Rijeka's Hidden Gem: City Star Gallery Apartments - Unbelievable Views!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups! Because I'm about to spill the tea on Rijeka's actual hidden gem: City Star Gallery Apartments - Unbelievable Views! Forget those generic, cookie-cutter hotel reviews. This one's gonna be real, warts and all, just like my last attempt at making pancakes (burnt to a crisp, FYI).
First Impressions: Whoa. Views That'll Steal Your Breath (Literally, If You're Not Careful)
Let's be honest, I'm a sucker for a pretty view. And the “Unbelievable Views!” part of City Star Gallery Apartments? Understated. I mean, seriously, picture this: you wake up (after a surprisingly comfortable night's sleep, more on that later), crack open those blackout curtains (thank you, sweet baby Jesus, for blackout curtains!), and BAM! The Adriatic Sea sprawls before you like a shimmering, sapphire dream. You can practically smell the salty air. Honestly, I spent a solid half hour just staring, my jaw practically dragging on the floor. It's that good. (And yes, I took approximately 700 photos. Don't judge.)
Accessibility: Okay, Let's Get Real (and Honest)
Okay, accessibility. This is important. City Star Gallery Apartments has a few things going for it, but it's not a total accessibility paradise. There’s an elevator, which is a massive plus considering the potential for stairs. And they do mention "facilities for disabled guests." However, I didn't personally experience these, and, to be brutally honest, I didn't dig deep to research this before my trip. I'd strongly advise contacting the hotel directly to inquire about specific needs and requirements. Don't just take my word for it; do your homework, people!
The Nitty-Gritty: What You Actually Get (and What You Don't)
Alright, let's break it down like a bad poker hand:
Rooms (Available in All Rooms): Air conditioning? Check. Essential. Alarm clock? Yep. Bathrobes? Score! (I may or may not have worn mine to breakfast…don’t tell anyone). Bathroom phone?…um, okay? I didn’t use it, to be honest. Bathtub? Yes! Blackout curtains? Praise be! Carpeting? Yeah, fine. Closet? Plenty of space for my questionable fashion choices. Coffee/tea maker? Essential for a caffeine addict like myself. Complimentary tea? Bonus! Daily housekeeping? Hallelujah! I'm a disaster zone, let's be honest. Desk? Useful! Extra long bed? Loved it. Free bottled water? Lifesaver (especially after a night of…ahem…research in the local bars). Hair dryer? Yes, and thank god. High floor? Yep, the views again! In-room safe box? Handy for those things you don’t want to lose. Interconnecting room(s) available? I didn't check this. Internet access – wireless? Free and glorious! Ironing facilities? Didn't use them (see: disaster zone). Laptop workspace? Yep. Linens? Clean and comfy. Mini bar? Tempting, but I behaved. Mirror? Many, which is either a blessing or a curse, depending on the morning. Non-smoking? Thank god, especially after… ahem… the aforementioned bar research. On-demand movies? Did not indulge. Private bathroom? Always preferred. Reading light? Useful. Refrigerator? Perfect for chilling that bottle of local wine you will buy. Safety/security feature? Always a good thing. Satellite/cable channels? Sure. Scale?…I don’t want to know. Seating area? Comfy. Separate shower/bathtub? Luxury! Shower? Glorious! Slippers? Didn’t use them. Smoke detector? Good. Socket near the bed? Crucial for phone charging. Sofa? Cozy. Soundproofing? Important! Telephone? Old school. Toiletries? Adequate. Towels? Fluffy. Umbrella? Always a good idea in a coastal city. Visual alarm? I didn't need it. Wake-up service? Didn’t test it. Wi-Fi [free]? Yes! Window that opens? Definitely.
This is important. I took the Wifi for granted until realizing my roaming bill later. Yes, you have Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Don't make my mistake.
Dining, drinking, and snacking: Okay, here's where it gets a little…mixed. There aren’t any on-site restaurants. Which, if I'm honest, I didn't mind. It forced me to get out and explore the local scene. The nearby bar scene is phenomenal, though. You do get Breakfast in room (more on that later), and there's a Coffee shop nearby. Breakfast service is a thing! So much better than facing the world before coffee. I didn't try the Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, or Western breakfast.
Cleanliness and safety: This is where City Star Gallery shines. They've got it locked down. Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer everywhere, and Rooms sanitized between stays. I felt safe. Hygiene certification is also a great sign. I mean, with everything going on in the world, you want to know you're in a clean place.
Things to do, ways to relax: Right, so there ISN'T a spa or a pool. (Gasp!) But hear me out. Rijeka is all about the surrounding area. The city itself is a joy to wander, and there are some incredible beaches a short drive away. Plus, the hotel has a deal with a local fitness center, which is a great deal for an early workout.
