Lošinj
Sublimely elegant in its appeal, Lošinj (also called Lussino) is one of Croatia’s hidden gems tucked away in an eastern corner of the north Adriatic Sea. A part of the Cres-Lošinj archipelago, the elongated island is 74.36 km² in area, with a 112.7 km long coastline.
It’s possible to trace back life on the island to prehistoric times. One also stumbles across remnants of villas and churches from the Roman era here. More prominent signs of settlements start from 1280 when apparently 12 families moved here from Mainland Croatia. Consequently, 13th-century onward, the island saw slow but regular growth, eventually emerging as a leading agricultural, shipbuilding, and maritime authority by the 19th century. In 1920, the island came under Italian rule and stayed as such until the formation of Yugoslavia in 1945. Lošinj finally gained its independence as part of Croatia in 1991.
While the island is slowly gaining popularity among international holiday-goers, it has been a winter health resort for centuries. The island’s microclimate, botanical herbs, flora, and idyllic location give the air in Lošinj medicinal qualities, making it a haven for people suffering from respiration issues. Health tourism started on the island in 1885, with visits from the Austrian-Hungarian royalty adding to Lošinj’s fame as the ‘island of vitality’.
Tourists nowadays travel to Lošinj, picturesque with a lush green landscape, for its scenery, laidback appeal, and understated charisma. Mali Lošinj and Veli Lošinj are the two main towns on the island. The former is home to a majority of the 8000 island residents. Connecting the two towns is a 3 km waterside pathway. A stroll on this scenic route takes you past tall evergreen pine trees and 1200 varieties of aromatic plants.
The naturally protected harbor of Mali Lošinj makes it the ideal location to arrive on the island by boat. Ferries from Trieste, Cesenatico, and Pesaro cover this route two-three times a week. Furthermore, local ferries connect the island with Cres, Zadar, Susak, and Rijeka. Vacationers looking to travel by sea can book their ferry tickets to Lošinj via Ferryscanner.
Upon arrival, Lošinj presents visitors with an abundance of attractions. Mali Lošinj is home to several colorful 19th-century sea captain houses, modern shops, ice cream parlors, bars, and restaurants. The Museum of Apoxyomenos is an oddity, dedicated to only one statue, that of the eponymous Greek athlete.
Nearby in Veli Lošinj, you’ll find the baroque St. Anthony Abbot the Anchoret church, and the Blue World Institute. The latter is a marine organization that aims to educate and protect the aquatic life in the surrounding waters, especially that of the local dolphin population.
Adventure, nature, and copious amounts of time under the sun go hand-in-hand when vacationing in Lošinj. Čikat Bay, in particular, combines all these elements through its 31 km long Čikat Forest Park with 80,000 pine trees, campgrounds, luxurious hotels, and watersports at its Blue Flag beaches. At the same time, the hillside Ćunski village is famous for its ancient olive mill, which is worth a visit to understand the island’s agricultural heritage.
A holiday in Lošinj allows you to experience Croatia’s offbeat and quaint side, basking in its natural beauty without giving up on modern-day conveniences.
