Mali Losinj Croatia A Fantastic Place For An Island Holiday

Mali Losinj is a stunning town for a holiday on the Croatian island of Losinj, in the Adriatic Sea. The Island is a fantastic place to visit for a relaxing or active holiday in Croatia. There are lots of options for small beaches in the town and the rest of the island. Also, there are interesting and fun things to do when visiting.

There are also countless hiking trails along the coast and in the hills that overlook the town. The town centre is pretty and has many tall ships moored up for a variety of reasons, including those you can take a trip on.

History of Mali Losinj in Croatia

The island of Losinj has passed through many hands. Originally, it was owned by the Venetian Republic. After that, the Austro-Hungarian Empire ruled the island from 1797 until 1918. It was also a popular holiday destination of Emperor Franz-Josef. It then was ruled by Italy, then Yugoslavia, then in 1991 became part of Croatia. While visiting the island, you can see all the influences that these rulers had on the island. This is especially in terms of cuisine, attractions and architecture.

Losinj in Croatia – The Island of Vitality

Disclosure! Keep in mind that some links in these posts are affiliate links. If you click one of them, I may earn a small commission (for which I’m extremely grateful) at no extra cost to you. Thanks for visiting!

Mali Losinj also has the mantle, the island of vitality. Some factors that earned the island its moniker.

• the island has over 200 days of sunshine each year.
• It has over 170 miles of footpaths and cycling trails.
• The air quality is fantastic on the island.
• The water of the sea is of high quality
• There are 1200 plant species that call the island home, including 230 species of medicinal plants.
• The local cuisine which includes lots of fish with local spices and herbs.
• Visitors can enjoy an active holiday throughout the year. With outdoor activities including walking, cycling, hiking, tennis, water sports, diving, sailing or fishing.

Things to Do in Mali Losinj Including Various Beaches

There are lots of options for things to do for tourists, from enjoying the many beaches to seaside activities. There are many options for boat trips to enjoy, including dolphin spotting and a pirate ship. The Harbour is a cool place to hang out and enjoy watching the world go by. They also have lots of cafe-bars and restaurants overlooking the water too.

Do Nothing And Recharge

One of the best things to do in Mali Losinj is to check out and relax. There are many ways to relax on the island, from reading on the beach, escaping to nature or to enjoy coffee on your own. Relaxation is one of the underrated things to do, however it’s easy on this island.

Hang out at Plaža Sv. Martin

A fun thing to do while on holiday on the island is to spend time in the sea at Plaža Sv. Martin. Plaža Sv. Martin is a lovely bay with a few small pebble beaches. They have some lovely rocks and grass to sit on near the sea. You can access the water from the pebble beach or via a variety of steps into the Adriatic Sea.

Plaža Sv. Martin is fantastic for swimming and once in the sea, it gets deep rather quickly. Many of the tourists hire or bring their own SUP paddleboards to enjoy the calm waters here. They have a few changing rooms, a public toilet and outdoor showers for after enjoying time in the water. At the beach is a small shack selling food and drink to enjoy on the beach or the benches nearby.

Early in the morning, Plaža Sv. Martin is a fantastic place to enjoy the sunrise because it faces east towards the mainland. It’s also rather peasant for an early morning swim in the sea and you can have the place to yourself, except for a few dog walkers.

Sightseeing in Riva

Riva is a generic word for waterfront in Croatia and Mali Losinj has a rather nice one. There are lots of cafes and restaurants on Riva, most of which have outside seating areas with a sea view.

Riva also has a few museums and gift shops to peruse while strolling along. They also have some useful shops, including one of the few pharmacies in the town.

Ferries from the mainland also dock at the end of Riva and there are a few ferry offices there. You can also book a variety of boat tours from vendors along Riva, including a pirate ship, a submarine and dolphin spotting.

Have Fun or Relax at Čikat Bay & its Beaches

Čikat Bay is a special place to visit on the east coast of the island. The bay is a fantastic place to enjoy a swim or do some watersports including SUP or kayaking.

There are lots of options for beaches to sit including public beaches or private hotel beaches. There is also a sandy beach next to the Latino Beach Bar. If you walk along the coast path here, you will find a spot to suit most tastes, including some areas with shade.

My preference is to sit on the pavilion near Plaža za pse. There are lots of steps to access the water from at Plaža za pse and the views are splendid. You can see the impressive villas from the Hapsburg era, see the sea and at sunset, it is very special.

Enjoy a Boat Trip

While on the island, a fun thing to do is to go on one of the many boat trips from the harbour. There are lots of options from island hopping, party tours and a pirate boat trip.

We opted to enjoy a day trip on a pirate ship that including a visit to the small island of Ilovik. The boat trip then visited a secluded bay for some fun in the calm water.

The boat trip was all-inclusive and included a meal, wine, and soft drinks. All of this was delicious and served before departing from Ilovik. The excursion was great fun and an opportunity to see the nearby islands.

Visit The Iconic Viewpoint

Visiting the viewpoint overlooking Mali Losinj is a must do activity when in the area. The views from above are breathtaking and well worth the trip up. You could either drive, cycle or hike to the viewpoint. Hiking up can be rather interesting if you follow directions in Komoot.com. The hike involves a coastal walk and quite a scramble to the top.

