Kvarner is located in the northeastern part of the Adriatic between Istria and Croatian Littoral. It consists of Opatija and its surroundings in the north, all the way to Novi Vinodolski in the south. The Kvarner region contains 4 larger islands - Krk, Cres, Losinj and Rab and several smaller ones: Susak, Goli Island, Ilovik, St. Gregory, Plavnik and Unija. Kvarner has a 160 year long tourist tradition of originality and diversity of offer. Numerous villas and country houses were built in this area by numerous members of the Habsburg dynasty in history. The first tourist who came to this area was a prominent Austrian physician, Dr. Conrad Clar, who brought his sick son to the island of Mali Losinj. After a while his son was healed and the reputation of Mali Losinj as a health spa increased. Among the distinguished guests in the past, Kvarner points out the emperor and King Francis Joseph I., Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian, the German Emperor William II, Belgian princess Stefani and Italian King Victor Emmanuel the Third. The beginning of naturism in the Kvarner area was marked by the English King Edward VIII. in 1936 when he arrived to the island of Rab and entered the sea completely naked. Today the most famous nudist beaches in this area are the ones that are on the islands of Cres, Krk, Rab and Losinj. Beautiful beaches, clear water and the amazing environment are the biggest values of Kvarner as a tourist destination. Kvarner boasts with fifteen beaches with European Blue Flag- a symbol of quality and purity. Kvarner also boasts as the richest floristic part of Croatia with its 2700 species. There are as many as 32 protected areas in this region. Among these, we should mention the National Park Paklenica, Park Ucka, Strict Nature Reserve and the White and Samarska rocks. Sports fans can enjoy diving, sailing, rafting and canoeing, fishing, biking, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, parachuting, hang gliding, paragliding and many other sporting activities in Kvarner.

Sights

Opatija is amodern tourist resort and destination with the longest tradition of tourism in Croatia. It is a leading tourist destination in Croatia for the organization of conferences, seminars and counseling. Opatija has been attracting tourists from all over the world for 160 years, and the lush vegetation and pleasant climate is the main why tourism started and explains its rapid development in this city called the "Pearl of the Adriatic". Its parks, illuminated seaside promenade, swimming areas, fountains and numerous centuries-old villas are the reason why tourists come back year after year. Opatija is a famous health resort, and is therefore equally well visited in the winter months. Once it was the favorite resort for numerous aristocrats- villas, hotels, villas and art nouveau decorated with greenery and beautiful gardens are the perfect evidence. Familiarize yourself with numerous cultural monuments of Opatija, enjoy the attractive sandy and pebble beaches, the most famous among which is beach Slatina, while sports fans will enjoy various sports content.

Rijeka is a port city as well as the center of Kvarner County. Even though it is considered to be a port town, it does not mean that the spirit of heavy industry is present. It has kept its marine charm, hidden in its streets. The symbol of Rijeka is Moretto - jewelry worn by sailors as protection from distress at sea, which became popular when the archduchess Ana Maria presented it in the Vienna palace. The town is rich with historical monuments that testify to its rich past. Visit the Municipal Palace (the seat of city government the past), the governor's palace (Naval and Historical Museum of the Croatian coast), University Library, the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, City Museum, Palazzo (the oldest preserved Rijeka City Hall), St. Sebastian (patron of plague), relics of a late Roman fortress, the old Roman port door (representative of the main portal entrance to the Praetorium, a military command from the period of late antiquity), palace Mondello, City Tower (built over the former sea entrance into the Old Town) and many others historic landmarks.

Crikvenica is a town that has a long tradition in tourism, more than one hundred years old. The entire town is actually a Riviera with a string of urban, almost connected, localities. It was named after the church (Crikvenica) of Pauline monastery, founded by Nikola Frankopan in 1412 on the Dubracine delta. During the summer months, numerous events and happenings, concerts, fashion shows, exhibitions, traditional festivities take place here. The fun starts early in the morning on one of many beautiful sandy beaches and continues in countless discotheques. You can enjoy cycling, mini golf, table tennis, sailing, paragliding, soccer, bowling, paintball, diving, hiking, jet-ski, water skiing and numerous other activities in Crikvenica.

Novi Vinodolski is an attractive tourist destination. It lies beneath the lowered slopes of slightly forested Kapela. Its history dates back to long before the new ages. Thanks to the evergreen vegetation and mild Mediterranean climate, clean sea and air, Novi Vinodolski became one of the first seaside resorts of the region in 1878, shortly after Opatija. This town and its surroundings contain numerous valuable cultural monuments. Sports and active vacation lovers can enjoy soccer, basketball, bowling, handball, hiking, tennis, cycling, parachuting and numerous water sports such as swimming, sailing, diving, surfing, underwater fishing and many others. During the summer months various festivals are organized in Novi Vinodolski , where you can have fun until the early morning hours. One of the most famous events is the fishing night when you can enjoy live music with good food and local wine. Numerous concerts and nightclubs will keep you up until the early hours of the morning.

