BASIC INFORMATION AND LOCATION

Cres is a town and port on the west coast of the island of the same name. It has a little over 2,200 inhabitants and is the administrative center of the island. You can reach the town of Cres by car after crossing the Krk Bridge and arriving at the Valbiska pier. From the pier, you can take a ferry to the Cres pier, Merag. The second option refers to arrivals from the direction of Istria, and at the Istrian pier, Brestova, you can take a ferry to the Cres pier, Porozina. Merag is 15 kilometers away from the town of Cres, and Porozina is 26 kilometers away. Arrivals by plane are scheduled for Rijeka Airport near Omišalj on Krk. The destination for arriving by train is the train station in Rijeka, which is 75 kilometers away. After the train, you must change to a bus that goes directly to the town of Cres and stops at its station. There is also a catamaran from Rijeka that stops at the Cres port. The Cres port is well equipped and is used for ship traffic.

CULTURE, HISTORY AND ATTRACTIONS

In the area of today's Cres, there was a hillfort in prehistoric times, and later during the ancient period it was called Crepsa, and the Roman authorities would derive the name of the place Crexa, i.e. Crexi. From the 8th and 9th centuries, Cres was inhabited by Croats and was under their administration until 1409, when it came under Venetian rule. Later, the island would be administered by Austria and Italy. Cres' churches and monasteries are one of the many sights, and here we should highlight the parish church of St. Mary, the church of St. Isidore, the Franciscan monastery, the Benedictine monastery of St. Peter, along with many other sacral buildings. Almost all similar buildings in the town of Cres date from the Middle Ages. A series of palaces of the former Cres patricians date from the 15th century - the Petris, Rodinis, Moise and Colombis palaces. The palaces were built in the Venetian Gothic and early Renaissance styles. Arriving in the old town core of Cres, you can see the remains of its walls in the northwestern part of the town. The town centre is adorned with the City Loggia and the Venetian Tower from the 15th century, the Roman bridge and the Bejski toš from the 18th century. For more detailed information and to familiarise yourself with the rich holdings, you should visit the Cres Museum located in the Renaissance Arsan Palace.

BEACHES

The preserved environment and clean sea are the characteristics of Cres beaches. Of the several beaches in the town itself, the beach of the Kovačine campsite should be highlighted. In addition to the beautiful sea and ambiance, Kovačine beach stands out for its adaptation to people with disabilities and is equipped with numerous aids for this purpose. Part of the beach is also intended for dogs. Beautiful beaches, which are in nearby towns around Cres, are Mali Bok in Orlec, Valun beach and Sveti Ivan beach in Lubenice.

OTHER CONTENT

The most famous Cres specialties are lamb, homemade sheep cheese, prosciutto, olive oil, shrimp and various types of fish. The above-mentioned specialties can be tasted in the excellent restaurants and taverns Nono Frane, Santa Lucia, Amfora, Riva, Kumpanija, Busola, Gurman, Kopac, etc. Olive growing has a special tradition on the island. High-quality olive oil can be tasted and purchased by visiting the Cres Agricultural Cooperative. Many gastronomic events are organized throughout the year: Brudetijada, Goulashijada, Cres Lamb and Cres Olive Oil Days, Cherry Days and Fig Days. In the very center of Cres there are a number of cafes in a beautiful setting where you can enjoy a coffee or refreshing drinks, and nightlife takes place at the Arsen bar, Fortis bar and Štala disco club. Visitors can expect a rich program of events every summer season. These are Semenj, Frane Petrić Days, Lubenice Music Evenings, Cres Cultural Evenings, Crescendo Music Festival, Vrana Lake Day, Summer Carnival and Beja Dance.

SPORT

Adrenaline lovers have an interesting selection of sports activities in the town and its surroundings: freeclimbing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, sea kayaking and spearfishing. The diving center in Cres offers organized courses and a diving school, as well as the possibility of renting equipment. Cycling is a great way to discover the hilly areas around the town of Cres, so there is a wide selection of cycling trails. The most popular route is the 15-kilometer macadam road that leads from the Cres marina to the village of Valun. Due to the excellent microclimate conditions, Cres, along with the surrounding towns, is a great destination for sailors. The rest of the offer is related to basketball courts, five-a-side football, beach volleyball and tennis, for which a tennis school for beginners has been organized near the Kimen Hotel.

WHAT TO DO – EXCURSION OPPORTUNITIES

The most popular excursions in Cres are boat trips, which can be one-day or overnight. By boat, you can visit the numerous coves and hidden beaches of the island of Cres and see its relief specificities. By boat, you can visit and see the nearby islands of Krk, Lošinj, Rab and Pag. For lovers of nature excursions, there are a number of beautifully landscaped promenades in Cres and its surroundings. The promenades Cres-Sv. Salvadur-Sv. Blaž, Cres-Merag, Cres-Nedomišlje-Valun, Cres-Krčina-Loznati and Sv. Salvadur-Gavza Bay-Cres should be highlighted. The seven marked eco-trails in the Tramuntana forest area are particularly recommended.

ACCOMMODATION

There are two hotels in Cres and its surroundings: Hotel Zlatni lav and Hotel Kimen. Camp Kovačina is the closest camping destination, while in the immediate vicinity are the camps Slatina in Martinšćica, Zdovice in Valun and Brajda near the settlement of Beli. The offer of private apartments and pensions is also very rich, and the marinas, which can be reached by boat, are the Marina Brodogradilište Cres and the ACI Marina Cres, which is one of the largest and highest quality on the entire Adriatic.