Cres & Lošinj: the wild Kvarner islands

Joined end to end by a small bridge, Cres and Lošinj are the long, green islands of the Kvarner gulf — wilder and quieter than the Dalmatian crowd-pullers, and all the better for it.

Cres — wild & empty

Big, rugged and sparsely populated, Cres is for nature lovers: a freshwater lake, oak forests, and a colony of rare griffon vultures around the hill village of Beli. The town of Cres itself is a pretty Venetian harbour.

Lošinj — green & restorative

Greener and gentler, Lošinj built its name as a wellness island, its air scented with pine and herbs. Mali Lošinj is a handsome harbour town, and the waters around the island are home to a resident pod of dolphins.

Getting there

Reach Cres by car ferry from the Istrian mainland or from the island of Krk; from there it's a straight drive south across the bridge to Lošinj.