8 Best Sights in Lošinj, Kvarner

The road that runs along the Mali Lošinj Harbor leads to Čikat Bay, a pine-covered area dotted with impressive Habsburg-era villas and pebbled beach coves. Nearby hotels and campsites, plus good parking, lots of cafés, and ice-cream stands make these beaches popular. There's a gracious promenade along the bay that's perfect for strolling, a windsurfing school for the adventurous, and paddleboat rentals.

A community of around 180 bottlenose dolphins makes its home just off the coast of Lošinj, and the nonprofit Lošinj Marine Education Centre has made it its mission to protect the marine environment of the Adriatic Sea. The center has a few engaging displays that use various media forms that invite visitors to take a deeper look at the amazing blue world surrounding the island. You can even "adopt" your own dolphin; you can't take it home with you, of course, but for €35 you'll receive an adoption certificate, a photo of your adopted dolphin, membership for a year, and, of course, that warm fuzzy feeling of doing something good for the world.

This is an entire museum dedicated to telling the amazing story of a single ancient artifact found on the bottom of the sea near Mali Losinj in 1996. After six years of restoration, the bronze statue, which is presumed to date back to the 1st or 2nd century BC, is an awesome piece of Greek work that is displayed in an artistic and mesmerizing way, making a remarkable impression of what may have happened when the statue fell into the ocean thousands of years ago (but also about the process of its restoration). The building itself is reason enough to buy a ticket and enjoy a guided tour (offered twice-daily at noon and 5 pm).

The sea captains of Veli Lošinj evidently preferred to escape the harsh working conditions of life on the sea while they were back on land, so they built their villas away from the waterfront, often surrounding themselves with gardens filled with exotic plants brought back from their travels. Archduke Karl Stephan built a winter residence in Veli Lošinj that is now a sanatorium surrounded by wonderful gardens, with a range of exotic plants and an arboretum. It's possible to spend the night in the sanatorium, even if you are healthy. A short walk beyond the main harbor is the quaint fishing cove of Rovenska. Beyond that, there's a pebble beach and several inviting restaurants. The breakwater was established by Archduke Maximilian I.

The intimate harbor is the centerpiece of Veli Lošinj, at the entrance to which is the delightful Church of St. Anthony the Hermit, with a separate bell tower in pink and cream stone. Built on the site of a former church in 1774, the church has always had a congregation of seafarers, who have filled it with religious art and altars from spots such as Venice.

Opposite the harbor, but now hidden by a row of houses, are the battlements of a defensive tower that dates back to the 15th century. The squat construction, known as The Tower, now houses a museum and an art gallery staging temporary exhibitions by notable Croatian artists. The permanent exhibition tracing the town's history includes a copy of a Greek statue of Apoxyomenos, which was discovered on the seabed in 1996.

With 8,000 inhabitants sheltered around an inlet, Mali Lošinj is the largest island settlement in the Adriatic. In the 19th century, Mali and Veli Lošinj experienced a golden age when many wealthy sea captains lived on the island. Brightening the waterfront, the mansions and villas they constructed contributed greatly to the town's appeal. There are a handful of churches to wander into and take in the sense of history and time that has been well preserved by the island's faithful. The 15th-century St. Martin's Church was the original centerpiece around which the town was built but is now a bit decrepit, though its ominous presence with a tall square tower and pointed top are hard to miss. At the base of the tower is a cemetery where the history of the town's past residents is collected. If you wish to dig a bit deeper, the Church of Our Little Lady (aka Church of the Nativity of Our Lord) houses many fine examples of religious art.

After a few days of dipping your toes in the water and basking in the sun, you might be itching for a diversionary outing. The Miomirisni otočki vrt is a pleasant place to spend the afternoon—rain or shine—sitting on the terrace admiring the sea of lavender on the hilltop. A donkey, a rabbit, and a small sheep delight visitors, especially children. A small shop in a wooden building sells organic products like soaps, marmalades, and, of course, lavender oil.