Slavonia

Pancake-flat, river-rich Slavonia is the agricultural heartbeat of Croatia. Chequer-boards of green crops and yellow rapeseed roll out for kilometres beside the roadside and you may well spot an eagle or two hanging out near the fields if you keep your eyes peeled as you drive through. The small but vibrant city of Osijek makes for the most obvious base. From here, head out boating on the wetlands of Kopački Rit or hit the wineries of the Baranja region.

The impact of the war hit hardest in southeast Slavonia, where historic Vukovar is slowly attracting more visitors thanks to its two museums and Illok, on the Serbian border, is being discovered by wine fans..

Bordered by three major rivers (Sava, Drava and Danube), this region holds strong connections with Hungary, Serbia and Germany. Slavonia’s key appeal lies in this culturally intriguing mix that makes it closer to central Europe than coastal Croatia.

Explore Slavonia

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Slavonia.

  • Museum

    Vučedol Culture Museum

    Located 5km downriver from Vukovar, this museum sits on one of Europe's most significant archaeological sites and provides an introduction to the most…

  • Cathedral

    Ðakovo Cathedral of St Peter

    Ɖakovo's pride and glory is this red-brick cathedral, with its twin 84m-high belfries looming over town. Commissioned by Bishop Strossmayer in 1862, the…

  • Museum

    Castle Eltz

    Closed for several years following the war, the 18th-century Eltz Palace reopened in 2014 as this brilliant museum. Head up the stairs to the 1st floor…

  • Farm

    Ergela

    Ðakovo is famous for its Lipizzaner horses, a noble pure-bred with a lineage that can be traced back to the 16th century. These horses are trained in…

  • Nature Reserve

    Kopački Rit Nature Park

    Only 12km northeast of Osijek, Kopački Rit Nature Park is one of the largest wetlands in Europe: 293 bird species have been recorded here. Formed by the…

  • Museum

    City Museum

    Ilok’s principal attraction is this municipal museum located in the Odescalchi Palace high above the Danube, with spectacular river views. The castle was…

  • Historic Site

    Tvrđa

    Built under Habsburg rule as a defence against Turkish attacks, Osijek's compact 18th-century citadel was relatively undamaged during the war in the 1990s…

  • Museum

    Place of Memory: Vukovar Hospital 1991

    This multimedia museum recounts the tragic events that took place in the hospital during the 1991 siege. The stirring tour takes you through a series of…

  • Monument

    Batina Monument

    In Batina, right on the tripartite border where Croatia touches Serbia and Hungary, is this striking communist-era memorial by well-known Croatian…

  • Gate

    Water Gate & Northern Battlements

    Trvđa's water gate was built into the northern wall in 1715. Just beside it, steps lead up onto the grassy top of the ramparts from where you can walk…

  • Architecture

    Europska Avenija

    If you're a fan of early-20th-century architecture, take a stroll down Europska Avenija, lined by ornate art nouveau mansions. Along this stretch you'll…

  • Church

    Church of St Peter & Paul

    This red-brick neo-Gothic church's 90m-high tower is surpassed in height only by the cathedral in Zagreb and dominates downtown Osijek. Built in the 1890s…

  • Museum

    Museum of Slavonia

    The second building of the Museum of Slavonia hosts the Lapidarium on the ground floor, with plenty of Roman stelae and tombs, while the 1st floor has…

  • Museum

    Gloria Maris

    Inside the vaults of the old citadel, this museum is dedicated to seashells and marine and freshwater life. It’s the labour of love of Vladimir Filipović,…

  • Memorial

    Ovčara Memorial

    Around 6km out of town, en route to Ilok, there’s a turn-off to the Ovčara Memorial, another 4km down the road. This is the hangar where 194 victims from…

  • Zoo

    Zoo Osijek

    As an escape from the museums and churches, take a free ride on the emblematic kompa (a wooden pedestrian ferry propelled by the water current) from the…

  • Landmark

    Watermill

    This wooden replica watermill anchored on the Drava River (an EU-backed project, part of the Miller's Route that crosses through Hungary as well) makes…

  • Beach

    Ada

    Head out to this sandy island in the Danube, where on a summer weekend you'll find lots of locals swimming, lounging on the beaches and hanging out at the…

  • Gallery

    Museum of Fine Arts

    Housed in an elegant neoclassical mansion, the Museum of Fine Arts contains a collection of paintings and sculptures by Slavonian artists from the 18th…

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