At the viewpoint is a bar/restaurant, Tematski Vidikovac Providenca, that serves drinks in the day. Tematski Vidikovac Providenca also serve food during golden hour and late evening sun. This is rather popular and booking a table in advance is recommended. Overall, the hike to the top is fantastic and Tematski Vidikovac Providenca is a fantastic place to spend time, even if only for a beer.

Visit The Fish Market

If on a self-catering holiday, I recommend stocking up with fresh seafood from the local market. I love cooking and fish markets are excellent places to get some fresh local food to cook. The fish market is open daily from 7am until 1pm and stocks lots of fish and other seafood. There are some bargain options to buy if you are travelling on a budget.

There has been a fish market in the town for centuries. Before the construction of the fish market, they traditionally sold fish in the open air on the main town square. With the growth in health tourism in the late 19th century, the authorities modernised the town and then built a large stone building on the site of an old olive mill. They officially opened the fish market on 1 August 1895.

Cooking freshly caught seafood is one of my favourite things to do while on a self-catering holiday. We cooked squid, sea bass, tuna, mussels and prawns. The nearby markets, bakery and supermarket had all the ingredients you need to make a splendid meal.

Do The Coast Walk to Veli Losinj

Another fun thing to do is to enjoy a walk along the coast to the nearby village of Veli Losinj. Veli Losinj is a beautiful village with a few things to see. The harbour area is colourful and has some fantastic place to eat out on the waterfront.

The walk to the village is beautiful and passes through some rugged coast and picturesque bays. A round trip with refreshments takes 5 hours, so is a great day out.

See the Sunrise On The East Coast of The Island

The east coast of the Island of Vitality is a fantastic place to see the sunrise in the morning. The east coast has a walking trail that roughly follows the coastline.

The various bays and coastal rocks certainly make for great photos, and there are many benches dotted out along the walking trail.

See The Boats & Yachts in The Marina

The Marina is a great place to see the boats and yachts. There are a variety of types to see, from small leisure craft to some eye turning yachts. You can also arrange a boat trip or hire one for the day in the marina.

They also have some old stall ships to see, including some interesting historic vessels. This includes a pirate ship that does a variety of themed excursions into the Adriatic sea.

Swimming at Dog Beach – Sv. Martin

Sv. Martin is a lovely bay to the east of the town and has a section of the coast dedicated to dogs. The beach has steps from the rocks in the water and is a great place to have a swim. Its particularly peasant early in the morning just after sunrise and you have the bay to yourself. I would advise to wear flip-flops on the rocks here, as it can be tough underfoot.

See the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Overlooking the town is the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a lovely building to see. It dates back to 1696 and has an enormous square outside the front. The church has an impressive bell tower which is visible from many parts of the town. You can also hear the bells of the church throughout the day, which are rather impressive.

Inside the church, you can see the relics of St. Romulus and the image of the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary from the 18th century at the altar.

Hike or Walk in Park Čikat

Čikat Park has some excellent scenery for a walk or hike. This includes some great forest trails to explore and a beautiful coastal path. It is easy to reach from the centre of town, including walking around the peninsula to reach Čikat.

The island is known for its lush vegetation and parks, which have been the basis of its development as a tourist destination. Particularly important among these are the protected areas of Čikat forest park. The origins of Čikat forest park date back to 1886, when the Society for Afforestation and Embellishment of Mali Lošinj was established.

Čikat is a diverse habitat and lots of plants, animals and birds to see. There are also some interesting statues and Austrian villas to see while exploring the area.

See the Austrian Villas Including Villa Carolina

There are lots of beautiful buildings to see in the Cikat area of Losinj, which date back to the Hapsburg era. In 1892, the government in Vienna supposedly proclaimed the island as the official heath resort of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. Hence the amount of very large, Hapsburg style holiday villas in the area.

Villa Carolina is a historical landmark near to Cikat Forest and the bay. The villa is pretty stunning, however you cannot visit. Apparently, Franz Josef, the Emperor of Austria, built the pink villa for his mistress.

Villa Carolina, however, has some steps into the sea, which are a very popular spot for Instagram influencers. The area now has lots of exclusive resort hotels with private beaches.

Visit Agro Tourism

For something different, a visit to Agro Tourism is worthwhile. It is basically a beautiful garden with some splendid views of the coast and the island’s hills. They have a variety of plants to see, including aloe, cacti and many of the island’s resident plants.

They have some rather unique decor in the gardens, including some pretty garden features like swings and art displays. Agro Tourism also has lots of seats where you can enjoy homemade drinks, which’s ingredients are plants from the Island of Vitality. It is a free to enter tourist attraction and well worth a mooch around.

Visit the Museum of Apoxyomenos

On the seafront in town is the Museum of Apoxyomenos, a popular place to visit for those interested in history. They dedicate the museum to a bronze statue of the young athlete Apoxyomenos, which is over two thousand years old. A Belgian tourist discovered the statue back in 1997.

