The Kvarner region of Croatia is often called “Croatia’s best kept secret”. It is well known to visitors from neighbouring countries who mainly drive there (from Vienna to Opatija in under 5 ½ hours and from Trieste in under 1.5 hours). It is also a very popular place for Croats living away from the coast or ear the capital Zagreb who come for long weekends.

The region is served by five international airports, the closest being Rijeka located on the island of Krk connected to the mainland by a road bridge. Pula, Trieste (Italy), Ljubljana (Slovenia) and Zagreb are also useful for Kvarner. Sample transfer times: from Rijeka airport to Opatija 40 minutes, other listed airports 1.5-2 hours.
If you are combining the southern Dalmatia region of Croatia with Kvarner there is a convenient flight from Dubrovnik and Split to Rijeka twice weekly on Trade Air and from Split to Pula also.

A good ferry and catamaran service connects the islands, example Rijeka city to Rabby by catamaran, Valbiska on Krk to Merag on Cres by ferry and a new catamaran service has been announced including a stop at Mali Losinj from both Zadar and Pula. Catamarans do not carry cars.

Kvarner is the region with Croatia’s two largest islands, Krk and Cres and also two of the smallest inhabited ones, Ilovik and Susak (population in the hundreds). The island of Rab is famous because it has 22 sandy bays (unusual in Croatia) including the amazing two kilometre-long Paradise Beach near Lopar.
This is where you can be on the beach in the morning and in the mountains in the afternoon, using just one base for your holiday, enjoying many different experiences and just a short drive between the sparkling blue Adriatic coast and the inland green hills and forests.