Cres Essentials
- Ferries
- Brestova–Porozina suits visitors coming from Istria. Valbiska connects to Merag, and suits arrivals from Zagreb, Rijeka and the south. The Brestova–Porozina crossing takes around 20 minutes. The Valbiska–Merag crossing takes 25 minutes.
- Prices
- A foot passenger ticket costs €4.40. A car up to 5 m costs €20.70. Both lines charge the same fares. Local ferries cannot be reserved, so arrive 1–2 hours early in July and August.
- Base
- Stay in Cres Town. It has a small harbour, a Venetian-era old centre, restaurants and shops. Porozina and Merag are only ferry ports.
- Sights
- Go to Lubenice, a hilltop village with sea views. Visit Beli for the Griffon Vulture Visitor and Rescue Centre. Valun is a small bay with a pebble beach.
- Distances
- The island is long and narrow. Cres Town to Lubenice is about 20 km on winding roads. Drive in daylight.
Skip the idea of covering Cres in a day trip from Krk. Ferry waits and slow island roads waste the time. Spend at least one night and swim at the quiet pebble coves instead of the busy harbour.
No trains run on the island and buses are infrequent, so rent a car. Bring water shoes for the pebble beaches.