My Breakfast Revelation: A Story of Croissants and Chaos
Okay, prepare yourself for a story. Remember how I said they do "Breakfast in Room?" Well, it wasn't just a quick grab-and-go. This was a spread. Seriously. One morning I woke up to a knock at the door and BAM! A feast. Fresh croissants, local bread, jam, fruit, yogurt, the works. All perfectly presented. Now, normally I'm not a big breakfast person. But these croissants? Divine. Flaky, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth perfection. I ate them all. Every single one. I felt like a king. Or, you know, a very happy person fueled by carbs. (Yes, I ended up having to buy larger pants. No regrets.)
The "Unbelievable Views" Experience: Beyond the Instagram Shot
Look, the views are the star. They're not just pretty; they transform the experience. They make you want to linger, to drink your coffee slowly, to simply be. I spent hours just gazing out the window, watching the boats bob in the harbor, the sun dance on the water. It’s the kind of view that actually makes you feel more relaxed, more…alive. And, if I’m honest, it’s worth the price of admission alone.
Service and Stuff:
- Services and conveniences: The staff were super friendly. Contactless check-in/out and a 24-hour front desk were very useful.
- Getting around: Car park [free of charge] is great if you have a car. Airport transfer is available.
- Safety/security feature: There's CCTV in common areas, Fire extinguisher, Front desk [24-hour], Non-smoking rooms.
The Little Annoyances (Because Nothing's Perfect)
Okay, so, full disclosure: No place is perfect. There were a couple of minor things. The kitchen wasn't fully equipped (though, to be fair, you're not likely to be doing much cooking with all the amazing food around), and the soundproofing wasn't perfect. But honestly, these were minor blips. Nothing that ruined the experience.
Things To Do Around Rijeka:
This is a huge point. Rijeka and the surrounding area are beautiful, with plenty to see and do. I’m not going to list everything, but here are a few things I particularly enjoyed:
- Rijeka’s Korzo, a pedestrian-only street lined with shops, cafes, and restaurants, is great for a stroll.
- Trsat Castle, with its panoramic views, offers a great afternoon out.
- Opatija, a glamorous resort town, is a short drive away.
- Explore the beaches: They’re gorgeous… so make time for them!.
The Verdict: Should You Book?
Absolutely, yes. If you want stunning views, clean, comfortable apartments, and a genuinely good experience, book City Star Gallery Apartments. It's not a sterile, generic hotel experience. It’s got character, charm, and those views… oh, those views! It's a place that makes you want to relax, explore, and simply enjoy the moment.
My Honest Take: It’s not flawless, but it's real. It’s authentic. And it's a place I'd happily return to in a heartbeat.
Now, for the pitch!
**Rij
Mahabaleshwar Escape: Treebo Appa's Resort Awaits!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because this isn't your sanitized, bullet-pointed travel brochure. This is Rijeka, Croatia, through the lens of a sleep-deprived, coffee-dependent human like yourself. And we're doing it from the glorious (fingers crossed!) confines of the City Star Gallery apartment. Here we go…
Rijeka Rhapsody: A Chaotic Symphony
Day 1: Arrival and Immediate Regret (Just Kidding… Mostly)
14:00: Land in Rijeka. The airport? Small. Border control? Not quite as charming as the Instagram travel bloggers made it out to be. Spent a solid ten minutes fumbling for my passport, my brain still clinging to the London fog it left behind. Found my way to the City Star Gallery apartment through some seriously questionable Google Maps navigation – seriously, who designed these roads?
15:00: Unpack (or, more accurately, dump my suitcase). The apartment! Okay, this is promising. Clean, modern, with actual art on the walls (thank you, City Star!) Now, time to assess the damage – and the damage is… a balcony! A balcony overlooking… something! (Can’t quite tell yet. Jet lag goggles are firmly in place.)
16:00: Coffee. The most critical event of the day. Hunted for a decent coffee shop. Found one! (Victory!) This cafe has a name I can't quite remember, it's on Korzo, Rijeka central promenade. Ordered the strongest espresso they had; the friendly barista smirked knowingly. He must see this look a lot.
17:00: Stumbled and wandered along the Korzo. It's the main pedestrian street, and it’s alive! People are milling about, chatting, laughing. The sheer noise overwhelms me in a good way. So loud and vibrant! I did a terrible job of remembering names of people and places, that's ok though, it was worth it.
19:00: The other mission. Grocery shopping. This is where things went sideways. I got lost in the supermarket by the selection of cheeses and breads. It was a sensory overload, in the best possible way. Picked up way too much… including a suspicious-looking bottle of something that might be rakija (Croatian brandy). Impulse control is not my strong suit.
