10 most popular islands in Croatia
Island vacation is something wonderful – especially when the holiday country itself is already fantastically beautiful. We introduce you to 10 of the most popular islands in Croatia!
If you think of island holidays on the beach, the first thing that comes to mind is far away places – but there are also beautiful islands in Europe with beaches that are at least as great! So if you are drawn to the sea this year and you don’t want to deal with long flights or high travel costs, then just take a look at the fantastic islands of Croatia! In the following, we have taken a closer look at 10 of the country’s most popular islands for you!
1. Krk, Primorje-Gorski Kotar
Right at the beginning of our list we have a very popular Croatian island for you: the beautiful Krk. Like all Croatian islands, Krk is located in the Adriatic Sea, more precisely in the Kvarner Bay, near the mainland city of Rijeka. Due to this proximity, Krk can also be reached most easily by first flying directly to Rijeka and then – by rental car or by public transport – getting to the island via a bridge. Krk is not only one of the most popular islands in Croatia, but also the largest island in the country and as such offers a lot to see and do: from relaxing bathing holidays on its turquoise blue pebble beaches to exciting cultural trips to cities like Malinska, Krk town or Baska to relaxing excursions, cycling and hiking tours in their idyllic forests and hilly landscapes or boat trips on the sea. From Krk you can also take the ferry to either Rab or Cres and thus visit and explore the other islands of the Kvarner Bay.
2. Rab, Primorye-Gorski Kotar
From one of the most popular islands in Croatia, we now go directly to the absolute Croatian favorite island of the Germans: Rab, which is only a few kilometers south of Krk and can be reached by ferry from the mainland. What makes Rab so attractive as a holiday destination is not only its wonderful cultural and natural sights, but also the fact that it is often sunny on the island and you can look forward to a holiday with almost continuously fantastic weather. What you should definitely not miss on your trip here is a trip to the old town of the island’s capital, the town of the same name, Rab. Have a look at Andrije and the bell tower, while in other places, such as Barbat or the fishing village of Supetarska Draga, interesting sites and buildings are waiting to be discovered by you. Away from the cities, however, you will find fantastic pebble beaches and bathing bays or you can take day trips by boat or ferry to the neighboring islands of Krk, Cres and Co.
3. Cres, Primorye-Gorski Kotar
Next among Croatia’s most popular islands is Cres in northern Kvarner Bay, and once you take a look at the fabulous island, you’ll quickly understand why the Germans love it so much: miles of gorgeous coastline, from idyllic pebble beaches to swimming in the south and west to rocky bays in the north and east, which are perfect for walks with stunning views, through deep green forests for natural hikes to two mountains that can be climbed, visitors will find everything a nature-loving heart desires here. Aside from its natural beauty, you can also experience many a town and village adventure on Cres, for example in the beautiful town of Lubenice with its old town center including the town wall and a historic church, or in Cres town itself, where museums, historically interesting buildings, but also plenty of opportunity to go out and celebrate in the evening. The island of Cres can be reached by ferry in the north, more precisely between the towns of Brestova and Porozina, and in the south you can cross over a bridge directly to the neighboring island of Lošinj, which we would like to take a look at next.
4. Lošinj, Primorje-Gorski Kotar
As the last great island in the Kvarner Bay, Lošinj is on our list of the most popular islands in Croatia. While the Cres just presented inspires above all with its natural wonders on land, I offer Lošinj as a perfect vacation spot for all those who like to spend their time in or even under water at least as much. Some of the most beautiful diving areas that Croatia has to offer await you off the coast of Lošinj – including corals, colorful fish and more. Back on land, however, you can let yourself be enchanted by dreamy beaches, exciting historical sights and fragrant herb gardens. Incidentally, the latter are a very special highlight of Lošinj and so you can not only stroll through the beautiful Aromatic Gardens in the city of Mali Lošinj, but also treat yourself to soothing aromatherapy or simply enjoy the tasty, herb-flavoured cuisine of the region.
5. Pag, Lika-Senj and Zadar
You can try culinary delicacies in Croatia not only in the Kvarner Bay, but also further south, especially on the island of Pag: The island is the only island in the Croatian Lika-Senj County and is known for its delicious Pag cheese and its aromatic White wine. When it comes to nature, however, impressive rocky landscapes await you in the east and green flowering meadows and forests in the west, all of which invite you to go on hikes and trips in the fresh air. The towns of Pag also offer you contrasts that cover every taste: While you can perfectly relax in Pag town itself and take leisurely excursions to cultural and historical sights such as the Prince’s Palace or the Skrivanat Tower, the town of Novalja in the north-east attracts you with its lively nightlife and exciting festivals and parties. The best way to get to Pag is by ferry – when approaching from the north – or via bridge – when approaching from the south or from Zadar.
