Nikola Tesla’s Birthplace in Smiljan: A Day Trip from Jadranovo
A morning by the Adriatic, followed by a journey into the world of invention. During your stay at Apartments Villa Antonia in Jadranovo, a visit to Nikola Tesla’s birthplace offers a memorable day out, combining science, history and the countryside of Lika.
In Smiljan, near Gospić, the Nikola Tesla Memorial Centre brings together his childhood home, the story of his life and demonstrations of his inventions. Add lunch at Pizzeria Ruspante in the Gacka Valley, and you have a full day of discovery before returning to the coast.
Getting to Smiljan from Villa Antonia
Your starting point is Villa Antonia, Vidikovac 9, Jadranovo. The memorial centre is at Smiljan 87/1, 53211 Smiljan.
One route follows the D8 coastal road south through Crikvenica and Novi Vinodolski to Senj. From there, take the D23 towards Žuta Lokva, join the A1 motorway towards Split and leave at the Gospić exit. Continue towards Smiljan, following signs for the memorial centre. The motorway section is tolled.
As a planning estimate, allow around 2–2.5 hours each way for the direct journey. Travel time depends on your chosen route, traffic and road conditions. A lunch stop in Sinac requires a detour and additional time.
What can you see at the museum?
Tesla’s restored birthplace is the heart of the visit. A multimedia exhibition on the ground floor introduces his life through photographs, words and sound. Upstairs, replicas of his inventions help explain the ideas behind his work.
The grounds also include the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, a children’s playground and an experimental station inspired by Tesla’s laboratory in Colorado Springs.
One of the highlights is the Tesla-coil demonstration. Presentations take place at scheduled times, so ask about the day’s programme when you arrive and plan your visit around it.
The memorial centre opened on 10 July 2006, marking the 150th anniversary of Tesla’s birth.
The remarkable life that began in Smiljan
Nikola Tesla was born in Smiljan on 10 July 1856. After studying and working in Europe, he moved to the United States in 1884, where he developed many of his best-known inventions. He died in New York on 7 January 1943, aged 86.
His curiosity had roots in family life. His mother, Đuka, made practical household tools, and Tesla credited her with inspiring his inventiveness. Visiting his childhood home gives that story a setting: a small village where an extraordinary scientific career began.
Tesla also loved books. In his autobiography, My Inventions, he wrote:
“Of all things I liked books the best.”
Another line captures his belief in the importance of invention:
“The progressive development of man is vitally dependent on invention.”
Four important Tesla inventions
The AC induction motor and polyphase power systemTesla’s work with rotating magnetic fields helped make alternating-current motors and large-scale electrical power systems practical.
The Tesla coilDeveloped in 1891, this transformer circuit produces high-voltage, high-frequency electricity and became central to his electrical experiments.
Radio remote controlIn 1898, Tesla demonstrated a radio-controlled boat at Madison Square Garden in New York—an early example of operating a machine wirelessly.
The bladeless Tesla turbineHis turbine used smooth, closely spaced discs instead of conventional blades, showing his ability to approach familiar engineering problems in a different way.
Opening hours
Season | Tuesday–Saturday | Sunday |
1 April–31 October | 08:00–20:00 | 10:00–16:00 |
1 November–31 March | 08:00–15:00 | 10:00–15:00 |
The centre is closed on Mondays. Last admission is one hour before closing.
It also closes on selected holidays, including 1 November and 18 November, which are particularly relevant when planning an autumn visit.
How much do tickets cost?
Ticket | Price |
Adults | €10 |
Children over 7, school pupils, students and pensioners | €6 |
Family ticket | €20 |
The family ticket covers parents or guardians visiting with minor children and includes a maximum of two adults. For younger children, confirm admission terms directly with the centre.
Where to Eat? We Recommend Pizzeria Ruspante
After visiting Tesla’s museum, we suggest continuing your day at Pizzeria Ruspante in Sinac, near Otočac. Located close to Majerovo Vrilo in the Gacka Valley, it makes a lovely stop for lunch and a short walk to the old watermills. Plan the detour to Sinac as part of your return journey to Jadranovo.
Ruspante is known for its wood-fired pizzas, including creative combinations inspired by ingredients from Lika. Among the options worth considering are:
Lička zima — a hearty pizza with bacon, sausages, cheese and pork cracklings.
Lambpizza — a combination of lička basa, a traditional fresh dairy speciality, and wood-fired roast lamb.
Sinčeranka — a pizza with smoked trout, cheese and cream.
There are also classic pizzas for those who prefer familiar flavours. The rustic interior and outdoor terrace offer a relaxed setting, and parking is available.
Alongside pizza, Ruspante serves lasagne and pancakes with a variety of fillings, so leave a little room for dessert.
We recommend reserving a table in advance and confirming current opening hours when you call.
Address: Sinac 135, Sinac, near OtočacReservations: +385 53 787 787Visit Ruspante’s website · Find Ruspante on Google Maps
Should you plan a whole day?
We suggest around two hours at the memorial centre, allowing time for the exhibitions, grounds and a demonstration. Visitors who enjoy reading every display may want longer.
For the complete outing—including the journey, museum, lunch at Ruspante and a short walk in Sinac—set aside a full day. Around eight to nine hours is a reasonable planning allowance, depending on your route and how long you spend at each stop.
Leave Villa Antonia after breakfast and aim to reach Smiljan by late morning. Explore the museum, continue to Sinac for lunch, then enjoy a short walk near Majerovo Vrilo before returning to Jadranovo.
For an autumn visit, bring comfortable shoes, an extra layer and a waterproof jacket. You will move between indoor exhibitions and outdoor areas throughout the day.
A few useful details before you go
Individual visitors do not need an advance reservation for the memorial centre. Booking is required for groups of more than 15 people.
Pets are not permitted at the centre. Visitors with limited mobility should contact staff before travelling: access to the birthplace is possible with assistance, but the narrow staircase makes the upstairs exhibition difficult to reach.
Museum telephone: +385 53 746 530 Official website: mcnikolatesla.hr
Return to your seaside stay at Villa Antonia
A visit to Smiljan brings history and science into your holiday, while a stop in the Gacka Valley adds local flavours and time in nature. At the end of the day, return to Jadranovo and settle back into your stay by the sea.
Make Apartments Villa Antonia in Jadranovo your starting point for discovering more of Croatia.
Museum opening hours, ticket prices and restaurant information were checked on 12 October 2026. Please confirm current details before your visit.
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