Krk Island

Introducing Krk Island

Croatia’s largest island, 409-sq-km Krk (Veglia in Italian) is also one of the busiest in the summer as Germans and Austrians stream over the Krk bridge to its holiday houses, autocamps and hotels. Krk’s booming tourist industry managed to weather the storm in the former Yugoslavia, helped by its proximity to the mainland and distance from the fighting. It may not be the lushest or most beautiful island in Croatia, but its decades of experience in tourism make it an easy place to visit, with good transport connections and a well-organised tourism infrastructure.

The northwestern coast of the island is rocky and steep with few settlements, probably because of the fierce bura that whips the coast in winter. The climate is milder in the south, with more vegetation and beaches, coves and inlets. The forests that account for 31% of the island are mainly found on the southwestern coast, along with the major towns – Krk, Punat and Baška.

Krk town is centrally located and makes a good base for exploring the island. From Punat, you’re within easy reach of the unique Košljun island and monastery, and Baška is on a wide sandy bay at the foot of a scenic mountain range. On the southeast coast, the main town is Vrbnik, a cliff-top medieval village known for its fine Žlahtina wine.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009