Island in Kvarner
Lošinj
- Best time to go
- May, June, Sept, Oct
- Part of
- Kvarner
Lošinj is a long, narrow island at the southern end of the Kvarner Gulf, joined by a short bridge to its larger neighbour Cres.
Its two towns, Mali Lošinj and Veli Lošinj, grew rich on seafaring, and the captains' villas and gardens they built still line their harbours. The pine forests around Čikat and the mild climate made it a health resort in Austro-Hungarian times. Today it is known for clear water, dolphins in the surrounding sea and an unhurried pace.
Things to do
Don't miss in Lošinj
- See the Apoxyomenos, a Greek bronze statue of an athlete found on the seabed nearby, in its own museum in Mali Lošinj.
- Walk or cycle the seafront path from Mali Lošinj through the pine woods of Čikat, stopping to swim in its bays.
- Follow the coastal path to Veli Lošinj and sit by its small harbour below the Church of St Anthony.
- Learn about the dolphins of the Lošinj archipelago at the Lošinj Marine Education Centre in Veli Lošinj.
- Hike up Osoršćica from Nerezine or Osor for views over Cres, Lošinj and the open Adriatic.
- Explore Osor, a tiny old town by the bridge that joins Lošinj to Cres.
- Take a boat to Susak, a small island made of sand, or to car-free Ilovik with its gardens.
Where to stay
Pick your neighbourhood
Mali Lošinj
most visitors; the island's main town around a deep harbour, with restaurants, shops and boat trips
Čikat
families and swimmers who want pine woods, shaded bays and a walk into Mali Lošinj
Veli Lošinj
couples who want a smaller, quieter harbour village with old captains' houses
Nerezine
walkers and sailors at the north end of the island, close to Osoršćica and the Cres bridge
Cres town
those who want to combine both islands, with a Venetian-style harbour on neighbouring Cres
Tours and getting around
Day trips from Lošinj
Boat trips from Mali Lošinj go to the nearby islands of Susak, Ilovik, Unije and Vele and Male Srakane, usually with stops for swimming. Some trips look for the bottlenose dolphins that live around the archipelago. You can also explore neighbouring Cres by car, with Cres town, Lubenice and the griffon vultures around Beli.
Mali Lošinj and Veli Lošinj are walkable and linked by a coastal path, so you can manage without a car if you stay there. A car helps for Osor, Nerezine and trips on Cres. Bikes and e-bikes suit the flat seafront paths, and renting a small boat is the best way to reach the bays and nearby islands.
Getting there
How to get to Lošinj
Most visitors drive: over the Krk Bridge to Valbiska for the car ferry to Merag on Cres, or from Istria on the ferry from Brestova to Porozina. From either port it is about 70 km down the length of Cres, over the swing bridge at Osor, to Mali Lošinj, roughly an hour and a quarter. Without a car, take the catamaran from Rijeka to Cres and Mali Lošinj. Rijeka Airport on Krk is the nearest with regular flights; Lošinj has a small airfield for light aircraft. In summer, book ferries ahead or arrive early, as queues build up.