Ilovik is known as the Island of Flowers: oleanders, palms, roses and other flowers adorn almost every house. The floral name refers to the houses; eucalyptus trees are another distinctive feature of the island. When planning your stay, you can decide whether to focus mainly on hiking, cycling or exploring the local history.
Getting There and Planning Your Time
A daily passenger speedboat service connects Rijeka with Cres and Martinšćica, as well as Unije, Susak, Ilovik and Mali Lošinj. Organised transfers from Mrtvaška Bay to Ilovik take 10 to 15 minutes. This duration applies to the transfer from Mrtvaška; plan your connection from Rijeka using the timetable. For your travel date, check both the timetable and the current transfer arrangements.
Trails, Coast and Views
Ilovik’s trails are suitable for hiking and mountain biking. They start in the settlement of Ilovik and connect coves on the other side of the island with the coast of Sućadrija Bay. The route from Ilovik to Paržine Bay can also be cycled; Paržine has a sandy beach. The trail network includes the Did viewpoint. These offer different points of reference when choosing a route: Paržine is a specific cycling option with a beach, while Did is a viewpoint within the trail network. A hiking map of Ilovik shows footpaths, viewpoints, peaks, trailheads, walking times, churches and chapels. Trailheads and walking times help you plan hikes in terms of location and duration; before setting out on a specific hike, check trail conditions, as they can change.
Churches and Historical Traces
The parish church of St Peter and Paul in the village dates from the 19th century. It was built there after the former Benedictine monastery church on Sveti Petar became unsafe and difficult to reach. Sveti Petar lies opposite Ilovik; its landmarks include the remains of a Roman villa, the ruins of an 11th-century Benedictine monastery and a 16th-century Venetian tower. The remains of the Church of St Andrew, dating from the 5th century, are also located on Ilovik, at Sućadrija Bay. Taken together, the sites span the period from the Roman villa to the 19th-century parish church; between them are the 5th-century church remains, the 11th-century monastery and the 16th-century Venetian tower.
Petrova and Local Traditions
Petrova traditionally includes a Mass, a procession, lighting a Koleda bonfire and a folk festival. The annual programme may vary. If you would like to include the celebration in your travel plans, check the dates for the relevant year. Local food culture also has a long family connection: a restaurant on Ilovik has been run by the same family for more than 120 years. Along a route from the village centre, there is a 12-metre-deep well with a freshwater spring.
Discover more destinations: Ustrine, Susak, Ćunski, Unije, Punta Križa, Vele Srakane, Veli Losinj, Osor
For the main travel overview: Mali Lošinj.
