Island Hopping in Northern Croatia

Krk is often the starting point for northern island hopping, and for good reason. Connected to the mainland by bridge, it is the easiest of the Kvarner islands to reach — and once you arrive, it quickly reveals itself as one of the most varied. The north of the island is rocky and windswept, shaped by the powerful bura wind, while the south offers sheltered bays, pine forests, and one of the best beaches in the region.

Krk Town itself is a compact walled settlement with Roman and Venetian layers still visible in its streets, towers, and cathedral. Further inland, villages like Vrbnik sit dramatically on cliff edges above the sea, and the island produces its own wine — Žlahtina — that you can try straight from the source. For a first stop on a northern island-hopping route, Krk sets a high bar.

Pag is unlike any other island in Croatia. Its landscape is stark, almost lunar — bare limestone ridges, shallow salt flats, and a pale, windblown beauty that makes it instantly memorable. That bareness is the result of the bura wind, which strips the island of vegetation and gives it a wild, otherworldly character far removed from the lush southern islands.

But Pag is also a place of exceptional local produce. Its cheese — Paški sir — is celebrated across Croatia and worth seeking out at any local shop or restaurant. The old town of Pag, built to a Renaissance plan, is compact and photogenic. And for a younger crowd, the island's northern tip around Novalja has a reputation for beach parties and an energetic summer scene. Pag is genuinely one of a kind.

Lošinj has a long history as a place of health and wellbeing. In the nineteenth century, its clean air, pine forests, and mild climate made it a destination for the Austro-Hungarian elite seeking rest and recuperation. That atmosphere of gentle refinement still lingers today — particularly in Mali Lošinj, its main town, where pastel-coloured houses line a deep natural harbour.

The island's network of walking and cycling paths passes through aromatic pine and laurel forests, past quiet coves, and along dramatic coastal clifftops. Veli Lošinj, the smaller but older settlement, has a more intimate feel and a handful of galleries and craft shops that reward a slow afternoon. As a final stop on a northern Kvarner island-hopping route, Lošinj feels like a gentle, fragrant arrival.