Located in the northern Adriatic as one of the two largest Croatian islands, Cres still remains a well-kept secret, resilient to mass tourism. As I believe Google Local Guides are trustworthy enough when it comes to keeping secrets, let me share a couple of ideas for a perfect summer getaway. ?
I’ll start with a little test…
If you share my opinion that the colours like these are the key ingredient for a perfect holiday, keep reading. ?The population of the entire island is about 3,000, and the majority of them live in the eponymous town of Cres.
I enjoyed its labyrinth of old narrow streets and its lively, yet stress-free atmosphere. To me, it was also a convenient spot for starting day trips to amazing beaches with crystal clear water and quaint little villages scattered on the rocks. Some of them gave me the feeling of traveling back in time.
Today, Beli is a village with preserved medieval atmosphere and only 15 permanent residents. It is mostly famous for its Eco Center, which gathers tourists and volunteers to help in protecting the griffon vultures, one of the symbols of this wonderful island. If you are fond of zipline, you can also give a try and “fly” above the beach you’ll see in the next picture.
However, if you decide to drive all the way to the Podbeli Beach, you should know that the road is very steep. ?Other day trip should include another picturesque village on the cliff with a magnificient beach underneath - Lubenice.
If you decide to walk all the way to the beach, keep in mind you’ll need about 45 minutes (and more than an hour to return), and even more importantly - you’ll need a lot of bottled water! The trail leading to the beach is rocky and exposed to the high sun, so don’t go there without comfortable shoes/trainers and a hat. However, it is possible to get there by taxi boat as well, in which case you could avoid hiking.In the end, I’ll take you to a place that is more accessible than the above mentioned beach. It is Valun, once a typical fishermen’s village, today famous for its lovely beaches and traditional restaurants.