The ultimate Rab Island must see bucket list.
Boasting amazing landscapes, seashoare, culture and history, Rab is a great place that has something for everyone.
1) STROLL AROUND THE OLD TOWN OF RAB
You can not come to Rab island and not go to the old town city, the island’s jewel. It is situated on the small peninsula, still partially surrounded by city walls. Start your tour at St. Christopher s square and climb up the Bobotine stairs, to one of the three main streets in the old town, The Upper Street (Gornja Ulica). Turn right and go up to the Vidikovac viewpoint at the end of the Upper Street (Gornja Ulica). Except for amazing photos, you will have a great overview over the old town and decide which way to go next.
2) CATHEDRAL OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
This cathedral used to be the center of the Krk’s diocese. Remains found under the church testify that today’s construction hides small church probably built in the 4th century. The cathedral is a treasure trove of valuable paintings and reliquaries among which the most revered is the skull and the crown of St. Christopher, protector of the island.
3) CLIMB UP THE ST. MARY’S BELL TOWER
The biggest and the highest of the four bell towers was built in Romanesque style in the 13th century. All bell towers are located in the Upper Street in the old town. Standing there for centuries and watching over the city, they create a slightly poetic scene reminding of a romantic ship with four masts, sailing together through the storms and defying years.
4) CHECK OUT THE BELL TOWER AND THE RUINS OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST CHURCH
Although you can not climb the bell tower, this is a place worth visiting, first of all as it provides amazing sea view and it is great photo point. Leftovers from the church that probably dates BC, today remind of romantic garden ideal for chilling but also often seen as concert and wedding site.
5) VISIT RAB DURING MEDIEVAL FESTIVAL RABSKA FJERA
The most famous and first medieval festival in the region, takes place every year in July, starting on the St. Jacob’s Day 25th July and ending on the St. Christopher’s Day 27th July. In these few days, you can see traditional Knights’ Games of Rab, ceremonial parade and competition of the and Rab Crossbowmen. The most famous and visited is the exhibition of crafts from the Middle Ages located at many locations around the old city of Rab, every evening during the festival. The best of all, you can try many kinds of traditional food prepared and served by common local people, dressed up in traditional middle age clothes and costumes.
6) CITY LIBRARY
Although library activities date in Rab date from 1884., today’s library location in the villa definitely has the most beautiful balcony and sea view out of all libraries in the world. Even if you will not borrow some of the 28.000 books, situated in the heart of the old town, in the Upper street, a location of the villa and lush garden allure to come and visit.
7) WATCH THE MOVIE IN THE OPEN AIR CINEMA – SUMMER CINEMA RAB
Do not miss open air cinema. In Croatia we synchronize cartoons only, so you are welcome to take some popcorns and enjoy the movie in it’s originally filmed language.
8) TOWN CLOCK AND THE CITY LODGE
Two interesting sights, one next to each other. Today city lodge accommodates wine bar and restaurant, so it seems like nothing changed from roman time, only that the city clock is here to remind you of the time once you start to enjoy good glass of wine.
9) WALK ALONG THA CITY SEA PROMENADE LUNGO MARE
Below the old town of Rab, begins 3,5 km long sea promenade that leads towards villages Palit and Kampor. In summer this promenade is famous between locals as „city beach“ bellow pine trees and protected by city park Komrčar. At one part of the promenade you will see areas with sandstones that date from xxx, so take a minute and learn a bit about the geological history of the island.
10) RAB TOWN ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM, ST. EUFEMIA CHURCh AND ST. BERNARD’S MONASTERY
In the end of the city sea promenade that begins in the old town of Rab, in the north of St. Euphemia’s Bay in Kampor, you will find this beautiful church decorated with pictures of saints and altars of great artistic value. It’ s attached to Franciscan monastery St. Bernard that dates from 1444. Part of the monastery has been turned into the Rab Town Ethnographic Museum with a gallery of pictures by Friar Janez Ambroz Testen. There are around 7000 rare books kept in the monastery library , collections of choral songs as well as the Rab Law Book from 1598.
11) DRYWALLS – CULTURAL HERITAGE AT UNESCO’S LIST
Recently declared as a cultural heritage from UNESCO, this wall building technique proves that our forefathers were wise and deliberate in the past. Drywall was used to mark and separate property, but also to protect animals, plantations and homes from the strong wind stumble. They used to be found across the island. Today the best point and the easiest to access to check them out is the Kamenjak peak.
12) DISCOVER WILD ANIMAL WORLD IN KALIFRONT FOREST
Rent a bike or take a walk through amazing Kalifront forest (car access is not possible) and if you are lucky and quiet enough you might see deers and mouflons enjoying the meadows between the trees. Anyway when there, continue until the end of the forest and find one of the hidden pebbly beaches.
13) CHECK OUT GEOPARK RAB AND AMAZING LANDSCAPES IN LOPAR
Because of such geological diversity of this small island, hardworking group of geologists and natural scientists are making effort to have the whole island declared as geopark. Until then you are welcomed to contribute and spread a good word about the natural beauty of sand dunes, unusual shapes of sandstones, fosill remains. Lopar has around 50 marked geo points. Pick up a map in Lopar in the official tourist office or get more info at Geopark Information point in Lopar.
14) TAKE A BOAT TRIP AROUND THE ISLAND
Many boat companies offer this kind of excursion, but make sure that it is really around whole island and that you will be able to step out of the boat at some points.
15) SUNSET FROM THE ŠKVER BAY AND HARBOUR
One you experience sunset from this small harbour in Palit, you will never climb the hills searching for sunset points. Small traditional boats that wallow in the sunset and peninsula Frkanj in the background create the unforgetable postcard from vacation.
16) CHECK OUT ISLANDS GRGUR AND GOLI
Goli and Grgur islands used to be mostly past political system prison sites, Goli for men and Grgur for women. On Goli, you can see inheritance of the past time. Most of the daily excursions around the island include Goli island, but you can also take a boat in Lopar if you want to visit the island just for few hours.
17) DIVE INTO THE CRYSTAL CLEAR SEA WATER IN ZAVRATNICA BAY
Although it is not located on Rab island, it can be a great daily trip. Cross with the ferry to Stinica port and continue going right, following the sea coast to this amazing bay. It takes 30-40 minutes nice walking from Stinica.
Zavratnica bay is one of the most beautiful bays in Croatia and as a protected landscape, belongs to the Park of the Nature Velebit. In the beginning of the bay, you will see leftovers from the sunk boat from the World War II.