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Žlahtina vineyards, three quiet stone hamlets and a slow sea road of empty coves that ends at Risika's sandy bay.
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This is Vrbnik's backyard: the vineyard basin at the heart of Krk's Žlahtina country, three quiet stone hamlets, and a narrow, partly gravel sea road north past empty pebble coves to the sand at Sv. Marak. The road stops at Risika and does not continue up the coast, which is why the coves stay quiet. It suits walkers, e-bikers and couples who want a cove to themselves; families with toddlers head straight for the sand at Sv. Marak. There is no single big sight: the pleasure is a walk, a swim and a tasting in one day, all within 20 minutes of Vrbnik.
When to come: Coves June–September; walks and rides best April–June and September–October; hamlet feasts in summer (Petrova 29 June, Risika mid-August, Jerolimja 30 September).
From Vrbnik the narrow road follows the shore north: Javna (a wide pebble beach over a sandy seabed, no facilities), Mala Javna next to it (the official dog beach), Melska (a small pebble cove with fine sand underwater, our 'Romantic Beach'), then Sv. Marak. The sea road runs only as far as Risika.
Tip: Stop at whichever cove is emptiest and bring water and shade: there is nothing to buy until Sv. Marak. The coves face the open channel, so pick a calm day. For Šilo, turn inland at Risika.
One of Krk's few true sand beaches, in the bay below Risika, named after the medieval church of St Mark whose ruins stand on the headland (with traces of Roman settlement nearby). Beach bars, pedalos, WC and a big paid car park.
Tip: Water shoes even on sand: weever fish bury themselves in the shallows. Walk out to the chapel ruins on the point.
A marked path from Risika (turn off before Sv. Marak) reaches the quiet pebble cove of Supovica in about half an hour. Naturism is customary there.
Tip: Swim with the children at Sv. Marak first, then walk on to Supovica for the quiet. Start before the path heats up.
The St Chrysogonus trail (9.9 km, 241 m of climbing, easy) drops from Risika through downy-oak and hornbeam woods into the Rakovik stream valley, crosses a traditional stone bridge, climbs to Gradec and returns via Garica, Stoza and the field at Rovoznik.
Tip: Risika's village shop keeps morning hours only (Mon 07:00–12:00, Tue–Sat 07:00–14:00); Pekara Vrbnik runs a summer-only branch in Risika.
Remains of a 12th-century fortified settlement on a hill between Risika and Garica, near Rovoznik, by tradition the place the Frankopan counts of Krk came from. It had no gate: people climbed in over a wooden structure that could be pulled down in an attack. The Holy Spirit chapel stands at the site.
Tip: Go for the walk and the story: little of the fort is left, but the last 700 m of the approach are steep and beautiful.
From the small square in front of St Peter's church in Garica (1793), the easy Kolmanica trail (7.2 km, 151 m of climbing) passes under St Chrysogonus hill (254 m) to the ruins of its Romanesque church (12th-13th century). It goes on to Gradec and the Kolmanica plateau (190 m), with views over the Vrbnik field, Punat bay, Cres, Plavnik and Kormat, and returns through olive groves via Kampelje.
Tip: Garica's minimarket keeps short hours (Mon–Fri 07:00–12:00 and 16:00–20:00 in 2026): bring water. For just the view, walk the short path up to St Chrysogonus, which looks out over the whole field.
An easy 6.8 km loop (182 m of climbing) from Vrbnik on narrow paths through woods and the vine rows of the Vrbnik field, with the Črnikov lookout over the field and views to the Vinodol coast.
Tip: Finish at a cellar door: Katunar Estate on the entrance road stays open until 21:00 from June to September.
Katunar Estate at Sveta Nedija on the road into Vrbnik (four generations, 32 ha, about 220,000 vines) is where our welcome wine comes from; ask to taste the pet-nat as well as the classic Žlahtina. Next door, Ulika Grill serves šurlice, braised beef and a fisherman's plate for two under old olive trees hung with lights. The little church of Sveta Nedija nearby is dated to 1445.
Tip: Book Ulika in August: it fills up.
A 7.8 km loop with 297 m of climbing from Vrbnik via the Lokva ponds below Mali Hlam (446 m) gives a wide view over the vineyard mosaic, Vrbnik and the coast.
Tip: The longer 14 km version from Treskavac has a loose scree descent; take poles.
Each hamlet has its feast. Garica celebrates Petrova (St Peter, 29 June); Risika has its summer 'Fešta' in August and Jerolimja for St Jerome on 30 September; in late July an amateur swim runs from Vrbnik harbour to Sv. Marak. Gradec gets a moonlight cultural evening in late July.
Tip: Check the Vrbnik calendar each June for exact dates and venues.
KRK BIKE 461 'Crossing the Vrbnik field': 26 km with 750 m of climbing, Vrbnik - Risika - Garica - Kampelje - Vrbnik, coast first, then a stiff climb to Gradec and back through the hamlets and vineyards.
Tip: Kampelje (locally 'Kampeje') is an isolated, quiet hamlet: carry your own water.
Narrow, partly gravel and slow; it runs from Vrbnik to Sv. Marak and Risika and stops there. For Šilo or Dobrinj go inland from Risika.
Free gravel lot at Javna; paid lots at Sv. Marak; free lot by the Garica cemetery (26 spaces).
Nothing on the coves before Sv. Marak. Sv. Marak beach has toilets but no showers. Village shops: Risika Mon 07:00–12:00, Tue–Sat 07:00–14:00; Garica Mon–Fri 07:00–12:00 and 16:00–20:00. Pekara Vrbnik opens a summer-only branch in Risika.
The routes are numbered in the KRK Hike system (181 Risika loop, 183 Kolmanica, 184 St Chrysogonus, 185 Žlahtina trail, 186 Mali Hlam). Bring water; the vineyard sections have little shade.
Curated by Benjamin Haller and our guests · Facts checked 31 Oct 2026 · How this map is made
The Krk Map is made by Marim Luxury Villas, a family company that hosts guests in Stara Baška and Vrbnik. No place pays to be on it; partners and our curators’ own offers are marked. Our villas