Visit Valdarke Beach

If you like quieter beaches, then Valdarke Beach in Valdarke Bay is a fantastic place to visit. The bay is very beautiful and has some remote spots for swimming. It is a 20-25-minute walk from the town.

The beach has lots of pine trees to the edges, thus provide you with shade on a hot sunny day. They also have a play area for children. Valdarke Beach is pleasant for swimming, however I recommend flip-flops to walk on the pebble beach. The bay is lovely to walk around, however, heading west can be tricky.

Nerezinac Boat Museum

In the harbour is Nerezinac, a museum on a boat that is free to enter. It got some interesting exhibits about the maritime heritage of Losinj to see and it’s nice to look around the features of the boat. The sailing boat is a replica of 19th century Losinj Logger boats. They called the boat Nerezinac, however, before they refurbished it was Drazica.

They have some multimedia exhibits below deck on Nerezinac. Here you can learn about historical aspects of historical maritime life. This includes about the crew, catering, shipping routes, ship building or maintenance. It’s an engaging attraction and well worth visiting.

Enjoy Cafe-Bars & Eateries

There are 270 days of sunshine in an average year, thus bar or restaurant terraces are usually open and are dog friendly. Most restaurants serve a range of seafood options on their menus and cooked Croatia style. They also have Croatian beer available too as well as come great continental options.

Walk To Monte Bastion

Monte Bastion is a historical site and a fantastic place to walk to. The walk takes you along the coast from the town and through some beautiful woodland. Be warned, the woodland trails are uneven, so wear good shoes or boots. However, the end result is some stunning views of the island including towards the harbour.

It has been a significant defensive position in the Island’s history. First it was a prehistoric hill fort and subsequently used by the Italians, The Austro-Hungarian empire and the Yugoslav military. The views from the fort highlight what it was in such an important defensive position. Its current name translates to The Great Guard.

Overall, this is a great option for a walk at any time of the day. However, during the warm summer months, an early or late walk is best. As a bonus, there are benches in the shade to sit and enjoy the views of the Adriatic Sea.

Events in Mali Losinj

A fun thing to do is to attend various events on the island. They have a handy what’s on guide to help you choose what to do. Many things happening in the town take place in the riva area on the waterfront. This includes various performances of live music.

We really enjoyed the silver band competition which took place on the stage of the island. This included lots of marching bands from around Croatia and beyond. They also host a food festival in the town which we unfortunately missed.

Peruse The Local Art & Craft Shops

On the side streets of Mali Losinj, there are many cute local craft shops. They sell a variety of handmade items which make perfect souvenirs. Some also sell art, including paintings of the island. You can also buy some rather cool summer clothes in some boutiques on the island.

Nightlife

The town is a pretty chilled place geared for relaxation, however, it also has a pleasant nightlife scene. Many people enjoy promenading in the harbour in between meals out or drinks in the bars. There are often events in the main square to keep you entertained too.

We found a few bars stayed open late and had live music, more so at the weekends. It was also fun to watch the football on the big screens in the bars. For something a bit more chilled, the west coast has a lovely path for evening walks with a drink break.

Uvala Blatina The Sandy Beach

If you like sandy beaches, then Uvala Blatina in Cikat bay is possibly the best option for you in Mali Losinj. The entire area is beautiful and has lots going on. The beach can get busy during the summer as its great for beach activities.

There are lots of options for things to do from the beach, including boat hire, SUP or kayaking. You can also hire a sunbed and just relax and enjoy the views. There are also places for refreshments and beach bars to enjoy nearby, too.

Cikat Aquapark

One of the popular things to do for younger people on the island is to spend the day at Cikat Aquapark. Cikat Aquapark is a water park with various pools and water slides and is excellent fun. Cikat Aquapark is surrounded by pine forest and thus has a beautiful setting to sit and enjoy.

Shrine of the Queen of Love

A nice place to walk and enjoy the views is the Shrine of the Queen of Love. This is on a hill overlooking the town centre and coast of the Island. As well as the views, there are wild flowers to see and, of course, the shrine. The chapel used to be a windmill. The church came about after an apparition in 1990, nowadays they have a service on the 16th of each month.

Holiday Accommodation

Finding holiday accommodation is pretty straightforward, using sites like Booking.com. There are lots of options to choose from depending on your preference.

Tourists can choose from the many exclusive holiday resort hotels with private beaches and spas. There are also apartments or rooms to rent throughout the town, many with very nice hosts.

Some tourists opt for camping or glamping sites on the island of Losinj for an outdoor retreat. They also have a few options for hostels on the island, which are ideal for solo and budget backpackers. Finally, many visitors stay the night on a cruise ship that visits Mali Losinj port.

Is Mali Losinj in Croatia Worth Visiting For a Holiday?

Mali Losinj is well worth visiting and we’ve enjoyed a few months over multiple visits in the town. The clear blue sea, excellent walks and delicious seafood make it a fantastic place for a holiday.

We visited in May, June, July, September and October. These are ideal months to visit. The sea is swimmable, and the weather is mostly nice. However, the island got busier from late June during the summer holidays. We are returning in 2024 for another holiday and to explore the island further.