Cres Island
Cres is a quiet Croatian island of hill villages, pebble coves and Vransko Lake, suited to slow days on the Kvarner coast.
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Cres is a long island in the Kvarner Gulf, off the northwest coast of Croatia. Most of its villages sit on the coast or on the hills above it, and the island is lightly populated. Cres town has a harbor and old stone streets. Beli, a hilltop village, has narrow lanes and wide views over the sea. Vransko Lake, the largest natural lake in Croatia, lies inland, and its nature park is home to griffon vultures.
Cres suits a slow trip built around swimming, walking and small villages. A rental car makes it easier to reach the coves and inland roads. Ferries connect the island with the mainland and nearby islands, and a bridge at Osor links Cres to Lošinj to the south. Late spring to early autumn is the season for swimming and walking. Allow several days to see the main towns and a few coves without rushing.
Cres Island in five
- Choose the ferry by where you startFrom Istria, Jadrolinija's Brestova–Porozina ferry lands in the north and takes 20 minutes. From Krk, the Valbiska–Merag ferry takes 25 minutes.Krk Island
- Drive south to Lošinj via the Osor bridgeCres and Lošinj are joined at Osor by a rotating bridge, so a car or bus can cross without a boat. Allow time on the narrow main road.Mali Lošinj
- Stop in Cres town and BeliCres town has the harbor and the evening promenade, and Beli is a hilltop village on the northeast side, a drive from Porozina. They suit short stops, not long stays.
- Fuel and shop before long drivesLarge stretches of the island have no town, so fill the tank and buy groceries in Cres town before heading to a remote cove or village. Many small shops close in the afternoon.
- Check the timetable in winterJadrolinija's Valbiska–Merag line runs year-round, with extra daytime sailings in summer. Off season the gaps between boats are longer, so check the day's schedule.
Things to do in Cres Island
See all attractions in Cres Island
Need to know
- Airport
- Rijeka (RJK) or Pula (PUY), then road and ferry
- Getting there
- Ferry Valbiska–Merag 25 min or Brestova–Porozina 20 min
- Getting around
- Car is the practical choice; the island is long and thin
- Best base
- Cres town; Beli for a hilltop village stay
- Time needed
- 2–4 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain14 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh6°Low1°Cold, quietJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 6°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 154 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryRain12 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh9°Low3°Cold, quietFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 133 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh11°Low5°Cool, quietMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 138 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh15°Low8°Spring, freshAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 95 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, fresh
- MayRain14 rainy daysHigh19°Low12°Warm, calmMayRain
Good
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 133 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calm
- JuneClear8 rainy daysHigh25°Low17°Warm seaJuneClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 60 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- JulyClear7 rainy daysHigh28°Low19°Hot, busiestJulyClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 51 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busiest
- AugustClear6 rainy daysHigh27°Low19°Hot, busiestAugustClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 70 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busiest
- SeptemberRain10 rainy daysHigh22°Low15°Warm sea, calmerSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 155 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea, calmer
- OctoberRain10 rainy daysHigh17°Low11°Mild, quieterOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 154 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quieter
- NovemberRain14 rainy daysHigh11°Low6°Wet, quietNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 219 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, quiet
- DecemberRain14 rainy daysHigh8°Low3°Cold, quietDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 183 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
Average daily high and low in Cres, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Cres Island
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
10
- Feels like
- 6°
- Humidity
- 71%
- Wind
- 29 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 5%
Cres Island
09:48 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today11°8°5%Monday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Tue11°8°20%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 20%.
- Wed11°9°20%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 20%.
- Thu12°9°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri12°8°11%Friday: Clear. High 12°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 11%.
- Sat10°8°36%Saturday: Rain. High 10°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 36%.
- Sun12°9°40%Sunday: Rain. High 12°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 40%.
Updated 06:33 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- FebRijeka CarnivalRijeka, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Mali Lošinjabout an hour by road via the Osor bridgeHarbor town with the Apoxyomenos Museum.Read the guide
- Krkabout 25 minutes by ferry plus the driveStone towns and beaches on the bridge-linked island.Read the guide
- Belia drive up the northeast coastA hilltop village above the sea.
Before you go to Cres Island
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Rules for Cres Island, checked
- Jadrolinija line 334 Brestova–Porozina (Cres) takes 20 minutes; a ticket is valid for any departure on the day of travel.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around Cres Island
Where the Valbiska ferry starts
Read the guideMali LošinjContinue south across the Osor bridge
Read the guideKvarner regionHow the islands link with Rijeka and Istria
Read the guideMotovunIstrian hill town, a drive from Brestova
Read the guideGetting around EuropeRental car, ferries and bus basics
Read the guideAll of CroatiaCoast, islands, Zagreb and entry rules
Read the guideCres Island FAQ
How do you get to Cres?
By ferry only. Jadrolinija sails Brestova–Porozina from Istria in 20 minutes and Valbiska–Merag from Krk in 25 minutes. Cars should arrive early in summer.
Is Cres worth visiting?
Yes for slow driving, quiet coves and hill villages, and no for nightlife or big sights. It suits a night or two on the way to Lošinj or Istria.
Are Cres and Lošinj connected?
Yes. A small rotating bridge at Osor joins them, so you can drive from Cres to Mali Lošinj without a boat. Check opening times when crossing by boat through the channel.
How many days do you need on Cres?
Two days cover Cres town, Beli and a beach or two, while a third adds Lošinj. A day trip from Krk sees one town and a long drive.
When is the best time to visit Cres?
June and September give warm swimming and open services. July and August are busiest at the ferry ports. Winter is quiet, with fewer sailings and many closed cafes.