Lovran is a small, beautiful old town in Croatia, situated south of Opatija. It’s also a popular tourist destination in the country. I believe it deserves a lot more attention than it’s currently getting – so here I am, ready to right the wrongs.
We’ll learn everything about traveling to Lovran: top things to do and see in the city, where to stay, and which are the best beaches in the area.
Lovran is a great base for those who travel with a car, as it’s close to some of the country’s best National Parks (Ucka, Plitvice Lakes, Brijuni or Risnjak), but also the islands of Krk, Cres, Rab, and even the Postojna cave in Slovenia or Venice in Italy.
Of course, the entire Istria coast is right here for you to explore.
Interesting fact: Lovran was named after the Laurel tree, which grows everywhere in the area!
Lovran Accommodation: Where to Stay
There are plenty of options to choose from during your stay in Lovran, but I am listing below some of my favorites. I am including both budget-friendly options that still offer a lot for the money, but also some places that offer more luxury.
With these in mind, my top recommendation is the Hotel Villa Vera. It’s rated at four stars and will simply amaze you with the quality of services, as well as the beachfront location.
Hotel Villa Vera
As I mentioned already, this is my overall best pick for Lovran, offering the best value for the money and amazing sea views, as you can see in the photo above.
It also has decently sized, clean rooms, great friendly staff, and a covered pool area. It also has amazing ratings from other visitors as well, so it’s not just me who believes this place is top class.
Click here to check prices for your dates.
Ikador Luxury Boutique Hotel & Spa
Officially located in nearby Ika, which is part of Opatija, it is close enough to Lovran to make it onto our list. And trust me, it’s really worth the extra distance from Lovran’s city center.
This is a top notch, 5-star resort that will offer you an unforgettable vacation. Large, beautiful rooms, a superb spa and pool area as well as breathtaking sea views – these all make it one of the top choices in the region.
You must consider it and if the higher prices are not a problem, choose it! You won’t regret it!
Click here to check prices for your dates.
Hotel Park
One of the oldest hotels in the city, this one has aged well and gone through relatively recent renovations, offering a good experience to people visiting the area.
It’s also located next to the sea, and its offering is decently priced. The rooms are large and nice, and you are close to everything in the city.
Click here to check prices for your dates.
Hotel Villa Eugenia
Although a bit farther away from the sea than our other choices, it still is one of the best accommodation options in the area, with great views over the Adriatic Sea.
Very clean and modern, you will surely want to revisit Villa Eugenia after your first stay here.
Click here to check prices for your dates.
Lovran: Best Beaches
There are several amazing beaches in the area, in the town itself or nearby. Most of these are pebble and/or gravel beaches, so make sure to bring your water shoes.
While some of the smaller beaches don’t even have an official name, there are plenty of good options. You can always find some place close to the sea that is at least somewhat maintained and which can serve as your beach for the day.
But if you want to choose one of the more traditional and easier to find beaches in Lovran, here are my favorite:
1. Kvarner Beach
I like this one because it can easily be accessed from the city, although it’s not the most impressive beach you will ever see. Made of concrete and with some natural shadow offered by the natural trees, it still gets pretty crowded during the top season.
It has the advantage of having a nearby bar to clench your thirst and one of my recommended hotels, Villa Eugenia, is very close to it.
2. Peharovo Beach
A better choice in my opinion, this beach is located at the Southern exit of the city and is made mostly of gravel, with some fine gravel and sand thrown in here and there.
This beach is larger and nicer, with the water being a bit more shallow than what Kvarner Beach has to offer. It also has more natural shade thanks to the nearby trees and is a lot more enjoyable and family friendly.
3. Medveja Beach
Situated a few kilometers South of Lovran, this is a large, big gravel beach that is really enjoyable. It is a popular destination and definitely one of the best beaches in the area.
4. Icici beach
This is a blue flag beach located between Lovran and Opatija. A pebble beach with a concrete part, it is extremely popular among tourists and offers several restaurants, coffee shops and bars on site.
5. Moscenicka Draga beach
If you have a car available and you don’t mind driving some 10 kilometers South, you will find this set of linked beaches that stretches over 16 kilometers and offers all sorts of options, all near perfect sea.
Loungers, bars or spots that are not as crowded – these can be all found if you explore the area a bit.
6. Dog Beach
Believe it or not, there is such a thing just a bit north of Lovran. A beach dedicated to your pet because they must enjoy the beautiful sea too, right?
