CRES

Of Croatia’s 1,200 islands, Cres takes top honors for being the biggest.  Tucked between the eastern coast of Istria and Krk Island, Cres can be reached by ferry from Valbiska on the island of Krk or from Brestova in Istria—the trip takes around 20 minutes. In season, catch ferries from Pula, Zadar and Rijeka, as well as twice a week from Venice and Ancona!. With hundreds of square miles of incredibly lush vegetation and sensational beaches, Cres is a magnet for vacationers of all stripes—campers, hikers, divers, surfers, beachcombers and naturalists. Some of the best beaches are midway between Sveti Blaz and the Bay of Ustrine.  Others are reached only by the sea—including Cres’ famous "Blue Cave" in the Bay of Zanja, Cres and its sister islands of Krk and Losinj have more registered plant species than any other islands in the Adriatic. Cres itself has more than 1,200 species—the trio together have more than the UK!  There are great little towns all over the island so it’s easy to find a place to enjoy and then go exploring.  And people have been doing that here since the 4th century BC when it was settled by the Liburnians. The Romans made Cres a trading center, then, after seven centuries of Byzantine rule, like so much of Croatia and its islands, Cres was ruled by Venetians, the French and a host of others until it finally became part of Croatia after the Yugoslav War in 1990. Now it’s yours to enjoy!

Tourist office