Tvrđava sv. Nikole
Venetian fortress from the 16th century on the islet of Ljuljevac at the entrance to the Kanal sv. Ante, UNESCO World Heritage, accessible by boat.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Fortress of St Nicholas is the only Venetian fortress surrounded by the sea on all sides, and it has never been conquered. It was built on the islet of Ljuljevac in front of the Kanal sv. Ante, where a Benedictine monastery of St Nicholas had previously stood; Šibenik was defended by two towers at the start of the channel. When the Ottomans conquered Skradin in the 16th century, Venice sent the architect Gian Girolamo Sanmicheli to build an impregnable fortress.
The fortress is an example of Venetian military architecture “alla moderna”, adapted to firearms: bastion construction and brick armour could absorb cannonballs better. It has an unusual triangular shape with a round bastion facing the channel. In 2017 it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the nomination “Defence Systems of the Republic of Venice, 16th–17th Centuries”.
The fortress has been open to visitors since mid-June 2019. Because of demanding restoration and conservation work, visits are currently possible only by boat, organised by JU Priroda Šibensko-kninske županije. The boat trip from the Šibenik waterfront takes half an hour, and the tour of the fortress takes about 50 minutes, with an escort and a multilingual mobile guide.
Highlights
- The only Venetian fortress surrounded by the sea on all sides
- UNESCO World Heritage since 2017
- View from the upper plateau over the channel, the town and the Šibenik archipelago
- Boat trip through the Kanal sv. Ante
- Multilingual audio guide
Permanent exhibition
- Razgledavanje Tvrđave sv. Nikole – Guided tour of the bastions, interior rooms and upper plateau of the Renaissance fortress, with a multilingual audio guide.
- Operated by
- JU Priroda Šibensko-kninske županije
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €19.50 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €15.50children aged 6 to 18 |
| Children & teens | €15.50free up to age 5 · Children up to 6 years of age and pre-school groups enter free of charge (without audio guide). |
| Seniors | €17.50Pensioners and people over 65 pay €17.50 (April, May, October) or €25 (June–September). |
| Visitors with disabilities | €10Persons with disabilities and their escort, Croatian Homeland War veterans and members of the Udruga obitelji poginulih ili nestalih branitelja (association of families of fallen or missing veterans): €10 (April, May, October) or €13.50 (June–September). |
| Students & apprentices | €17.50Students pay €17.50 (April, May, October) or €25 (June–September). |
| Groups | €17.50 per personPrice per adult in a group in April, May and October (€25 in June–September); children aged 6 to 18 in a group €13.50 or €19; school groups €10.50 or €13. |
| Additional escort JU Priroda ŠKŽ | €70For separate groups or individual visitors. |
The ticket price includes the boat transfer, admission to the fortress, an escort on the boat and in the fortress, and the tour with the multilingual mobile guide. Adults pay €19.50 in April, May and October and €27.50 from June to September; children aged 6 to 18 pay €15.50 and €20.50 respectively. Licensed tourist guides and group escorts (one for every 19 paying visitors) enter free of charge. The price list is valid from 1 January 2026.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 50 min |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
Getting there & parking
The fortress can only be reached by boat, which departs from the Šibenik waterfront at the Krka pier, near the junction of Obala hrvatske ratne mornarice and Obala dr. Franje Tuđmana. The ticket office and information centre are at Obala dr. Franje Tuđmana 4.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| Good to know | The tour lasts about 50 minutes, with an escort and a multilingual audiovisual mobile guide with headphones. The crossing to the fortress takes half an hour. Comfortable footwear is recommended. |
