BASIC INFORMATION AND LOCATION

Cres is the largest Croatian island located in the outer chain of Kvarner islands and has about 3,000 inhabitants. The administrative center of the island is the city of Cres. Traveling by car to the island can only be done by using ferry lines. You need to drive to Rijeka, where you can buy a ticket for the ferry to Cres. In addition to Rijeka, you can choose to depart by ferry with the Brestova (Istria)-Merag (Cres) line, which takes 20 minutes, and with the Valbiska (Krk)-Merag (Cres) line, which takes about 25 minutes. The ferry lines work well and even in the most crowded conditions, they run frequently and there are no delays. During the summer season, Cres can be reached by ferry from Pula, Zadar, and twice a week from Ancona and Venice. You can get there by boat or by catamaran, which usually comes to the village of Martinšćica in Cres three times a day. Arrival by plane is available via Rijeka Airport (about 35 kilometers away) and Lošinj Airport (about 50 kilometers away and smaller capacity). You can travel by train to the nearest station in Rijeka, after which you can take a bus that goes several times a day from the Rijeka bus station to Cres.

DESTINATIONS - PLACES IN THE REGION

The administrative and tourist center of the island is the town of Cres, but many other settlements are located all over the island along the coast or on higher ground. The settlements by the sea offer experiences of beaches and clear sea, while those at a higher altitude are full of beautiful natural landscapes, promenades and hiking trails. Beli, Lubenice, Martinšćica and Valun are famous tourist resorts with a rich offer, along with the town of Cres.

CULTURE, HISTORY AND SIGHTS

The island of Cres was inhabited during the Stone Age, as evidenced by the remains found in the Jami cave on the southern part of the island. The first known inhabitants of the island are the Liburnians who have been living since the 7th century BC. settled Cres, and later the Greeks came to the island. Cres will even find its place in Greek mythology in one of the stories with Jason and the Argonauts, and the later arrival of the Romans will only strengthen the island as a maritime and commercial center. During the Middle Ages and in the later years, the authority over Cres would change between the Venetians and the Austrians. Among the sights, you can visit many medieval churches spread across the island. The old town cores and walls are also an integral part of the Cres and Beli settlements, which can be visited. The palaces of the old Cres patricians are exceptional buildings connected mainly to the city of Cres, and one of them houses the famous Cres Museum. The epigraphic monument Valunska ploča from the 11th century is proof of the centuries-old Glagolitic tradition on the Kvarner islands.

BEACHES

The beaches of Cres are characterized by a preserved environment and incredibly clean sea, which is always the first association of visitors to the island. Beaches are located in the town of Cres, part of the Kovačine autocamp, Punta Križa and many other places in Cres. Among the large number of beaches and coves on Cres, Mali Bok beach in Orlec, Valun beach in Valun and Sveti Ivan beach in Lubenice stand out for their beauty and clean sea, which the German magazine Bild ranked 15th in the ranking of the 40 most beautiful beaches in the world.

OTHER CONTENTS

If we touch on gastronomy, on Cres you can do real small "gastro routes" because in many places there are restaurants and taverns that offer great local delicacies. The offer of cafes is also not far behind, and almost in the center of every village you can have a coffee, a refreshing drink or taste a dessert. Events that have been attracting tourists to the island of Cres for years are the Days of Fran Petrić, Lubenik music evenings, Cres cultural evenings, Crescendo Music Festival, Bejski Tanac, Summer Carnival and various gastronomic events. Cres offers a variety of sports activities in the water due to its relief specifics and there are even courts for some sports such as tennis, and on the other hand there is a choice of many hiking and biking trails located in nature itself.

WHAT TO DO AND EXCURSION/SIGHTSEEING OPPORTUNITIES

The Mediterranean climate and a large number of hidden coves and beaches can easily be an incentive to organize a day trip. Natural attractions that must be visited are Lake Vrana and the Tramuntana forest, and a visit to the highest peaks of Cres, Orline-Gorice-Sis, will give everyone a new perspective on the island of Cres with an incredible view. Cres is home to the griffon vulture, a legally protected bird in Croatia, which can be seen in two ornithological reserves. A visit to the nearby Kvarner islands of Krk, Lošinj, Rab and Pag can be a nicely organized trip.

ACCOMMODATION

There are only two hotels on the island, Zlatni lav in Martinšćica and Kimen in Cres, but that is why there is a large selection of pensions and private accommodation in apartments. The campsites on the island are Zdovice, Slatina, Kovačine and Brajdi na moru, and two beautiful marinas for boats are ACI Marina Cres and Marina Brodogradilište Cres.