01How Island Hopping Works from Rabac

Rabac sits on the east coast of Istria, facing the island of Cres across the Kvarner Gulf. There is no scheduled passenger ferry from Rabac to any island. Island hopping here means one of three things: a guided day boat from Rabac harbour, a rented self-drive boat, or a drive to the Brestova ferry port and a crossing to Cres by car ferry.

Cres is the realistic target. It is one of the largest islands in the Adriatic, and its east coast is the closest and most scenic stretch of coast from Rabac. Lošinj is joined to Cres by a road bridge at Osor, so it can be added by car, but not on a standard Rabac day boat.

02Option 1: Guided Day Boats to Cres

This is the easiest way to see the island and the best choice for most visitors. Excursion boats leave from the Rabac harbour and run seasonally, roughly April to October. Operators reserve the right to cancel in bad weather or when too few passengers book.

What the tours cost and include

Adult prices run from €40 to €52. Lunch and drinks are included on all of the tours listed in the table. Lunch is usually grilled fish or meat with salad and bread, with a vegetarian option. Wine, beer, juice or water are served with the meal. Children usually pay reduced fares, and one operator charges half price for children up to 10.

Typical itineraries

Fish Picnic Cres
Departure from Rabac in the morning, arrival at Cres town about two hours later and a free stop for sightseeing or swimming. Lunch is served on board while the boat continues to Valun, with arrival around 13:45. The boat leaves for Rabac at 15:00 and is back around 17:00.
Pirate Picnic Cres
A wooden pirate-style ship covering the Blue Caves, Cres town and Dragozetići beach, from 08:30 to 17:00 at €40. It is the cheapest option and the most family-oriented.
Blue Caves Cres
The same area without the full town stop, 08:30 to 16:00 at €44. It suits visitors who want more swimming time.

The main stops on Cres

Cres town has a Venetian harbour, a clock tower, patrician palaces and churches. Stops last about one to one and a quarter hours. Valun is a small fishing village known for the Valun Tablet, an 11th-century Glagolitic inscription kept in the parish church. The Blue Caves are sea caves where daylight enters through an underwater passage and gives the water a turquoise glow. Swim stops here are the highlight of most tours. Dragozetići and Pragajena are pebble beaches used for swim breaks.

Tours take about two hours each way to Cres town by sea, so the boat is the main part of the day. Dolphin sightings on the return are common enough that operators mention them, but they are never guaranteed.

03Option 2: Rent a Boat in Rabac

Self-drive rental suits groups of four to six who want their own schedule. A Bluline 19 open boat with a 100 HP outboard rents from Rabac with or without a skipper. Prices depend on the season:

  • June and September: €160 half day (4–5 hours), €200 full day (09:00–19:00).
  • July and August: €180 half day, €240 full day.
  • Fuel is charged separately, based on actual use.

Snorkelling masks and safety gear are included. A full day gives enough time to reach the Cres coast and return. A half day only covers the nearer coves along the Istrian shore, so book a full day if Cres is the goal. Check wind forecasts before departure. The Kvarner has a strong bora wind that can make crossings rough, and small boats should stay in sheltered water.

For a group of five, the full-day boat at €240 plus fuel costs about €50–60 per person, which is more than a guided tour but offers more flexibility and no fixed schedule. Without a group, the guided tour wins on price, since lunch is included.

04Option 3: Drive and Take the Car Ferry to Cres

Visitors who want to see the island's interior, or continue to Lošinj, can take the Jadrolinija ferry from Brestova to Porozina on Cres. Brestova is about 30 km from Rabac by road.

Crossing time
20 minutes.
Foot passenger
around €4–5 one way; children aged 3–12 pay about half.
Car
around €20 one way; taller vehicles and motorcycles are priced separately.
Frequency
Roughly every 1.5 hours in the daytime. Summer timetables add more crossings, and there are also late-night and early-morning departures.

The road south from Porozina to Cres town and on to Osor is the main route. At Osor a swing bridge crosses a 12 m wide strait to Lošinj, which makes Cres plus Lošinj a workable two-island day by car from Rabac only if the start is early. Overnight on Cres or Lošinj is the more relaxed choice.

The alternative crossing is Valbiska (Krk) to Merag (Cres). It is a longer drive from Rabac, but is better for caravans and for travel in summer when Brestova queues grow.

05Which Option Is Best?

For first-time visitors, the guided Fish Picnic or Pirate Picnic is the clear pick. Lunch is included, the boat handles navigation and the Blue Caves are reachable without any skill. Rent a boat only if the group is large enough to split the cost and someone is comfortable with sea conditions. Use the car ferry for longer stays on Cres or if Lošinj is part of the plan.

06Insider Tips

  • Book the earliest departure. The 08:30 boats reach the Blue Caves before the larger groups, and the water is calmer in the morning.
  • Pick the Pirate Picnic for the lowest price. At €40 it costs €4–12 less than the other Cres tours, and the route is almost the same.
  • Bring cash. Small operators often take payment at the harbour kiosk, and card use varies.
  • Wear water shoes. Dragozetići, Pragajena and most Cres swim stops have pebbles and sea urchins.
  • Check weather the evening before. A bora day almost always means cancellation, so keep a spare day in the itinerary.
  • Take a light jacket. The return crossing in the afternoon wind is cooler than expected, even in August.
  • Reserve in July and August. Departures from Rabac fill several days ahead during peak weeks.

07When to Go

Excursions run from April to October. Water is warmest from July to September, but June and September are less crowded and boat rentals cost €20–40 less. The peak season is 1 July to 31 August, which is also when boat rental rates are highest. For swimming in the Blue Caves, late June to mid-September is best.

08Getting to Rabac

Rabac is about 5 km from Labin and roughly 45 km from Pula, about one hour by car. Pula is the nearest airport for visitors arriving from further away.