Kvarner
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1. Beli Visitor Centre and Rescue Centre for Griffon Vultures
The northern end of Cres is mountainous and forested, harboring wildlife such as the rare griffin vulture. This rescue center helps protect and rescue these beasts, as well as preserve the environment and heritage of the island. The center houses rescued vultures before they are released back in to the wild and includes educational info on the biodiversity and history of northern Cres, and information on bird-watching, eco-trails, and volunteer opportunities. The naturalists that run the center are full of passion about their work and excited teachers. Visit this center with your kids to learn more about these protected birds, and then try to spot the griffins flying in their natural habitat around the cliffs of the island. From November to April, the center is open by appointment only, so call in advance during this period.
Beli 4, Beli, Primorsko-Goranska, Croatia095-506--1116Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free (donations accepted) -
2. Kastav
A fine spot from which to admire the splendors of the Kvarner bay, the Kastav, 11 km (7 miles) northwest of Rijeka, was originally a medieval fortress comprising nine defensive towers. The old hilltop village sits at 1,200 feet and is still home to some 900 residents. The backside of the hilltop village is blanketed by a forest area with biking, hiking, and horseback riding trails leading from the loggia to the woods. The town is a popular venue for regular events throughout the year from the monthly Zeleni Kastav organic green market, to the summer Kastav Blues and Cultural Festival, to the Bela Nedeja young white wine festival in October and the traditional bell ringers during the carnival season in February. Having been home to wealthy and powerful clans in times past, the tiny town has many splendid—if not officially noted—buildings from throughout the ages. E-bike rentals are available at the forest entrance.
Kastav, Primorsko-Goranska, 51215, Croatia -
3. Krk Town
In terms of its importance and the pride of the 4,000 locals, the island's capital could perhaps even be called a city. It's not completely clear when the old city walls were first built, but the oldest mention of the walls dates back to the 1st century BC. The present-day walls, however, date mainly to the Middle Ages. The city walls have four gates. The seafront has a pleasant green area that takes you past cafés and a fish market. The main square, Vela Placa, is just behind the first row of houses. There's a beach underneath the town walls with a lovely view of the town. The old town hall on Vela Placa was built in the 15th century. Its clock shows all 24 hours: daytime on the upper part, nighttime on the lower. Krk Town has two well-known visual anchors. The first is the imposing citadel that sits on Trg Kamplin. The bell tower of St. Quirinus is the other, with its angular onion dome typical of Krk.
Krk Town, Primorsko-Goranska, Croatia -
4. Lošinj Marine Education Centre/Blue World Institute
A community of around 180 bottlenose dolphins makes its home just off the coast of Lošinj, and the nonprofit Lošinj Marine Education Centre has made it their mission to protect the marine environment of the Adriatic sea. The center has a small number of engaging displays that use various media forms that invite visitors to take a deeper look at the amazing blue world that surrounds the island. The center is a great place for kids to learn more about the fascinating marine life that inhabit the Adriatic ocean. You may even end up "adopting" your own dolphin (although you can't take it home with you). But for €30 (about 225 Kn), you'll receive an adoption certificate, a photo of your adopted dolphin, membership for a year, and, of course, that warm fuzzy feeling of doing something good for the world.
Kaštel 24, Veli Lošinj, Primorsko-Goranska, 51551, Croatia051-604–666Sight Details
Rate Includes: 20 Kn, Closed Sun. in May, Jun., and Sept.; closed weekends Oct.--Apr., July–Aug., daily 10–9; May, June, and Sept., weekdays 10–4, Sat. 10–2; Oct.–May, weekdays 10–2 -
5. Lubenice
One of the most tempting beaches on the island is on the western coast of Cres at the foot of a steep cliff, at the top of which is the tiny village of Lubenice, which offers great views out to sea and up the western coast. This picturesque collection of houses that surrounds the 15th-century Church of St. Anthony the Hermit has been clinging to its outcrop for around 4,000 years. The hamlet is popular among arty types and hosts exhibitions and music performances in the summer. From the beach below, a short walk through vineyards will bring you to Žanja Cove, which has a blue grotto, a cave at water level that enjoys brilliant blue light as strong sunlight filters through the azure water.
