I’m here to introduce you to the Kvarner region of Croatia by sharing some maps that will make it easier for you to navigate the Kvarner Bay in Croatia and plan your holiday – or trip to this region of the country.
Kvarner is the huge gulf in the northern part of Croatia’s Adriatic coast, nestled between the Istria peninsula and the coastline of Northern Dalmatia. The unofficial capital of the region is Rijeka (Fiume in Italian) and also the biggest Croatian port.
This city blends historical charm with the bustle of modern life, making it a fascinating area for exploration.
Below, you’ll find a map of Kvarner Bay, an essential tool for planning your journey through the region. The map details:
- Major Towns: Highlighting Rijeka and other key locations.
- Island Groups: Showcasing the beautiful islands scattered across the bay.
For a different perspective, check out this alternative map that offers a more familiar design:
As a fun fact, Rijeka has been the second city that I visited in Croatia back in 2015, when I irreversibly fell in love with the country. Strangely, by the time of publishing this article on the blog (and after almost 200 articles published), I still haven’t written about my experiences in this beautiful and often overlooked city.
This northern Adriatic region extends from Opatija, a trendy seaside destination, proudly called the Nice of the Adriatic, all the way to Starigrad Paklenica (South to the slightly better-known city of Karlobag).
Just 39 kilometers southeast of Rijeka, you’ll find two stunning Rivieras. The first, known as the Crikvenica Riviera, includes a series of quaint towns such as Jadranovo, Dramalj, Crikvenica, and Selce. Each town boasts its own character and stunning seaside views that captivate visitors.
Further along the coast lies the Novi Vinodolski Riviera. This area is dotted with traditional Croatian villages including Novi Vinodolski, Klenovica, Povile, Breze, and Bribir. Novi Vinodolski, once the home of the aristocratic Frankopan family, is rich in history and offers fabulous sea views and beaches that invite exploration.
Several of the largest islands in the Adriatic Sea belong to the region of the Kvarner.
As a fun fact, the Krk island here has been considered the largest island on Croatia’s Adriatic coast, but recently it has been discovered that neighboring Cres island has the same surface.
However, the Krk island is the closest Mediterranean island to Western and Middle Europe, connected with the mainland by an impressive bridge.
It’s also home of a major international airport in the area which also manages domestic flights. It’s only 30km away from Rijeka and it is also served by railway connections with Italy, Austria, Germany and Hungary on a daily basis.
If you’re interested in flying to and around Croatia, check out my guide to airports in the country.
Islands on the map of Kvarner Bay
Even though not as popular as Krk, the similarly sized Cres Island is also to be found in the region. Located very close to the Istria coast, it is connected with very frequent car ferries to the mainland, leaving usually from the village of Porozina in the North.
It is also connected to the Losinj island to the south by a small bridge. Actually, the two islands (Cres and Losinj) are so close that you can easily throw a stone from one island to the other, as you can see in the image below.
But back to the Cres Island, if you visit this island, you’ll notice its two “faces”: the northern part is rather rocky and hilly, while the southern end has a flatter landscape, is greener and has more forests. This southern part is the one connected to Losinj.
From my personal experience, I would say that even though Cres is usually considered to be the more raw and wild part of the Kvarner gulf area, it’s actually the island of Losinj, with its main two villages, Mali Losinj and Veli Losinj, which is more attractive.
This island also has connections with Venice by fast catamaran boats, during the high season (May to September) – in case you ever get bored of the natural beauties around (which I don’t think you will).
Finally, Rab island is the third main island on the map of the Kvarner bay. Covered with evergreen forests, it is my favorite destination in the area – and you can consider it a hidden gem that still hasn’t attracted as many tourists as other places in Croatia. But I am sure things will soon change.
The capital of the island, Rab (the same name as the island), boasts a long history that dates back to the year 10 BC, when it is mentioned in an old Roman document from the period of the Roman emperor Octavian.
This romantic town has a lot to offer, and one interesting thing about it is that if you approach it by boat, from the distance it will look like a ship with four masts.
This very impressive detail comes from the town’s four bell towers that are also some of the things you must see in the area.
And this would be all that I have to share with you about the Kvarner Bay area today, including the maps that you were looking for.
If you have additional comments or questions, don’t hesitate to let me know by commenting below.