Kvarner

Situated in the northeastern part of the Adriatic Sea, Kvarner Bay is an all-year holiday destination, offering a unique combination of beautiful hinterland and stunning islands. Kvarner Bay is also the deepest part of the northern Adriatic Sea which makes it perfect for sailing and yacht charter of all types of boats; luxury yachts, catamarans, gulets, motor boats or sailing yachts.
It’s also home to the biggest port in Croatia – Rijeka. It's the third largest city in Dalmatia with grandiose neoclassical architecture, many top-notch restaurants and cosmopolitan vibe.
About 13 kilometers southwest of Rijeka lies another important holiday destination, the mesmerizing town of Opatija. Its 12 kilometers-long promenade, peaceful parks and boulevards, lovely fountains and myriad of first-class restaurants have turned Opatija into a sophisticated and elegant sea resort.
In addition to Croatia’s biggest port, Kvarner region also boasts two largest islands in Croatia – Krk and Cres. Connected with the mainland by a bridge, the island of Krk is a beautiful and easy-accessible holiday destination with a rich and unique flora and fauna and a diversified holiday offer. Here you can taste some splendid gourmet dishes and products, explore historical sites or participate in the most famous cycling race in Croatia which takes place in April and includes other islands as well such as Rab, Cres and Lošinj.
The island of Krk is also home to one of the most popular marinas and nautical centers in Croatia, a beautiful Marina Punat. Whether you are stopping by as a part of your gulet cruise or you are looking for a sailing yacht suitable for a weekly charter or even perhaps a motor boat for a single day charter, in Marina Punat you will find all you need for a relaxing sailing holiday. There are restaurants, a swimming pool, a spa, shops and an excellent yacht charter service. The island that matches Krk not only in size but in natural beauty as well is the island of Cres.
Due to its indented coast, Cres is home to many secluded beaches and lovely bays, especially on the island’s southern and western coast, ideally explored by a boat or a yacht. The southern part of the island also boasts an ACI Marina which has about 473 berths and is fully equipped with everything you might need on your cruise. There are over 1,300 plant species on the island, many of which are endemic whereas in the center of the island there is Lake Vrana, an unusual natural phenomenon. You can visit the island’s ornithological reserve and its unique resident, the griffon vulture. An 11 meters wide channel separates Cres from the island of Lošinj, another jewel of this splendid sailing region. Lush vegetation with over 1,200 plant varieties, intact nature and a sheltered cove make this island a hot sailing spot. Two most popular ports on the island are Mali and Veliki Lošinj, one being a large resort town whereas the latter is a smaller port, more suited for quiet family holidays. It’s no surprise that the island of Lošinj has a reputation of one of the most popular yacht charter centers in Croatia, considering that the unique dolphin colonies were found there and the nearby islands of St. Peter and Ilovik provide stunning landscapes and picturesque indented coastline.
Another beautiful island in Kvarner region is certainly the island of Rab. Also known as the “Happy Island”, Rab is the island with the highest number of sandy beaches on the whole of Adriatic. Amongst them is a world-famous Paradise Beach with clear shallow waters, perfect even for toddlers. Due to its rugged coastline, there are many beautiful coves and the island even has two ACI marinas.
Apart from these three most notable islands on Kvarner, this beautiful sailing region boasts many other smaller islands such as the island of Unije, Susak, Plavnik, Prvić and many more. These small islands are true Mediterranean oases so it would be a shame not to include them in your upcoming sailing route.