Lubenice, Primorsko-Goranska, Croatia -
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6. Lungomare
If you enjoy walking by the sea, set off along the magnificent paved, waterfront Lungomare. Built in 1889, this 12-km (7½-mile) path leads from the fishing village of Volosko through Opatija—passing in front of old hotels, parks, and gardens and around yacht basins—and all the way past the villages of Ičići and Ika to Lovran. In the middle you'll find the popular town beach that fronts the center of Opatija. Close to many cafés, ice-cream shops, and other essentials, the beach also has a couple of protected sections of water for safe swimming.
Obalno Šetalište Franza Josefa, Opatija, Primorsko-Goranska, 51410, Croatia -
7. Mount Učka Nature Park
From gentle hiking to mountain biking, climbing and paragliding, all are available in the 160 square km (62 square miles) of Mount Učka Nature Park, a series of peaks that help shelter the Liburnia Riviera (the official name for the stretch of coast centered on Opatija) and the islands from weather systems to the north. Hiking trails leading toward the summit on the Učka range start from all the resorts along the coast. A climb up to the highest peak, Vojak (4,596 feet), with a fine stone lookout tower at its summit, can be well worth it, it is not for the faint of heart nor inexperienced, out of shape hiking enthusiasts. On a clear day, the view offers a distant tour of the islands of Kvarner Bay, the Italian Alps, and perhaps even an indistinct view of Venice. Most routes up to the heights lead through forest, so you can make the trek in summer without overheating. Along the way you'll find natural springs from which to quench your thirst, along with ponds, tumbling waterfalls (in the wetter months), impressive natural stone columns and several hundred caves. The local inhabitants include deer, wild boar, and, in the northernmost sections of the park, bears. Humans have been living in these hills for centuries also, rearing cattle, farming, and working the forest; you'll come across numerous tiny villages and historic sites if you roam far enough. If you're running short of time, there are many mountain-biking tracks throughout the park offering the chance to expand your lungs on the way up and test your nerve rattling back down to the coast. There is also the possibility to drive to the top and take in the views from the stone tower. There is an information point with maps and souvenirs on the road leading to the summit, called Poklon. At Poklon hikers will find two great restaurants with accommodation and a mountain hiking hut that sleeps 18. A newly renovated modern educational center was built in 2020.
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8. Risnjak National Park
Risnjak is a popular destination year-round. In winter you'll find a healthy contingent of snow aficionados desperately trying to avoid a trip up to Austria to sample the real thing. In summer, however, as the sun and the tourists beat down upon the coast, this is perhaps the best place to be. The cool mountain air—the average temperature in the region in July is around 16°C (60°F)—is a bonus to Risnjak's virtually unpopulated landscape. You'll be free to commune with the locals, which include deer, bear, wildcat, and lynx (ris), from which the park takes its name. Geologic and botanical features are occasionally explained by English-language information points over which you may stumble on one of the more popular walking routes. Marked trails can occupy you for an hour's evening stroll to a full seven-day trek on the monstrous Rijeka Mountain Transversal from one side of Gorski kotar to the other. Hiking huts are strung across the peaks to accommodate such ambitious expeditions. More information regarding these multiday hiking trips is available from the Croatian Mountaineering Association. The park information office is in the village of Crni Lug, at the eastern entrance to the park. Near the park entrance is a guesthouse and restaurant, Pension NP Risnjak, that is open year-round. You can easily explore the gentler trails on day trips from either Rijeka or Delnice. Paths from the villages of Razloge and Kupari lead up to the source of the wild Kupa River, which can then be followed down the slopes through the "Valley of the Butterflies."
Bijela vodica 48, Crni Lug, Primorsko-Goranska, 51317, Croatia051-836--133Sight Details
Rate Includes: 45 Kn, Information office closed Oct.--Apr., Park information office May–Sept., daily 9–5 -
9. Trsat
The medieval castle was built on the foundations of a prehistoric fort. In the early 1800s, it was bought by an Austrian general of Irish descent, who converted it to include a Greek temple with Doric columns. Today it hosts a popular café, offering stunning views of the Kvarner Bay; throughout the summer, open-air theater performances and concerts take place. Across the street, the pilgrimage church of Sveta Marija (St. Mary) was constructed in 1453 to commemorate the Miracle of Trsat, when angels carrying the humble house of the Virgin Mary are said to have landed here. Although the angels later moved the house to Loreto in Italy, Trsat has remained a place of pilgrimage. The path up to Trsat from the city center takes you close to Titov trg, at a bridge across the Rječina. It passes through a stone gateway, then makes a long, steep climb up 538 steps. Local Bus 2 will get you here, too.
