Veli Lošinj in Croatia: Beaches, Restaurants and Sights
Veli Lošinj is one of the prettiest villages to visit on the island of Lošinj, Croatia. Set in a narrow bay, about 4 kilometres from Mali Lošinj, it is known for its pastel-coloured harbour, rocky beaches, seafood restaurants, and scenic coastal walks. It works well as both a quieter base and an enjoyable day trip, and we have ended up returning on several visits to the island.
In this blog post, I share the best things to do in Veli Lošinj, including beaches, viewpoints, boat trips, places to eat and the coastal walk towards Mali Lošinj. If you enjoy small harbour towns, swimming spots, and relaxing evenings by the sea, Veli Lošinj is a great choice.
Where Is Veli Lošinj?
Veli Lošinj is on the southeastern side of Lošinj Island, at the foot of St Ivan Hill. It is close enough to Mali Lošinj to visit on foot, by bike, by bus, or by car, making it easy to combine both towns in one trip. The coastal route between them is one of the nicest walks on the island. Getting to the island is tricky and requires a ferry from Rijeka to Mali Lošinj, ideal for foot passengers; If driving, the Valbiska–Merag or Brestova–Porozina ferries are best. You can find out about these on the Jadrolinija website.
Things to Do in Veli Lošinj
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Beaches & Swimming
The coast on either side of the harbour has beaches. These are mainly rock beaches with steps to the sea. It was also fun watching people jump from the small cliffs into the sea near the pink church.
Beach Punta is one of the most popular beaches on this stretch of the coast. It has a swimming area and seating areas. You can rent sunbeds and parasols if you are planning a longer stay. They also have showers at the beach. You can also hire SUPs and kayaks from here via the hotel next to the beach.
The Small Harbour
The small harbour is charming, with colourful buildings and boats. It has places to sit and watch the goings-on, including local fishermen and people engaged in boating activities.
Boat Trips
There are local companies that provide boat trips from Veli Lošinj. You can arrange these at the harbourside or via one of the boat agencies that are in the village. These include dolphin watching and sunset trips.
Panoramic Viewpoint
The clifftop viewpoint above the harbour has fantastic views. At the Panoramic Viewpoint are benches to sit on and watch boats entering or leaving the harbour.
Slightly off the beaten path is Vista Panoramica, another viewpoint. This one has views across the mouth of the bay towards the lighthouse. This is an excellent spot to see the two smaller churches on the seafront.
Water Sports
There are companies renting kayaks or paddleboards. These also offer group tours of the coast or lessons to beginners. As well as the companies in the harbour, you can often rent these on beaches nearby too.
Visit the Tower Museum
Veli Lošinj also has a tower that has been converted into a local museum. It looks similar to the nearby Cres Tower that I have visited previously. You can find out about the village’s history, including some about local fishing.
Shops & Art Galleries
The centre of the village also has art galleries, tourist shops and places selling local crafts. These are situated around the harbour and are ideal for popping in for a souvenir. They typically sell things that enhance your time at the beach, like towels, swimwear and scuba masks. My favourites are the gastro-shops which sell local specialities, including truffle products, honey and olive oil.
Rovenska Fishing Port and Beach
Rovenska is south of the main village and a short walk along the coastal path. It is a colourful place, and it is nice to see the boats and houses.
There are also a few seafood restaurants and bars on the harbourside. An excellent spot to see the area is from the Molo Rovenska breakwater and the coast path that leads there.
Rovenska beach, which is a nice place for a swim. The beach is quite popular with families, and it has a shower, a beach bar, and places to change.
Gastro House
My favourite food shop in the village is Gastro House, a place that sells local food and drinks. Inside you can buy Croatian wines and spirits to drink. They also stock cheeses, truffles, cured meats and local honey.
Fish Market
The harbour is also home to the fish market, which is kept stocked by the local fishing boats. This is an ideal place to buy fresh squid, prawns and tuna steaks if you are on a self-catering holiday.
St Anthony’s Church
St Anthony’s Church, which overlooks the bay, is striking from the outside. It is pink and perched on a cliff right in the town centre. They built this church in the Baroque style in 1774, funded by local seafarers.
Sadly, it wasn’t open to visitors to look around inside, except for Sunday Mass. Inside there are marble altars, Italian paintings, a nice church organ and the relics of St Gregory. Next to the main church building is a bell tower.
