Šibenik: a cathedral of stone and two UNESCO sites

Šibenik is the odd one out on this coast: not a Greek or Roman foundation but the oldest native Croatian town on the Adriatic, first mentioned in 1066. It climbs the hillside above a sheltered bay in a tangle of stone stairways, and it holds two UNESCO World Heritage sites within sight of each other.

The cathedral of stone

The Cathedral of St James is the town's wonder — built entirely of stone, with no brick, mortar or timber in its structure, over more than a century. Its barrel roof is made of interlocking stone slabs, and a frieze of 71 carved heads — real townspeople of the day — wraps around the outside. It is rightly on the UNESCO list.

The fortresses

Four forts guard Šibenik. St Michael's rises right above the old town and stages summer concerts with the sea as a backdrop; Barone and St John's sit higher on the hill. Out in the channel, the St Nicholas sea fortress is a second UNESCO site, part of the Venetian defensive works — see our castles & fortresses guide.

The old town

Beyond the monuments, Šibenik rewards aimless wandering — steep alleys, hidden squares, the medieval gardens of St Lawrence monastery, and a waterfront that has shaken off its industrial past to become one of the liveliest in Dalmatia.

The gateway to two parks

Šibenik is the natural base for Krka National Park, whose waterfalls are a short drive upriver, and one of the launch points for boat trips to the Kornati islands. See our Krka guide and our Kornati guide.

Stay near the cathedral and the sea — see our boutique hotels in Šibenik.