Matulji

Matulji lies just above the Opatija Riviera, where the Kvarner coast meets the hinterland leading towards Učka and the Slovenian border. The town is well connected with Rijeka and Opatija, yet its visitor identity is strongly shaped by the villages and customs of the wider Matulji area. The best-known tradition is that of the bell ringers from the Kastav region, whose annual carnival pageant was inscribed by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009. Groups from Rukavac, Zvoneće, Bregi and neighbouring settlements wear distinctive bells and headgear while following traditional routes during carnival season. Matulji is therefore particularly rewarding in winter, when the custom can be seen in its living social setting. Outside carnival time, the location works well for trips to Učka, Kastav and Opatija. It offers a useful perspective on Kvarner beyond the beaches, combining inland villages, transport history, local food and a tradition still transmitted within the community.

Matulji is a transport hub above the Opatija Riviera, but its tourism character becomes clearer once visitors move beyond the centre towards Rukavac, Zvoneća, Permani, Lisina and Preluk. The municipality places Matulji about two kilometres from Opatija, allowing a stay to connect easily with the coast without being based in the busiest part of the Riviera. Local identity is strongly carried by bell-ringer villages and the food culture of the hinterland, including the indigenous Jarbola grape associated with Zvoneća. In 2026 the Matulji tourist board uses its Matuljicious programme to connect oštarije, wineries, family farms and local products, showing that the destination is more than a transit point on the way to the sea. Matulji therefore works well for travellers who want Opatija, inland walking or cycling and dinner in a local tavern within the same day.