Kvarner: Rijeka and the island of Krk
Rijeka’s castle, the bridge to Krk, Glagolitic heritage and the pebble beaches of Baška, then the Uskok fortress of Senj.
- Distance
- 90 km (56 mi)
- Driving
- 1 h 15 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 8
- Countries
- Croatia
- Updated
- June 12, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 90 km (56 mi) with 8 stops, from Rijeka to Nehaj Fortress. About 1 h 15 min of driving in total.
Route description
Rijeka is Croatia’s main port, with a lively centre and the castle of Trsat on the hill above. From there the coast road leads south-east to the Krk bridge, a concrete arch over the sea with no toll, joining the island to the mainland.
The D102 crosses Krk to Vrbnik, a tight stone village on a cliff above the sea, known for its dry white Žlahtina wine. Then cut west to the town of Krk, with Venetian walls, a cathedral and a small harbour.
The road to Baška runs through a bare, stony valley. Just before the village, the church of St Lucy at Jurandvor is where the Baška tablet, one of the oldest texts in Croatian, was found. Baška itself has a long pebble beach below bare hills.
Return across the bridge and follow the Adriatic Highway south to Senj, where the Nehaj fortress looks across to Krk. Krk is busy in July and August, and the bridge is exposed to the bora wind, which occasionally closes it to high-sided vehicles.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Rijeka
Croatia - 21 km
Trsat Castle
ViewsRijeka, CroatiaA hilltop castle above Rijeka with a café on the ramparts and a view down the Rječina gorge to the Kvarner Gulf. Next to it is the pilgrimage church of Our Lady of Trsat.
- 316 km
Krk Bridge
ViewsOmišalj, CroatiaA concrete arch bridge joining the island of Krk to the mainland via a rocky islet. There is no toll, and a viewpoint on the island side overlooks the span.
- 426 km
Vrbnik
Croatia - 512 km
Krk
Croatia - 617 km
Church of St Lucy, Jurandvor
HistoryBaška, CroatiaThe small Romanesque church where the Baška tablet was found, one of the earliest texts in the Croatian language, written in Glagolitic. A copy stands in the nave.
- 72 km
Baška
Croatia - 815 km
Nehaj Fortress
HistorySenj, CroatiaA square 16th-century fortress built by the Uskok pirates on a hill above Senj. Its roof terrace looks across the channel to Krk.
