Krk is called a “golden island” where you can enjoy the turquoise sea, beautiful sandy or remote beaches, cycling the whole island intertwined with bike paths, hiking spots, you can visit the healing mud, there is also a cave called Biserujka, you can enjoy a variety of evening events.
Diversity of island Krk
Island Krk
In many respects, Krk is a unique island, attracting our attention with its exceptionally rich history, culture, and natural beauty. It forms a harmonious whole with all the features that distinguish it from the area in which it is located and therefore it is sometimes called »a continent«.
It is the largest island on the Adriatic with a surface area of 409.9 km2. Around twenty small islands, cliffs and reefs are located around the island. Krk is the island with the highest number of inhabited villages, 68 in total. The number of inhabitants on the island today is 19 383 ( 2011 census).
Krk is located in Kvarneski Zaliv (Kvarner Bay) near the port of Rijeka. Although it is located in the north, the Mediterranean climate gives it warm summers and mild winters, which is one of its important tourist trump-cards.
Most Croatian islands are not well connected with the mainland. Island Krk can be reached from various sides: from the sea by boat, from the mainland through a tall bridge by car and from the air, because the airport of Rijeka is located on Island Krk near Omišalj. Krk is connected by charter flights to some European cities, but smaller aeroplanes also use the airport for panoramic flights over the island.
The exceptional richness of the flora and fauna of the island has developed owing to the climate. A major part of the island is covered by wood, which means that there is plenty of shade in the summer heat. The average summer temperature is 23 oC, the average sea temperature in the period from June to September is 20 oC.
Eco island Krk
In June 2005 on the island Krk an ecological system of taking care of communal waste was introduced, under the now-famous name Eco island Krk. Eco island Krk represents a complete model of waste management, which is the first of its kind in Croatia that treats all types of waste. 6500 containers have been installed in 1400 places on the island to ensure the successful operation of the scheme.
Camino Krk
Medieval pilgrimage routes were revived and marked on Island Krk, and a good 150 km long circular route Camino Krk was created. It takes you from the town of Krk around the island in seven daily stages. You can go around in 7 days altogether and spend every night elsewhere, or as individual stages/days, for an active addition to your weekends or holidays on the island Krk. This is the first Croatian section of the European network of Camino trails leading to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
Camino Krk takes you through nature, past mansions and churches and abandoned houses and villages among the larger towns. Some part of the route is by the sea, where you can fill your soul with the turquoise sea and pine trees.
Every day Camino Krk offers a unique opportunity to take time for yourself, to reflect, meditate and discover all that the pilgrimage has to offer. Descriptions and photos of stages and sights along the route can be found on the caminocroatia.com website, where you can also download the GPS file of the route, which you follow on your phone.
Camino krk trail:
1. Town of Krk – Brzac (23 km)
2. Brzac – porat – malinska (23 km)
3. Malinska – njivice – fulfillment – omišalj (19 km)
4. Omišalj – čižići (21 km)
5. Čižići – Dobrinj – Vrbnik (22 km)
6. Vrbnik – Baska (23 km)
7. Baska – Punat – kornić (22 km)
Hiking Trails
Island Krk offers some of the best hikes in Croatia, with amazing hiking trails, mild Mediterrane climate and beautiful nature that attracts hikers to Krk in spring and autumn. On the island Krk, there are more than 300 kilometres of signposted hiking trails. There is a huge variety of trails. You can walk by the sea, trails that go through olive groves, through nature, trails next to the dry stone walls, educational trails… Whichever trail you choose, you will most certainly experience the natural beauty and diversity of island Krk.
Vela and Mala Luka is a particular favourite trip. If you like to explore, enjoy the beautiful views, observe locals and their sheep, are enthusiastic about the diversity of the route, you are on the right trail. Another beautiful hiking trail is Veli Vrh – Obzova. All lovers of nature there is an easy mountain walking visit to Veli Vrh at an altitude of 541 m and nearby Obzovo at 568 m which is the highest peak of the island “mountains” and also the fifth highest peak on the Adriatic islands. On the way from Veli Vrh towards the Obzovo, you will pass beside Vela Lokva. There is a pond, divided by a drystone wall, shared by the local shepherds.
Get to know the island Krk by hiking its trails! Staying at our resort boutique resort Osma, you have an excellent position to explore the routes. So, embark on a hiking adventure you will never forget and see just how wonderfully diverse Krk is.
Cycling
Most of the walking trails on the island of Krk can also be used for cycling. One of the ideal destinations for cycling is the island Krk, which with more than 300 km of marked cycling routes is one of the most cyclist-friendly destinations on the Adriatic. This year, in 2021, the offer will be expanded with a system of renting 80 electric bicycles at the collection locations in Baška, Klimno, Krk, Malinska, Omišalj, Punat, Stara Baška and Vrbnik. You can rent a bike at one and return it to another location. You can also charge your electric bike at the station in the town of Krk. Bicycle rental works 24/7, the rent costs about 20 kunas/h, and you pay with the app.go2bike.hr application
Island Krk beaches
They are diverse, sometimes wild, sometimes urban, or have health benefits. Each beach has its own story: rocky or pebble, sandy or muddy, urban or hidden. Different, attractive, inviting and clean. Ideal for picnics or fishing, scuba diving, boating, sunbathing, for children and the elderly, for parents or couples.