Petra Zrinskog bb, Rijeka, Primorsko-Goranska, 51000, Croatia051-217–714-castleSight Details
Rate Includes: Church free; castle free; castle exhibits 10 Kn, No church visits during religious services, Church, daily 7 am–8 pm; Castle: June–Oct.: 9–8 daily; Oct.–June: 9–5 daily -
10. Veli Zvonik
The tallest and most beautiful of Rab's campaniles, the freestanding Veli Zvonik forms part of the former cathedral complex and dominates the southwest side of the peninsula. Built in the 12th century, it stands 85 feet high. A climb to the top is well worth the effort since it affords breathtaking views over the town and sea.
Gornja ulica, Rab, Primorsko-Goranska, 51280, CroatiaSight Details
Rate Includes: 15 kn, Closed Oct.–May, June–Oct., daily 9:30–1 and 7:30–9; Oct.–May, by request -
11. Baška
On the southern end of the island, this town has a great beach as well as the conveniences of civilization. However, this means that you must sometimes fight to find a spot in season. The 2-km (1-mile) beach is fronted by colorfully painted houses (and hotels at the southern end) and adorned with interesting nooks and stairways, all lending a fun and slightly eccentric air to the town. Cute backstreets behind the houses offer a selection of cozy cafés and plethora of ice-cream shops.
Baška, Primorsko-Goranska, Croatia -
12. Church of St. Anthony the Hermit
The intimate harbor is the centerpiece of Veli Lošinj, at the entrance to which is the delightful Church of St. Anthony the Hermit, with a separate bell tower in pink and cream stone. Built on the site of a former church in 1774, the church has always had a congregation of seafarers, who have filled it with religious art and altars from spots such as Venice.
Lošinj, Primorsko-Goranska, CroatiaSight Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Sept.--July, July–Aug., daily 9–12:30 and 7–9; other months on request or during mass -
13. Čikat Bay
The road that runs along the Mali Lošinj harbor leads to Čikat Bay, a pine-covered area dotted with impressive Habsburg-era villas and pebbled beach coves. Nearby hotels and campsites, plus good parking, lots of cafés, and ice-cream stands make these beaches popular. There's a gracious promenade along the bay that's perfect for strolling, a windsurfing school for the adventurous, and paddleboat rentals.
Mali Lošinj, Primorsko-Goranska, Croatia -
14. City Market
Bursting with color and the busyness of an open-air green market, this is the natural starting point for getting acquainted with this port city. It is housed in three large halls, each distinct in its architecture and also in what is sold under its roofs. The most interesting of these halls is the art-nouveau fish market, which includes crustacean sculptures on the walls and ceiling by Venetian artist Urbano Bottasso. Surrounding the market are a plethora of open-air stalls mostly manned by women eager to sell their locally grown fresh fruits, vegetables, and other Croatian delicacies. Come early for coffee and people-watching in one of the many surrounding cafés, or come later and have an early lunch or prix-fixe marenda (mid-morning snack) in one of the nearby local eateries, where most offerings come fresh from the market. Before you leave the market, be sure to take a stroll through the small formal park in front of the magnificent Croatian National Theatre, which was built by Viennese architects Fellner and Helmer in 1885.
Demetrova 3, Rijeka, Primorsko-Goranska, 51000, CroatiaSight Details
Rate Includes: Mon.–Sat. 7–2 pm, Sun. 7–noon -
15. Cres Town
Tucked into a well-protected bay, midway down the island, Cres Town is set around a lovely little fishing harbor, small but perfectly formed, with numerous Gothic and Renaissance churches, monasteries, and palaces. For the most part these are in the Old Town, which sits protected by winged Venetian lions atop three 16th-century gates, the only remains of a defensive wall. A small harbor (Mandrać), as well as a municipal loggia built in the 15th-century, remain the soul of the town. The town beach, at Kovačine campsite, holds a Blue Flag award for cleanliness. To get there, follow the path around the harbor from the main road and keep going for at least 15 minutes along the promenade, where you'll find spots to jump into the water and the odd café or restaurant to keep you fueled. Although the seaside here is man-made, it somehow doesn't detract too much from the experience.
