Visit The Under-The-Radar Island Of Cres In Croatia This Summer

Have you ever visited the island of Cres in Croatia? Since the end of the pandemic, destinations in Greece, Italy and Spain have continued to suffer the effects of overtourism. However, one beautiful island named Cres is the answer. This under-the-radar island nestles in the Aegean Sea off the coast of Croatia and has every attraction other popular destinations have, without the crowds and at lower prices.

Visit the island of Cres in Croatia

Summer is officially here and travelers are heading to all the popular destinations across Europe. This means endless crowds of tourists hogging the sidewalks and packing out the beaches and restaurants. Those destinations are far from suitable for anyone seeking a quieter and more relaxed vacation.

This trend includes the historic city of Dubrovnik and other coastal destinations. While these places are undeniably beautiful and worth visiting out of season, right now, locals are giving the hordes of tourists the evil eye.

That’s where the beautiful island of Cres comes into play and while it is among the largest islands in Croatia, somehow, it is off the beaten tourist path right now. This makes it the ideal location for anyone seeking a relaxed island vacation in the warm summer sun. Cres features idyllic beaches around its shores while being surprisingly affordable for everyone.

Of course, other islands like Krk and Hvar are hugely popular, but Cres was recently labeled as “forgotten” by the Telegraph. Sometimes it’s a bad thing to recommend under-the-radar islands like Cres as this could attract too many visitors, making it yet another example of overtourism, but this island is so gorgeous it would be wrong not to recommend it.

About the ‘forgotten’ island

One thing about Cres that stands out is the affordability when compared to Greek and even other Croatian islands, making it an even bigger attraction. Also, is easily reachable from the mainland. Even though prices are now in Euros, the Croatian island stays affordable.

While all destinations in the Mediterranean feature great local food and wine, Cres is amazingly affordable, with cappuccinos selling for around $1.50 and meals for $5. Wine lovers can even buy a whole crate of excellent wine for a mere $10.

Besides food and drink, the island’s coasts also feature excellent hotels like the recommended Hotel Kimen by the sea. Moreover, vacation rentals throughout the island are also cheap. For solo travelers on a budget, Cres offers cheap camping, like Camping Zdovica by the sea, where a camping spot costs only $10. Camping here allows travelers to gaze at the stars at night and wake up in a seaside paradise in the morning.

What’s the summer temperature like?

While many European destinations are cooking right now, Cres sees summer temperatures in the 80s and 90s making for perfect on-the-beach weather. These lower temps make the island a wonderful place to explore right now.

Other attractions in Cres, Croatia

Moreover, while the beaches are a major attraction, there are plenty of other reasons to visit. The island is a great foodie destination with freshly caught seafood and more. Moreover, the historic streets of the towns and villages are wonderful to explore.

Among the sites worth visiting are the 16th-century Venetian Tower and the Arsan Palace, which hosts the Cres Museum with its weapons, local costumes and other historical items. In the north of the island, hikers can enjoy the trails heading through the Tramuntana forest.

Birders can watch the griffon vultures nesting on the cliffs near the village of Beli. Meanwhile, the hidden Sveti Ivan beach nestles in a cove below the medieval hilltop town of Lubenice. Moreover, the biggest city on the island is also named Cres and has many exciting attractions to explore.

However, the tiny village of Osor is a must-visit despite its population of less than 30 residents. The town offers travelers access to ancient caves, walkable historic streets and beautiful beaches lapped by turquoise waters.

On your next visit to Croatia, take time to visit the beautiful, under-the-radar island of Cres for a unique and wonderful vacation. Find out more on the Croatian tourism guide here.