20:00: Food coma. Ate too much cheese and bread on the balcony, watching the sunset. The rakija? Let's just say I might be feeling it tomorrow. Already dreading the laundry, I feel like I have just barely put anything away.
Day 2: The (Almost) Perfect Day
09:00: Wake up. Head pounding. (Rakija, you treacherous devil!). Forced myself out of bed and made some instant coffee. The view from the balcony is actually pretty damn good. Overlooked a church and a few colorful buildings, the air is crisp, and the light is gorgeous.
10:00: Explore the Trsat Castle! It's apparently historical and has supposedly amazing views. The walk uphill… let's call it a character-building exercise. I was pretty grumpy up the hill, but the view from the top? Absolutely worth it. The Adriatic Sea shimmered in the distance. I actually started laughing (mostly because my legs were screaming).
- Anecdote: Running into a group of incredibly polite German tourists who tried to help me when I looked lost. They were all impeccably dressed, carrying matching water bottles. I, on the other hand, was still rocking yesterday's clothes. They didn't judge (to my face).
12:00: Lunch. Found a tiny, unassuming restaurant near the castle, called "Kod Rude". The food wasn't necessarily fancy, but it was real. Huge portions of grilled fish. The waiter, a guy with twinkly eyes and a mischievous air, took a liking to me. We bantered a bit, and he even gave me a complimentary shot of something herbal that tasted vaguely medicinal (but surprisingly good).
14:00: More wandering. Got lost in the side streets, which is the best way to do Rijeka, as far as I'm concerned. Found a vintage shop with some incredible (and incredibly cheap) treasures. I was this close to buying the most hideous, yet adorable, hat, but I figured I'd wait until I was slightly more sober.
16:00: Attempted to visit a museum. The city museum (forgot the name) was okay, got bored halfway through and went outside.
18:00: Back to the apartment. Shower and a nap are in order. I would love a longer nap, but I have a feeling that's not going to happen.
19:00: Dinner! Found a little seafood restaurant. The seafood was fresh and the other people were lively and the other people there were laughing and I want to be them. I'm learning a lot about myself.
21:00: Strolling around. I think I'm falling in love with this city. It's gritty, it's authentic, it's messy, and it's utterly captivating. The feeling in the air, I realize, is freedom.
Day 3: The Unexpected Detour
09:00: Back at it. This time, I actually had juice for breakfast! Feeling like a proper grown-up, I took more time to enjoy my balcony.
10:00: Decide to do some more laundry. I can't just keep wearing the same clothes forever, so I need to take a trip to the laundromat.
- Rambling: The lack of a personal washing machine is a first-world problem, for sure. So I get to go out, and experience another part of the city! I find the laundromat to be a strange mix of the usual and the unexpected. I watch, and people-watch. I also try to avoid spilling my laundry soap.
13:00: Lunch at a local restaurant (name lost to the ether of the day). The food was great though!
15:00: A spontaneous beach trip! I found myself near a bus station. I saw the sign to the nearest beach, so I did a thing!
- Quirky observation: The beach was rocky. Very rocky. But the water was crystal clear, and the sun was beating down.
18:00: The sky, the sea, the fresh air. It was pure bliss. I sat at a cafe. I was on the beach for entirely too long, and ended up with a slight sunburn.
19:00: Back to the apartment. I'm starving! I didn't prepare anything, so it will be a cheese and bread night!
20:00: Thinking about tomorrow. Might be time to move on. Or, maybe, just maybe… I'll extend my stay. I need more time.
Day 4: Departure (Maybe…)
09:00: Debating leaving. Thinking about the city and the people.
10:00: Going out for one last walk. Seeing if I can find a cafe.
12:00: Deciding on a final decision. Maybe I'll just extend my stay.
13:00: Going to a restaurant!
14:00: Going to the apartment!
15:00: Done, I extended my stay!
16:00: Going back to the beach!
18:00: Thinking about nothing, that I'll stay. That's my final decision!
Final Thoughts:
Rijeka, you beautiful, chaotic mess. You've stolen a piece of my heart. The City Star Gallery apartment? A perfect home base. You were a great place to be. I'll be back. That's a promise. Now, to find that hat… and maybe get a map.
Merlin's Magical Swansea Escape: 2-Bedroom Cabin Awaits!
So, what *is* this City Star Gallery thing anyway? Sounds fancy.