Coast Walk to Mali Lošinj
If you walk along the coast from Veli Lošinj, you reach the larger town on the island, Mali Lošinj. The walk mostly follows the coast via some pretty bays. There are many places to sit and enjoy the views or swim in the sea to cool down. The walk takes you past Agro Tourism, a fascinating tourist attraction and a brilliant rest stop.
Sunset Walk On The Coast
The coast nearby is spectacular for a sunset walk. We found the coastal path heading north from the centre towards Mali Lošinj to be rather striking. The coastline and hills in the distance, combined with reflections from the Adriatic Sea, made it special.
Enjoy a Cycle Adventure
There are many places on Lošinj Island where you can rent a bike and go for a ride. There are some rather nice trails to cycle on around the island’s coast or on the hilly inland. True Bike Experience has various options for rental, including mountain bikes and road bikes. You can rent for as little as an hour or for entire days or weeks.
Inland Hike
Another activity I have enjoyed in the village is hiking inland up the hills towards the epic viewpoints. The trails are quite hard going; however, they are scenic. It’s an alternative to the busier coastal routes and is quite tranquil. The routes are marked with red markers, or you could use a navigation aid like Komoot, which has all the trail details. I usually walk this route to connect with the larger settlement, Mali Lošinj.
Church of the Holy Cross
The Church of the Holy Cross is perched on a cliff on the south side of town and has some epic views. There are a few other small churches at this point, and all are worth a quick mooch around. Next door is a pretty graveyard which you can pop into too.
Bars & Restaurants in Veli Lošinj
Konoba Mandrac
Konoba Mandrac has seating overlooking the harbour, including some at the edge, which we chose. The restaurant was dog-friendly and even brought Henry a big bowl of cold water. They serve a variety of beers and wines, most of which are Croatian.
Their food menu includes seafood and a daily specials board. We opted to share the fish plate for two people, which comes with Swiss chard as a side. This included 2 medium-sized fish, some small sprats served on a skewer, prawns, mussels and grilled squid.
Konoba Ribarska Koliba
On the edge of the harbour near the church is Konoba Ribarska Koliba, a posh seafood restaurant. They have lots of tables to choose from along the water’s edge, with views of the seaside town. On our visit, we enjoyed drinks with a view and then a meal out.
Their menu featured plenty of seafood and fish, as well as some meat dishes. We opted for their seafood platter to share, which included multiple fish, big prawns, squid and mussels. They served this with potatoes and Swiss chard and a garlicky Trieste sauce.
Cafe Saturn
Cafe Saturn is a good option for a waterside bar which serves Croatian beer, coffee and other drinks. It has seats on the harbourside and reasonably priced drinks.
Pizzeria Buffet Fortuna
Pizzeria Buffet Fortuna has a terrace with a view of the church and harbour. On my visit, it was pretty quiet at lunch, and I found it good value. Their menu has meat, seafood and pizzas.
For my lunch out at Pizzeria Buffet Fortuna, I enjoyed grilled squid with fries, which was delicious and cooked perfectly. For drinks, I enjoyed an Ožujsko beer. One thing to note is they only accept cash payments here.
FARO Caffe
Another dog-friendly place for a drink in the harbour is FARO Café. It has outdoor seating and serves coffee, beer, and cocktails, including alcohol-free options. FARO Café also specialises in desserts and gelato, which my wife enjoyed.
BENY
BENY has outdoor seating next to the harbour. They offer a variety of beer and soft drink options, as well as a vast ice cream and dessert menu. I enjoyed some Croatian beers and loved sitting here watching the world go by. The servers were quick and friendly, and the prices were good too.
Where to Stay in Veli Lošinj
While researching, we found holiday accommodation to be a bit more expensive than in Mali Lošinj. You can find places to stay on the Booking.com website. This includes pet-friendly hotels, as well as apartments and villas.
One of the most popular resorts is the Vitality Hotel Punta, which is along the coast path. It is a luxury hotel with an outdoor pool and its own beach. You can hire kayaks and SUPs from them too. Their rooms are pleasant and spacious, and the resort has lots of facilities. They also have restaurants, bars, a gym and relaxation facilities.
Is Veli Lošinj Worth Visiting
Veli Lošinj is a special place and has one of my favourite harbours I’ve seen in Croatia. It’s an idyllic village hang-out; enjoy the coast, dine out and take part in seaside activities. The main downside is its remoteness and the time it takes to reach this island.