The geographical position of Rijeka is crucial for its tourist image. This is where a visitor in transit meets the sea for the first time, regardless of whether coming by road or rail. The access to Rijeka is extremely attractive - both from the west and from the east - and the access from the sea offers the most charming view on Rijeka. The natural and cultural features of Rijeka, the Mediterranean climate, and the closer and broader surroundings of the mountainous landscape of the Primorsko-Goranska County add to the value of the city. The area around Rijeka represents the most developed tourist region in Croatia, with a tradition dating back to the 19th century; more than a half of the foreign tourists visiting Croatia stay in Rijeka. The importance of industry in Rijeka does not allow the city to develop into a holiday centre. However, by being the second largest city in Croatia and an important business centre, Rijeka has developed into a strong centre of business tourism. It hosts important business events, such as: the Spring Fair (in April), Nautica, Automobile Fair (in May), the North Adriatic Fair (in October) and the Christmas Fair, so that, apart from business tourism, congress tourism increasingly gains on importance. Trsat, the centre of Marianism in this part of Croatia (10th of May, the Day of Our Lady of Trsat - and the Seafarer's Day, the Assumption on the 15thof August, and the Nativity of the Virgin Mary on the 8th of August) make Rijeka the centre of religious tourism as well. Almost grown into one with Opatija - the oldest and the most renowned tourist centre in Croatia.
 

Apart from quality accommodation facilities, shops, theatres and other entertainment, visitors can attend important cultural events: the Biennial of Young Artists - international exhibition of young artists - painters, sculptors, alternative artists (1st of July - 30th of September), the Rijeka Summer, concerts and theatrical performances in the Old Town, on Trsat, in the cathedral of St. Vitus (in June and July), the Melodies of Istria and Kvarner (end of June), the Assumption - Trsat (15thof August), the Days of Zajc (in November), the Day of St. Vitus, the patron saint of Rijeka (15thof June), the Rijeka Carnival, the biggest carnival event in Croatia (in February), etc.
 

RIJEKA, a city and port in the Rijeka Bay, on the northern coast of the Kvarner Gulf, cutting deep into the mainland; population 167,964. An average temperature in January reaches 5 °C, and in July 22.8 °C. The annual rainfall is 1,600 mm; 2,120 hours of sunshine a year. Good connections with the hinterland, modern port facilities and strong naval and commercial tradition helped Rijeka to develop into Croatia's biggest port. It also represents an important European transit port. - The town saw a more intense development in the 18th century, increased by the construction of the Louise Road (1810, to Karlovac), the port and, particularly, the railroads to Budapest and Vienna. Between the two World Wars, as Rijeka was cut off from the immediate hinterland, the port of Rijeka lost its original importance, but its eastern part, the port of Susak, started to develop. After 1945 Rijeka restored its position as a large centre of commerce and maritime affairs (seating several shipping companies), with developed industry (shipyard, oil refinery, diesel engines, ship cranes, ship equipment, paper, etc.). Rijeka is also a lively cultural and artistic centre, with a number of cultural and educational institutions and schools (several faculties). In Rijeka proper as well as in its surroundings, manufacturing industries, traffic and various services are concentrated, while tourism, farming, forestry and fishing represent chief occupations in its wider area. The main crossroads of the Adriatic tourist traffic, which flows from central Europe to the central and southern Adriatic. It is also an important road traffic intersection, with roads connecting the city with the hinterland through Gorski Kotar, where the Dinaric barrier is only between 40 and 50 km wide. From Rijeka, roads lead to the north, the border with the Republic of Slovenia, towards Istria, and to the south. Important railway junction. The airport "Rijeka" is located near Omisalj on the island of Krk.