General information
Kvarner and Primorje covers the coastal area of the northern Adriatic. Geographically, it is situated between the Istrian peninsula in the north and the North Dalmatia in the south. It comprises the coastal belt with Rijeka (biggest city in the region), the touristic Riviera of Opatija, Crikvenica, Kraljevica and Novi Vinodolski and the islands Cres, Krk, Pag, Rab and Losinj. This region joins together the sea, picturesque islands and green forests. Here, the Adriatic Sea has infiltrated most deeply into the European continent and it is the area where the Mediterranean and Sub-Mediterranean climate meet. Summers are warm and winter days are mild.
Kvarner is the easiest coast to reach from Central Europe as a turnpike runs directly from Kvarner to Zagreb which is then connected with other European Capitals (Wien, Budapest, Munich, Zürich). Rijeka has own international airport on Krk island and there is also a seasonal one on Losinj island with regular and low-cost flights and charters. Other airports in the immediate vicinity are Pula Airport, Zagreb Airport, Zadar Airport, Portoroz Airport and Trieste Airport.
Kvarner is one of the regions with longest tourist tradition in Croatia and here are some of the most attractive tourist destinations in the Adriatic and in Croatia in general. The first summer resort Villa Angiolina and the first hotel on the eastern side of the Adriatic were opened in 1844 which witnesses this area’s long tradition. English king Eduard VII, who sailed to Rab with his vessel in the bay Kandarola, entered the sea naked thus making Rab the pioneer of naturism on the Adriatic. Versatility of this region is proved by the vicinity of grey mountains where it is possible to ski down their slopes and have an amazing sea view. There are so many destinations that should not be missed such as National park Risnjak (only 15 km from the sea) famous for interesting flora and fauna. Risnjak is home to plants such as edelweiss, black vanilla orchid, hairy alpine rose, alpine snowbell, mountain avens and mammals such as red deer, chamois, wolf, stone marten, wild boar, dormouse and lynx after which Risnjak was named. National Park Sjeverni Velebit will enchant you with its idyllic landscapes with mountain tops and fresh green meadows, gloomy rocks, lush forests and the highest botanical garden in Croatia (at 1480 m above the sea level) which is home to Degenia Velebitica, a Croatian endemic plant.
The gastronomy in Kvarner is very similar to the gastronomy in Istria. Kvarner is a region with the largest number of top restaurants in a rather small area and many of them are awarded by most renowned European gastro experts. The numerous restaurants and taverns base their cuisine on healthy and fresh products (fresh and seasonal vegetables, fish and sea-food, island lambs, Cres and Krk sheep cheese, Grobnik goat-milk cheese, smoked ham, venison sausages etc.)
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