With its long-standing role as Osijek’s favourite riverside retreat, Kopika city beach is getting a fresh new look.

Balancing nostalgia with new energy, this symbol of summer, spontaneous gatherings, and simple chilling by the Drava, is undergoing a transformation that adds new value to its long beloved identity. You don’t just go to Kopika to swim – you become part of a vibrant urban space in the making.

From the very beginning, the story of Kopika (short for Copacabana) has been anything but ordinary. Its foundations are not only concrete, but deeply social. The swimming pool complex as we know it was completed back in 1976 through community contributions, with citizens setting aside part of their salaries to create a place for rest and recreation. Born out of collective goodwill, Kopika stands as a testament to the shared vision of the people of Osijek. It reached its peak in the 1980s, and now the younger generations get to relive the stories of their parents – stories shaped on Osijek’s sandy beach or at the nearby pool complex.

Kopika preserves what matters most in a social sense – a feeling of belonging and openness. It is the same feeling you experience when you jump into the refreshing Drava on a hot August day, knowing that your treat of a cold beer, juice, watermelon, or corn on the cob is waiting on your towel. Between swimming and sunbathing, moments in the sun naturally shift towards the line of cafés and bars along the riverbank. From morning coffee to evening refreshment, the offer is diverse, while the complex itself includes pool bars and water slides that make the experience. Entrance fees for the pools remain affordable and adapted to different groups of visitors, ensuring that Kopika stays open and accessible to all.

Yet Kopika is much more than just a city beach. It is easily reached by bicycle or on foot via the riverside promenade, and for those arriving by car, parking is conveniently available nearby. Finally, make sure to stop there at sunset to take in
one of the most beautiful views of Osijek.

Contact: www.facebook.com/Sportski.Objekti.Osijek

Text: Mirna Šmit