Bathing paradises on the Adriatic: These are Croatia’s most beautiful islands
Romantic bays between rocks, fine sand, shady pine forests, turquoise sea, cozy fish restaurants: Croatia has so many islands that there is the perfect one for every taste. We show the 7 most beautiful holiday islands – from small to large, from trendy to unknown.
The one with one
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The Croatian coast is one of the most rugged coastlines in the world. This means that there are more than 1,000 islands in the country that introduced the euro as a means of payment in 2023. However, only around 70 of these islands are inhabited. The large number, diversity and picture-perfect beauty of the islands in the Adriatic attract boat owners, beach holidaymakers as well as nature and cultural tourists year after year. The water quality is also excellent, the vast majority of the island’s beaches have been awarded the Blue Flag. We show the most beautiful, smallest and largest, known and also unknown islands – from north to south.
Cres: Rugged beauty with panoramic hills
Cres is located in the north of the Kvarner Bay, which also includes the islands of Krk, Losinj, Pag, Rab, Susak, Unije, Ilovik, Male and Vele Srakane. As one of the largest Croatian islands, Cres has considerable hills that, at more than 600 meters high, offer fantastic views of the Kvarner Bay and the east coast of the Istrian peninsula. This also makes Cres popular with hikers and cyclists.
Strong contrasts characterize the landscape: rugged and jagged ranges of hills, dense deciduous forests in the north, where the coast is mostly rocky. And a karst landscape with maquis and overgrown olive groves in the south. There are low stone walls everywhere between which sheep eat herbs.
On the south and west coasts there are one picturesque bay with white pebble beaches like Valun, Lubenice and Ustrine. Beach vacationers will not only find salt water on Cres, there is also a freshwater lake in the middle of the island.
Losinj: Fragrant flower island with a population of dolphins
Anyone who goes to Cres usually also takes a detour to the better-known neighboring island of Losinj. Only a narrow channel crossed by a swing bridge separates the two completely different islands.
Losinj is significantly smaller, warmer, greener and more colorful than Cres. Because the vegetation is more lush here with many pine forests and wildflowers such as oleander and lavender. In spring and summer when the plants are in bloom, Losinj is also called the island of fragrance.
The capital Veli Losinj The 8,000-inhabitant island has been a climatic health resort for more than 125 years and is a popular excursion destination because of its churches and the small harbor with fish restaurants and cafés.
Among the beaches, Veli Zal in Suncana Bay is considered one of the most beautiful on the flower island with its shady pine trees, fine sand and good infrastructure with showers, changing rooms and sun loungers. Another highlight are the more than 100 dolphins that live off the west coast.
Krk: Beach paradise in the north of the Kvarner Bay
Although her name is difficult to pronounce, getting to the popular holiday island of Krk is all the easier. A 1.4 kilometer long arched bridge made of reinforced concrete connects the mainland with Krk. The spectacular approach at a height of 67 meters over the Adriatic fits in with what awaits tourists on the island: a varied karst landscape with mountains, dream beaches and medieval towns.
A mountain range in the south protects the Vela Plaza beach, which is considered one of the most beautiful in the entire country. It is two kilometers long, consists partly of gravel and partly of light sand, slopes gently into the sea and has been awarded the Blue Flag for many years – like most of the 113 beaches on Krk.
The perfect family beaches include not only the beaches around Baska in the south, but also the bays near Malinska and Njivice in the west or the small holiday resort of Silo in the north of Krk. The traces of the past of Romans, Venetians and Austrians can still be admired today in historic old towns such as Krk Town with old fortresses, defensive towers and city walls.
Rab: Island for romantics and nudists
She is the smallest in the Kvarner Bay and also the most popular island among German holidaymakers. Rab not only boasts its beaches, but also its main town, Rab Town. The medieval town with its small winding streets, the four striking bell towers and the prince’s palace transforms into one of the most romantic places far and wide at sunset.
The bathing culture here is shaped by a special story: in 1936, the British King Edward VIII and his wife jumped naked into the turquoise Adriatic Sea in Kandarola Bay – with official permission from the local authorities. This gave birth to naturism on Rab.
To this day there are a number of beaches such as Sahara Beach near Lopar where clothing-free swimming is permitted. There are small bays and sandy beaches, especially on the west coast of Rab. On the east side, barren rocky landscapes rise out of the sea.
Molat: Insider tip in northern Dalmatia
A little north of the coast Zadars lies a jewel: Molat is the name of the small island where around 200 people live. There are three villages with stone houses and harbors connected by the only island road.
In the main town of Molat there is a post office, a general store, two inns and an ambulance – that’s about it in terms of civilization. Nature still dominates here with spruce and pine forests and sleepy rocky bays.
Lots of greenery, peace and a relaxed life are what Molat is all about. Tourists have now also been able to travel to the small island by car, meaning that the secluded bays are no longer reserved only for sailors.
Most of the dream bays with their pebble and rocky beaches and crystal clear water, which are ideal for snorkeling, can also be reached on foot. There has also been a dolphin protection center on Molat since 2013, which looks after stranded dolphins and whales and provides information about the marine mammals.
Dugi Otok: The long island with Caribbean beaches
Around 50 kilometers long and only four kilometers wide: the island Dugi Otok has the shape of a tube and is the outermost one in the archipelago of islands off Zadar in the central Adriatic. The special thing about Dugi Otok is not only its white, Caribbean-like sandy beaches, but also the fact that the southeastern part is a nature park and borders the famous Kornati National Park. In this region there is a salt lake in the middle of the island between hills that is always a few degrees warmer than the Adriatic. It also attracts many bathers because of its healing mud.
High cliffs rise along the coast and in the west of the town of Sali you can swim well at Sascica Beach. The rocky beach has paved terraces that make it easier to get into the water.
The beaches in the north of the island look completely different: for example, the pebble beach Opaticina in the small bay of the same name. Or the Caribbean star among the beaches: the 800 meter long, white sandy beach in Sakarun Bay near Veli Rat, which slopes gently into the sea. It is one of the most beautiful in the country. Sailors and divers alike love the island, finding exceptional diving spots such as the Brbinjscica underwater cave.
Hvar: Chic and trendy with a sunny record
According to the English-language business magazine Forbes, this is what counts Hvar island with Hawaii, the Maldives and the Bahamas among the ten most beautiful islands in the world. It is located in the southern Adriatic near Split and has been attracting the international jet set for many years.
Why? Hvar boasts the most hours of sunshine in Croatia, the warmest sea and the hottest nightlife. The east of the island is bathed in lavender fields in bright shades of purple until June. Rosemary, sage and fennel also grow here. The herbal oils can be bought everywhere here.
On the island, which was already an important strategic location in ancient times, hikers will find many paths that also lead to secluded bays. Speaking of bays: everyone can find their own private bay on the small “hell islands” offshore – even in high season. Taxi boats are available to rent in many places.
If you prefer vibrant beach life, visit the sandy beach bay near Palmizana. In the evening, Hvar Town beckons with its fish restaurants, waterfront promenade, chic clubs, bars and harbor cafés, from where you can view the yachts of the rich and famous.
The most romantic sunset can be experienced at the picturesque fortress from the 15th century, with views in all directions over what is probably the trendiest island of Croatia offers.