Kvarner

KVARNER region is located in the northern Adriatic Sea between the peninsula Istria and the northern Croatian coastline. Its size is 3582 square metres (6.3% of the Republic of Croatia) and has 323.130 inhabitants. The largest city is Rijeka with the population of 164.130.

The average annual temperature is approximately 14°C. During August, the warmest month, the average temperature is 24° C, whereas 5° C in January. The difference throughout the year is more than 40° C (-6° to 37° C).

The region has the longest tourist tradition in Croatia, the year-round range of varied programmmes and has developed unique forms of tourism, a variety of tourist attractions which meet the needs of present day tourists, with all their different requirements, throughout the year.

The main islands are Krk, Cres, Losinj, Pag and Rab. The main portion of the Kvarner bay is that between the mainland, Cres and Krk. A smaller body of sea located between Cres, Krk, Rab and Pag is called Kvarneric (the little Kvarner).

The greatest value of Kvarner as a tourist destination lays exactly in the beaches, in preserved environment and clean sea. You'll find exactly the beach you prefer here: developed or natural, famous or undiscovered, big or small, stone, pebble or sand beach.... The European Blue Flag has been awarded to fifteen beaches in Kvarner Region: Baska, Crikvenica, Dramalj, Novi Vinodolski, Rab, Lopar, Njivice, Veli and Mali Losinj, two in Selce and four in Krk.

Worth visiting is definitely the so called Pearl of Kvarner or Nice of the Adriatic, the resort town of Opatija. The town is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Croatia. The Habsburg architecture still tells the story of the town’s great history.

Kvarner is also famous for its marinas. There are 8 modern and well-equipped marinas, with almost 3,000 berths in the sea and 2,000 on the shore. They are mostly located in the vicinity of hotels and offer the possibility of renting boats. They have 2780 berths and 1305 berths on land. The existing marinas are located on the northern coastal part of Kvarner (Ičići, Opatija), and on each of the islands (in Punat, Cres, Mali Lošinj, Supetarska Draga and Rab). Punat Marina is known as the oldest and one of the biggest in Croatia, but because of its equipment, services and the diversity of its programmes too. The ACI marina Ičići is specialising in bigger and more luxurious yachts. The nautical facilities of Kvarner are some of its top attractions and therefore, along with all the beauties and diversity of the Kvarner shores and islands and their landscape, no wonder this area is also called "gate to the Adriatic yachting paradise".
Kvarner cuisine includes delicacies such as snails, frogs, honey, and for many the highest ace of Croatian gastronomy, lamb in all its delectable variations, from Pag, Cres, Krk, Rab, and on to Lika and other areas. This is also the area where the best scampi in the Adriatic are caught and prepared.