Humor is Ryanair’s marketing fuel. They’re the only airline that cracks jokes with their products

The two environmentalists had their brief moment of media fame, but O’Leary’s chilled response was nothing short of a masterclass in crisis communication. He ignored the protest against the low-cost carrier’s carbon footprint and insisted on his petition agenda. To make sure that he stays in charge of the narrative, he belittled the pie performance by casually licking cream off his fingers while declaring: “I love cream cakes, they’re my favorite.”

The real icing on the cake was delivered by Ryanair’s social media team. Their Twitter account, renowned for its unconventional communication style, shared a snapshot of their cream-coated boss and reported that passengers, thrilled with their new routes and “tasty low fares”, were celebrating with cake. Playing on the card of their budget-friendly prices, another tweet suggested that purchasing a pie was a waste of the protesters’ hard-earned dough when it could’ve bought them a ticket out of Belgium.

This wasn’t Ryanair’s first dance with humor as marketing fuel. They are the only airline that cracks jokes about the very thing they’re selling, even calling their windowless window seats – a waste of money. Their self-deprecating one-liner statuses consistently feed on the company’s disadvantages, which in turn makes them go viral.

One day they might downplay junk fees by trolling Donald Trump as having more charges than them. The next one, they could highlight their pricey name change fees by poking fun at Elon Musk’s X-Twitter rebranding. And then, they might spotlight oversized luggage charges by tweeting Loreen’s Eurovision performance setup.

Ryanair’s responses to legroom complaints, seat size questions, or free food inquiries regularly pack a comedic punch.

There doesn't have to be an intention for travel marketing to make you laugh. Check out these tourism campaign fails!

Smiles in the skies

There is a certain level of expectation for B2C communication standards, especially when delivering serious messages.

While most airlines try to maintain a professional demeanor in their social media presence, Ryanair’s strategy keeps customer service for DMs, while regularly dancing on the line of appropriate humor when it comes to the public field. Social media is a marketing tool, and a less serious approach definitely draws attention.

Humor has this ability to shake us up from not paying attention, and serious contexts prove this point the best. When we speak about airlines, there’s no more serious moment than a safety demonstration in the cabin. The procedure in which passengers are informed about the important features of the aircraft and things to do in case of emergency are standardized for a reason. But after flyers hear it for the umpteenth time, these safety briefings can blend into the background, become a sort of white noise, making their minds wander away.

However, every now and then, there emerges a flight attendant who shakes things up and breaks free from the script. One such legend in the history of in-flight entertainment was Michael McAdam, a veteran flight attendant for WestJet.

This multitalented Canadian (with expertise in acting, improvisation, and even comic book writing) had a remarkable steward career, giving his own twist to mundane safety announcements that usually make us fall asleep.

In an era when YouTube is flooded with videos of unruly passengers, cabin crew’s humor doesn’t just go viral. It also improves the atmosphere in the aircraft.

“Humor certainly did turn bad days into better days”, Michael tells me. “I once received an official commendation for turning an angry crowd  – our flight was three hours delayed – into a happy crowd by the time we landed.”

Educational hazard of in-flight entertainment

Flight attendants’ job can be exhausting, and in April 2023, Michael McAdam decided to retire his wings, after seventeen years of juggling turbulence and trolleys. During his career, he brought numerous smiles to a flying experience which can be stressful for many.

Even his fellow workers knew to resort to his improv comedy skills when nothing else worked. “Sometimes a crewmate would ask me to ‘step in’ if they had trouble with a difficult guest”, Michael reveals. Like in a magic trick, a flick of humor would make grumpy passengers disappear.

Back in the early 2000s, WestJet was the airline known for injecting humor into its announcements and safety demos. But when they decided to rebrand themselves as a serious business airline focused on the European market, they changed the uniforms as well as cabin crew “persona” for a “seamless experience”, Michael explains.

“Today, humor is discouraged for safety-related announcements, but attendants are allowed to use it during personal interactions with guests.”

In 2015, researchers Morteza Tehrani and Brett Molesworth conducted a study on the impact of humorous pre-flight safety briefings. It turned out they positively influence passengers’ moods, which could improve the performance in the event of an emergency. However, the study also showed that an entertaining briefing style had a trade-off. The funnier the presentation, the poorer the subjects recalled the key safety messages.