Alright, alright, "City Star Gallery" is a bit of a mouthful, I admit. In reality, it's a collection of apartments, each with, and I'm not exaggerating, *unbelievable* views of Rijeka. Think panoramic, postcard-worthy, the kind of view that makes you want to spontaneously weep with joy (I may have done that). They're located, as far as I can tell, in a renovated building... maybe? Look, sometimes it's hard to tell in these older European cities! But the important thing is: you are HIGH UP. And that, my friends, is where the magic resides.
Are the views *really* that good? Like, better than a cruise ship good?
Okay, full disclosure: I *hate* cruise ships. They’re floating petri dishes with beige wallpaper and the same buffet food, every single day. So, yes. Yes, a million times *yes*. The views are better than any cruise ship. You're not crammed in with a thousand other tourists jostling for space on the deck. You're… in *your* space. Sipping coffee. Watching the sun paint the Kvarner Gulf in shades of orange and pink. Seriously, I’m getting choked up just *thinking* about it. It's less "OMG look at the water" and more... a sense of serene, absolute peace. It's *that* good. Don't just take my word for it though: spend a morning just staring out of the window. You'll understand.
What's the catch? Because, you know, everything has a catch.
Alright, fair point. Nothing's perfect. Firstly, the stairs. Prepare yourself. I *swear* I almost died the first time I went up. They are *long*. And winding. And if you’re hauling luggage… well, bless your soul. There might be an elevator, but it's... uh… *characterful*. By "characterful," I mean it probably predates the invention of electricity that isn't flickering or unreliable. Consider it your daily exercise. The good news? The view at the top is worth every single aching calf muscle. The other "catch" is that some of the apartments are definitely styled with a focus on, shall we say, *minimalism*. Don't expect a jacuzzi and a marble bathroom. Clean, functional, with a bed. Who needs a jacuzzi when you've got that view anyway? But hey, the price... it could be cheaper, but honestly, you're paying for the view. That alone, to me, is worth it.
What about the actual *apartments* themselves? Are they nice?
"Nice" is a relative term. They're clean. They're functional. They're decorated, generally, in a way that's... let's call it "eclectic." Think art on the walls (hence the "Gallery" part of the name, I guess) and maybe a few mismatched chairs. Basically, its not a five-star hotel. But, you're not *in* the apartment, are you? You're on the balcony, or looking out a giant window. I once stayed in one that had this ancient, slightly wonky desk, and the only lamps were these tiny bedside things that barely lit the room. But, you know what? I didn’t care. Because... the view. And honestly, they are well appointed. Everything is kept clean and there is at least air conditioning. The beds? Comfortable enough. The kitchen? Basic, but it does the job. It's not ostentatious, and that’s a good thing. I wasn't there to cook a Michelin-star meal, I was there to stare at Rijeka. Plus, the quirky interiors just add to its charm.
Is it noisy? I like a quiet night's sleep.
Okay, this is a tricky one. Rijeka is a city. Cities are inherently noisy. You're going to hear *something*. Depending on your apartment and the season, you might hear the occasional seagull (which is pretty charming, honestly), the distant sounds of the town, or the laughter of people enjoying life. But, I'd say generally it is quite tranquil. Now if you book a apartment facing the main road... well, you'll hear the cars. But that's not City Star's fault. Bring earplugs if you're super sensitive, but honestly, the gentle lull of the city feels... comforting. After a while, it fades into white noise. And let's be honest, the view makes up for any minor inconvenience. Who needs silence when you have panoramic beauty?
How accessible is it to the rest of Rijeka?
Relatively easy! You are in the heart of the city, after all. You can *walk* to the Korzo (the main pedestrian street) in a matter of minutes, and there is plenty to see and do. There are tons of bars and restaurants. Getting to the bus station? Not a problem. The train station? Absolutely do-able. Taxis are everywhere, and you can Uber. It's not like you're stuck on a remote mountaintop (though the views might make you *feel* like you are). Everything's within reach. My advice: wear comfortable shoes. There's a lot to explore in Rijeka, and you'll want to be out there doing it!
So, you mentioned weeping? What's the *best* part, really?
Okay, here we go. The best part. The *absolute* best part? The mornings. Seriously. Wake up. Throw open the curtains. Watch the sunrise explode over the Kvarner Gulf. And then, make coffee. (There should be a coffee machine, or a kettle at the very least) Sit on the balcony (if you have one, pray to the travel Gods you do). And just… breathe. The air is crisp. The world below you is slowly waking up. The colors… oh, the colors! That moment, when you’re suspended in this beautiful, chaotic world... it’s pure magic. I swear, I almost lost it. I actually *did* lose it, the first time. Tears. Glorious, embarrassing, slightly messy tears. Because sometimes, a view just hits you right in the feels. And honestly? That's about the best travel experience you can ask for.
Would you recommend it?
