Looking at a map of Croatia, the Kvarner region is that large blue pocket tucked between the heart-shaped peninsula of Istria and the vertical stretch of Northern Dalmatia.
If you are planning a trip here, you might find the geography a bit confusing at first glance. Unlike other parts of the coast where you simply drive south, Kvarner is a mix of a mainland coastal road and a scattered archipelago of islands that require a bit of strategy to hop between.
I’m here to help you make sense of the Kvarner Bay. The maps below, combined with the logistical breakdown I’ve put together, will help you navigate the region with confidence.
Understanding the Layout
Below, you’ll find a map of Kvarner Bay, an essential tool for planning your journey through the region. The map details:
- The Main Hub: Rijeka (the big city).
- The Mainland Coast: Stretching from Opatija down to Karlobag.
- The Islands: The big four – Krk, Cres, Lošinj, and Rab.
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 many years ago, 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.
Reader Beware: The airport is named Rijeka Airport (RJK), but it is physically located on Krk island, near the town of Omišalj. It is about 30km away from the city of Rijeka.
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.
A Note on the Bridge: This small bridge at Osor is a swing bridge. It opens twice a day (usually 9 AM and 5 PM) to let boats pass, stopping car traffic for about 30 minutes. Make sure you don’t plan your drive exactly at these times, or you will be waiting.
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.