Lošinj is a healing island in the Adriatic that attracted European royalty with its medicinal
plants, captivating pine forests, crystal clear sea and great beaches. Today Lošinj is known as
island of Vitality and a safe-haven from stress. But Lošinj is also a popular summer destination
with great hotels, charming old towns and some of the best campgrounds on the entire Croatian coast.
Hi guys, my name is Rok and I’m a tour guide and I can’t wait to show you things to do
and the best beaches on Lošinj Island, Croatia. Medicinal effects of the island’s climate
were scientifically validated at the end of the 19th century, when the island was part
of the Austrian Empire. Lošinj was officially declared a winter health resort. Soon it became
a fashionable resort of the aristocracy and business elite. Arrival of Habsburg royal
family including the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph himself, started the golden age of local tourism.
But long before the Austrians, this is where town life on the island started.
Veli Lošinj was the first major settlement that developed around its naturally protected harbor.
When Venetians took control of the island they built a round defensive stone tower
in order to defend the harbor from pirate raids. This relatively low tower from the 1400s has
thick walls to endure cannon fire. After Austrians took over the island in the late 1700s the tower
lost its military significance. Nowadays it serves as a museum and you can climb to the top.
Charming old harbour full of fishing boats is still the heart of the town. This main meeting
place is surrounded by old houses with colorful shops, inviting bars and delicious restaurants.
And right above the harbour it is hard to miss the pink parish church of St. Anthony the Abbot.
Previously, two smaller churches were built on the site,
while the current church dates to the 1700s. It was funded by local sailors
and protects a nice baroque interior with paintings of Italian masters.
From the church leads a beautiful pedestrian path following the coastline.
It offers beautiful views of the bay and leads to the small chapel. After passing a chapel you can
see rocky and concrete beaches and for some of them the glory days are just a distant memory.
But to get to a much nicer beach you only need to walk for about 10 minutes along the coast.
In the neighboring bay is a small fishing harbour of Rovenska. Small marina is lined with charming
colorful houses with seafront restaurants. Here you will also find a beautiful partly concrete,
partly pebble beach offering plenty of shade a bar and water sports equipment for rent.
The beach ends with a distinctive long breakwater that protects the beach and marina.
Veli Lošinj is the second biggest town with about 1000 residents, although its name suggests
it was once the biggest as Veli translates to big. But just about 3.5 kilometers or 2 miles
away is a town of Mali Lošinj with about 6.000 residents, although Mali translates to small.
Two towns are connected by this beautiful 3 kilometre or 1.8 mile paved footpath along
the coastline. This promenade offers beautiful sea views and wonderful scents of 1200 species
of plants providing natural aromatherapy. Pedestrian promenade with Century-old pine
trees is about 10,000 steps long, which is a number of steps a person should make each day.
Along the way you will find signs with instructions on how to raise awareness of posture,
breathing and circulation, and perform targeted exercises. Eventually the promenade will take
you to Mali Lošinj, the main town of the island. Town sits in the largest bay of the archipelago
and was an important shipbuilding centre for sailboats as in the 1800s the town
had 11 shipyards. With steamboats replacing sailboats, shipbuilding started to decline.
At the same time health benefits of the island climate were discovered
and Mali Lošinj quickly transitioned to tourism. Waterfront around the long natural harbour remains
to be the most popular area of town. A string of imposing 19th-century sea-captains’ houses
lines the seafront. They house restaurants, bars and lovely shops.
Harbor ends with a triangular shaped square that opens out to the sea and serves as the main
meeting point where all major events take place. Along the charming harbour waterfront is also
a unique museum entirely dedicated to only one exhibit – the bronze statue of a Greek athlete,
the Apoxyomenos. Ancient Greek statue was discovered in the sea by a Belgian tourist
at the depth of 45 meters where it spent nearly two millennia. Museum offers an interesting
experience and shows almost perfectly preserved statue and tells the story of the athlete.
On a small hill in the centre of the town stands the Parish Church of Our Lady.
Three-nave church with a Venetian style bell tower was built in the 1700s and houses some
notable artworks. Two rows of columns on the inside of the church lead to the main marble
altar with the relics of St Romulus and a painting of the Birth of Mary. Unfortunately the church is
usually only open during the service. Not far from the town of Mali Lošinj,
on the other side of the hill, is Čikat Bay. This large green area is famous for its pine
forests and beautiful pedestrian pathways following the coastline. Here are the best
hotels, campgrounds and beaches on the island. Čikat started to develop in the late 19th century,
when Lošinj was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The area was recognized as a healing
resort due to its specific microclimate that attracted wealthy Vienna and Budapest elite.
Aristocracy and successful businessmen started to build beautiful villas,
summer houses and luxurious hotels around the bay.
If you take a walk around Čikat Bay promenade you can still sense the luxuries atmosphere
from the Austro-Hungarian period. Historic villas are now part of elegant 5-star hotels.
Along the coast of Čikat area runs a beautiful pedestrian path
called The paths of Lošinj's captains that goes all the way back to Mali Lošinj. The path is
shaded by pine forest and offers beautiful sea views. It connects different hotels, coves and
beaches and on its southern side you can find one of the most beautiful beaches on the island.
It is called Veli Žal and is located in Sunčana cove. This beautiful pebble beach is awarded
with The blue Flag the international certification of high quality beaches.
Next to the beach is a hotel that provides many facilities, a bar and restaurant.
Towards the North the path takes you around Čikat Bay. Here are some of the finest hotels
and many bars and restaurants. You will have no problem renting a boat, kayak, SUP or a catamaran
sailboat. In one of the coves is a small sandy beach. Here are showers, bars and restaurants
and many options for sport and recreation. Further north along the promenade you will
come across another beautiful cove known as Srebrna uvala. It has partly rocky
and partly pebble beaches and above it spreads a large Camp Čikat that provides amenities like
showers, children’s playgrounds, bars and restaurant. Camp is also famous for its Aquapark,
a large seawater water park with pools, water ramps, a castle in the shape of a sailing ship,
large open water slide and a tube slide. The campsite guests have free entry,
while outside guests must buy daily tickets. Even further up the shaded path is Zlatna uvala.
This is a bit more secluded and remote cove with no amenities, but
with a nice pebble beach and thick pine forest. Further north from Zlatna uvala the path reaches
this cape of Boka Falsa. Here is a narrow strait between Lošinj and a small islet where only small
boats can pass. About 30 more minutes of stroll along the coast will get you back to Mali Lošinj.
Lošinj is also a perfect island for hiking and cycling as it offers hundreds of kilometres of
trails and mountain peaks with gorgeous views. Mali Lošinj harbour is also the best starting
point for boat trips around the surrounding archipelago with beautiful nearby islands
like Susak, Ilovik, Sarkane and others that offer beautiful places and amazing beaches.
But they will have to wait until the next time. If you enjoyed this video, please,
leave a Super Thanks to help me create my future travel videos and let me know where I
should travel next. Thanks for your support and for watching, and see you next time.