Croatia as a travel destination with its countless wonderful islands is becoming more and more popular every year. Below we have summarized the largest islands in Croatia for you:
Krk – a natural paradise in the Kvarner Bay
Krk , together with Cres, is the largest island in Croatia. Both islands are 405.78 square meters in size, with the population of Krk being several times larger than that of Cres. Almost 18,000 people live in this natural paradise, which has had a direct connection to the mainland since 1980 with the Krk Bridge.
Tourists feel very comfortable on the coarse-grained beach of Baška, which is a dreamlike sight with its fiery red sand and the imposing mountains in the background, and enjoy the colorful mix of relaxation, nature, sports and culinary specialties. Other attractions include the Biserujka stalactite cave, the wine-growing region in the municipality of Vrbnik and the Punat Underwater Park.
Cres – a dream destination for hikers and swimming enthusiasts
The mountainous island of Cres enjoys an excellent reputation among hikers and nature lovers. The highest elevation is Gorice at 648 metres. However, the mountains around Lake Vrana are closed to holidaymakers because the lake covers the drinking water needs of the entire population and for this reason only a few residents are allowed access.
Water lovers are often drawn to Lubenice Beach (German: Melon Beach), which can only be reached by boat and is one of the big highlights of bathing enthusiasts with its clean, crystal-clear water. If you get the opportunity to swim into the Blue Grotto, you should definitely take this chance. The unique atmosphere has already captivated numerous people with its magical effect.
Brač – one of the most beautiful beaches in Croatia
The Croatian island with the third largest area is called Brač and is located in Dalmatia. There is a ferry service from Split that takes tourists to this beautiful spot of land.
The southern part of the island in particular is very popular with children, young people and adults. Golden Horn is the name of a real dream beach located in the municipality of Bol. With its snow-white pebbles and crystal-clear water that couldn’t be cleaner, it’s a truly dreamlike sight. The special thing about this beach is the different wind conditions on the two sides. While on one side there is mainly no wind, the other side is ideal for water sports. There are a variety of shady spots in the beautiful pine forest behind the beach.
Hvar – the neighboring sister island of Brač introduces itself
The distance from Brač to the southern neighboring island of Hvar is just under 3.5 kilometers. While nature lovers appreciate the extraordinary flora and fauna, people interested in history are drawn to the main town of the same name, which has a number of highlights to offer with its fortress including city wall, the cathedral, the loggia and the harbour.
Other popular destinations are the two caves Sveta Nedjelja and Markova Spiljan as well as Pakleni otoci. This is a group of islands whose name translates into English as “Hell Islands”. With their sparse appearance, they have already fascinated numerous visitors.
Pag – cheese as a speciality of the island
Pag is an island in northern Dalmatia. It is located near Zadar and is considered the place of origin of the Paški sir. This sheep’s cheese is the specialty par excellence on the island and enjoys great popularity throughout Croatia . It is characterized by a special aroma, which is due to the small breed from whose milk it is produced.
The town of Novalja is considered the tourist center of Pag. This is mainly thanks to the boozy parties that take place on Zrće beach in the summer months. In the high season, this is just as busy as the party mile at Ballermann 6 on Mallorca and is therefore particularly popular with younger tourists.
Korčula – the alleged birthplace of Marco Polo
Korčula is the largest island in southern Croatia. It is also very well known outside the country, because the Venetian explorer Marco Polo is said to have seen the light of day there and his birthplace is probably in the city of the same name. However, there is no evidence that can prove this claim exactly.
The species-rich flora with its multitude of pines, pines and cypresses enchants visitors from home and abroad again and again. Olive trees are also common on the island. The fact that 53 species of butterflies are native to Korčula is also very interesting.
Swimming enthusiasts prefer to spend their time in Vela Luka, a tourist town with several beaches and offshore islands.
Dugi Otok – Telašćica Nature Park as the main attraction of the island
Dugi Otok is another Croatian island that is one of the most popular destinations for nature lovers. It is located in the Zadar archipelago and was named after its optical characteristics. Dugi Otok means “Long Island” in German. It has a length of 43 kilometers, the width is not even 5 kilometers.
The main attraction of the island is the Telašćica Nature Park in the southeast, which has some natural wonders with its mighty cliffs and salt lake. A nice idea for a day trip is a boat trip to the smaller islands within the bay.
Mljet – a forested beauty in the south of Croatia
The island of Mljet is part of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County and is one of the islands with the largest forest areas in the Mediterranean. To the west is the national park, which takes up about a quarter of the island. It was opened in 1960 and is considered the home of the mongoose, an animal species that is not actually at home in Croatia. These were released on the island at the beginning of the 20th century to eradicate poisonous snakes. Pines and holm oaks are the tree species that are particularly common on Mljet .
