Kvarner
Kvarner is the northern Adriatic bay where the Croatian mainland meets the islands of Krk, Cres and Lošinj. Go for Opatija's seaside villas, Rijeka's old town and the harbor towns on the islands.
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Kvarner is the bay on Croatia's northern Adriatic coast, lying between Istria and the Dalmatian coast. Rijeka, the region's main city, sits at its head. Opatija is a seaside resort known for villas built in the Austro-Hungarian period. The Lungomare promenade follows the shore from Opatija toward Lovran, and the wooded Učka hills rise behind the resort. Offshore lie the islands of Krk, Cres and Lošinj.
Krk is joined to the mainland by the Krk Bridge, so it is the easiest island to reach by car. Cres and Lošinj are reached by Jadrolinija car ferry. A four- to six-day trip can cover Rijeka, Opatija and one or two islands, and a longer stay leaves time to move between them. Pick Opatija for promenade walks and villa hotels, or an island for harbor towns and boat trips. Late spring to early autumn is the season for swimming and island ferries.
Kvarner in five
- Start with Krk if you want no ferryKrk is linked to the mainland by road, and Rijeka's airport sits on it. It is the easiest first island, with stone towns, long beaches and a ferry on to Cres.Krk Island
- Hop from Krk to Cres by the short ferryThe Valbiska–Merag crossing is the quickest way to add a second island, and Cres is the quiet middle island between Krk and Lošinj.Cres Island
- Reach Mali Lošinj by sea or by roadA Jadrolinija catamaran from Rijeka threads through the small islands on a long run, and the Mali Lošinj page has the details. By road, you cross Cres and the Osor bridge.Mali Lošinj
- Add Istria by the Brestova ferryThe Jadrolinija crossing from Brestova in Istria lands at Porozina on northern Cres. It lets you loop from Istria through the islands and back to Rijeka without doubling back.Motovun
- Allow slack for the bura windStrong northeast wind can disrupt ferries and some roads in Kvarner. Do not schedule a tight flight the day after a crossing.
Things to do in Kvarner
See all attractions in Kvarner
Need to know
- Airport
- Rijeka (RJK), on Krk island
- Getting there
- Road from Zagreb and Istria; flights to Rijeka
- Getting around
- Rental car plus Jadrolinija ferries between islands
- Best base
- Rijeka or Opatija inland; Krk or Cres town on the islands
- Time needed
- 4–7 days to link the islands
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 Rijeka, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Kvarner
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
6
- Feels like
- 1°
- Humidity
- 95%
- Wind
- 36 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 25%
Kvarner
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today11°9°25%Monday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 25%.
- Tue11°9°13%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 13%.
- Wed11°9°20%Wednesday: Rain. High 11°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 20%.
- Thu12°9°1%Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 12°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Fri11°8°8%Friday: Clear. High 11°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Sat11°8°36%Saturday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 36%.
- Sun13°10°40%Sunday: Rain. High 13°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 40%.
Updated 06:35 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- FebRijeka CarnivalRijeka, a day trip
Before you go to Kvarner
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Kvarner, checked
- Croatia is in the Schengen Area. Check the entry rules for your passport on the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs site (mvep.gov.hr) before you travel.
- Non-EU travelers are registered in the EU Entry/Exit System at the border. Check the European Commission's EES page for current rules.
- Jadrolinija runs the car ferries to Krk, Cres and Lošinj. Check routes and timetables on jadrolinija.hr before you plan a day trip to an island.
- Dial 112 for police, ambulance or fire from any phone in Croatia.
Plan around Kvarner
Bridge-linked island with stone towns
Read the guideCres IslandQuiet hill villages and Vransko Lake
Read the guideMali LošinjHarbor town, museum and small islands
Read the guideMotovunIstrian hill town, south of Kvarner
Read the guideZagrebCapital, a road trip inland from Rijeka
Read the guidePlitvice LakesInland lakes between Zagreb and the coast
Read the guideAll of CroatiaCoast, islands, Zagreb and entry rules
Read the guideKvarner FAQ
What is the Kvarner region?
The bay around Rijeka and its islands, mainly Krk, Cres and Lošinj, plus the mainland coast around Opatija. It sits between Istria and Dalmatia, easy to reach from Zagreb and Trieste.
Is Kvarner worth visiting?
Yes for a quieter coast than Dalmatia, with island hopping by short ferries. Choose it for a loop with Istria, or a stopover on the way south.
How do you travel between the Kvarner islands?
Krk connects by road, Cres by ferry from Valbiska or Brestova, and Lošinj by a rotating bridge from Cres. A car makes the loop simple, and catamarans link the smaller islands.
How many days do you need in Kvarner?
Four days cover Krk and Cres. Seven days add Mali Lošinj and a side trip to Istria. A single island works as a long weekend.
When is the best time to visit Kvarner?
June and September balance warm sea and open services. July and August bring the biggest crowds. Winter is mild but quiet, with shorter hours and fewer ferries.