Michael McAdam never worried about whether his mood-lifting style affected the efficiency of his duties: “Quite the opposite. I saw that people actually paid attention to what I was doing, instead of reading or looking at their phones. It’s why I kept doing it all those years because people paid more attention to the safety demo.”

Safety meets satire – humor as a marketing tool that works

The topic of whether one should joke around while discussing matters that can literally mean a difference between life and death is controversial. Finding a delicate balance between entertainment and education is no easy feat.

However, the competitive space of social media is not a plane, and the audience is not just waiting for a take-off, with nothing else to do. To be able to deliver the message, one first needs to get users aboard. For achieving that coveted virality and a flurry of followers, humor is a fantastic tool.

Interestingly, this was proven exactly by the organizations that deal with the most serious topics of safety and security. They realized that to get their voices heard and truly connect with travelers, they needed to speak a language everyone could understand. And that language just happened to be humor.

Humorous tactics for safer travels

1. National Park Service – NPS, USA

Tourists have been misbehaving for years. The rise of unofficial accounts like the Facebook group Invasion of The Idiots or the Instagram account Tourons of Yellowstone (touron = tourist + moron) proved that sometimes it’s not enough to politely ask visitors not to approach a cliff, dip their fingers in volcanic hot springs, hug a cactus, take a selfie with a grizzly, or feed a moose.

With 1.2 million followers on X/Twitter, 1.8 million followers on Facebook, and 5.2 million followers on Instagram, the National Park Service is a US government agency that clearly knows how to reach its audience. If TikTok would be allowed to federal agencies, they’d probably have more than 4k fans there too (still an impressive base for zero posted content).

The organization that practically established a new slogan – “Don’t pet the fluffy cows” – uses clever captions, memes, infographics, and posters to teach us how (not) to engage with wildlife, as well as how to enjoy nature responsibly in general.

The person who devised the new social media strategy for the National Park Service in 2018 was Matthew Turner. He introduced hilarious content that just begged to be shared.

If you like visiting national parks, you sure don't love them as she does! Before the age of three, an American toddler Journey Castillo managed to visit all 63 national parks. Read an exclusive interview with a hiker with a pacifier!

Bison petting charts and bear menus

NPS’s advice can be as blunt as “To avoid crowds, visit areas that are less crowded”, or “Trails often look more flat on the map”. They can provide you with detailed bison petting charts, or sarcastically inform you what to do in the case of a bear encounter. “Pick up small children immediately, unless they’ve been acting up and you’re trying to send a message!” Or: “Hike in groups. Bears like to have options.”

This type of non-dry communication quickly proved successful in attracting more followers and producing better engagement. Even if it came from a serious government agency, users totally vibed with it. Some even picked up the style, such as rockinqltr who commented: “Do not push the Ranger’s buttons! All Rangers are voice-activated. Like Alexa.”

“The humor is often used to draw people in”, Matt Turner once explained. “But beyond the funny, there is usually a safety message, a deeper dive into park resources or policy, or a fun fact.”

I love their educational approach to the importance of drinking water:

“First rule of hydrate club: Stay hydrated.
Second rule of hydrate club: Talk about hydrate club.
Third rule of hydrate club: Just a minute, need a bathroom.”

2. Croatian Mountain Rescue Service – HGSS, Croatia

Croatia, a popular honeymoon destination and more, is a small European country with only 8 national parks (“only” – compared to USA’s 63). Croatia’s territory still gets a fair share of adventures and misadventures by tourists who need a little… Guidance. But there’s no dedicated government agency that would school these visitors in appropriate behavior, especially not one with a knack for humor.

However, one voluntary organization filled that slot. Hrvatska gorska služba spašavanja (HGSS), or Croatian Mountain Rescue Service, specializes in search and rescue operations in all sorts of hard-to-reach places, from the tops of mountains to the depths of caves and even the open sea. They’ve been doing this noble work for free since 1950, but their mission to prevent accidents got an irreplaceable platform in the age of social media.

Since 2012, they started focusing on Twitter as the most direct way to reach both citizens and the media. They quickly learned that a touch of black humor expands their reach. The masterminds of Christian Nikolić and Jadran Kapović delivered content that soon earned them accolades beyond their humanitarian work, such as awards for public communications.

Jadran Kapović himself explains it best: “Since we are not a typical service, our approach was in line with our character, a bit avant-garde. It was a breath of fresh air in terms of our laid-back, ironic, and sometimes sarcastic way of communicating.”