Culture

Opatija

• - Angiolina Park – Villa Angiolina, the park came into existence sometime between 1845 and 1960. The park contains countless plants brought from different parts of the world. The Villa was built in 1844. It was once the central entertainment place of the elite and now presents a mouseum of tourism.
• - Lungomare (coastal promenade) – was built in stages and stretches from Preluk to Lovran and is about 12km long.
• - Church of Mary’s Annunciation - a neoromantic building with a green dome and a convent. It was built in 1906.
• - Madonna – a statue by Rathauskog, an author from Graz, was placed at the point until the tempest knocked it over. Today the “Madonna” is set up so that it watches over the soul of count Arthur Kesselstadt, who went missing not far from the point in the waves in 1891.
• - Hotels and villas – the beauty and unique features of the buildings are mesmerizing. The Kvarner hotel and Villa Amalia, where European kings and emperors used to reside, are the best-known.

Rijeka

• - Trsat - old medieval fortress and a village that hides many secrets and valuable
  monuments
• - City tower – the symbol of the town located at the entrance to the Old town. The city clock is placed on the tower, as well as the Austrian emperors’ emblem and the town emblem with the two-headed eagle.
• - St. Vid church – a Jesuit rotunda (now a cathedral) was built on the place of the ruined church dedicated to the patron saint of Rijeka, St. Vid.
• - Maritime and History Museum of the Croatian coast, was founded in 1876. The museum shows the approximate view of the historical development of navigation (ship models, paintings of sailing ships, portraits of captain 19th and 20 century) and the culture of Rijeka and the Rijeka region.

Crikvenica

• - Castle Frankopan – was built in 1412 by duke Nikola Frankopan
• - Parish of Mary’s Assumption, built on the site of the old Gothic church

Novi Vinodolski

• - Old town - was built in the XIII. Century, in which the families Frankopan and
  Zrinski lived-the most influential Croatian noble lineage
• - The remains of the old town Lopar -located on the coast
• - Tower "Kvadrac" - the medieval tower is all that remains of the castle Frankopan
  which was demolished

Gastronomy

The Riviera is proud of its rich gastronomy, which is primarily based on seafood specialties. Out of many dishes, we have selected a few that characterize this area.

• - Shrimps in wine - shrimps cooked with wine and olive oil, served with toasted bread - an old sailor recipe
• - Fried fish with garlic, olive oil, wine, onion, bay leaf, carrots, celery
• - Batuda- traditional coastal dish, cooked beans, corn, potatoes and finely chopped dried meat
• - Cake Frankopan - excellent traditional dessert of the Croatian coast, named after the dukes of Frakopan.

Adventure

The Kvarner region offers great opportunities for recreation and active leisure. Sports fans can enjoy rafting on the river Kupa, sport fishing on the river Gacka in Lika, hiking in the mountains of Vinodol hinterland, hunting, fishing, skiing, in Gorski Kotar and Bjelolasica during the winter, mountain biking on nearby trails, diving (diving clubs in Rijeka, Crikvenica and Novi Vinodolski) and tennis (tennis court in Rijeka, Crikvenica and Novi Vinodolski for recreation). Let yourself to the wind and enjoy sailing around the islands of the Adriatic and exploring the coast of Kvarner. For the more courageous ones, paragliding off Mount Ucka should do the trick.

Excursions

While staying in Kvarner be sure to explore as many of its natural beauties as possible. Visit the nature park Ucka, rich with natural sources of water, cliffs and caves and enjoy the view of Istria, Kvarner islands, Gorski Kotar, and even the Italian Alps. Visit the Biseruljka cave on the island of Krk, which is located deep below the surface and contains a splendid hall and gallery, with a stream flowing over its bottom and. Take circular boat tours in Kvarner and familiarize yourself with the beauty of the island or go and explore the cities and towns and their interesting history.

Nightlife

Kvarner offers a wide range of entertainment for all ages. Those who prefer a romantic atmosphere can take a boat ride to nearby islands and villages or walk the streets enjoying romantic melodies of street musicians in the evening. You can look for dancing, fun and nightlife in numerous nightclubs and bars dispersed throughout the entire region. Visit the coctail bar Hemingway, la Habana Club,La Noche,Club Boa ,El Rio, Capitano , Pub River or casino clubs Opatija and Domino and enjoy until the early morning hours. During summer countless manifestations, festivals and summer musical evenings are organized in all the towns of this region.