01How Island Hopping Works Around Cres

Cres is the largest island in the Cres-Lošinj archipelago, and its neighbours are reached in three different ways. Car ferries link Cres with the mainland and with Krk. A road bridge at Osor joins Cres to Lošinj. A Jadrolinija catamaran, line 9308, connects the small islands to the south and west. Anyone planning a trip should treat these as three separate systems, because they do not share timetables.

The archipelago has two large islands, Cres and Lošinj, and several smaller inhabited ones: Unije, Susak, Ilovik, Vele Srakane and Male Srakane. Only Unije, Susak and Ilovik are practical for a normal trip.

02Getting to Cres by Car Ferry

There are two ferry links to Cres, both run by Jadrolinija.

Brestova to Porozina (from Istria)

The crossing takes 20 minutes and runs on line 334. A foot passenger pays €4.40, a child aged 3 to 12 pays €2.20, a bicycle €4.30 and a motorcycle €8.50. A car up to 5 m costs €20.70. Departures from Brestova run through the day, including early ones around 05:30, 06:45 and 08:15, then roughly every 90 minutes. Porozina is a small terminal village in the north of Cres. From there the island road runs south to Cres town, Osor and Lošinj.

Valbiska (Krk) to Merag

This crossing takes 25 minutes on line 332. Foot passengers pay €4.40. Departures run from about 05:45 to 21:15, with a gap in the early afternoon between 10:45 and 13:45. Merag is on the eastern coast of Cres. Travelers coming from Rijeka or the Krk bridge usually choose this route.

The Brestova route suits arrivals from Istria and Pula. The Krk route suits anyone coming from Zagreb or Rijeka. Both charge identical passenger fares. Cars pay the same rate on both routes, and a caravan adds €34.40 to €47.40 depending on length.

03Cres to Lošinj: The Bridge at Osor

Lošinj is the one neighbouring island that needs no boat. Cres and Lošinj are joined by a small swing bridge at Osor, a former Roman and Venetian town on the narrow channel between the two islands. The drive from Cres town to Mali Lošinj is about 50 km, and it is free of tolls. Osor has open-air stone sculptures along its lanes and a small archaeological collection. A summer classical music festival is held there in July and August.

The bridge opens for passing boats at set times each day, which means short road waits. Check the posted times at Osor and plan around them if a ferry or catamaran departure is tight.

04The Catamaran Route: Unije, Susak and Ilovik

Catamaran 9308 is the backbone of small-island travel. It runs between Rijeka, Cres, Martinšćica, Unije, Susak, Ilovik and Mali Lošinj. It carries foot passengers only, so cars stay on Cres or Lošinj. Cres to Ilovik takes about 2 h 10 min and costs €6.40. The Martinšćica to Mali Lošinj leg takes about 2 h 15 min and costs up to €10.

The timetable changes by weekday. On some days the boat leaves Mali Lošinj around 06:00 and reaches Cres in the morning. The return from Cres runs in the late afternoon, around 15:55 to 18:25 depending on the day. Not every day includes Ilovik. Check the current day-by-day schedule on Jadrolinija before committing.

Unije

Unije is the closest of the three to Cres. It is known for olive groves, vineyards and a quiet harbour village. It works as a half-day stop. There are few services, so bring cash and water.

Susak

Susak is a sand island, unusual in an archipelago of mostly rock and pebble. It has no cars, a small village and sandy coves on the south and east sides. Most visitors come for the beaches and a lunch in the village.

Ilovik

Ilovik is known as the island of flowers. It has one village and a small grocery store. Ilovik lies south of Lošinj, separated from the islet of Sveti Petar by a narrow strait. Residents are traditionally carried by boat to the cemetery on Sveti Petar.

Opinion: Do not try all three in one day

The catamaran timetable makes visiting Unije, Susak and Ilovik from Cres in a single day look easy on paper. In practice the boat spends so much time at sea that it leaves only a short stop on each island. Pick one island and stay five or six hours. Susak gives the most value for beach time.

05Excursion Boats from Mali Lošinj

Organised day tours leave from Mali Lošinj and Veli Lošinj in the morning and return in late afternoon. Typical routes combine Susak, Ilovik, Oruda, the sandy Englese Bay on the islet of Koludarac, and Plava Grota on Cres. Many include lunch on board with meat or fish. Ships usually hold 30 to 100 passengers. Prices vary by operator and season, so compare at the harbour or in a tourist office.

The excursion boat is the better choice for Susak and Ilovik if the catamaran day does not fit. It costs more than the €6.40 fare, but it includes swim stops and lunch.

06Sights on Cres Itself

Cres town has a round Venetian tower from the 15th century, the only one left on the island, and a stone harbour with a lively quay. Beli, on the northern cliffs, hosts a griffon vulture centre. Lubenice is a hilltop village with long coastal views. Valun is a quiet bay village on the west coast. Martinšćica, on the west side, is the catamaran stop and has a pebble beach.

07Sailing Between the Islands

A common 7-day charter loop starts in Pula and runs to Unije, Susak and Lošinj, then north to Martinšćica on Cres and on to Cres town. Typical legs cover 14 to 31 nautical miles. Cres to Lošinj, Unije and Susak is about 24 nautical miles. Maračol bay on Unije is a standard anchorage. Check wind forecasts first, since the bora can close the channels.

08Practical Tips

  • Buy ferry tickets at the terminal. Foot passengers rarely need a booking, but cars in July and August should arrive an hour before departure.
  • A car on Cres is close to essential. Public buses between villages are sparse, and the island road is about 60 km from Porozina to Osor.
  • Opinion: staying in Cres town and using the catamaran is less convenient than it looks. Stay in Martinšćica or on Lošinj if the small islands are the main goal. The first boats leave early and reach the islands in the morning.
  • Carry cash for Susak and Ilovik. Card machines are unreliable on the small islands.
  • Swim shoes help on the pebble coves of Cres. Susak's sand beaches need none.
  • Sail or take the catamaran in June or September for lower fares and smaller crowds.

09Suggested Two-Day Plan

Day 1: Arrive by Brestova ferry, drive to Cres town, visit the tower and harbour, then continue to Beli or Lubenice.

Day 2: Drive to Osor, cross to Lošinj, and take an excursion boat to Susak or Ilovik from Mali Lošinj.