Krk Island is a beautiful location and is one of several habitable islands in the Northern Adriatic Sea off of the coast of Croatia, second only in size to it’s near neighbor, Cres. At 400 square kilometers (250 square miles) in size, Krk Island is technically smaller in actual land mass than Cres Island. However, the popular opinion in Croatia is that Island of Krk is the larger of the two.
Krk Island is sheltered in the Bay of Kvarner which is formed by the Istrian peninsula to the North and the Croatian Coast to the East. The island is further protected by Cres, which is located off of Krk’s Western shore.
Island of Krk has been known as the ‘Golden Island’ for centuries, and it’s name is well earned. The area near the cities of Malinska and Baska are famous for their beautiful, sunny beaches.
If you are saling the Adriatic , you can make the Island of Krk one of your stop overs, Marina Punat is a large marina that can service most of your boating needs, its capacity is about 830 berths.
Island of Krk geography is not limited to beaches. The Northern portion of the island is stark and rocky, due to the high winds from the mainland, while the southern portion is green and lush.
In the central section of the island, the landscape turns to a mixture of hills and valleys, strongly reminiscent of the wine regions of central Europe. This similarity is not lost on the locals who grow many tons of high quality wine grapes in this sheltered environment.
Much of the island interior is wooded, with clearly marked tourist paths for those wishing to hike in the wilderness.
Like other areas of Croatia, Krk’s history spans millennia, with settlements dating back as far as 1,000 BC
Places to Visit Krk Island
Like most Adriatic cities, the main attraction is the sea. Swimming and sunbathing is available in the numerous bays that dot the Southern, Eastern and Western coasts.
The well protected bay of Punat with it’s excellent beaches and local restaurants is a hospitable and relaxed place to visit. A local feature, the tiny Islet of Kosljun, which is home to an ancient Franciscan Monastery.
The walled village of Krk Town is the capital of the island and a popular stop for tourists. Narrow streets and courtyards lead down to a beautiful beach by the bay. Krk Town is home to many architectural sites, including the Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary. Next door is the Church of St Quirinus, which contains a museum of sacred art.
Places to Eat Krk Island
The bay city of Vrbnik is famous for it’s food. A traditional stone inn called the Konoba Nada is very popular.
Another traditional restaurant is ‘Tri maruna’ in Pljica, which serves a handmade pasta called surice, and wild boar goulash.
Recommend your favorite place to Eat on Krk Island
Activities Krk Island
The are many scuba diving clubs located on the Island of Krk, they organize either hourly or daily scuba trips to the nearby Islands, there are two fantastic diving location one is the cave new Vrbnik and the other is the 1969 sunken Greek cargo ship called Peltastis.
Getting There & Away Krk Island
Rijeka International Airport is located on the Island of Krk if you are planning to arrive by plane this is the ideal starting point. if you arriving via Car, travel to Rijeka and the Island of Krk is not too far, The Island is joined to the mainland by of the the worlds longest concrete bridges.
There are regular ferries to the nearby Islands during the summer tourist period, services are either infrequent or cancelled during the winter period.
Unique to Krk Island
On thing that Island of Krk has that is unique is an International Airport and its colossal bridge that joins it to the mainland.
Facts & Figures about Krk Island
Phone Prefix – 051
Postcode – 51500
Population – 16,402
Previous Name – Veglia – Italian
Krk Island weather at the moment is: 8 ºC
Tourist Office Krk Island
Address: Trg. Sv. Kvirina 1
Phone: +385 51 221 359
E-mail: [email protected]
The tourist office has maps of Island of Krk and surrounding areas available.