Guide of Mali Losinj

Mali Lošinj is a town on the island of Lošinj, in Croatia with around 8,116 inhabitants. The island is located on the Adriatic coast and has brilliant climatic conditions due to its location in a protected bay on the sunny eastern side of the island. 

A brief history of Mali Lošinj

The town was first mentioned in 1398, under the name Malo Selo, meaning ‘small village’ and reached the height of its splendour in 1868 as one of the most important ports in the Adriatic! At this time it was a large and developed merchant marine port with as many as eleven shipyards, but soon after the steam engine was invented and the region suffered an outbreak of a grapevine disease, which sent Mali Lošinj into decline. The town became part of the Venetian Republic, then went under Austrian-Hungarian rule in 1797 thanks to the Treaty of Campo Formio. Italy ruled the city after World War I and later became incorporated into socialist Yugoslavia, which caused a mass emigration of the Italian population, and by the end of World War II, there were only 2,200 residents left in the town. In 1991 Mali Lošinj became part of present-day Croatia.

Things to do in Mali Lošinj

The Čikat Aquapark, surrounded by a pine forest, is fun for the whole family and swimming in the saltwater pools and playing on the slides is a great way to spend the day. There is a place to camp, and you can hire bikes there too. The Museum of Apoxyomenos is also worth visiting, it was opened in 2016 and is very small and unique, featuring just one object! The Lošinj Aromatic Garden is also worth a visit; it is just a short stroll up from the harbour and features lots of aromatic plants and trees and has an attached gift shop. For nature lovers, Cikat Forest Park is a great place to visit, and there are some beautiful hiking and walking routes available. There is also Miomirisni otočki vrt, a garden where they cultivate natural food products like honey as well as products to produce their organic cosmetics.

Beaches around Mali Lošinj

The Veli Žal beach is a lovely sandy and rocky beach with turquoise waters, it has restaurants nearby for refreshments, and there are free showers available to use. Čikat is another beautiful beach, set in a rocky cove near Lošinj. It stretches from the church of the Annunciation in the south to the hotel Kredo. It has crystal clear waters, but is very rocky and so may not be suitable for young children. For something more remote, check out Krivica beach, situated in a wonderfully quiet bay with crystal clear water. However it can only be accessed by boat or on foot, and there is a 30-minute descent down from the hills above.