Airport and transport – connected to Island Cres by bridge; ferry to towns Zadar, Pula, Rijeka and Venice (Italy); Lošinj has sport airport (900 m of asphalt covered runway; airplanes up to 40 seats can land there) fitted for international traffic (police and customs) (second airport in Croatia by the number of landings; after capital Zagreb); airports Rijeka (around 80 km), Zadar (around 60 km) and Pula (around 60 km).
History – The oldest island settlements (Lubenice, Osor, Beli) have more than 4000 years old history; in 1868 there were as many as eleven shipyards, and it became the place with the largest and most developed merchant marine in the Adriatic Sea (even ahead of cities like Rijeka (Croatia), Trieste and Venice (Italy); the town of Lošinj became the second most important port in the Adriatic (immediately after Trieste); the inhabitants of Lošinj were known as the best seamen in the Mediterranean and for their skillfulness in constructing sailing ships.
Interesting to see: Croatian Apoxyomenos (2nd – 1st century BC; The antique bronze statue of an Greek athlete; 192 cm tall; taken from the sea bed; is the only large bronze found on the eastern coast of the Adriatic; permanently exhibited in Kvarner’s palace); graveyard around St Martin’s Church (with tombstones that provide a short history of the island); church of St. Martin (15th century); church of the Nativity of the Virgin (17th century); Calvary (the Way of the Cross, 18th century); church of St. Nicholas (19th century); church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (19th century).
Info – 8 388 inhabitants on the island; coastline of 112.7 km abounds in attractive bays and coves; highest peak is Osoršćica (588 m, and some 10 kilometres long); Mali Lošinj is the biggest settlement on the island with 7 000 inhabitants (the biggest island town in the Adriatic); recipient of the title „Champion of Tourism 2007“, and for 2009 (and Croatian candidate for the Golden Flower of Europe 2009); there are no poisonous snakes on the Lošinj’s archipelago; about 1100 plant types were identified (939 autochthonous flora, of which 230 medical herbs, and 80 mainly exotic types were brought from other parts of the world); 95 types of fish (dolphins are regular visitors), 71 types of crabs, mussels, snails, and different types of marine flora.
Where to go out: taverns with live music, nightclubs, jazz-festival, “klapa” songs (a cappella singing).
Inevitable to see: Numerous villas of Austrian aristocracy; The Art Collection and the Piperata Collection (paintings belonging to various Italian, French and Dutch schools of the 17th and 18th century); Gallery (rich art collection of Croatian and European artists); Aromatic Garden (medicinal herbs; also original island souvenir); Čikat Forest Park (man-made ecosystem, 236 ha, present form 19th century).
Good to know: Island was proclaimed a climatic health resort (suitable for treating diseases of the respiratory tract and allergies) by a decree of the Ministry of Health of the Austrian-Hungarian Monarchy in 1892.
For sailors:
Harbor Mali Lošinj: approach: through the passage Privlaka or through the passage between the SE cape of the island Koludarac and the island Lošinj (where is only 1.5 m deep), when entering in harbor orientation are the lighthouses on the islets Murtar and Zabodaski and enter is placed between the island Koludarac and the cape Torunzo; the entrance can be made through the passage between Koludarc and Murtar (but depth is only 2.5 m). Exposed: during bora and stronger NW winds or storms (from W-NW side); to waves from the wind jugo in NW part; sheltered from all other winds (especially from S wind, although its waves are felt in its NW part). Mooring: in marina or on jetty in the harbor; W from the island Koludarac; in cove Artaturi; or along the NE coast between the cape Poljana and marina. Warning: there is a speed limit inside the harbor (speed shouldn’t create waves); strong harbor swell develops in SE part; also on SE side (during the day) one can stay only for a short while (because the port is reserved for liners and tourist ships); forbidden approach or stay in the cove Kovcanja.
Privlaka: passage is 80 m long, 8 m wide and 2.4 m deep. Warning: every day at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. drawbridge opens (except during strong bura when the sea is pretty wavy; at that time it is very dangerous or even impossible to pass through the passage; if the bridge even opens); right of way have vessels that exit the port from S side.
Veli Lošinj: exposed to bura, but sheltered from all other winds. Mooring: on the E side of the pier (on the entrance to the port). Warning: approaching is dangerous during strong bura, therefore is recommended to enter port Rovenska (protected from storm by breakwater); strong jugo (S) floods the shore in the inner part of the port.
Luka Čikat: approach orientation: the lighthouse (green light) on the cape Madonna. Exposed to W wind (that causes large waves) and sheltered from all others. Mooring: best in the middle of the bay (sandy bottom; 14-24 m deep; holds well). Warning: from May to September it is forbidden to sail and anchor in the harbor.