The balance between tourism development and quality in each destination segment creates the image of a successful destination that makes a great effort to maintain the satisfaction of residents with the tourism development, while ensuring the satisfaction of visitors with the quality of their stay. Measuring all the relevant destination indicators through ETIS project, we try to implement them in the policy-making process.
Lošinj Islands
A magical blend of health, gastronomy, culture, and the fragrances of the archipelago
Why visit Lošinj Islands
Visit Lošinj islands for its pristine nature and sustainable tourism. Explore eco-friendly accommodations, locally-sourced cuisine, and protected marine life. The island promotes green travel with walking trails, cycling routes, and a commitment to preserving its biodiversity and cultural heritage.
Destination’s sustainability performance
Culture & Local Life
Almost uninhabited until the middle of the 13th century, Lošinj developed into one of the leading regional naval powers by the 19th century, and the town of Mali Lošinj was the second most important port on the Adriatic. The people of Lošinj were valued for their skill in making sailing ships, but also as the best sailors in the Mediterranean. That is why it is not surprising that the Lošinj Sails Festival around the world is held on Lošinj in September, dedicated to the century-old maritime tradition. On the other hand, tourism and island customs (carnival, maritime evenings, emigrant days, commemoration of the patron saint of the place and the island) are the main features of the locals.
Image © Sandro Tariba
Sustainability
Good Practice Story
The “Wood is first” project aims at revitalizing timber in the local small-scale shipbuilding industry. By preserving the island’s cultural legacy of building ships and boats from wood, we aim to raise awareness among both residents and visitors about sustainable development in our destination. The Tourist Board of the town initiated a healthy revitalization of the former small wooden shipbuilding industry, with the preservation of the old craft occupations such as caulking, repairing sails and making oars. By engaging locals in the project, we encourage others to stop using plastic materials an thereby appreciate natural resources, specifically wood that has a “soul”.
GOOD BUSINESSES
Discover accommodations, restaurants, shops and attractions that are commited to responsible development
Historic and cultural heritage
In addition to the beaches, take the opportunity to visit the Casa de Taipa Museum and the Church of São Miguel do Arcanjo.
PROMO CODE:
Historic and cultural heritage
In addition to the beaches, take the opportunity to visit the Casa de Taipa Museum and the Church of São Miguel do Arcanjo.
PROMO CODE:
Historic and cultural heritage
In addition to the beaches, take the opportunity to visit the Casa de Taipa Museum and the Church of São Miguel do Arcanjo.
PROMO CODE:
Historic and cultural heritage
In addition to the beaches, take the opportunity to visit the Casa de Taipa Museum and the Church of São Miguel do Arcanjo.
PROMO CODE:
Nature & Wildlife
Thanks to the rich biodiversity of medicinal plants and essential oils, the archipelago is an aromatherapy center. In addition to the rich flora, the island of vitality boasts a dolphin reserve of more than 200 individuals, and 280 km of fragrant promenades and hiking trails and numerous beaches and hidden coves are ideal for sports and adrenaline activities. On Lošinj, discover smaller biodiverse places and the surrounding islands, the pearls of the Lošinj archipelago.
Image © Antonio Pavela
Getting there
An eco-friendly way to arrive at Mali Lošinj is to travel to a nearby port via public transport and then to take a ferry across. Croatia is connected with Slovenia, Hungary, Italy, Germany, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and other countries by international bus routes. Arriva runs buses to nearby ports, and even runs buses to Mali Lošinj itself from Zagreb and Rijeka. From the mainland to island of Krk (Valbiska) you pass the bridge and then take a ferry to island of Cres Merag (Lošinj). There is another connection from the mainland (Istra – Brestova) with the ferry to Cres (Porozina). You can also travel by train to Pula or Rijeka, and then from both destinations take the catamaran line direct to the center of Mali Lošinj.
Getting around
As for how to move around during your Green Holiday in Mali Lošinj, the answer is certainly by bike. There are plenty of places to rent a bike and everywhere is within walking distances. If you want to venture further, the bus station is near the ferry port and daily buses run from Veli Lošinj to Punta Križa on the island Cres, stopping at most of the smallest villages on Lošinj on the way. Buses from Mali Lošinj to the mainland also call at the other island towns.
Find out here about suggestions from the destination of 7-day trips to visit Lika Destination.
Travel tips from our editors
Ecolabel Accommodation
Hotels in the Plitvice Lakes National Park are certified Friends of Nature and Green Energy because the park uses electricity from renewable sources and remnants of food are disposed of in a sustainable way. Plitvice Lakes National Park has been working for several years on the introduction of biodegradable packaging with the aim of eliminating plastics from its business.
Lika destination offers diverse accommodation, in addition to classic hotels, you can also sleep in luxury tree houses or hobbit houses in the camp. Some campsites are Eco Camp certified. More information about accommodation in Lika destination can be found here.
Taste Lika Quality Products
Lika Destination has a large percentage of protected areas, which means that almost all foods produced in the destination are organic because they are grown in pure ecological nature. In order to further confirm their organic production, most producers in the Lika Quality system are entered in the register of organic producers.
More information about local producers from Lika whose products bear the Lika Quality label can be found here.
Stay 7 days in Lika Destination
Lika Destination has designed the project Stay 7 days in Lika which covers visit in the wider region of Lika and the Velebit coastline. Each trip includes the Plitvice Lakes National Park due to its exceptional nature value. Enjoy these trips with a group or individually and experience the protected natural areas, cultural heritage, adventure and educational activities.
