity shops and souvenirs shops are all around the city
• There are several traditional instrument shops around the city
• Traditional table cloths can be found on the city market for a very low and reasonable price
• CD and computer shops are also situated around the city
• Clothes and shoes can be both in numerous shops around the city. For example: Mango, Castello, S.Oliver, WGW, New Yorker, Beneton, Armani, Esseker Centre, NAMA, and several underground shops, under the main city square
• Fresh and delicious food can be found on every open-air market place

• Numerous pizzerias all around the city. Ones with a special atmosphere are El Paso in the Winter Port, and Galija on the upper coast of the river Drava
• Traditional food restaurants are situated mostly in the Fortress
• Fresh bread and "burek" can be bought in every single bakery. Every single street has at least one bakery
• Leganini, Sv. L.B. Mandića 31, 31000 Osijek, +385-31 29 74 99. Open 08:00-22:00, Sunday: Closed. “Lega” means “pal” in the Osijek dialect. The motto of this “friendly café” is “Try something new,” meaning a sandwich wrap instead of čevapi or pljeskavica. The flat bread is made to order, then wrapped around your choice of meats, sauces and fresh vegetables. Located on the way into town on the route from Đakovo highway, this is a good place for a quick bite if you’re hungry after a long drive. They also deliver. The specialty of Slavonia is undoubtably food.

With culinary influences from all directions, and a love of spicy food, Osijek has many great restaurants serving traditional Croatian cuisine. Two specialties of the area include riblji paprikas (fish stew with hand-made noodles) or kulen (spicy sausages). Going out to eat in restaurants in Osijek is often far better value than in other large Croatian cities, though for those who insist on self-catering there is a supermarket and an open-air market between the town square and railway station.

Leganini, Sv. L.B. Mandića 31, 31000 Osijek, +385-31 29 74 99. Open 08:00-22:00, Sunday: Closed. “Lega” means “pal” in the Osijek dialect. The motto of this “friendly café” is “Try something new,” meaning a sandwich wrap instead of čevapi or pljeskavica. The flat bread is made to order, then wrapped around your choice of meats, sauces and fresh vegetables. Located on the way into town on the route from Đakovo highway, this is a good place for a quick bite if you’re hungry after a long drive. They also deliver.

• "Matrix Bar" (Fortress)
• "Q Club" (Fortress)
• "Strossmayer" (Strossmayer Street)
• "Kavana Waldinger" (Zupanijska Street)
• "Patrick Pub" (Fortress)
• "Luna" (Fortress)
• "Big Ben" (Fortress)
• "Oxygen bar"
• "S.Co.Bar" formerly known as famous Voodoo bar
• "Old Bridge Pub" (Fortress)
• "Bastion" (Fortress)
• "Vinoteka Vinita" (Strossmayer Street)
• Osijek has the oldest beer brewery in Croatia, which was founded in year 1687. Brewery is producing not only beer, but also non-alcoholic drinks.
• Price of one beer is 10-13 kn per bottle (0.5 l). In every bar is a big menu of beers, domestic and imported ones.
• Bars and discos serve various drinks, from wines, whiskeys, traditional rakija, cocktails and etc.
• No age limit for bars or discos. Only for night-clubs Smoking is permitted in most bars and coffee shops.

• There are natural thermal spas just to the west of Osijek in the town of Bizovac. They provide much better value than spas closer to Zagreb or Varazdin, and see fewer tourists. The spa is easily accessible by train or bus.
• The town of Vukovar is less than an hour away and buses leave very regularly (almost every hour, 7 days a week). This town was completely blown up in the recent conflict due to being on the border of Croatia and Serbia and having a mixed-ethnic population, and provides the visitor with a fascinating (if not sobering) view on the war.
• Đakovo and its enormous Cathedral are a half-hour to the south of Osijek. Besides the beautiful Cathedral which completely dominates the town, there are Lipizzaner horses being trained just on the edge of the city (a great morning's viewing), and every year in July is the annual folk and embroidery festival which attracts visitors from far and wide.
• The Kopački Rit is the biggest natural wetlands in Europe and the birdlife is spectacular. This enormous nature park, located around 15 km north of Osijek where the Danube and Drava rivers flow into one another, is a great day out in the countryside - though bring some insect repellent as the mosquitos do bite! There is no public transport to the park, so take the local bus to Bilje and its a 2-3 km walk.

The [[w:Kopacki Rit|Kopački Rit]] is the biggest natural wetlands in Europe and the birdlife is spectacular. This enormous nature park, located around 15 km north of Osijek where the Danube and Drava rivers flow into one another, is a great day out in the countryside - though bring some insect repellent as the mosquitos do bite! There is no public transport to the park, so take the local bus to Bilje and its a 2-3 km walk.