6. Vir, Zadar
Just south of Pag, head straight to Croatia’s next popular island: beautiful Vir in the Zadar archipelago. The island can be reached from Zadar in a few minutes by car and is connected to the mainland by a bridge. Once you have arrived, you can spend your holidays on Vir as if in paradise: Dreamlike beaches that trump with their natural, harsh beauty, exciting sights such as the remains of Kastelina Castle, but also plenty of opportunity for sporting and culinary adventures await you on the wonderful Island. If you also want to go on excursions from Vir, you can either go to the city of Zadar itself and discover its rich offer of cultural and historical sights there, or take a short boat or car trip to the neighboring islands, for example to Pag.
7. Ugljan, Zadar
We’ll stay a little longer in the Zadar archipelago and next look at the island of Ugljan, just a few kilometers off the coast of Zadar, which, due to its special location, is also one of the most popular excursion and bathing resorts for Croatians – including fantastic sandy and keel beaches . Ugljan’s towns are all located on the side facing the mainland and, in addition to many exciting sights, also offer regular festivals and events, which make the summer months on Ugljan particularly eventful. The south-west coast with a view of the open sea, on the other hand, delights with its beautiful natural landscapes and is ideal for long hikes, bike rides or walks along the coast or through the island’s forests and olive groves. By the way, you can easily reach Ugljan by ferry directly from Zadar, which also makes the journey here wonderfully easy. Excursions to other islands are possible by car over a bridge to Pasman in the southeast, or by boat to the other islands of the Zadar archipelago lying around.
8. Brač, Split-Dalmatia
From the main island of Zadar we continue to the main island of another large city in Croatia, the island of Brač south of Split. The island can be reached by ferry in no time from Split and is the largest island in the Split-Dalmatia region with plenty of business opportunities to match. Brač is not only ideal for a wonderful bathing holiday – for example on the nature-protected and extremely popular Zlatni Rat beach, which extends into the sea as a promontory – but also for hikes in its idyllic vineyards and olive groves or for city trips with sightseeing in its exciting cities . For the latter, you should above all take a look at the city of Bol with great buildings such as the city’s Dominican monastery, but also its own “Dragon’s Cave” Zmajeva Spilija and lots of interesting museums and other sights, or the beautiful port of Milna. From the east of Brač, a ferry also takes you to the beautiful port city of Makarska on the mainland, and boat trips to the surrounding islands also invite you to day trips.
9. Hvar, Split-Dalmatia
Another island in the Croatian Split-Dalmatia County should not only be one of the most beautiful islands in Croatia, but also in the whole world: the fantastic island of Hvar. With more hours of sunshine on average than on any other island in Europe, wonderful sandy and pebble beaches, romantic bays and its warm, crystal-clear water, Hvar is a real holiday paradise. On land, green forests and groves invite you to go hiking, while you can also take advantage of a wide range of sports and other activities in the hotels, especially in the west of the island. Let yourself be pampered with culinary delights in the towns of the island, for example in Jelsa or Hvar town itself, and if you are looking forward to exciting nightly adventures while partying after relaxing during the day, you will also find what you are looking for here. However, traditional sightseeing is best in Hvar town, where you can visit the Cathedral of St. Stephen or the Arsenal, but also in the historic town of Stari Grad with its impressive Tvrdalj Castle and other sights worth seeing. The easiest way to get to Hvar is by ferry directly from Zadar, and those who want to see the neighboring islands can take day trips there by boat.
10. Mljet, Dubrovnik-Neretva
As the last stop on our list of the most popular islands in Croatia, a particularly mystical island awaits you: the Odysseus island of Mljet. According to legend, it is precisely here that the nymph Calypso cast a spell over the legendary seafarer and then held him captive in her cave for seven years – a cave that you can also see for yourself during your visit. Less legendary, but at least as worth a visit, is the Mljet National Park, which invites you to take relaxing walks in the unspoilt nature of the island, but also to take part in sporting activities such as kayaking or cycling tours. And if, after so much natural beauty, you still want to enjoy a bit of traditional sightseeing, you can go to one of the oldest places of worship in the Adriatic, the Benedictine monastery on the island of St. Mary, which lies in the middle of the saltwater lake Veliko Jezero in the west of Mljet.
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