Krk Island is the heart of Croatia. There are beaches, beautiful settlements and beautiful nature. Photos of the island of Krk can often be seen on advertising banners and various guidebooks – it is considered an important center of tourism in Croatia.
General information
Krk is the largest island of the Adriatic Sea, located near the Dalmatian coast (its area is 406 km2). The population is about 17,000 people.
The island of Krk has a rich history: the first mention of it dates back to the 1st century BC (the naval battle of Julius Caesar and Pompey). Then there was the arrival of the Slavs in the 6th century, the formation of the Republic of Venice in the 18th century and its collapse, after-the occupation by the Italians, and 40 years later the island became part of the KSHS. Then the Kingdom of Yugoslavia was formed, and in 1990, like many states, Croatia (and the Krk in particular) gained independence.
Today, the island is very popular with tourists – there are several resorts and historical and cultural values.
Settlements on the island of Krk
There are small villages and towns on the island of Krk in Croatia. The largest of them are: Krk, Baska, Omisalj, Punat, Vrbnik, Malinska. Each of these localities deserves the attention of tourists, because in all these places there are both natural and architectural attractions.
Vrbnik
Vrbnik is a town located on the cliffs of the island of Krk. This is not only one of the largest, but also one of the most popular resorts on the island. There are a huge number of architectural and historical monuments here: the Church of John the Baptist (patron saint of Vrbnik), the Chapel of Anthony of Padua, the chapel of St. Martin, the Gothic chapel of the Holy Rosary and the old cemetery. But the most interesting fact is that Blaž Baromić, the founder of the first printing house in Croatia, was born in this town. A street is named after him, and there is also a museum.
The village will also be interesting for lovers of alcoholic beverages – a wine festival is held here every year. During the week, winemakers from different parts of Europe come here and present their products. Special wine exhibitions and lectures are also held.
Krk City
Krk is the largest city on the island, located on the southwest coast. This is one of the oldest settlements of the Adriatic Sea, the first mention of which dates back to the period of the Roman Empire.
Krka has many architectural attractions. First, it is the Cathedral of the Ascension of the Blessed Virgin Mary, built in the XII century on an even older building – an early Christian basilica of the V-VI centuries. Secondly, it is the Roman Forum – a huge square, where the town hall and the old well, popular with tourists, later appeared. And, finally, third, these are huge city walls built to protect the old city from enemies.
It is also worth visiting the museum of religious art and the chapel of St. Donatus, created in the XII century.
Baska
Baska is a small village in Croatia, located on the shore of a large bay. This is more of a beach resort than a sightseeing destination.
There are many beaches here: Nikolina, Ikovac, Osijek, as well as Wild (or Dog). The village has ideal conditions for recreation – the water is clean, the wind is very rare, there is a pine forest near some beaches.
It is worth mentioning about several attractions: the church of St. Nicholas of the XIX century, the statue of St. Nicholas (this saint is the patron saint of Krk), as well as the central embankment of the resort. Not far from the resort of Baska there is another interesting place – the Biseruika cave. According to the myth, pirates hid treasures in this place. Today it is a very famous tourist destination: travelers can visit several caves and admire stalactites.
Stara Baska
Stara Baska is a classic Croatian old town by the sea. This is a great place for a family holiday: there are many beaches, a forest, a park, as well as the famous mountain. Getting to the resort is not so easy – you can come here either by car from the city of Punat, or come on foot along the tourist path that starts at the village of Batomal.
There are several unnamed beaches in Stara Baska, the largest and most famous of them is Pebble Beach. The water here is very clean, and there are practically no people. The only negative is that sometimes you can meet sea urchins.
Malinska
Malinska is a small cozy town in the north-west of the island. It is known primarily for its picturesque parks and clean beaches. There are also interesting historical sights: the Church of St. Appolinarius, the Church of Mary Magdalene and the convent of the early 16th century.
The village of Malinska hosts many holidays and festivals. For example, on July 23, St. Appolinarius, the patron saint of Malinski, is celebrated here. There are also organized festivals such as Malinskara Night (at the end of July) and Malinskara Cultural Summer.
The resort of Malinska is worth visiting for beach lovers: there are both pebble and sandy beaches. There are very few of the latter in Croatia. The beaches are nameless, but it is not difficult to find them.
How to get to the island
The island of Krk in Croatia is a popular tourist destination, so getting to this place is not so difficult. Firstly, there is a well-established sea connection with neighboring islands, and secondly, Krk has an airport.
The nearest airport is 27 km from Krk in the Croatian port city of Rijeka (it accepts both international and domestic flights). From the airport to the city can be reached by bus (travel time-about 30 minutes).
From Pula by bus
However, if you are flying from Russia or the CIS countries, you will have to choose a less convenient route and land at Pula Airport (approximately 130 km from the city of Krk). You can also get to Krk by bus.
The bus departs 3 times a day from the bus station in Pula. The estimated travel time is 4 hours. The fare is 158 kuna. You can view the current transport schedule and buy tickets on the website www.autotrans.hr.
You can find more information about the city of Pula here.
From Pula by ferry
You can also get from Pula to the island by ferry on the Crikvenica-Shilo route. However, first you need to drive to the port town of Crikvenica from Pula. The fare is 8 kuna. Then you need to transfer to the ferry. The journey time will be 4 hours. The ticket price is 140 kuna.
Krka National Park
Krka National Park is the pride of all Croatia. It is located not on the island of the same name, as you might think, but in the southern part of the country, not far from Split. This place is famous for its picturesque nature: waterfalls, green hills and forests. Krka National Park is as beautiful as the famous Plitvice Lakes – tourists from all over Europe also come here.
Krka Nature Reserve in Croatia is located in the Krk River Valley, near the green resort of Sibenik and the town of Knin. The park covers an area of 109 km2.
The protected area of the park is home to more than 860 species of animals and 18 species of fish. Krka National Park in Croatia is also famous for its birds: every autumn and spring you can see the migration of birds here.
As for attractions, these are, first of all, 7 picturesque waterfalls. The largest of them is the Skradinsky beech, which reaches a height of 46 meters. Near it you can also find an ethnographic museum-windmills powered by the waterfall are presented here.
There are also architectural landmarks in the national park – the Franciscan Visovac Monastery and the Serbian Orthodox Krka Monastery. These temples in Croatia were built in the XIV century, then repeatedly destroyed, but were restored again.
Cost of the session:
- September-October and April-June — 110 kuna for adults, 80 kuna for children (the price includes a visit to the park and boat ride).
- November-March-adult — 30 HRK, children-20 HRK, children under 7 years old are free of charge.
- July-August – full ticket 200 HRK, for children over 7 years-120 HRK.
Opening hours (main entrance to Lozovac and Skradinski buk waterfalls):
- November-February from 9.00 to 16.00,
- March and the second half of October — from 9.00 to 17.00,
- April and the first half of October — from 8.00 to 18.00,
- May and September-from 8.00 to 19.00,
- July-August — from 8.00 to 20: 00.
How to get to the park?
- You can get to Krka from Split on the free highway along the sea (be guided by the brown signs with the inscription KRKA Park along the road). The distance between objects is about 85 km, which can be covered on average in 1 hour and 20 minutes.
- And the second option is to take a bus from Split to Sibenik, and then you need to change to a bus to Lozovac (landing at the stop Šibenik-Autobusni kolodvor in the center of the town).
Official website of the park: https://www.np-krka.hr/en/.
Krk Island is a great place in Croatia, both for beach and sightseeing tourism.
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