Kvarner
The green, genteel corner of the coast next to Istria — the grand old resort of Opatija, the islands of Krk, Cres, Lošinj and Rab, all wrapped around a sheltered gulf beneath Mount Učka.
Search stays in KvarnerKvarner has an older, more refined feel than the rest of the coast: Opatija grew up as a Habsburg-era spa resort, and its villa-lined Lungomare promenade still runs for kilometres along the water. Just inland, Mount Učka and the forests of Gorski Kotar give it real greenery and cooler air than Dalmatia. It's an easy area to reach — Rijeka is the region's hub, and Krk is joined to the mainland by a bridge.
The islands set the pace. Krk is the most accessible and busiest; Cres and Lošinj, linked by a little bridge, are wilder and piney, with dolphins offshore; Rab has a walled medieval town and, unusually for Croatia, real sandy beaches at Lopar. Most beaches are pebble with clear water, and the region counts a string of Blue Flag beaches for water quality.
Good to know
- Beaches are mostly pebble, but Baška on Krk and Lopar on Rab have rare sandy stretches.
- Krk is reached by bridge (no ferry); Cres, Lošinj and Rab are ferry islands with a slower feel.
- Greener and a touch cooler than Dalmatia — good for combining beach days with hiking on Učka.
- Opatija's Lungomare promenade is a lovely long seafront walk between villas and coves.
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