Municipality of Baška: Beaches, Trails and Culture

Beach days and getting active in the landscape

Parasailing, surfing and sailing are available at Vela Plaža. Akvarij Baška in the centre of Baška also offers a distinctive experience by the sea: in 21 aquariums containing a total of 35 m³ of seawater, it showcases more than 100 fish species as well as 400 species of shells and snails. Baška offers a range of experiences centred on the water—from the beach and water sports to observing the diversity of marine life.

Those who prefer to explore on foot will find eleven officially marked trails. They start in Baška, Jurandvor, Zarok or Draga Bašćanska and range from a two-hour walk along the river to a full-day crossing of the Moon Plateau. A shorter trail from Jurandvor connects the Abbey of St. Lucy, where the Baška Tablet was found, with a viewpoint overlooking Baška and the island of Prvić. The six-kilometre Baška–Zarok–Batomalj–Pod Lipicau educational trail takes about 2.5 hours on foot and leads through the landscape, history and traditions of the Baška Valley.

Another hiking option is “Put ka Mjesecu”: the trail is 4.5 km long, takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes, and reaches an elevation of 370 m above sea level. For a longer cycling trip, consider the Mjesečeva staza (Moon Path) MTB route. It is 26.6 km long, has a total ascent of 690 m and is considered technically challenging. Baška also has four climbing areas. Portafortuna has 76 routes across four sectors; Belove Stijene offers about 50 climbing routes.

Churches, history and local traditions

The Baška Tablet was found in the Church of St. Lucy; a replica remains in the church. The church was probably built around the turn of the 12th century on the remains of an early Christian basilica and did not acquire its present form until the 14th century. The Baška Glagolitic Trail adds to this historical connection: its 32 stone sculptures are engraved with Glagolitic letters. The trail also features the complete Glagolitic alphabet and the meanings of its letters. It runs through paved local lanes and the expansive natural landscape of the surrounding area.

Other churches offer insight into different eras. The Church of the Holy Trinity was built in 1723 and is the largest church in Baška. The Church of St. John dates from 1232; the adjacent Sveti Ivan Gallery houses the “Starac” bell, cast in 1431. The Church of Our Lady of Gorica was built in 1415. It is considered one of Croatia’s oldest shrines and the largest shrine in the Diocese of Krk. It can be reached by road or by climbing 237 steps. The Chapel of St. Mark was built in the Romanesque style in 1514 and is now used as an exhibition space and museum of sacred art.

Local customs also shape the area’s cultural identity: on the feast day of St. Lucy, 13 December, a small loaf called hlipčić is still thrown from the bell tower in Jurandvor. On the Feast of the Assumption, 15 August, pilgrims carry a statue of the Virgin Mary by candlelight up the steps above Batomalj. A circular family trail follows the bed of the Vela Rika river, passes through Batomalj and climbs 237 votive steps to the Shrine of Our Lady of Gorička and the Mrgari near Lipica.

Explore more places in the municipality

The trails and experiences described here include several places. To help you plan further, explore Baška Baska, Stara Baška Stara Baska, Jurandvor, Batomalj and Draga Bašćanska. Other destinations include Municipality of Punat, Municipality of Malinska-Dubašnica and Municipality of Omišalj.

For the broader travel overview: Krk.