Rab – 100% Island

Rab is an island, a piece of the Kvarner Bay archipelago in the northern part of the Adriatic Sea.

Together with smaller isles surrounding it, the surface of the island is 86,14 square kilometers. At its longest part the island measures 22km while at its widest part it is 11km wide.

In addition to the ancient town carrying the same name, there are seven other idyllic places scattered over the island: Barbat, Banjol, Palit, Kampor, Mundanije, Supetarska Draga and Lopar.
The island of Rab is characterized by a pleasant climate well fitting those suffering from pulmonary and cardiac problems.

The local tradition has a long history of offering high quality services which are the result of skill, experience and hospitality by the local populace.

The clean sea, numerous different beaches, rich vegetation, cultural events, cuisines and nightlife make this island a perfect location for recuperation.

Nature

The island of Rab has the so-called “Adriatic type” of Mediterranean climate with pleasant warm summers and mild winters. It has such a climate thanks to the mountain range Kamenjak that protects it from the cold Northeastern wind-Bura in winter and spring months.
Except for that wind, there is a warm and moist wind blowing from the Southeast in autumn (“jugo”), which always brings along rain. During summer months there is a landward breeze blowing during the day, called “maestral”, which is pleasant and renders summer heat milder. Other winds and storms are rare phenomena.The number of sunny hours is 2417 on the average, while the number of cloudy days is very small. The temperature of the sea is convenient for bathing, and amounts to 20°C, from May to October. The middle year’s temperature of the sea is 16.7°C.

This island is one of the greenest Adriatic islands as 40% of its surface is covered with woods.

One of the nicest holm-oak areas and the greenest area of the island is the area of Kalifront – Suha Punta.
Northeastern part of the island of Rab is rocky.

The forest in the middle of Kalifront goes under the name Dundo and is under special protection as a natural habitat where, apart from the previously mentioned, cork oak tree grows, a real unusual scene on the Adriatic.

Most floral variety grows in the islands middle part. Greatest part of that area was turned into fertile soil, gardens, vineyards and fields for growing olives and fruit. The uncultivated area grows Holm oak, myrtle, fern, blackberries, juniper berries, and blossoming broom bushes setting a beautiful image for the area.

The Sea – it is sometimes dark blue, sometimes green-blue. It iridizes in thousands of shades uninterruptedly depending on the time of the day and on the angle in which the sunrays fall on it. But it is always beautiful and unrepeatable.

Owing to its ecological cleanness, the sea of the island is the habitat of numerous species of fish, shrimp, shells and corals – a real discovery for every well-meaning visitor of the sea world.

When it comes to animal life, the most populated are birds and insects.

Bird species you will most probably come across on Rab are the haggard, the owl, the pheasant, the dove, the raven, and the griffon vulture. Followed by the passerines: blackbird greenhorn, the goldfinch, the little and big titmouse, the skylark, and the sparrow.
While some migrating birds spend their summers on our Island like the cuckoo, the turtle dove, the swallow and the nightingale, others, like some species of the finch, the woodcock, the quail and some types of waders and swimming birds (like, for instance the sea gull and the grebe), love spending winters on Rab.

There are numerous species of insects on Rab, most of them being all kinds of butterflies in diverse colors and, during summer, the sound of crickets is heard everywhere.

The biggest mammal, apart from the domesticated animals, is the rabbit and the European rabbit, accompanied by the stone marten, mice and bats.

The most common of all reptiles is the lizard and the green lizard much rarer. Out of snakes, the island is the habitat for the ring snake and the Aesculapian snake and there are no poisonous snakes on the island.

Beaches

The crystal-clear Adriatic Sea splashes the intact and diverse shores of the island that make the whole island a unique seaside resort.

The summer sea temperatures vary from 25 to 27 degrees Celsius.

The island offers beaches to fit everyone’s taste: rocky beach in the west, pebble beach in the east, and sand beaches in the north of the island.

The most popular beaches on the island are: “Paradise beach”, “Mel” in Kampor, “St. Mara”, “Pudarica”, “Gonar”, “Sahara”, “Frkanj”, “Čifnata”, “Matovica”, “The Gipsy”, “Caroline” and numerous others.

Those appreciative of peace and quiet will find bays on the forest-covered peninsula Kalifrant especially interesting. Moments on those beaches are moments to last you a lifetime – rock, small stones and green forest contrasting with the blue Adriatic.

Rab is ideal for volleyball on the sand. We would like to mention sand beaches with volleyball tournaments: “Mel” in Kampor, “Paradise Beach” in Lopar  and “Pudarica”

It is essential to mention the island of Rab, as a forerunner of naturism on the island. People mention August 1936 when Edward VIII, the King of England was there, and the town authorities had allowed him to swim in the nude with his wife in Kandarola cove. But surely naturism started much earlier. The president of the international naturist union Richard Erhman from Vienna opened the first naturism beach on the island personally in 1934. Naturism on Rab is also mentioned in the articles of Joseph Herman from the Czech Republic in 1907, which proves that the local people had realized the bright perspective behind such tourism.

The one and a half kilometer of beautiful beach and its forest background is called “The English beach”. Romantic swims in the intact Rab’s bay have been the climax of a cruise that, a few months later, lead to the divorce of Wallis Simpson and her marriage to King Edward who had to abdicate the Crown and take the title of The Duke of Windsor.

