Rab Island

The Greenly Forested Pearl of the Adriatic

Rab is an island in the Kvarner Bay in Croatia and most likely owes its name to the Illyrian word "Arb", which means "greenly forested". The surface is actually half-way covered by forest. This patch of land in the northern part of the Adriatic Sea is 22 kilometers long, 91 square kilometers in size and has approximately 9,500 inhabitants. The largest town in the predominantly karstic island is Rab. The highest peak reaches an altitude of 408 meters and lies in the Kamenjak ridge, which separates the north peninsula of Lopar from the rest of the island and offers a magnificent view of the town of Rab. Kalifronta forests is located on another peninsula in the west. This forest has some of the last known oak groves in the Mediterranean area and is ideal for walking and exploring the flora and fauna of the island, especially suitable for families with small children. On Rab there are about 300 water sources, some of which are used for the drinking water supply on the island. Mild climate reigns throughout the year. In winter you never experience temperatures less than zero degrees and the summers are pleasantly warm. To get to the island, there is a ferry that regularly travels to Jablanac-Misnjak in the southeast of the island or with the Valbiska-Lopar ferry from the neighboring island of Krk in the northwest.

The legends say that San Marino (in Lopar) was first settled in the year 301 by the Christian Stonemason Marino. This city is considered one of the oldest settlements in the region. In the year 1936, the former King of the United Kingdom, Edward VIII and his soon to be wife, Wallis Simpson, took a naked plunge in one of this island's bays, but only after special permission. While Italy was enduring fascism, the Kampor concentration camp was located and run on this island. The patron saint of Rab is Saint Christopher, whose skull is worshiped on the island as a sacred relic. Every year in July, jousting is hosted on Rab in his honor and is very popular amongst the tourists.

The 22 sandy beaches in Lopar make the peninsula in the north a very popular destination. Especially popular is the 1.5 kilometer long sandy beach that gently slopes down into the the sea in Lopar. Ideal for families with children, this place is perfect for swimming and tanning. Here there is also a nudist beach available and guests can walk and cycle through beautiful nature. Pets are also allowed.

Rab is a harbor town of about 1600 inhabitants dating back to pre-Christian times. Barbat, Banjol, Palit, Kampor Supetarska Draga, Lopar and San Marino are also villages besides the city Rab worth a visit. These idyllic villages entice their guests to linger on their holidays with their natural charm and small, cozy, inviting restaurants. Another interesting place is Rijeka, the capital of the Kvarner region, and the island of Goli Otok, a former prison camp. The high-security prison, when it was in operation was often referred to as "Tito's concentration camp" and was used to accomodate political prisoners. For those looking to see more tourist attraction outside of the island Rab can take a day boat excursion or take the ferry to the island of Krk or the mainland.

How to get there

No less than four different routes connect the holiday island of Rab with other parts of Croatia. The most commonly used connection is certainly the car ferry provided by the ship company of Rapska Plovidba between Stinica by Jablanac on the mainland and Misnjaka (Rab). The favorable crossing takes only about 18 minutes. In July and August the ships run hourly on a 4am to midnight clock and in the winter months, at least 13 times a day. The same ship company also offers regular ferry services to the island of Pag by motorboat from Maslina. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, the taxi-boat travels 3 times daily from Rab and reaches Lun on Pag after a short crossing. Mondays, Wednesdays and at weekends, the boat only runs once per day.

The passenger ferry operated by the ship company of LNP connects Lopar to Rab and Valbiska on the island of Krk. Daily, two boats set off in both directions and reach their destination after about a 90 minute boat ride. This service is mainly recommended for tourists without a car, so that they can quickly reach the Rijeka International Airport or the surrounding region. The same route is also served by the car ferry route number 338, that commutes four times daily in the high season from May to September between Rab and Krk. It is a little slower (about 30 minutes) than the passenger ferry. A catamaran from the Jadrolinija ship company connects Rab with Rijeka without the stopover on Krk. The ship operates between late May and late September once per day and and takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes from Rab to Rijeka. If you take the entire route from Rijeka to Rab via Novalja on Pag, it will take about 2 hours 40 minutes.