Give into the temptation of the amazing Croatian island with a funny name Rab — you'll become its prisoner after only 20 minutes there. Located near the Dalmatian coast in the Kvarner Bay, this island is quite small. You can drive through it in half an hour (22 kilometers), and fewer than 10 thousand people live there. But you can gladly surrender to the turquoise sky, which is reflected in the cleanest Adriatic Sea, for the pine-scented air, for the gentle and not burning sun, for a lot of beaches, which will please both partygoers and families with little ones. In short, Rab is perfect.

How to get there

The most convenient way to get there is to first fly to Pula, from where you can take a bus to Rijeka or the island of Krk. From both points to Rab there are catamaran lines: Rijeka - Rab - Novalja (it's a town on the island of Pag) or the line Valbiska - Lopar (for Krk).

A paragraph of history

The first inhabitants of this island, Illyrians, appeared in the 4th century BC. Later, from about the 3rd century BC to the 6th century, Rab belonged to the Roman Empire.

In the Middle Ages, Rab lived under Byzantine rule, then became a part of first the Croatian and then Hungarian-Croatian kingdoms. Of course, like the greater part of Croatia, it suffered the fate of becoming a piece of the Venetian Empire, which occurred in 1412. It was only in 1797, after the "fall" of Venice, that the island passed to Austria. Rab has not had an easy fate - it was later occupied by the Italians, the Yugoslavs and, during World War II, again by the Italians, who set up a concentration camp. Today Rab is an idyllic place, where nothing reminds one of the violent battles of the past, but everything and everyone around is talking about how beautiful it is now.

The beaches of Rab

You can find rocky, sandy and pebbly beaches on Rab. The sandy ones naturally appeal to families with children - the 2km-long Rajska beach in the resort village of Lopar in the north of Rab. Nearby is the San Marino holiday complex, which includes the hotels Lopar, Rab, Sahara, Veli Mel and Plaza.

Small pebbles, and thus surprisingly clear water, can be found on the beach at Pudarica near the town of Barbat. Here, by the way, is also a good place to relax with the little ones. The water at Pudarica is shallow, while the nearby pine forest provides pleasant shade and the fragrance of pine trees.

Hotels in Rab

I have had the pleasure of staying in a few Rab Hotels and each one has been wonderful in its own way. The first hotel I stayed in on the island was the Valamar Padova Hotel. It is right on the beach and has a wonderful view of the water. The rooms are clean and comfortable and the staff is friendly and helpful. Another great option is the Villa Anna Hotel. It is a bit smaller and more intimate than the Aurora, but it has a similarly great location and wonderful views. The staff is also very friendly and helpful. Finally, the last hotel I stayed in on Rab was the Villas Arbia. It is a bit more removed from the beach than the other two hotels, but it has a beautiful pool and garden area. The rooms are clean and comfortable and the staff is friendly and helpful. All of the hotels I mentioned are great choices for anyone looking for a wonderful place to stay on Rab.

Activities and attractions on the island of Rab

Most attractions are to be found in Rab, the town of the same name. It's a small settlement stretched out on a long and narrow spit. During the Middle Ages it was fortunate to fall under the hand of Juraj Dalmatinetz, or rather his blueprints, which were used to rebuild the town. Little has changed in Rab since then. The four Romanesque bell towers and the 13th century Church of St Mary, as well as the charming 15th century stone houses with traditional geraniums in the windows, are of particular interest. All this splendour can be admired from the port, which also offers a pleasant view of the partly preserved ramparts.

Other attractions in the town include the Monastery of St. Andrew, the Church of St. Justina and the Monastery of St. John. Rab has its own palace, the Princely Palace (12th-15th centuries), which is situated on the central square of the town. Smaller and more unpretentious palaces are Dominis, Crnota and Galcigna, built in Venetian style.

The village to the north, Raba Lopar, is also worth a visit. It is considered the birthplace of the Marinas who founded the toy country of San Marino. The 15th century Church of Santa Maria is notable here. Finally, the village of Supetarska Draga, situated on the shores of a picturesque bay in the north of the island, is worth a visit. Here you'll find the oldest bell in the Adriatic, dating from 1059.