Welcome to the island of Krk, Croatia’s largest island, but also one of its most surprising. Let’s discover it in this little guide we’ve prepared for you.
Krk is the third stop on our 7-day trip to the Gulf of Kvarner, after visiting the beautiful city of Zagreb. Discover all our articles on this superb region:
The island of Krk (pronounced Keurrrk with the R’s rolled well together) is a Croatian island located in the Kvarner region, between Istria and Dalmatia. This island is very popular with travelers, as it is committed to preserving its environment. Also considered the largest island in the Adriatic, with 190 kilometers of coastline, you’ll never be bored. We advise you to take advantage of these more remote locations to rest, enjoy and relax away from the stress of the big cities.
The island of Krk is divided into seven municipalities: Krk, Punat, Baška, Dobrinj, Malinska, Omišalj and Vrbnik. We didn’t have time to visit them all, so you’ll have to spend a little time here. The climate on the island of Krk is Mediterranean. Between June and September, air temperatures fluctuate around 26°C and water temperatures around 25°C. With 2,500 hours of sunshine a year, it is one of the sunniest areas in Europe.
The diversity of the relief and the favorable climatic conditions have created ideal living conditions for over 1300 plant species. The central and western parts of the island are dominated by forests and Mediterranean fruit and vegetable crops, vineyards and olive groves.
The north and south of the island are home to the sheep that graze on the garrigues.
TABLE OF CONTENTS :
| THE CITY OF KRK
- Krk
Krk is one of the largest islands in northern Croatia, along with Cres. The island is not very large, with 2 or 3 small towns, the main one bearing the same name as the island, Krk. The town center is quite pretty, with its light-colored stones, and it’s pleasant to stroll around. Krk reminded me of those little villages in the south of France, with the harbour, the terraces in front and the narrow streets with stores. To enter the fortified town center, you have to pass through the porch and wander through the streets. You’ll find your way back as it’s not very big, so take the time to stop off at one of our addresses below.
- Baska
Baška, on the other hand, is a pretty, tranquil bay on the island of Krk, surrounded by vineyards and famous for its huge pebble beach with emerald-green waters, the ” Vela plaža “, the largest and one of the most beautiful beaches on Baška in the center of the village. It boasts several types of beach: sandy, pebbled or those located in rocky areas with concrete plateaus.
Baška has become a popular and renowned seaside resort lined with numerous restaurants. We only wandered around for a few hours, but we’d recommend the Heritage Forza hotel for local accommodation and the Cicibela restaurant, which we found original. You lunch in an old resin boat hull.
We didn’t get enough sun in May to go swimming, but you should know that there are small deserted coves if you look hard enough and don’t stop at the first big beach. One of Baska’s most coveted spots is the bunculuka cove at the naturist campsite. Go to the campsite entrance, cross it by a small path and you’ll arrive in a spot that few people know about, except naturists in fact. You can also go to Jablanova beach.
➡️ If you’re looking for other types of accommodation, you can always find what you’re looking for here
- Punat
We stopped here for lunch only, but Punat is a peaceful village of around 1,800 inhabitants. It nestles in the heart of the Puntarska draga bay and is well worth a visit for its scenery and the tiny Kosljun island with its monastery.
In Puna, we recommend two restaurants:
- Hotel restaurant Kanajt for a taste of octopus prepared under a bell “pod pekom” or one of their meat dishes.
- Kaniba sidro ” is a small regional cuisine restaurant in Punat where we tasted our first goulash on the establishment’s very pleasant terrace.
- Vrbnik, a traditional village
Vrbnik, a 20-minute drive from Kirk, is a small medieval town (smaller than Krk) set on a high cliff, surrounded by fertile vineyards used to produce the fine wine of Žlahtina. It has a lot of charm, with its little fishing port and small restaurants serving local specialties with seafood. The narrow streets are very pretty and often decorated with flowers. It’s a well-known and much-appreciated stopover on the Gulf of Kvarner, not only because of the good wine but also because of a surprising attraction: apparently the world’s smallest street, only 50 cm narrow. As you can see, not everyone passes through!
For those travellers who are more interested in discovering new tastes, we met a local wine and liqueur producer in the small village of Vrbnik, where the island’s vineyards are located. Wine has been grown here for around 20 years, and the Croatians produce mainly white wine, Zlatina, a dry white wine with very mineral notes. You can enjoy a tasting at the Nada winery in Vrbnik, ideal for eating and drinking in a rustic, authentic setting. You can also try their local cured ham, matured in the cellars of the krk house. A quality ham, because it’s not very salty but very tasty. Krk is a nice quiet stop on your journey.
We tested the Hotel Vinotel Gospoja in Vrbnik. This renovated hotel is surely the best in the village. The gourmet menu can be enjoyed in the evening in their restaurant, and the spa with swimming pool is quite pleasant in the early evening! Expect to pay around 150€ (990 HKK) per night in a superior room in low season and 1793 HRK in high season.
For a drink, head for Vrbnik’s Ulica terrace. A beautiful viewpoint that you’ll love with a glass of local wine.
➡️ If you’re looking for other types of accommodation, you can always find what you’re looking for here.
| WHAT TO SEE ON THE ISLAND OF KRK?
✖️ The small island of Košljun, located in a small bay to the east, is home to a Franciscan monastery.
✖️ Biserujka cave with its stalagmites and stalactites on the island’s northeast coast, near Silo.
✖️ The church and monastery of Glavotok, a small village on the island’s west coast.
✖️ The historic town of Omišljaj, situated on a cliff above the sea.
