01Quick Overview: Where to Go from Cres

Cres is a long, narrow island with only a few exits. Three of them shape every excursion:

Osor swing bridge (south)
it links Cres to Lošinj. The crossing is free, and the road continues to Mali Lošinj.
Merag–Valbiska ferry (east)
Jadrolinija line 332, 25 minutes, to Krk.
Porozina–Brestova ferry (north)
Jadrolinija line 334, 20 minutes, to Istria and the Opatija Riviera.

The 2026 public tariff on both car ferries is €4.40 per passenger and €20.70 for a standard car each way. Budget for the same prices in 2027 and check the Jadrolinija site before travelling, since small increases are common. Sailings run roughly every 90 minutes through the day, with extra boats in peak summer (about early July to late September).

The key planning rule: a car makes most of these trips easy, and public transport makes most of them hard. Buses on Cres are infrequent and do not connect with ferry timetables. Without a car, the realistic options are boat excursions and organised tours.

02Day Trip to Lošinj (Mali Lošinj and Veli Lošinj)

Distance: about 50 km from Cres town, roughly 1 hour by car. No ferry is needed. The road crosses the Osor channel, a 12 m wide strait dug in Roman times, on a swing bridge.

Lošinj is the easiest and most rewarding day trip. Mali Lošinj is the main town of the island and has a deep harbour lined with captains' houses. The Apoxyomenos Museum displays the ancient Greek bronze athlete found in the sea off Lošinj in 1997. It takes about 45–60 minutes. In Veli Lošinj, a short drive or a 4 km coastal walk away, the small harbour is good for a swim and a lunch stop. The Blue World Institute in Veli Lošinj runs a dolphin-focused visitor centre.

Suggested route:

  1. Leave Cres town by 9:00 and stop at Osor. Osor is the bridge town, with a small archaeological collection and an outdoor sculpture trail. Allow 45 minutes.
  2. Reach Mali Lošinj by 10:30 and visit the museum and harbour.
  3. Spend the afternoon at Čikat Bay (pine-shaded pebble and rock beaches, about 2 km from the centre) or in Veli Lošinj.
  4. Start back by 17:30 to avoid driving the narrow Cres road in the dark.

Local tip: the climb up Osoršćica (the ridge north of Osor and south of Cres) is the best viewpoint for Cres and Lošinj together. It adds 3–4 hours, so treat it as a separate half-day.

03Day Trip to Krk (Krk Town, Vrbnik, Košljun)

Distance: Cres town to Merag is about 25 km (30 minutes). The ferry takes 25 minutes. From Valbiska, Krk town is about 30 km.

Krk is the most practical car-based trip because the ferry schedule is simple. The first Merag departure is about 06:30, and the last is around 19:00 in the peak timetable. Check the return sailing before you leave Krk.

What to see:

Krk town
a compact Roman-and-medieval centre with a Frankopan castle and a cathedral. Allow 1.5–2 hours.
Vrbnik
a hilltop village above the sea, known for Žlahtina white wine. Allow 1–2 hours with a tasting.
Košljun
a Franciscan monastery on a tiny islet in Punat Bay, reached by a short boat from Punat. Allow 1.5 hours including the crossing.

Baška, at the far southern end of Krk, is about 60 km from Valbiska and has a 1.8 km pebble beach. It is a pleasant place to swim, but with the ferry on both ends it makes for a rushed day. Choose between the Krk towns and Baška; do not try both.

04Day Trip to Opatija and the Kvarner Riviera

Distance: Cres town to Porozina is about 36 km (roughly 40 minutes). The ferry takes 20 minutes. From Brestova, Opatija is about 30 km (35–45 minutes).

Opatija is a 19th-century Habsburg resort with grand villas and parks. The Lungomare, a flat seaside promenade of about 12 km between Volosko and Lovran, can be walked in sections. Volosko, the fishing quarter at one end, has the best restaurants in the area, and Lovran at the other end has a small old town and a long pebble beach.

Traffic around Opatija is heavy in July and August, and parking in the centre costs several euros per hour. Leave the car at the edge of town and walk. Rijeka, 15 km further, has a working-city feel and is worth skipping on a first visit unless you have a specific interest.

05Day Trip to Pula

Distance: Porozina–Brestova ferry, then about 90 km (about 1 hour 15 minutes) to Pula. Door to door, expect 2.5 hours each way.

The Pula Arena is one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheatres in the world, with entry at around €12 and a good underground exhibit. The Temple of Augustus, the Arch of the Sergii and the Forum are all within a 10-minute walk. Allow 4–5 hours in the city.

It is a worthwhile day only if you leave Cres on the first or second morning ferry. Combining Pula with Rovinj in a single day is too much.

06Day Trip to Susak (Sand Island)

Susak is a small, car-free island west of Lošinj, with sandy bays, a village of steep lanes, and a distinctive local dialect and dress. Reach it by passenger boat from Mali Lošinj. Departures are limited and seasonal, so check the current timetable and book the return leg before you commit. Allow a full day: the journey from Cres to Mali Lošinj is already an hour. Bring cash for the island's few small restaurants.

07Trips That Look Close but Are Not

Plitvice Lakes National Park

Plitvice is more than 200 km from Cres town by road. Add the ferry and expect 4+ hours each way. Entry is around €40 in peak season, with lower prices outside it. This is not worth doing as a one-day round trip from Cres. You will spend more time in the car than on the boardwalks. Break it into an overnight stay near the park, or choose a different excursion.

Rab

Rab requires driving to Merag, taking the Valbiska–Lopar ferry (about 80 minutes, around €6.20 per passenger and €33.30 per car in the 2026 summer tariff), then repeating the process on the way back. Rab town is attractive, but four ferry crossings in one day take up most of it. Save Rab for a stay on Krk or a separate trip.

08Boat Excursions from Cres Waters

Most organised boat trips that mention Cres depart from the Opatija Riviera, Medulin or Krk, not from Cres itself, and they are priced at about €75–€100 per person for 4–9 hours depending on the route. Private boat rental is far more expensive. Small local operators in Cres and Mali Lošinj run trips around the coast, often to coves that cars cannot reach. Ask at the harbour for current options; they change by season.

09Practical Planning Tips

  • Fuel up first. Petrol stations on Cres are few, and prices there are usually higher than on the mainland.
  • Be at the ferry 30–45 minutes early in July and August. Cars queue at Merag and Porozina on Saturdays and Sundays, when holidaymakers change over.
  • Check the wind. In strong bora, ferries on both lines can be delayed or cancelled. The Krk route via Merag is generally the better backup when the other is disrupted.
  • Leave the island with a full day in mind. The final ferries leave Valbiska and Brestova in the evening, but a missed boat means a long wait or a night on the mainland.
  • Choose one destination per day. Two ferry trips plus a long drive nearly always means rushing.

10Which Trip to Choose

Shortest and easiest
Lošinj. No ferry, and plenty to see.
Best for varied sightseeing
Krk. A short ferry and three clear highlights.
Best for a city day
Opatija, with Lovran and the Lungomare.
Best for history
Pula, but only with a very early start.
Best for a quiet, unusual day
Susak.