[PHOTOS] Take a Tour Inside Croatia’s First Botel

by croatiaweek
May 1, 2017
in Latest

Botel Marina (photo: Botel Marina)

Croatia’s first ever boat hotel, or botel, opened in the port city of Rijeka just over three and a half years ago.

The moored boat ‘Marina’ was moved to the Rijeka port from the island of Lošinj, where it served as an entertainment venue for over five years, and opened as Botel Marina.

Botel Marina (photo: Botel Marina)

Botel Marina was built back in 1936 in Denmark. Her godmother at launching was the Swedish princess, after whom she was given her first name: Kronprinsessan Ingrid. She was a very modern boat at that time, and she used to sail between the ports in Scandinavia. In 1950 she was extended, and since then she has her current measures: length 72.2 m, width 10.82 m, height 7 m.

In 1969 the boat was bought by sea transport company Lošinjska plovidba. Marina then became an attraction in Mali Lošinj before becoming a botel in 2013 in Rijeka on Croatia’s northern Adriatic coast.

To get the boat up to botel standards, close to 2 million euros was invested in the project.

(photo: Botel Marina)

Botel Marina, which is located just a few minutes walk from Korza and the Rijeka bus and train stations, has 35 cabins with 112 beds, a reception area, restaurant, and a coffee and wine bar.

Lots of various international beers on offer (photo: Botel Marina)

(photo: Botel Marina)

“On average we have around 16,000 guests a year. Guests come from all over the world, last year we had guests from 88 different countries. We have also held a number of wedding ceremonies on the boat of foreign guests,” Andrej Kušeta from Botel Marina told Punkufer.