Beaches on Rab:
Kampor: Frkanj, Mel, Suha Punta, FKK Kandarola, Melić, Cifnata, Valsika, Sv. Mara, Planka, Kristofor, Armata…

Lopar: Paradise beach, Sahara, Fkk Ciganka, Fkk Sturič, Crnika, Livacina,  Dubac, Stojan…
Barbat: Pudarica, Puntica
Supetarska Draga: Gonar, Vjesnik, Zlatni zalaz
Rab: Banova Vila
Banjol: Padova 3, 2, 1, Artic, Pod Marjan, Monty’s Dog Beach & Bar
Palit: Škver

Culture

The English architect T. G. Jackson stated in 1887 that which many have said before and after him:

“a strange medieval town, closer to reminiscence than reality… to my tastes the most beautiful of Dalmatian towns”.

The old city of Rab dominates the island with its four church towers and medieval streets, so it is no wonder that Europeans named it “Little Venice”, with its preserved cultural and historic centre with numerous monuments.

The oldest information on Rab can be found in the writings of the several Greek and Roman geographers and writers (Ptolemej, Plinije st., Tabula Peutingeriana). In those writings Rab is mentioned as Arba, Arva, Arbia, Arbitana. The origin of that name can not be established with certainty, but it is supposed that translated from the Indo-European root of ARB it means umber, dark, forested which is also characteristic for the island today.

It is very likely that the name of Rab dates all the back to the 7 th century A.D ., just after the arrival of the first Slavs to the island, however the oldest known document with the Croatian name Rab is a Latin decree about the foundation of the St. Euphemia abbey, that is kept in it’s museum, and it dates to the 15 th century.

Middle Street offers a special tourist and cultural atmosphere with its street painters in summer, when the whole centre of the town turns into a huge gallery, and the Rab Cultural Events in the “Knezev dvor” Gallery represent another important event.

The Rab Musical Evenings, organized in the church of the Holy Cross (June to August), offer concerts performed by Croatian and international musicians.

The most attractive summer event in Rab is the Rab Tournament, which used to take place from as early as 1364, commemorating the defense of the town by the knights in the past.

A special attraction of this picturesque mediaeval ceremony is the ancient crossbow, which is used at the tournaments only by the “arbalests ” from San Marino. The tournament takes place a few times a year: May 9th, 25th of June, 27th of July and August 15th.

The most attractive summer event is a three day parade bringing Rab’s medieval history to life. For three days and three nights (July 22 nd till July 27 th) the entire island populace and all its guests celebrate two great holidays: Dies Victoraie and Dies Natalis. The two were declared by the Rab Great City Council in the honor of King Ljudevit The Great who saved Rab from Mletians and in the honor of St. Christopher whose efforts freed Rab or Norman governing in 1075.

You will experience some pleasant moments at numerous indoor and open-air music events and culture performances, as well as in various art galleries or street exhibitions.

For those in love with classical music – there is a three month classical music festival “Rapske glazbene večeri” (“Rab music evenings”) with at least one concert per week being held in attractive town locations and churches Crkva Sv. Križa and Crkva Sv. Marije Velike.

RAAF – Rab Film Festival
The Rab Film Festival presents three RAFF FRAME awards in the following categories: best documentary film, best fiction film and best film selected by the audience.

Rab jazz fest

Kantuni / Corners Romantic music nights around the old town Rab

Activities

Apart from the obvious enjoyment you could find in sunbathing and the beauty of our sea – a variety of activities throughout the island offers you the possibility of spending your vacation in a more active way – regardless of it being a sport and recreation kind of activity or the plain and simple “going out”. .

The night life is an essential part of the repertoire of any tourist destination – the Island of Rab is no exception.

One of the distinctiveness of our island are numerous small café bars, cocktail bars (Sanda, Forum, In, Banova vila…), pubs, night clubs (Le Journal, San Antonio, Vox…), situated in the heart of the old part of the town of Rab, among stone walls, squares and streets as well as every else around the island. One of the unavoidable destinations is the Party Club Santos, out of the town on the beach Pudarica..

As a seaside resort, Rab offers excellent opportunities for almost any type of water sports. Board and kite-surfing is great throughout the summer but the best weather conditions are in May and September.

Apart from sailing, visitors to the island have an opportunity to rent all kinds of motorized vehicles, jet skis, kayaks and pedalos. Water skiing, tubing, parachute, aquagan and others.

There are several tennis court locations on the island. The two in Kampor that rent courts, equipment and give lessons are Guščić and Suha Punta.

When mentioning Rab’s excellent sand volleyball conditions we must stress three of the biggest sand beaches known for volleyball tournaments: the beach “Mel” in Kampor, Paradise beach in Lopar (hosting one of the Croatian championship tournaments every year), Pudarica and many others.

Because of its climate and natural conditions, Rab is perfect for athlete and team preparations. Conditions are excellent for football, handball, basketball…

Apart from that, sports also available are boules ( pétanque), mini golf, table tennis, paintball… Paintball is a part of an ongoing teambuilding program for a Croatian company. In the last few years motor-cross and off-road contests have been held. We must point out a track in the Mag bay, along the coastline.

The sea surrounding the island hides many sunken ships and amazing natural underwater landforms. You can go through basic and advanced diving training, rent equipment as well as enjoy some of the all included diving vacation packages.

Our special recommendation goes to unforgettable daily trips around Rab and its surroundings; sightseeing the heart of the old town, boat trip around the island as well as island surrounding it Košljun, Lošinj, underwater sightseeing tour and fish-picnic.

There are organized visits to neighboring national parks Plitvička jezera, Paklenica and Sjeverni Velebit.