Every island is a universe in itself, special and unique, with its own pleasures and delights.
The first images that come to mind as we think of islands are images of beauty and peacefulness: the beautiful sea that surrounds them, pine trees and bare rocks living side by side.
The island of Cres lies in the Kvarner Gulf, located in the part of the Mediterranean that cuts deeply into the European land mass. The island is one of our largest, longest, and highest islands.
Cres is the biggest one in the western group of islands within the Kvarner Gulf. It stretches in a nearly meridian-like direction NNW-SSE, along the east coast of Istria, to which it is connected by a ferry line Brestova (Istra) – Porozina (Cres). The other ferry line, Valbiska (Krk) – Merag (Cres), connects Cres to the east coast of Krk, which is linked with the continent by a bridge. The trip on both lines takes 25 minutes and the ride itself marks the beginning of a Mediterranean island experience.
Cres is 66 km long and 12 km wide (its widest part). Its surface of 405.7 km2 makes it the biggest island in the Adriatic.
Cres still carries on the authentic spirit of the Mediterranean which once permeated all the islands in the Adriatic. Its pristine nature and rich history create the impression that the entire island is a single natural preserve.
The unique terrain of Cres is covered in typical Mediterranean plant life: herbs, colourful flowers, olive groves, and pine trees. The north part of the island, however, is covered in thick forests of oak and chestnut, with occasional birches. The central part of the island is dominated by Lake Vrana, a fresh water lake which is the main source of drinking water for the archipelago.
The north part of the island is covered in ancient forests and virtually uninhabited. Its peaks are the highest ones on the island and they rise 650 metres above sea level. The well-marked hiking paths invite visitors to go explore this part of the island by themselves, to meditate the nature in peace and quiet, or to take a walk through the mysterious labyrinths in the woods. Sheep grazing freely in the meadows are a usual sight, and occasional encounters with turtles, rabbits, or deer contribute to the intense experience of the island’s nature.
The places you can visit on this island seem nested in the spectacular nature that makes the island of Cres so unique and different from all other islands in the Adriatic. Some of these places are Beli, Cres, Lubenice, Valun, Martinšćica, and many others.