Check out the Adventure Lika Destination or Natural Beauty and Tastes of Lika Destination.
Volunteer Work
The Lika Quality system includes producers who allow visitors to participate in the fruit harvest on their farms. Some of the private holiday home renters allow guests to pick fruits from the garden themselves and use them to prepare meals.
Various associations organize cleaning actions of parks or food drives collecting food as public events in which all visitors can also participate.
Hike & Bike
Lika has many hiking and biking trails. It is recommended to download the Cyclolika mobile application where most of the bike paths in the destination can be found. Every tourist board in Lika or attraction, such as national parks, and other protected areas have detailed descriptions of bicycle, hiking and mountaineering trails on their websites and on their premises you can get maps and other promotional and useful materials.
There are several mountaineering and cycling associations that have licensed guides that you can contact for guidance or for detailed information. Most trails, whether cycling, hiking or mountaineering, are marked with signs or markings and are safe to use with the necessary equipment for this activity. Bicycle rental is possible.
Nature park
Within the Lika region you can find the biggest nature park of the whole country, Velebit Mountain.
This mountain area has two national parks – Northern Velebit and Paklenica (South Velebit). Velebit Mountain is part of the huge Dinaric Alps and the most popular hiking destination in the country. It’s a natural border between the Adriatic Sea and Lika’s hinterland.
The most popular hiking trail is the Premužić Trail that spans through the entire Northern Velebit National Park to Baške Oštarije in Central Velebit.
This 57 km trail offers amazing scenery with a great view of the Adriatic Sea, islands and beyond from the nearby peaks.
This area offers also an increasing number of cycling paths. You can ride it along well-maintained roads or more demanding “wild” paths, country roads, forest trails, alone or in organized tours with guides.
- outdoors
- indoors
Experience Dolphin watching tour
In the picturesque fishing village of Veli Losinj in the south of the island, lies the Blue World – Institute for Marine Research and Protection. It is no coincidence that this center is located on Lošinj, given that its waters are home to 200 bottlenose dolphins that always delight residents and visitors to the island. Sometimes the dolphins visit Lošinj and greet excursion boats and other vessels. But to make sure you can really see them, the Institute has organized a Dolphin Watching Tour. On a small boat in the company of a skipper you go to the open sea in search of dolphins for a maximum of 3 hours. If you do not see them, you have the opportunity to go for free once again. Not only will you learn a lot about these wonderful creatures, but you will also have the opportunity to see how should you behave around them. This experience is definitely not to be missed during your green holiday in Mali Lošinj.
Enjoy Lošinj Sails Around the World Festival
The idea to create this kind of festival originated from the desire for preservation, revitalization, and tourist valorization of the maritime heritage. We do this through the revival and presentation of the historical and cultural heritage of Lošinj maritime affairs, which lived its golden age from 1853 to 1884. During the Festival, all interested will get an insight into the rich maritime heritage of Lošinj, through regattas, folklore performances, concerts, maritime evenings where old crafts are presented, the gastronomic delicacies of the island of Lošinj, education, and lectures. On our tourist and marketing campaigns, we promote Lošinj as a destination of ‘revived maritime history’ hitherto unknown to the general public.
Hike and Bike in Mali Lošinj
The best way to enjoy a green holiday in Mali Lošinj is by walking, cycling, or hiking. The Promenades and Footpaths brochure, available in tourist offices, agencies, etc., has maps of 250 km of trails covering all of Lošinj and a small part of Cres, with accurate walking times. Televrin, at 588 m high, is the highest peak of the 10 km long Osoršćica mountain ridge and provides spectacular views of the coast and forests. It can be reached by several walking trails and by a challenging cycling trail starting at the Preko Mosta campsite in the village of Osor. There is also a coastal path from Mali Lošinj to Čikat, passing through Čikat Forest Park.
Visit Museum of Apoxyomenos
The Museum of Apoxyomenos is a unique archaeological and architectural cultural institution in our region and it is entirely dedicated to only one exhibit – the bronze statue of a young athlete, the Apoxyomenos. The statue was discovered in 1997 by a Belgian tourist at the depth of 45 m. In 1999, it was taken out of the sea where it spent nearly two millennia. The Museum of Apoxyomenos and its exhibition represent the spatial materialisation of the ceremony of passing through various rooms and halls on the way to the sculpture. The architecturally shaped body of the new museum has been inserted into a space defined by the exterior walls and the roof of the existing Kvarner Palace. The Museum was opened in April 2016 and it is open all year round.
Sustainability Recognitions
RECOGNITION
Lošinj Islands was selected in 2024 as one of Top 100 Green Destination Stories Competition.
CERTIFICATION
As part of the Global Green Destinations Days held on Lošinj in 2024, Lošinj Islands received a silver award for its efforts in sustainable development. Lošinj is considered a long-term sustainable destination that brings together natural beauty and preserved landscape with the quality of life on the island.
Carlos Bernardes |Mayor of Torres Vedras
“Torres Vedras does not have any doubts that it has to make its way towards a sustainable future. For example, we initiated a program of small vegetable gardens in schools; decided to join the Paris “Pact for Impact”; and developed the Santa Cruz Declaration on Climate Change.”
What does it mean?
- They have shown at least 60% compliance with the Green Destinations Core Criteria. Check out their scorecard to see their performance on each criterion.
- They have submitted a story that was selected to the list for its innovative, effective and / or transferable good management practice.
Lika Destination Good Practice Story
Lika Destination was submitted Good Practice Story’s. It was about the creation of a regional quality system for local productions in Lika helped foster sustainability. Read the full story here.
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