✖️ The small port of Voz with a panoramic view of the Krk bridge.
| BEACHES AND RELAXATION ON THE ISLAND OF KRK
People come to the island of KrK to discover the old town of Krk, the small seaside resort of Malinska and its pretty beaches, as well as to enjoy a wide range of mountain and sea activities. Some sandy and pebble beaches are located in hidden bays, accessible only by boat, on foot via nature trails or through dense Mediterranean vegetation. We’ve listed some of our favorites below.
✖️ Soline Bay beach, famous for its medicinal mud.
✖️ Many beaches have been awarded the “Blue Flag” for cleanliness, safety and beach quality, such as Porporela , near Ježevac campsite and a 5-minute walk from Krk town.
✖️ If you’re coming with children, we recommend the beach at Hotel Koralj (opposite the hotel), which has a sandy bottom and plenty of space in the shade of the surrounding pine trees. (You’ll also find pedalos, slides and a more secure area). Koralj beach is a pebble beach bordered by fir trees.
✖️ The pebble beach of Redagara in the bay of Valda Gara, to the east of Hotel Koralj, is quite small but very cute if you arrive early enough. Pets are welcome.
✖️ The beach below Hotel Dražica is more of a cove with big rocks to lie on, which can be very nice too.
✖️ Potovosce Beach, south of the town of Vrbnik. It can be reached by car or boat.
✖️ Oprna Pebble Beach, near Stara Baška, in the southern part of the island of Krk, accessible by boat and car. Follow the signs from Punat to Stara Baška. You can park above the beach, which is accessible on foot via a small footpath.
✖️ The beach at Glavotok ecological campsite is a pebble and sandy beach and part of the Blue Flag.
✖️ The Magneli Beach can be reached via a footpath from the village of Brzac. The last 600 metres are not accessible by car, so you’ll have to continue on foot. The vegetation here is denser, which should make it a more privileged and tranquil spot.
✖️ Velo Celo Beach, as the locals call it, or Golden Bay, is a pretty beach with orange cliffs that can only be reached by boat. The beach is located in the northern part of the island of Krk, halfway between Punat and Stara Baška.
| SEA ACTIVITIES AND MOUNTAIN ON THE ISLAND OF KRK
- Kayak de mer
- Tyrolienne
- Hiking in Risnjak National Park
I propose a hike in Risnjak National Park, a 1h10-minute drive from the island of Krk. Risnjak National Park is located in Gorski Kotar, the country’s most mountainous and forested region, about 15 km inland from the Adriatic Sea and the Dalmatian island of Krk. The park covers an area of 63.5 square kilometers, including the central part of the Risnjak and Snježnik massif and the headwaters of the Kupa River.
<strong>Practical information about Krk</strong>
| WHERE TO SLEEP A KIRK
Krk offers a wide range of accommodation options. There are hotels, of course, but also homestays, apartments and charming hotels. You’ll find what you’re looking for here.
Here are a few suggestions:
➡️ If you’re looking for other types of accommodation in Malinska, you can still find what you’re looking for here.
| RESTAURANTS BARS AND CAFÉS KRK’S FAVOURITES
RESTAURANTS
- Nada’s Tavern offers Mediterranean cuisine and local wines and cheeses.
- The Galija pizzeria restaurant is located in one of the narrow streets in the center of krk. It serves meat, fish, pasta and pizzas.
- The Frankopan restaurant in the old town.
- Le restaurant Valbian sur le port de ferry de Valbiska qui propose aussi de très bonne pâtes et pizzas.
BARS
- Le « Kalvana Volsonis » à Krk est un bar atypique puisque vous y trouverez des vestiges de l’époque romaine dans les sous sols découvert en voulant y faire des travaux. Un bar musée à l’ambiance pub… Original !
- La casa del padrone ” in Krk. A lovely tearoom with a terrace overlooking the harbor, where you can choose to sample some delicious cakes.
- La nightclub Boa à Malinska, ouverte durant la saison tous les jours de 23h à 5h.
| SE ORDER IN KRK
- Arrive by plane: Nous sommes passés par le comparateur de vols Skyscanner. C’est le seul que j’utilise pour mes réservations et c’est comme ça que nous avons trouvé un vol depuis Paris pour Zagreb à 225€/p avec la compagnie Air france. Pour vérifier les disponibilités et réservez votre vol au meilleur prix, cliquez ici
- Car rental: plusieurs enseignent logent dans le terminal de l’aéroport et cela ne coûte pas cher du tout comme Unirent. Comptez une vingtaine d’euros par jour au mois de mai, pour une voiture d’entrée de gamme. Pour réservez en ligne et ne pas perdre de temps, cliquez ici
- The island of Krk is the most accessible of all the Croatian islands, linked to the mainland by an attractive bridge. You can get there by car, boat, bus or plane.
- From the island, ferries run to Cres and Rab from June to September.
- The nearest train station is 56 km away in Rijeka.
N’oubliez pas les assurances voyages !
Before you leave, make sure you’ve taken out travel insurance to avoid any unpleasant surprises! If you’re planning a short break, a long-haul trip or even a round-the-world tour, travel insurance will provide you with the essential cover you need to enjoy your stay in total peace of mind: cancellation, baggage, assistance, medical expenses, hospitalization, death, repatriation and all the other hassles you could avoid. Opt for cancellation insurance in case of Covid and border closures. Read more in our dedicated article to help youfind the best insurance and on the Chapka website, our travel partner since our Round the World Tour
In conclusion, Kirk is a beautiful island not to be missed on your trip to Croatia. There’s much more to Croatia than its Adriatic coast, Dubrovnik and Split.
For a quote and a tailor-made trip to discover the authentic Croatia, please contact me by email at contact@mademoiselle-voyage.fr. I invite you to read the customized travel where I present my business as a licensed travel agency.
Before you leave, read all our articles on this superb region:
