Kvarner Bay in Croatia is a large bay on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, like a treasure box filled with large and small islands, each of which is a famous resort.
The islands of Cres, Lošinj, Krk, Pag and Rab, located on the continental coast of cosmopolitan Opatija, are well known to tourists who know what it is: a holiday in Croatia! Moderate prices, warm and clean Adriatic Sea, sea of sun, lack of suffocating heat like anywhere in Antalya, beaches and seaside promenades not too crowded with tourists, but the main feeling is that you are in Europe!
Kvarner Bay: resorts, attractions, hotels
Kvarner Bay is located in the largest bay of the Adriatic Sea. Every corner of its seaside region, islands or mountains will deliver the most vivid impressions. The region is distinguished by a favorable climate in all seasons, a rich cultural program and festivals.
The picturesque shores of the bay provide a full range of surprises, variety and entertainment. In summer, you can enjoy the sun and the sea, and in the afternoon you can spend time in the mountains.
Opatija Riviera
The Opatija Riviera has been a favorite vacation spot for kings since 1844. Also, the city of Opatija is one of the most important tourist centers in Croatia. You will fall in love with it immediately, very clean, cozy, drowning in beautiful and diverse greenery. It seems to envelop you with its charm and surprises you with its wonderful architecture, parks and paths for “lungomare” walks along the coast. March is considered the month of open doors in wellness complexes. Hotels offer packages with wellness services. As well as gastronomic offers in the best restaurants based on healthy food and Mediterranean cuisine.
The town at the foot of Mount Učka in the west of Kvarner is only 13 km from Rijeka. The population is 9,000 people. The city is located on the highway (M2, E751) Rijeka – Pula. Mount Uchka protects Opatija from clouds and cyclones, so it is almost always sunny here. Thanks to its unique climate and picturesque scenery, the city has the longest history of tourism development in the Adriatic – this business originated in Opatija in the middle of the 19th century. The first hotel in Croatia also appeared here. Opatija has become an elite resort, a vacation spot for world celebrities, including members of royal families. Such different people as the Romanian King Charles I and the legendary writer James Joyce rested here.
Hotel Savoy Opatija
The Savoy Hotel with luxurious rooms and elegant interiors is located in the center of Opatija on the heights above the picturesque Lungomare embankment. Almost all rooms are equipped with a balcony with a view of Kvarner Bay . The hotel has a wellness complex, the Lungo Mare restaurant and a bar with a beautiful terrace. The restaurant serves local and international cuisine. There is a small conference room for 16 people for small business meetings and events. In Opatija, guests can enjoy a mild climate and a long bathing season. On the private beach of the Savoy Hotel, guests are guaranteed a wonderful vacation. Near the hotel there are cafes, a wine shop, boutiques, a casino and a disco.
Hotel Villa Palme Opatija
You can relax and spend a wonderful vacation in the luxurious high-class rooms of the Hotel Villa Palme, located in the quiet center of Opatija. A perfect combination of elegance and comfort awaits guests. Hotel Villa Palme is surrounded by beautiful Mediterranean landscapes with lush gardens, just 350 meters from the main beaches and 300 meters from many restaurants, boutiques, banks, grocery stores, etc. The apartments are equipped with a separate entrance, large terraces and balconies. They offer a fantastic view of the city of Rijeka and the Bay of Kvarnerwith the islands of Krk and Cres. Relax in the pool or sauna and enjoy a barbecue on the terrace. There is a children’s playground. Friendly and professional staff will make your stay as pleasant as possible. The staff will give you recommendations on visiting great tourist attractions.
Hotel Agava Opatija
The main street of Opatija is located on one side of the Agava Hotel (4 stars), and the famous Angiolina Park on the other. Guests can enjoy a beautiful view of Kvarner Bay. On the first floor there is a lobby with a reception desk, a bar with aperitifs and a restaurant.
- General information: 24-hour reception, Room service
- About: Credit Cards: American Express, Visa, Euro / Mastercard, Diners Club, American Express, Visa, Euro / Mastercard
- Services: Storage room, Laundry, Dry cleaning, Breakfast in the room, Electronic Internet services, Currency exchange, Shoe shine, Fax / Photo printing
- Miscellaneous: Bar, Non-smoking rooms, safes, elevator
Grand Hotel Opatija
The Grand Hotel is located on the seafront in Opatija and offers air-conditioned rooms with a minibar, hairdryer and free internet access. The hotel offers a stunning view of the slopes of Učka and Kvarner Bay with islands. In the open kitchen restaurant Camellia, you can enjoy wholesome home-cooked meals based on the culinary traditions of the Kvarner region . The spacious wellness center has outdoor pools, a Finnish sauna, Roman baths, as well as a Jacuzzi and facial and body treatments.
Hotel Belvedere Opatija
To describe the unique atmosphere of Hotel Belvedere, the epithet carefree is the best. The hotel is located on the territory of a picturesque park on the famous Franz Joseph Trail promenade between Opatija and Volosko. If you like long walks away from crowded city streets, then Belvedere is an ideal choice. Firstly, it is located right on the sea, in the middle of a beautiful park, in a quiet part of the city, and secondly, not far from the Ambasador hotel and conference center.
Hotel Residenz Opatija
This hotel, located near the coast, offers a beautiful panoramic view of Kvarner Bay . The blue sea stretching to the horizon and the sparkling waves that wash the beach of the hotel involuntarily attract the eye when you dine in the restaurant or relax on the terrace.
The city of Rijeka
Rijeka is the Croatian name of the city, which means “river”. The city got its name in honor of the Rječina River, which divided the Italian and Croatian parts of the city before the Second World War. The Italian name of the city is Fiume , which also means “river” in translation.
Rijeka has a long and rich history. Built on the site of a Roman settlement, the city was repeatedly attacked by the Venetian Republic, it was shared between the Austrian and Hungarian administrations of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The most incredible part of its history related to the period after the First World War is impressive. In Rijeka, the Republic of Fiume emerged , headed by the Italian poet Gabriele d’Annunzio , who called it the “Republic of Beauty”. This republic did not last long, but Fiume-Rijeka was a free city and a subject of disputes between Italy and Yugoslavia for a few more years.
In the modern city you can find traces of all eras and influences and often hear the Italian language. The surreal spirit of interwar Rijeka still lingers in local cafes and at the traditional carnival. Rijeka seems to be the best place for those looking for a balance between beach holidays and sightseeing, a city with beautiful architecture and an intense cultural life.
The center of the region with various museums, theaters and shops, the city of Rijeka is a crossroads of important roads, railways and sea routes. Rijeka is a kind of shopping center of the Kvarner region . Here is one of the largest centers in Croatia, a six-story Tower Center with various shops, restaurants, an entertainment club, a bank, cinemas, a pharmacy, a casino and a garage.
The city of Rijeka has a beach for the disabled, equipped with all the necessary assistive devices.
Sights are scattered in different areas of the city. You can see the old part in 3 hours. But it is still worth allocating time for a visit to the castle and a sightseeing trip around the city to see what cannot be done on foot (there is a sightseeing bus in the city).
Drinking water in Rijeka and Opatija deserves special attention. It is believed that the water here is of the highest quality and you can safely drink it from the tap, which is exactly what we did. Really excellent drinking water!
What to see:
- Corso and the City Tower . Corzo is the main pedestrian street of Rijeka and the center of its tourist life. Both tourists and local residents like to walk along Corso, and many buildings on it claim the title of palaces.
- Leaning tower . This tower was built by Venetian masters at the end of the 14th century, and later leaned slightly, about 50 centimeters. Currently, this tower is a bell tower standing near the Church of the Ascension of the Immaculate Virgin Mary .
- Central market . A complex of buildings in the art nouveau style, with openwork structures made of glass and reinforced concrete, is the market of Rijeka. The atmosphere here is chaotic, the merchants are noisy, the selection of farm products is huge. Of particular interest is Ribarnica , where fresh fish and seafood are sold. At the same time, the interiors amaze the imagination.
- Croatian National Theater named after Ivan Zaitsa . This theater building was built according to the project of famous Austrian architects Fellner and Helmer , who designed more than 45 theaters in Central Europe. Like their other projects, the theater in Rijeka is a luxurious building with Renaissance and Baroque elements.
- Trsat . Once a hilltop settlement, Trsat was a suburb of Rijeka. Now it is a part of the city that attracts tourists and pilgrims.
- The Cathedral of St. Vitus, the patron and protector of Rijeka, was built in the 17th and 18th centuries according to the project of the Italian Jesuit architect Giacomo Briano. Made in the form of a rotunda with Renaissance and Baroque elements, it emphasizes the Italian spirit of the city. Inside, there is a stone crucifix from the 13th century, which is considered miraculous.
- The Capuchin Church of Our Lady of Lourdes impresses with its whimsical neo-Gothic facade. It was built at the beginning of the 20th century, and according to the final project, it should have been two and a half times larger and ended with a tower. Inside, it is decorated with paintings and stained-glass windows, many of which depict Croatian saints.
- The Church of the Mother of God of Trsat was built in the 15th century on the place where, according to legend, the house of the Virgin Mary miraculously appeared . Since then, the crowd of pilgrims has not been exhausted.
- The Church of St. Romuald and All Saints is a modernist church made of reinforced concrete, faced with Vrsar stone, with a 65-meter bell tower. The church was built on the territory of the city cemetery of the goat (Kozala) in honor of the legionnaires of Gabriele D’Annunzio and Italian soldiers who died in the First World War. Thanks to Mussolini’s financial and political intervention, the church was built in the late 1920s, designed by Bruno Angheben.
- The synagogue in Rijeka is one of the three synagogues preserved in Croatia after World War II. It was built in 1930 on the initiative of Orthodox Jews. Compared to the main synagogue of Rijeka, which was destroyed in 1944, this one is quite small and almost without decorative elements. However, it now has religious and cultural significance for the small local Jewish community.
- Islamic Center . The construction of this fascinating futuristic facility was completed in 2013. The center is located on a hill above the city, its platform offers a wonderful view of the city and the sea (especially to the west), and it itself looks like an alien ship. Inside, you can enjoy the wonders of modern design and soak up the multicultural atmosphere of Rijeka.
- The City Museum was established in Rijeka in 1994 on the basis of the collections of the former Museum of the People’s Revolution.
- The Maritime and Historical Museum of the Croatian Coast is located in a luxurious building of the end of the 19th century, the former governor’s palace.
- The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rijeka is a paradise for lovers of modern art. In addition to paintings and sculptures, the museum has a large collection of graphics, photographs and video materials.
- The Rijeka Tunnel is the newest museum project of Rijeka, it was opened to visitors in May 2017. This is a tunnel built by the Italians during World War II.
- The Astronomical Center includes an observatory and a planetarium and is the only facility of its kind in Croatia.
Riviera Crikvenica
The amusement park “Adrenalin Park Crikvenica” is located on the central embankment . There are many small shops selling clothes, souvenirs, and “goldsmiths” (jewelry) on the embankment and nearby streets. There are a number of cafes and restaurants along the entire embankment, some of which are located on the open terraces of the second floors of hotels, offering a beautiful view of Kvarner Bay and the island of Krk. Along the entire embankment, a pleasant, both for daytime and evening walks, the Love Path (path of love) has been laid. Children have fun on the embankment, many playgrounds, swings, slides, trampolines, there is a mini water park. Mountain hiking routes.
Fishing . A 5-minute drive from the center of Crikvenica, in the village of Tribalj , there is a mountain lake with a beautiful view of the ancient castle, the perimeter of which is arranged for fishing, there are moorings and places for picnics. The lake hosts the annual European Big Fish Fishing Championship.
Paragliding . A 15-minute drive from the center of Crikvenica, in the village of Bribir , there is a parachuting school, where beginners are trained and specialists are trained in parachuting.
The largest wellness center in this part of Europe is located here . Thanks to ideal climatic conditions, rehabilitation and health programs, the region is in great demand among medical tourism enthusiasts.
The ideal beaches of Crikvenica have more than once received the high award “Blue Flag”.
Hotel Selce Crikvenica
Located just 50 meters from the pebbly beach in Selce , this fully air-conditioned hotel offers rooms with international satellite TV, hairdryer and minibar, as well as free Wi-Fi. You can go for a massage at the health center and pamper yourself with a visit to the beauty salon. Hotel Selce also has a restaurant and a cafe with a terrace. The beach has a Blue Flag certificate, it has playgrounds, water slides, trampolines and other equipment. You can go diving, rafting or go fishing. Tours to Plitvice Lakes National Park or nearby islands can be arranged at Hotel Selce.
Hotel Omorika Crikvenica
Hotel Omorika is located next to a sunny beach, surrounded by Mediterranean vegetation. The hotel provides opportunities for organizing conferences (300 seats). Sports grounds are also at guests’ disposal. In July and August, the hotel has a permanent team of animators who will make your stay even more pleasant. The nearby rehabilitation hospital Thalassotherapia offers various medical and wellness procedures.
Restaurants and bars
Half board and buffet breakfast (for hotel guests); continental (for guests of the pavilion), choice of menu for dinner.
Hotel Villa Aurora Crikvenica
We invite you to the family hotel Villa Aurora to enjoy the spectacular view of Kvarner Bay . Hotel Villa Aurora is just a 5-minute walk from Crni Mol beach , where you can relax, snorkel, dive and go on a boat trip. The hotel offers guests a pleasant rest in the picturesque surroundings. The hotel staff strives to satisfy the interests and needs of every guest.
The hotel is equipped with all modern equipment for the comfortable rest of guests who spend their vacation here, as well as for business people who plan to organize small business meetings in a pleasant Mediterranean atmosphere. All rooms have a high level of comfort. The cuisine offered at the hotel is distinguished by a variety of dishes and high quality. The hotel can help you organize scuba diving lessons, as well as various intellectual activities such as bridge games and chess tournaments.
Restaurants and bars
This hotel serves breakfast every morning from 07:00 to 09:00. The restaurant is open from 16:00 to 22:00 and offers typical Croatian cuisine.
Numbers
The comfortable rooms have a view of the island of Krk and the wonderful Adriatic Sea or a view of the park.
Location
Neighboring attractions include the Platak mountain resort (mountain skiing in winter), Bjelolasica (sports complex), Postojna Caves . You can also take trips to cities such as Rijeka (about 35 km from the hotel) and Pula, as well as cruises to the island of Krk . You should definitely visit the main tourist attraction of Croatia – Plitvice Lakes National Park , which is included in the UNESCO world heritage sites. In the park you can admire beautiful waterfalls, lakes and wild forests. All the above attractions are located within an hour’s drive (or boat trip) from the hotel.
KRK Island
The island of Krk is the largest island of the Adriatic, covered with dense coniferous forests, generous vineyards and olive groves. It is located in the northern part of Croatia, in the Kvarner Bay , and is famous for its sandy and pebble beaches, mild Mediterranean climate, diverse natural world, and historical monuments.
Resorts of the island of Krk
One of the most popular resorts of Krka, Malinska , is located in the western part of the island and is protected from the eastern winds by a picturesque bay. People come here for clear sea, beautiful views and leisurely walks in the amazing Adriatic nature. Malinska smoothly flows into the resort of Khaluduvo , where there is a large selection of bars, discos, cafes and an incredibly beautiful beach.
Baška resort is known for its two-kilometer pebble beach and priceless archaeological finds. The oldest written monument in Glagolitic was found here – a stone slab on which a legal document of the 11th century was engraved. Inscriptions in Glagolitic can be seen in various churches in Krka. For example, in the church of St. Donatus , which is considered a fine example of ancient Croatian architecture.
Vrbnik , a snow-white town of romantics and artists, is located on the top of a high mountain. It is famous for the narrowest street in the world (only 43 cm) and noble white wine Shlyakhtyna.
The main attraction of Omišal is the well-preserved Roman baths of the 2nd century . In August, a colorful folklore festival is held here. Not far from Krk, there is a small island of Košlūn with a rich architectural heritage from different eras.
At guests’ disposal are fashionable hotels, exquisite restaurants and traditional taverns-konobakh , as well as tennis courts and diving clubs.
The only island is connected to the mainland by a bridge. Tourists are often brought here for a fish picnic. Indeed, on the island you can enjoy gastronomic masterpieces of Croatian cuisine: Kvarner lobster, lamb under “pek”, smoked ham “pršut”, sheep’s cheese, black risotto, pies with chestnuts and figs.
By the way, we bought sheep’s cheese and meat “prosciutto” and delivered it home. Very tasty delicacies!
KRK Island is popular among lovers of mountain and bicycle tourism, rafting, and fishing. There are about 300 km of mountain hiking trails, 14 diving centers.
Nightlife on the island boils mainly in the cities of Malynsk and Krk: there are several discos and night clubs.
Hotel Uvala Scott Kraljevica
Uvala Scott tourist village is located in the quiet bay of Dubno near the island of Krk. It consists of pavilions in the Mediterranean style. Dubno Bay boasts a natural pebbly beach and a berth for small vessels. At your service are a large number of sports events, as well as numerous excursion programs. Uvala Scott Hotel organizes boat or bus excursions to the island of Krk and Plitvice Lakes National Park . There is a seaside bar with a buffet menu and a tavern with delicious dishes and drinks.
The restaurant for hotel guests is located in the central building. A buffet breakfast and dinner are served here. In the same area there is a cafe with a terrace overlooking the sea, an entertainment salon, a snack bar next to the beach. The Tavern restaurant is located in the former home of Alexander Scott’s family. The cozy restaurant, restored in a strict style, offers grilled dishes and pizza. The restaurant has a shady stone terrace where live music is played in the evenings. Nearby is the White Horse disco club , the oldest in the Kvarner region .
Cres Island
Ecological oasis of Kvarner Bay . Pristine nature, picturesque towns and wonderful wild beaches. Cres is an ideal place to relax in harmony with nature. There are many hotels, apartments and campsites. You can get to the mainland by ferry.
If you like wild paradise beaches, you can go to the village of Lubenice , there is one of the most beautiful beaches in Croatia. The coastline of the island is indented and stretches for 248 kilometers. Its western and southern parts have many bays and pebble beaches, and in the northern and eastern parts there are many steep cliffs.
The town of Cres is a good base for exploring the whole island. Colorful houses surround the busy port where fishermen unload their catch and sell it to restaurants.
Bela’s vultures are a landmark of the northern part of the island . These powerful birds can be seen in the Bili Nature Reserve .
On this island, we advise you to pay attention to the ancient fortress of Lubenice , where classical music concerts are held in the summer, the freshwater Vransko lake , as well as the monasteries of the city of Cres.
Losin Island
An island of aromas where you can improve your health. In addition to numerous hotels and cottages, you can rent housing in the private sector and get to know friendly locals, their customs and traditions.
Here you can spend an ideal vacation on a clean coast among dense green pine trees. The healing smell of needles helps people with heart and lung diseases. The island’s health resorts are considered the best in Croatia.
Lošinj Island is located in Kvarner Bay off the northern coast of Croatia. More than two thousand years ago, it was separated from Cres by a channel dug to facilitate navigation. Getting to the island is quite easy thanks to ferry crossings, bus routes and good roads, and there is also a small airport in the center of the island for private jets.
The island is immersed in dense subtropical vegetation, which makes the air especially pleasant and healing, several small but very beautiful islets are scattered around it. You will find only two settlements on the island – Mali Losinj and Veli Losinj , both of which have long been known as excellent resorts.
In Mali Losinj, there are excellent conditions for diving and windsurfing, while cycling and hiking will beautify the stunning scenery. The island comes to life closer to the evening and lives a cheerful and full life, restaurants and cafes open, street artists appear.
And Veli Losinj is a climatic resort of the dry subtropics zone, a unique climate combined with phytoncides of pine groves create a favorable climate for the treatment of skin and respiratory system diseases, allergic diseases.
You can diversify your vacation by visiting the church of St. Martin of the 15th century, the Fritzi palace and the art gallery in Mali Lošinj, the botanical garden, the museum located in a massive Venetian defensive tower to protect against pirate raids, the church of St. Anthony of the 15th century. In addition, you can go to the Maritime Education Center , where you will be told everything about the dolphin colonies living in the area of Losinj Island. Festivals and sports events are also held throughout the year. Among them are the sailing regatta, Dolphin Day, and the Festival of Aromas.
The beaches here are pebbly and stony, which absolutely does not interfere with a comfortable rest. For entertainment, guests will be offered tennis courts, mini golf, fitness, gyms, water sports, hiking and biking, boating and canoeing.
Rab Island
An emerald island with a large number of pebble and sand beaches with hidden coves. Rab Island is the southernmost of the islands in Kvarner Bay , with predominantly Mediterranean vegetation. The entire territory is covered with evergreen forests. About 9,000 inhabitants live in this amazing part of the Adriatic, and in the height of summer this number triples. Rab Island has a very pleasant Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and mild summers. The mountain chain protects the island from the cold north wind in winter and early spring. In autumn, a hot and humid wind blows from the south and it often rains. On the island of Rab there are about 90 sunny days a year, it is one of the sunniest places in Europe. The sea temperature from May to mid-October is high, which makes it possible to extend the tourist season.
Don’t want to just lie on the beach for the whole vacation? Then you can do sports, because the island has football and volleyball courts, tennis courts and even mini golf courses. Among the water sports, surfing, water skiing and yachting are popular. If you want to get to know the flora and fauna in Rab’s water area, you should sign up for a couple of scuba dives. If you’ve never dived before, just take a scuba diving course at any of the local dive clubs. At the same time, the received license will allow you to dive anywhere in the world.
In the city of Rab, the historical district is perfectly preserved, one of the most impressive historical monuments is St. Anthony’s Cathedral . It was built in 1175 and has preserved a lot of original elements, priceless religious artifacts are kept within the walls of the cathedral.
Nearby is the beautiful church of St. Mary , the high bell tower of which can be seen from almost all the streets of the Old Town. The monastery of St. Andrew , which was a witness to many important historical events, is definitely worth a visit . One of the most interesting points of the excursion program will be the Cathedral of St. Justina , it has a great value from an architectural point of view. Currently, the Museum of Religious Art is located within the walls of the cathedral . The variety of exhibits presented here is simply amazing, the age of some of them is more than a thousand years.
Walking along the picturesque streets of the historical district, you can see beautiful buildings from different eras. Majestic palaces in the Renaissance style, miniature houses, and part of medieval fortifications have been preserved here.
Hotel Padova
Resort-type hotels are common on the island, as a rule, they are all located in the immediate vicinity of the coast. Hotel Padova is a very pleasant place for family vacations, it is ready to offer travelers 150 luxurious rooms and a well-organized area with swimming pools. Only a couple of minutes of walking separates the hotel from the picturesque beach of Prva Padova , and the way to the historical district of the capital will take no more than 20 minutes. After a busy day at the hotel, guests can relax in the massage parlor or visit the sauna, and gourmets will definitely like the restaurant decorated in a festive style.
Hotel Jadrana
The location of the famous resort hotel Jadrana is a picturesque villa, only a few steps from the coast. The hotel offers guests a choice of apartments decorated in bright colors, which are perfect for accommodation with children. The hotel is surrounded by a beautiful garden, on the territory of which there are equipped areas for relaxation and a special barbecue area. Fans of active pastime can rent bicycles, and vacationers with children will be pleased with the presence of excellent playgrounds nearby.
Hotel Imperial
For the most discerning travelers, the fashionable Imperial Hotel can be recommended for relaxation, the windows of its rooms offer a wonderful panoramic view of the historical district of the capital. The surrounding area of the hotel is incredibly beautiful, in addition to the pool and spacious terraces with deck chairs, you can see many original landscape decorations.
The luxury resort hotel also has an attractive restaurant, part of which is served in the garden. A wide range of wellness services is provided for those who wish to spend time in carefree relaxation.
Hotel Carolina
Refined and romantic natures are perfectly suited to the Carolina hotel, it is located a short distance from the lively beaches of the capital, in a very quiet and picturesque area. A few steps away from the hotel is the famous rocky beach, which has repeatedly received prestigious awards for high environmental performance. The hotel has created excellent conditions for active recreation, there are various sports grounds and a luxurious swimming pool on its territory, guests are provided with assistance in organizing a cultural recreation program. Tourists visiting the hotel in the summer will be able to take part in interesting entertainment activities.
Gorski Kotar
The green heart of the Kvarner region . There are a large number of natural attractions, lakes, karst caves, various plants and animals. Peace reigns here all year round.
Of course, the best time to relax in Croatia is summer. However, the winter, spring and autumn seasons are also very attractive. Wellness complexes are especially popular. Lovers of the countryside can find wonderful places to relax in the depths of the coastal strip in the Gorski Kotar region.
As you can see, an ideal holiday in Croatia is possible. I think everyone will find a cozy corner for themselves on the amazing islands of the Kvarner Bay .
Hotel Risnjak Delnice
The recently renovated Hotel Risnjak can be found near the Delnica exit A6 / E65. Local cuisine, free parking and free Wi-Fi in all rooms are available. The hotel’s large fitness room is at guests’ disposal. Various sports grounds and a public indoor pool are in the immediate vicinity. The town of Delnice is located in the heart of the historical area of Kotar Gorski, which is called the green heart of Croatia. Hotel Risnjak is therefore a great place to explore this picturesque mountain and forest area.
Beaches of the Kvarner coast
Croatian Primorye (or the Kvarner region ) is located between the mainland of the country, the Istrian peninsula and Dalmatia (a historical region on the Adriatic coast, located in the modern territory of Montenegro and Croatia).
The Kvarner Strait washes the islands of Rab, Krk and Cres, which have long been famous for their tourist traditions. On the territory of the region (the administrative center of Rijeka) is located the oldest resort in Croatia – Opatija, protected from the mainland by low mountains. For this reason, it is always a little warmer here than in the resorts of Istria. The beaches of Kvarner and Opatija are rocky, pebble or platform.
Paradise Beach is located on the island of Rab – it is a sandy coast with a length of 1.5 kilometers with a relatively shallow depth near the shore and water that warms up quickly. it is quite suitable for holidays with children in Croatia, especially with babies.
Crni Molo beach is located in Kvarner Bay in the famous Croatian seaside resort – Crikvenica . The resort is famous for its healing air and salt water, a sandy and pebbly snow-white beach strip, a shallow sea, a comfortable entrance to the water, sea entertainment for all ages with animation on children’s playgrounds. It is often offered for recreation with small children. It is close to the pebbly and sandy City Beach Crikvenica with water slides and children’s playgrounds.
Nearby is the pebble-sand beach Balustrada Beach , on which there are areas with stones.
On the island of Kačjak (10 minutes from the city of Crikvenica by car) there is a pebble beach Kačjak Beach with trees along the shore. There are areas with concrete slabs and stones.
Pebble-sand beach Poli Mora Beach in the village of Selce is also suitable for family vacations . It is located in a picturesque bay with a calm sea.
Popular beaches of the island of Krk
Vela Plaza Beach is a long sandy and pebble beach with a gentle entrance, clear water and entertainment for children. It is located near the Baška resort.
Rupa sand and pebble beach (Malinska resort with the most lively Khaludovo district) is also popular with tourists for family vacations. In local places on the coast there is no strong wind and there are rarely big waves.
Soline Beach is known for its healing mud springs, which allows you to combine relaxation with treatment. There are also many sports grounds and tennis courts.
Komoriska beach is tiny, less than 50 meters long. Thickets of pine trees approach the shore, where you can hide from the hot sun. There is always a calm atmosphere here, which makes for a carefree rest.
On Meline beach (sand and pebbles), there is nowhere to hide from the sun: there is no beach infrastructure, as well as trees growing nearby with natural shade. Therefore, it is better to take an umbrella from the sun with you. This is the largest beach on the island. And even in the peak season, you can find a free place here.
Baska beach is sandy, with a gentle entrance, cozy and incredibly beautiful, but without any infrastructure (all beach accessories must be taken with you).
Cuisine of Kvener Bay Resorts
The cuisine of the resorts of the Kvener Bay , like the whole of Croatia, is very similar to any Mediterranean cuisine. Cooks prefer to use fresh vegetables, meat and fish together with olive oil and, very often, spicy herbs that give dishes unusual shades of taste. Local dishes usually do not have a very exotic taste, so you can be sure that the food will not be completely unfamiliar. Fish and seafood are very popular, which is natural for the island territory, but you can also find meat dishes here.
Croatian cuisine is characterized by a passion for alcoholic beverages, especially wine, and therefore it is worth ordering at least a glass of this grape nectar before dinner or lunch. It is everywhere, so it is best to find out from the waiter which one will go well with the dish you ordered. If you want to try soup, then keep in mind that most local first dishes are quite light and are prepared on the basis of chicken or vegetable broth. More hearty versions of soup can be chobra or maneshtra . Chobra is unusual in that it is based on fresh fermented milk products, and manestra is essentially a Croatian version of Italian minestrone , with which it is better not to be compared by chefs – the locals do not like it very much.
Another original stew soup is brodet , one of the most iconic dishes of Croatian cuisine. Fish, seafood, and vegetables are placed in special dishes and stewed in wine until almost all the liquid evaporates. Brodet is usually served with palet, corn porridge. For centuries, this dish was a dish of the poor, and even though brodet is served in any Croatian restaurant, there is no single recipe for its preparation. It is also worth trying black risotto , rice with seafood, which has a black color due to the addition of cuttlefish ink to the dish.
When ordering fish dishes, pay attention to the price – it can be indicated per portion, per 100 grams or per kilogram. It is clear that in the last two cases there will be a completely different amount in the check than indicated in the menu. From fish, bream, dorado, sea crucian carp, devil fish, also known as carp, sea bass, flounder, mullet, horse mackerel and mackerel are good. They are usually prepared here either by baking in the oven, or on the grill, or by frying on an open fire. Most often, the waiter will specify how to cook the fish you have chosen. Oysters, mussels, lobsters and octopus also play an important role in the cuisine of the Kvarner Bay resorts , and you can find them on the menu of any restaurant.
From meat dishes, you should definitely try prosciutto , a pork bone, which is first smoked over coal, and then dried in the sun. Prosciutto is usually served thinly sliced, with cheese, olives and onions. Try the young lamb in sheep’s milk, viskovachke begavice . Pashticad , beef in wine, and chobana with beef and pork are also delicious . As a side dish, Croats usually use potatoes, tomatoes, vermicelli, artichokes and cabbage.