Many beaches on the island Krk are awarded the blue flag, which symbolizes the purity of the sea and a safe and pleasant beach and holiday environment. The nearest beach to our boutique resort Osma is “Rajska Cesta” – Paradise road. It is a wonderful path through the shade ending a few kilometres further, in the bay of Kijac in town Njivice. Beaches and little coves stretch along the coast, so you can find refreshment in the beautiful turquoise sea. Besides swimming this path is perfect for running, cycling and long walks among pine trees.
Vela plaža
Baška is famous for its main beach Vela plaža – it is certainly one of the most beautiful natural beaches in Croatia with a very clear sea. It is 1800 m long and has been awarded a blue flag. The beach is completely natural, the sea is turquoise blue, and, to the delight of yachtsmen and sailors, big waves are quite common.
Soline, Healthy Mud Beach
When driving to Klimno from Malinska, there is instead of a common beach bikini people covered with black mud! You are at a shallow Soline bay, famous for its healthy mud. People from all over the world come to this bay to have the mud heal rheumatism, bone aches or skin diseases. So, just park your car, put on the mud all over your skin and let the mud heal at least your mind.
Ježevac and Porporela
There are nice pebble beaches, a few steps away from the centre of the city of Krk, just behind the red lighthouse which can be seen from the port. The beaches in Porporela bay accompanied with the nearby 4* campsite Ježevac beaches might be narrow, but are covered with small pebbles and have plenty of beach bars, restaurants and recreational facilities
Here are some of the most beautiful beaches on the island of Krk
Beach Oprna
This is one of the most famous beaches on Krk Island but at the same time one of the most inaccessible beaches on the island. It is lovely to go there by stand up paddling board or kayak. But most people come from all over the island and have to walk down through a karst landscape. It’s like discovering Winnetou. You will find it when driving towards Stara Baška from Punat. Suddenly, there won’t be any vegetation, just rocks and breathtaking views.
Beach Redagara
Pets and dogs are welcome on Redagara beach, situated in a peaceful cove further east from Hotel Koralj. This pebbly beach is surrounded by fir trees with plenty of shade.
Potovošće
Potovošće is a pebble beach located within a ten-minute drive from the centre of Vrbnik to the south. The beach can be reached by a narrow asphalt road which ends with a parking lot near the beach.
Explore
Košljun
The small island of Košlun is a unique cultural and historical site that one should be sure to visit. The whole island is covered in dense vegetation and it’s a little more than a thousand metres, it has a surface area of 68 thousand square metres and its highest point is 6 metres above sea level. There is a Franciscan monastery on the island, where the monks have hidden valuable items collected over many centuries and kept them until the present day. The monks organise spiritual retreats here, and over the summer season, they hold very well attended concerts of classical and sacral music in the monastery atrium.
Biserujka cave
The length of this cave is 110 m, which though small but rich with stalactites and stalagmites. If you visit the cave in the summer, make sure to wear something warm, there is just 13C. The endemic insect Alpioniscus Christiani lives in the rich cave decorations of calcium carbonate (CaCo3), but due to his “greatness”, you probably won’t even noticed him. Apart from this insects, snails and centipedes live in the cave, which is also hard to find. What you can see, if you are early in the morning or at the end of the day is a small population of bats.
Mrgari
Mrgari are drywall sheepfolds that serve (or served) to gather and sort sheep. They consist of a joint central enclosure and peripheral folds like flower petals owned individually by the shepherds. The sheep live free, semi-wild, on common, municipal pastures and get on with their basic occupations – bleating and chewing grass. The shepherds occasionally have to gather than together to count shear them and check on their health.
Great Oak
The fascinating oak tree above the cove of Čavlena is the biggest and the oldest on the Island. If it could speak, it could tell you about everything that has happened in the past 400 years. The diameter of its trunk is 5.4 metres, the diameter of the crown is about 30 meters, while the tree is more than 30 meters tall. This tree is located in a small village of Poljica. This whole area is called Šotovento – a wind shelter.
Experience
Diving
Over the past few years diving has become a well-developed sport on island Krk. You will find a diving club or diving school in all places on the island. Trips around various underwater locations are organised around the island of Krk and the nearby islands of Cres, Plavnik and Prvić, where you can visit underwater caves, reefs, sunken ships, etc. To be able to dive you have to complete a course at the clubs who are authorised for that. in the end, you received an certificate. to start you don’t have to own any equipment as you can rent it.
Aquarium
I the very centre of Baška there is a maritime corner. It will give you an insight into the rich and diverse underwater world of the Adriatic sea, without getting your feet wet. There are more than a hundred species of fish and one of the largest collections of shellfish and snails in Croatia. you can also see there a lot of sea cats, moray eels, lobsters, octopuses, and many more.
Wakeboard
If you are in search of adrenalin-packed excitement, this is the place for you. Here you can easily have a great deal of fun, for this ski-lift is right on the bottom of Puntarska draga. For an “outing” on water-skis, or one or two skis, just tight to the line and go! From time to time there are exciting contests of a wakeboard.
Zipline
Zipline can be used both by children and adults, and it requires minimal fitness. In other words, you don’t have to be in excellent shape to try it. And it is a great way to feel like you are flying. So, take a deep breath and just glide across the line for an unforgettable rush of adrenaline. There are quite a few ziplines offers on island Krk, so you can choose from higher descents to coastal descents in the town of Krk.