Cres Town, Primorsko-Goranska, Croatia -
16. Crkva Sv. Lucije
Driving into Baška, you'll pass through Bašcanska draga, and then find yourself in Jurandvor. While on this road, take the chance to visit the Church of St. Lucy, which has achieved cultlike status since the discovery of the glagolithic Baška Tablet on its grounds in 1851.
Jurandvor, Primorsko-Goranska, Croatia051-860–184Sight Details
Rate Includes: 25 Kn, Closed Nov.--Apr., July.–Aug.: daily 9–9; June, Sept.: 9–7; April, May, Oct.: 9–5 -
17. Crkva Uznesenja Blažene Djevice Marije i Kosi toranj
Formerly the city's main church and dating back to the Middle Ages, St. Mary's is still known to locals as the "big church." However, many additions and changes now obscure much of the original architecture. The relatively recent updates have not imposed severe geometry, though: the bell tower remains leaning to one side by 40 centimeters or so. The church can be visited daily from 7 am to 12:30 pm.
Pavla Rittera Vitezovica 3, Rijeka, Primorsko-Goranska, Croatia051-214–177Sight Details
Rate Includes: Daily 7–12:30 -
18. Croatian Museum of Tourism
Visit this mini-museum to get a good understanding of Croatian (and particularly Opatija's) tourism in the 19th century. Set in the gorgeous pink Villa Angiolina and neighboring Swiss House, the museum's permanent collection includes postcards and photographs, souvenirs, and hotel inventory and equipment such as 19th-century hotel silverware and furniture. The villa's neoclassical design includes superb mosaic floors and frescoes. The park and green area in front of the museum are an attraction in and of themselves and a great place to make a small picnic on the grass.
Park Angiolina 1, Opatija, Primorsko-Goranska, 51410, Croatia051-603–636Sight Details
Rate Includes: 10 Kn for Villa Angiolina, 15 kn for Villa Angiolina & Swiss House, July, Aug.: 10–10 daily; Apr.–June, Sept., Oct.: 10–8; Nov.–March: 10–6 -
19. Goli Otok
Like Communist history? Consider a day trip to this uninhabited island that was a Yugoslav prison, just off the coast of Rab. The name 'Goli Otok' means "naked island" and was aptly given for the lack of vegetation and inhabitable conditions on the island. After Tito broke ranks with Stalin in 1948, the island became known as the place where Yugoslav political prisoners were confined. Men were incarcerated here while women were taken to nearby Grgur island. The treatment of these prisoners is wholly unknown, as very few prisoners lived to tell of their experiences, but a stone quarry indicates that prisoners were forced to do hard labor quarrying stone. Conditions on Goli Otok were harsh, with blistering temperatures in the summer, and brutal Bura winds ripping across the barren island in the winter. Any mention of Goli Otok was strictly forbidden in Yugoslavia until after Tito's death. The prison was completely abandoned in 1989, but prison barracks remain there. You can make a short trip to this legendary gulag by taxi boat with one of the many charter companies in Baška or Punat on Krk island.
Rab, Primorsko-Goranska, Croatia -
20. Guvernerova Palača
High on a hill facing the Mediterranean sun, and a short walk from the center of the city, the Governor's Palace affords a grand view over the harbor. Built in 1893 by Hungarian architect Alajos Hauszmann, who also designed Budapest's castle and Palace of Justice, it was done in High Renaissance style and now houses several exhibits and cultural events. The large columned facade communicates the self-confidence of the robust Habsburg empire, as do the numerous statues placed throughout the green area surrounding the palace. The Maritime & Historical Museum of the Croatian Littoral, which investigates Kvarner's seafaring traditions and cultural heritage is also housed here. After taking in one of the exhibits, enjoy the garden area surrounding the museum which sometimes hosts an outdoor summer theater and beer garden.
Muzejski trg 1, Rijeka, Primorsko-Goranska, 51000, Croatia051-213–578Sight Details
Rate Includes: 20 Kn; guided tour 70 Kn, Mon. 9–4; Tues.–Sat. 9–8, Sun. 4–8
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