Of the desserts, you should definitely try the Slave cake . They invented this dish right here many centuries ago and were not ashamed to serve it even to crowned persons. Nowadays, any traveler can briefly become a king and taste this dessert, the exact recipe of which is still not disclosed. The sweetness of fritula , cakes with almonds, dessert made of chestnuts and sugar cookies also deserve attention. From alcoholic beverages, in addition to a wide variety of wines, both factory and domestic, on the island you can find good Ozujsko and Karlovachko beer, Vignac cognac, Maraschino cherry liqueur, and herbal tinctures Bisca, Travarka, Komovytsa, and Slivovytsa plum brandy .
Landmarks of Kvarner Bay (Croatia)
1). Opatija cuisine – This quiet seaside town is home to some of the best restaurants in the country. Their specialty is seafood dishes;
2). Lovran is a city built by Italians. Many houses are decorated with green shutters. There are some beautiful villas from the Habsburg era;
3). Cres – On this island of the Kvarner Bay, the ancient buildings have been preserved almost intact. Picturesque villages nestled on rocky shores. There are few tourists;
4). Veli Lošinj – A small attractive town with a bunch of pastel houses standing along the port, which always has a lot of ships;
5). Paklenitsa National Park – The local mountain landscapes are fabulously beautiful. Karst phenomena created amazing shapes in the hard rocks of the cave. The slopes are covered with deciduous and spruce forests;
6). The city of Rab is a medieval city located on a peninsula, famous for its very high bell towers;
7). San Marino – There are few sandy beaches in Croatia. San Marino is one of the best beaches, naturally covered with sand;
8). Cheese from the island of Pag – On the island of Pag, a very tasty sheep’s cheese is produced. Sheep graze on stony slopes covered with sedge;
9). Zrce Beach – An open-air festival takes place every summer on this pebble beach.
Kvarner Bay is a protected area of Croatia
Kvarner Bay with a huge number of islands, the largest of which are named Cres and Krk, is located between the mainland and the popular resort – the Istra peninsula. Tourists who appreciate the purity of the coastal waters and the unspoiled nature of Croatia prefer to rest in this picturesque bay.
It is worth noting that Croatia is becoming more and more popular among vacationers every year. A huge role in this is played by many National Parks, one of which is spread over the territory of the Kvarner Bay .
Probably everyone who has visited Croatia knows about the park ” Rysniak “, which is also called ” Rysin gora ” by local residents and tourists . Its amazing beauty, the huge number of species of birds and animals that live in “Rysnyak” allow the guest of this National Park to form the most complete idea of what pristine nature should look like. The country’s authorities have issued a number of laws limiting human influence on the territory of “Rysyn Gory”.
However, Kvarner Bay is famous not only for its beautiful National Park . Unique and comfortable beaches, clear sea water, which, thanks to the high salt content, perfectly “holds” bathers on the surface. The water temperature near the coast does not fall below 25 degrees, but the air here warms up to 31 degrees Celsius.
However, as in other Mediterranean resorts, the sun’s rays here do not burn the skin, and the air, saturated with iodine and a mass of other equally useful trace elements, has a general strengthening effect on the body. In a sheltered bay with a lot of islands, there are almost no storms, which makes Kvarner one of the best places for vacations with children.
A lot of water attractions, unforgettable diving, various competitions and festivals are just a small part of what a vacationer can expect in the bay.
In addition, a tourist can rent a boat or yacht and go to one of the small islands of Kvarner to enjoy peace and solitude. By the way, you can easily reach many islands on one of the ferries, and the islands of Krk, Lošinj and Cres and the mainland of Croatia are connected by impressive bridges.
Speaking of Kvarner Bay , it is worth mentioning that the sea in its area is very deep. Thanks to this, the largest port in Croatia, Rijeka, is located in it, where large ships and even tankers enter without problems. The airport, located on the picturesque island of Krk, has exactly the same name. Thanks to this, it will not be difficult to get to Kvarner Bay , with its unique nature and sea coast.
Opatija, Novi-Vinodolski and Tsrikvenica can be considered the main cities of the bay. It is in them that the largest number of restaurants, bars, small but cozy cafes and discos are located.
Opatija, by the way, has been considered one of the most luxurious resort towns for over a century and a half. And a tourist who stayed in one of the hotels of the small town of Bakar, or who came to it on one of the many excursions, will be able to see a huge number of monuments and architectural monuments dating back to the distant Middle Ages.
Kvarner Bay is considered one of the best fishing spots. Fishermen from all over Europe come here to properly appreciate the huge variety of fish species that live in the local waters. In Kvarner, competitions among fishermen are often held and thematic programs are filmed. Naturally, all this once again confirms that the water near the coast of Croatia is recognized as the cleanest in the entire Mediterranean Sea for a reason.