When you arrive in Baska you will be amazed by its landscape: the city lies between the mountains and the Adriatic Sea. Calm waters and pebble beaches make up the scenery of one of Croatia’s most beautiful beaches. The waters ranging from turquoise to dark blue will catch your attention from the start, and you can’t help by wonder how it would be like to swim in these waters. Well, don’t wonder, just jump in and see for yourself, unless the water is too cold!
Baska – pronounced BAH-SH-KA – is very small, a typical Croatian beach village. It will not take you more than 4 Km to walk from one side of the city to the other. By the beach promenade you will find restaurants, ice cream and convenience stores, hotels, bars, ATM’s, tourist agencies, bakeries, local handcrafting, souvenirs, diving centers and more. You will be fascinated with center city, where the old streets and typical tiny fisherman-buildings represent the traditional Croatian beach scenario.
In Baska you will find 3 types of beaches: common ones, some especially for dogs and naturalists beaches. Once in a while you will find a nice and private spot on the coastline with a tiny beach only for yourself, like we did. But I imagine it will be more difficult during the months of July and August, when the city is packed.
Soon enough you will notice that the locals will speak German to you at first and that most of the signs will be in German. That is because the region is very influenced by German and Austrian tourists. I honestly felt like I didn’t leave Germany, I spoke English once, and only because I pretended not to know German, but don’t worry, they do speak English, too.
Come to Baska to relax and to enjoy all the activities offered: jet skiing, hiking, boat trips, snorkeling, kayaking, biking to the next city, laying on the sunny beach, camping and diving – the reason why I chose to come here in the first place. At the end of the day enjoy a glass of Zlahtina – the local white wine – at one of the amazing restaurants at the beach promenade and watch the red sunset on the mountains, the most beautiful time of the day.
Getting there
The best options to get to Baska are either by car or with an excursion. Unless you are on an excursion I would advise you to rent a car.
Where to stay
I would highly recommend renting an apartment in the city; it is cheaper than staying at a hotel if you are planning to stay long.
But if you prefer to stay at a hotel, there are a few options: Hotel Tamaris, Hotel Corinthia, Hotel Zvonimir
If you love camping, here is your paradise. The city offers many camping areas, which are very popular.
Good to know
- Croatia is now part of the European Union, but the Euro will only be the official currency in a couple of years. Currently Kuna is the Croatian official currency.
- Now in June the weather and the water are colder than what we expected, but some locals said that normally it’s supposed to be warmer by now.
- In the months of July and August the beach is normally overcrowded.
- I realized a little too late that it is cheaper to rent an apartment directly with an agency, rather than on Internet.
- This region of Croatia is very famous for diving, so if you are planning to dive in the country here should definitely be on your list.
- Service tips can only be paid in cash, the restaurants don’t accept to pay include them on the credit card payment.
My tips
- Enjoy your time in Baska to also visit other cities of the Krk Island nearby. Each city is different and you will discover your favorite one.
- Choose carefully when to visit in order to avoid overcrowded periods and cold water.
Where to eat
Our eating experience in this city has been excellent, and we have nothing to complain about, except for the difficulty to decide where to eat. You will find amazing options to finish your day having, but here are my favorites:
Bava: famous for their meat dishes – believe me is that good – and with an exceptional service and atmosphere. They also offer breakfast in case you already want to start your day with great food.
Cicibela: the perfect combination between a beautiful and organized restaurant with great prices and an impeccable service. The food is exceptional, specially the mussels and white wine. We liked it so much that we went back once more before we leaving.
Mare: amazing view of the sea, just by the beach. Very friendly staff and the food is mouth watering. Try their mussels with homemade sauce and bread and their chocolate soufflé with wild berries and ice cream.
Diving Center
Our happy choice was Squatina Diving. This amazing very international team made us feel at home and part of a new family. Our instructor Marco Hans made us feel safe with all his knowledge and experience. So here is our special thanks to him and all members of the Squatina team, who are not only great professionals but also friends to share diving and life experiences.
If you are ever around in Baska stop by Squatina Diving and check their offers for beginners, courses and daily diving trips. I highly recommend them and can’t wait to go back.
Stay tuned for more posts about this amazing Croatian Island and diving in the region. And again I’m leaving a piece of my heart somewhere.
Live from Baska…