Stara Baška is the most unspoiled village on Krk Island. Just 116 residents at the 2021 census, no high-rise hotels, a harbour with fishing boats, and coves you reach by boat, on foot or down a short path from a small car park. We built Villa Marim here because this is where the island still feels like itself.
Where is Stara Baška?
Stara Baška sits on the far south-west of Krk Island. It is not on the way to anywhere else. You go there because you mean to.
- From Rijeka Airport: 45 minutes by car — the airport sits on Krk Island itself, so you are practically there before you start.
- From Zagreb: approximately 2.5 hours, crossing the Krk Bridge (free since 2020, no ferry required).
- From Vrbnik: 30 minutes south by car, crossing the centre of the island.
- From Krk Town: 30 minutes south, via Punat.
The road down into Stara Baška is steep and winding — narrow in places, spectacular in all of them. It is the kind of road that filters out casual tourists. We think of it as the village protecting itself.
The Village
Stara Baška had 116 residents at the 2021 census. In summer the village and its campsite fill up, but the village absorbs the visitors without losing its character. A single road in, from Punat, and steep hillsides have kept big hotels away. What remains is what it always was.
- The harbour — small, working, fishing boats and rental boats moored alongside each other. This is where you rent a boat in the morning to reach Zala or Oprna Bay. The fishermen have usually been out and back before you wake up.
- The main square — a few restaurants on the harbour, among them Mariana and the bistro Nadia, both a short walk from Villa Marim. The village has one small grocery shop for daily basics (ask us for its hours); for a big shop, stop in Punat or Krk town on the way in. The camp at Škrila, just north of the village, has a restaurant, a bar and a shop. Everything you need, nothing you don't.
- The pace — mornings here are slow. The morning is for swimming and coffee on the terrace. There is no rush here. It takes a day to adjust to that, and then you wonder why anywhere else operates differently.
Zala Beach — The Wildest Beach on Krk
Zala lies a few minutes south of the village, where the paved coastal road ends: a small gravel car park above the beach, a short path down, and 110 metres of fine pebbles. You can also take a boat from the harbour (10 minutes) or walk along the road (about 20 minutes). The car park is small, but in August the beach is busy from late morning, so come early. Our Zala Beach guide has the details.
- Water colour: genuinely turquoise — the kind that makes you stop and look twice. Not the blue-green of deeper water, but the lit-from-below turquoise of shallow limestone coves.
- Facilities: a small beach bar operates in July and August. Outside those months, bring everything you need.
- Best time: May or September, when you may have the beach entirely to yourself. August is busy from late morning; May is the experience.
- Boat rental: available from the harbour from early June through September. We can recommend the best operators — ask us when you arrive.
Guests at Villa Marim have direct access to the sea via stone steps from the rock below the villa. On the mornings you don't want to go anywhere, you don't have to. The Adriatic is already there.
Oprna Bay
Oprna Bay is about 15 minutes by boat from the harbour. By land it is 5 minutes by car to the roadside above, then a steep 10–15-minute path down — good footwear essential. The bay is sheltered from the bura and calm inside; because of the path, it suits families with older children, or anyone arriving by boat.
A small beach bar operates in season. The limestone cliffs that surround the bay on three sides turn amber at sunset — the light that comes off them in the late afternoon is unlike anything you will find on a more developed beach.
Water Activities from Stara Baška
The water is the main event. Here is what guests at Villa Marim tend to do.
- Boat rental — small motorboats are available from the harbour for day trips. Every motorboat in Croatia, however small the engine, must be driven by someone with a boat licence: “no licence needed” offers are not legal, and the fine (€265–664) falls on the renter. Choose a skippered boat, or drive yourself if you hold a licence; ask us. We brief guests on the best coves and routes — there are places along this coastline that do not appear on any map.
- Kayaking — along the Stara Baška coastline and to nearby coves. The water is clear enough that you can see the bottom in most places. Morning is best: calm water, no wind.
- Snorkelling — the rocky coast has excellent visibility. Snorkelling gear can be arranged — just let us know on arrival. The cove directly below the villa is a good starting point.
- Swimming from the villa — stone steps lead from the rock below Villa Marim directly to the sea. Private, immediate, and available at any hour of the day or night.
Dining: Restaurant Mariana
A few minutes’ walk along the harbour from Villa Marim, Mariana has the best sunset seats in the village.
Its big terrace looks out over the harbour, and the cooking is simple and unpretentious: keep it to a drink at sunset and fried calamari. Out of season, ask us which restaurants in the village are still open.
When to Visit
Each part of the season has its character. These are the honest differences.
- May and June — wildflowers on the hillsides, empty beaches, air temperature around 20°C. The sea is about 18°C in May and about 22°C by late June — cool at first, but swimmable for anyone who does not mind the first shock. The village is quiet and genuinely itself. This is our personal preference.
- July and August — the warmest months, sea at 24°C, Zala and Oprna filling up but still calm compared to the mainland coast. If you want August, plan early.
- September — the best-kept secret on the island. Air at 22°C, the sea still about 23°C from the summer’s warmth, almost no crowds — though not every village restaurant stays open all month, so ask us which are. The light in September on the Adriatic is different from summer light — softer, longer in the evening, amber where it was gold.
"The rock. The sea. Nothing between you and the horizon."
— The owners' description of Villa Marim
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get to Stara Baška?
By car via Krk Island — no ferry needed. From Rijeka Airport: 45 minutes. From Zagreb: approximately 2.5 hours. The road from the main island road down to Stara Baška is narrow and steep — park at the top if you have a large vehicle.
Is Stara Baška worth visiting?
Yes, for anyone who wants Krk as it used to be. No big hotels: just a campsite at the edge of the village and a few guesthouses. The beaches Zala and Oprna Bay are among the most beautiful on the island. Villa Marim in Stara Baška is our most secluded villa — built on a rock directly above the Adriatic.
What beaches are near Stara Baška?
Zala Beach (a few minutes by car to the small car park above the beach, 10 minutes by boat, or a 20-minute walk) and Oprna Bay (15–20 minutes by boat, or 5 minutes by car and a steep 10–15-minute path from the coast road). Neither has more than minimal facilities — which is what keeps them so unspoiled.
Is there a restaurant near Villa Marim in Stara Baška?
Restaurant Mariana, a few minutes’ walk along the harbour from Villa Marim, has the best sunset terrace in the village; keep it simple with a drink and fried calamari. Nadia, also on the harbour, now runs as a bistro. Out of season, ask us which restaurants are still open.