The truth is that nobody minds if you take a bath as well, but do expect to see lots of dogs enjoying the waves because we do have this beach dedicated to them here.
Lovran, Croatia: Top Things to Do and See
Lovran is one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the Opatija Riviera. First time mentioned in the 7th century, its old historic city center gives a special atmosphere to this small Mediterranean town.
So make sure you do visit the old city center to enjoy the Romanesque bell tower, surrounded by walls from the Middle ages and intersected with cobblestone streets and a series of baroque houses. It’s a real delight to just stroll around and take tons of great photos.
Aside from its charming town center, Lovran boasts the beautiful Lungomare promenade, ideal for lovers of long walking along the sea. It stretches from Lovran to Opatija, but have in mind that if you choose to walk between the two cities, it will take around 1.5 hours.
Nearby destinations worth visiting:
Top Lovran Croatia Monuments and Landmarks:
- Church of St. Jurja
- Church of St. John in the old town
- Church of St. Trinity above the harbor
- The Town Tower on St. George’s Square
- East City Gate ‘Stubica‘
- The stone slab in memory of the visit of King Friedrich II
- Mustacon – the wooden carving
Food to try in Lovran
Lovran’s gastronomic scene is a delightful blend of traditional Mediterranean and Central European flavors, and I am sure you will love it.
Try the local specialty of sparoge na buzaru, an aromatic dish of wild asparagus sautéed with garlic, olive oil, and breadcrumbs. Finish the meal with a delicious višnja torta (cherry cake) that perfectly captures the essence of local cherries.
Lovran is a seafood lover’s paradise, offering year-long delights of freshly caught foods. I recommend trying the basic grilled fish is a local tavern, as well as scampi na buzaru (scampi cooked in a wine and garlic sauce).
Also, the local čevapi, small grilled meat sausages served with onions and ajvar are something you will fall in love with – I sure have and I will never stop recommending these!
Finally, don’t leave without trying Lovranski maruni, a unique variety of chestnuts that are roasted or turned into delectable pastries, usually celebrated at the Marunada Festival (more about it below).
If you want to learn more about Croatian food, I recommend checking out my in-depth article here.
Traditional Events in Lovran, Croatia
Among many traditional manifestations, there are several events that are combination of gastronomy, sports and culture.
Here are some of the most important ones. Do have in mind that dates might change, so double check just to make sure that every are still correct when you arrive:
Asparagus Festival (usually from April 1 to 30) – For all asparagus lovers, it is advisable to visit the Asparagus Festival in Lovran, where restaurants and taverns offer various wild asparagus dishes.
If you want to see how to prepare the traditional omelet of 1000 eggs and 30 kg of asparagus, do not miss the Asparagus Festival in Lovran!
Cherry Festival from June 9 – 17 – Cherries are a delicious, juicy fruit that has played an important role in the life of people in this region.
During the festival, visitors will have the chance to savoir various dishes and cakes prepared with cherries. If you like this delicious sweet fruit, you should not miss this event!
Marunada (Chestnuts) Festival from October 12 – 21 – This is the biggest yearly event in Lovran. You will get the chance to enjoy some of the traditional gastronomic treats in the area, made with the famous Lovran chestnuts (maruni).
The Lovran Carnival – It is the second biggest event that takes place every ear in the town, usually from January 17th to February 14th.
It starts with St. Anthony’s Day and by raising the Carnival flag on January 17. We then have the Zubijada fishing competition on January 27, followed by the main event – the International Carnival Parade on February 4th.
Lovran, Croatia Weather
The climate in Lovran is typical Mediterranean with an average of 269 sunny days per year. Average temperature in January is 4.7 ° C while the average temperature in July is 22.1 ° C.
The whole area has a mild climate, protected by the Ucka mountains.
When is the best period to visit Lovran?
- May, June, July, August and September are the best months with pleasant weather conditions and rather high average temperature.
- The warmest month is July, the best month for for swimming and sunbathing.
- November is the wettest month and it isn’t recommended unless you like rain.
- The coldest month is January.
Conclusion
Now you know everything there is to be known about visiting Lovran, Croatia. It is a truly beautiful place that you will surely enjoy, even though it’s not really among the country’s most famous destinations.
It is true that it doesn’t really excel in terms of beaches – at least not if you prefer fine sand ones – but you will surely have an amazing holiday if you choose it as your next destination.
If you have additional questions about Lovran, don’t hesitate to ask and I will do my best to answer ASAP. Also, for additional recommendations and advice for fellow travelers, do use the comments section below.