The Puntarska draga gives Punat a distinct maritime character. The large, shallow bay in the inner part of the Bay of Krk is about 3 km long and up to about 2 km wide. The narrow Buka sea channel connects it to the open sea and is about 150 to 200 m wide. The “Punat” marina is located in the bay. It developed alongside a shipyard into a nautical harbour and was the first nautical marina on the Croatian Adriatic for clients commissioning ships and boats.
Shepherds’ paths to the peaks of Krk
The “Pastirske staze” shepherds’ paths lead from Punat and Stara Baška to the highest peaks of the island of Krk. These include Veli vrh (541 m), Brestovica (558 m), Obzovo (568 m), Zrnina (537 m) and Veli Harn (482 m). Along the paths are dry-stone walls, vineyards, karst pools and sheep pastures; the rocky peaks offer panoramic views of the sea and surrounding area.
The hike to the lower uplands takes 30 minutes to one hour. The terrain is rocky and partly covered with grass or earth.
Old Town lanes and maritime heritage
A walk through Punat’s Old Town follows narrow cobbled lanes from the waterfront to Vela Placa, then continues through the settlement’s oldest lanes. The “Toš” gallery is located in the cobbled lane of Klančić. It preserves a former traditional space where olives were once ground by hand by using it as a gallery. Paintings, sculptures and other works of art are displayed there in an almost authentic ethnographic setting.
In the Buka district stands the Church of St Nicholas, built in 1911 as a protective church for sailors, travellers and children. A mass commemorating all sailors is held there every year on 6 December. In Punat, you can thus encounter both a tangible piece of maritime architectural history and an annual commemorative tradition.
Olive groves, oil culture and local cuisine
The Stari Toš Olive Growing Interpretation Centre preserves fully intact equipment used for the traditional production of olive oil. It presents the history of olive growing, as well as olive harvesting and processing in Punat. Olive groves surround the town, which is known for its Punat olive oil. Restaurant menus in Punat also feature seafood with olive oil and wine.
If you travel at the end of October, you can enquire about taking part in an organised olive harvest. Check in advance whether dates are available during your travel period. This lets you experience the history of processing at Stari Toš and the harvest as two distinct aspects of olive culture.
Experiences on and under the water
In Punat, you can water-ski on a cable system or behind a speedboat, go parasailing, sailing, surfing, ride the Aquagan or play beach volleyball. The activities also include diving and a diving school. For non-divers, Punat Underwater Park offers a guided underwater walk with qualified and experienced guides. Visitors can discover marine flora and fauna, as well as an underwater pirate treasure theme.
The underwater park is located at the main beach, which can be reached on foot along the seafront promenade or by car. Check current access options before your visit.
Košljun and the coves between Punat and Stara Baška
The island of Košljun is 750 m from Punat. It is home to a Franciscan monastery, an ethnographic museum and a library with about 30,000 titles. Košljun can only be reached by boat; local boat operators from Punat are available as needed. There is no fixed timetable, so check current availability in advance.
Between Punat and Stara Baška, coves offer secluded pebble beaches and crystal-clear water. Water taxis run from Punat harbour to these coves; Stara Baška is known for its beaches. When planning an excursion, you can consider both the boat trip to Košljun, with service available on demand, and the water taxis to the coves as separate options.
Discover more destinations: Punat, Municipality of Vrbnik, Municipality of Malinska-Dubašnica, Municipality of Dobrinj, Municipality of Krk, Municipality of Baška, Municipality of Omišalj.
Go to the main travel overview: Krk.
