BASIC INFORMATION AND LOCATION

Rab is a town, summer resort and port on the southwestern coast of the island of the same name and has a population of just over 400 (a total of around 9,400 if you count the 7 settlements that belong to it). Arriving in the town of Rab by car can be achieved by driving to the Stinica pier, which is located 5 kilometers from Jablanac near Senj. From Stinica, you can then take a ferry to the Mišnjak pier, which is 11 kilometers away. Another option is to arrive at the Krk pier Valbiska after crossing the Krk Bridge and drive to the Lopar pier on the island of Rab. Lopar is 12 kilometers from the town of Rab. The nearest destination for arriving by plane is Rijeka Airport near Omišalj on the island of Krk. The train station in Rijeka is the closest destination for arriving by train, after which you must take a bus from the Žabica bus station that goes directly to the Rab station. Another option for traveling from Rijeka is by catamaran that sails from the Rijeka port to the port in the town of Rab, which is designed for the arrival of ships.

CULTURE, HISTORY AND ATTRACTIONS

The town of Rab was first inhabited around 350 BC. At that time, it was settled by the Illyrians, while in the 1st century during the Roman era it became a municipality called Felix Arba. During the Middle Ages, Rab experienced a rise during the time of Croatian rulers and the Venetian Republic, under whose administration it remained until the Napoleonic era and later Austria. Rab can be said to be dominated by the sights of sacral architecture, which together with the city walls form one of the most beautiful architectural ensembles in the entire Adriatic. In Rab, you can visit the monastery of St. Anthony the Abbot, the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the famous bell tower of the cathedral from the 13th century, the monastery of St. Andrew, the church of St. Christopher and the church of St. Francis, the church of St. Justina, the bell tower and remains of the church of St. John the Evangelist and many other smaller churches and other religious buildings. The Dominis Nimira, Bakota and Tudorini palaces are particularly interesting attractions. The Rector's Palace is another exceptional palace whose construction began in the 13th century. In the center of Rab, you can see the town loggia, the town clock and the town walls (along with the Tower of the Bold and the Tower of St. Christopher). Most of Rab's sights date back to the Middle Ages and make it one of the most historically interesting areas on the Croatian islands.

BEACHES

The town of Rab is in a very convenient location, as there are settlements with beautiful beaches nearby, but if you want to choose a beach right near the town center, there are several places to choose from. These are Škver beach, Kandarola (a famous nudist beach), Banova vila and Pudarica. All of the aforementioned beaches are superbly equipped with rich catering facilities. The most beautiful beaches on Rab, such as Rajska plaža, Sahara, Kampor Mel, Sahara or Livačina, are also very accessible, as they are not very far from the town of Rab.

OTHER CONTENT

The restaurant offer in Rab is exceptional due to the large number of authentic Rab delicacies and dishes. The top gastronomic centers include the restaurants Residence Astoria, Grand, Šanpjer, Koralj, Gardens, Palma, Ana and many others. Among the great places to enjoy coffee and refreshing drinks are the Municipium cafe, Kristofor, Pod voltom, Biser, Eho cafe, Banova vila and Forum bar. One of the highlights of a stay in Rab is the nightlife, which is famous throughout Europe and the world. The Santos, Oz, Lounge Escape Bar and the "gay friendly" Sanda bar offer unique nightlife. During the summer season, there are a large number of events in Rab. Perhaps the most popular is the medieval festival Rabska fjera, which is based on a tradition that began in 1364. Other great events are the Rabski križi, Rabske musikvesen, Samba Festival, Knight's Tournament, Island Lamb Festival, Kanata - Rabski okusi i mirisi, and during the off-season, it is definitely recommended to come to the events Easter on Rab and Advent on Rab.

SPORT

For amateur and professional runners, the Rab Trekking race is held in November, which takes place in an environment of untouched nature. Among the official competitions, there is also the Alpe Adria Triathlon. The surroundings of Rab offer a large number of cycling and hiking trails for an active holiday, and you can go hiking by going to Mount Kamenjak. There are four diving centers in the vicinity of Rab, and the nautical offer is also very well represented. In Rab, there are tennis courts where tennis schools for beginners are organized, and among other sports, there are courts for five-a-side football, basketball and beach volleyball.

WHAT TO DO – EXCURSION OPPORTUNITIES

The most popular excursions in Rab are by boat, some of which have a glass bottom for viewing the underwater world. These can be half-day and full-day excursions that go to the nearby islands of St. Grgur and Goli Otok, to Baška and Košljun on the island of Krk, or to Zavratnica at the foot of Velebit. In recent years, fishing excursions have been very popular, with favorite destinations being Frkanj (the peninsula of love with many hidden coves), Maman and Lopar. Great nature excursions can be the Kamenjak hill or the Dundovo forest park on the Kalifront peninsula. For visitors looking for longer excursions, trips to the Plitvice Lakes, Northern Velebit and Paklenica national parks are recommended.

ACCOMMODATION

The longest tradition of hotels in Rab is the famous Grand Hotel Imperial. Other excellent hotels in the town are the International, Arbiana and Istra hotels. It is also worth mentioning the large Tamaris guesthouse near the town. The rest of the accommodation offer is in private apartments and it is really large. The nearest campsites are Lando Resort in Kampor and AC San Marino and AC Zidine in Lopar. ACI Rab is the largest marina on the island and is located in the Rab town port.