Osijek is a city in Eastern Croatia. Osijek is the largest city and the economic and the cultural centre of the eastern Croatian region of Slavonia, as well as the administrative centre of Osijek-Baranja county. It is an important transport hub and the principal city of Slavonia.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
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 96,000 in 2021) bore much of the brunt of the 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 has a large student population, as it home to the University of Osijek where approximately 15,000 students attend (2018).
Osijek is divided into two main regions - the upper town (focusing on the city square, Trg Ante Starcevic), and Tvrđa, the preserved fortress town to the east of the town centre along the Drava River. The whole city has 12 districts/blocks: Upper Town, Lower Town, Fortress, New Town, South 1, South 2, Green Field, Retfala, New Retfala, Industrial District, Tvrdjavica and The Left Coast. Osijek has a tram system dating back to 1884, and the three main lines connect the railway station, town square, Tvrđa, industrial district, all city borders (tickets can be bought from the driver, or you can purchase a BUTRA-universal bus/tram card for unlimited riding).
Kino Europa. Modernist architecture. Kino Urania. Secessionist architecture. Europska Avenija (Europe Avenue). 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 1990s conflict to the site, ensuring great viewing and photos.
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.
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 Caffe Bar Focus, Ul. Svetog Leopolda Bogdana Mandića 31, ☏ +385-31 29 74 99. Mon-Sat 08:00-22:00, Sun closed. Formerly Leganini, with “Lega” meaning “pal” in the Osijek dialect. The motto of this “friendly café” is “Try something new,” meaning a sandwich wrap instead of čevapi or pljeskavica.
"Q Club" (Fortress) "Strossmayer" (Strossmayer Street) "Kavana Waldinger" (Zupanijska Street) "Patrick Pub" (Fortress) "Luna" (Fortress) "Klub Oxygen" "Cafe Voodoo" "Old Bridge Pub" (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 €1.50-2 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, and cocktails. No age limit for bars or discos. Only for night-clubs Smoking is permitted in most bars and coffee shops.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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