Tourists gone with the wind

How does that work in real life? HGSS might try to appeal to your compassion by asking: “During these chilly days, have you been in touch with your third-age relatives, especially those who live alone, and not on the topic of inheritance?”

Or they might appeal to your common sense, by posting a makeshift sign on Ugljan Island begging you not to hike in flip-flops.

In times when AI is being asked to recreate various world wonders, they generated their very own nightmare – an improperly dressed tourist in the mountains, complete with the caption “We asked artificial intelligence what non-intelligence looks like.”

Jadran sheds some light on this humor tightrope they walk: “Humor can often backfire or drift one’s attention away from the important message we incorporate in our posts. Humor is like bait, but the punchline is the ‘hook’ that makes the difference. Balancing the two is sometimes really hard.”

Their #deartourists series was especially inspired by Croatian visitors who underestimate the power of the ‘bura’ wind and find themselves floating away from the coast on inflatable birds. HGSS will advise you to bring your ID (“So that Italian coast guard do not mistake you for refugees”), urge you to hang on tight to your pink flamingo (“Makes it easier for us to find you”), or, as a last resort, suggest you tweet them from the afterlife (complete with a photo of a tourist in a coffin-shaped floaty and the message “May the dolphins be with you”).

Croatian Mountain Rescue Service, the organization that tries to “keep the number of you entering and exiting Croatia proportional”, definitely knows how to get its message across. They’re talking to tourists in a way that the Croatian Tourist Board never would, but they still include the country’s official slogan: “You are beautiful even without the dangerous cliff edge selfies. Take care of yourselves & let’s keep Croatia full of life.”

3. Transportation Security Administration – TSA, USA

Before you arrive from the USA to Croatia, you’ll have to pass through airport security checks, and the federal agency in charge of travel security doesn’t want to delay your journey.

To keep travelers informed, the Transportation Security Administration, born in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, uses Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook as reach-out channels.

Passing through airport security is already stressful in itself, so the lighthearted approach TSA’s screener Bob Burns introduced in 2013, managed to attract over 1 million intrigued followers.

You could see unusual checkpoint discoveries such as Freddy Krueger’s razor glove, but also learn that “while worn out fedoras and tattered green and red sweaters are discouraged in the fashion world, they are permitted at TSA checkpoints”.

“There’s a cheekiness to it, but I also try to educate and prove travel tips”, Blogger Bob explained his strategy once.

After the original author passed away, the six-member team led by social media manager Janis Burl (2020-2022) left their own mark with posts packed with wordplay and puns. She reveals that it would take them four hours of teamwork for each post!

Among numerous confiscated weapons, they reported about a passenger trying to travel with a bazooka. “It’s not rocket science”, TSA explained, promising to fire back answers to all questions shot at them.

On packing weapons, from chili beans to lightsabers

Today, TSA will teach you why peanut butter is a liquid and a cat is not. They’ll tell you that fireworks on the plane are not allowed, but “what about your canned chili beans?”.

As for forgetful travelers who typically act surprised when faced with weapons found in their luggage, they advise: “Always start with an empty travel bag. That way you don’t “accidentally” leave a knife, gun, cattle prod, brass knuckles, baton, hammer, or baseball bat in your carry-on.”

Even TSA’s official website has caught onto the relaxed communication vibe. In the list of things you can(not) bring to the plane, they toss in fantasy weapons as a legitimate example: “Sadly, the technology doesn’t currently exist to create a real lightsaber. However, you can pack a toy lightsaber in your carry-on or checked bag. May the force be with you.”

“The world doesn’t want to talk to the Government of my parents and their parents”, Janis Burl said in A Bit of Optimism podcast. “The world wants to talk to people and they want to know that you are human. And that was the aspect I was trying to bring out, ‘let me talk to you the way you are talking to me’.”

The benefits of humor in safety marketing

Incorporating humor even in the most serious of communications can be a super effective strategy. Several reasons make this marketing choice beneficial, even when we communicate topics of safety and security.

1. Attracting attention

Humorous content is a quick and effective way to grab people’s attention. In a world inundated with serious and often grim messages about safety and security, humor is a neon sign. It can make a message stand out, increasing the likelihood that people will notice and engage with the message.

2. Fact retention

While Tehrani-Molesworth research might disagree, the practitioners in the field claim that humor, when done right, can make important messages more memorable. Jokes and funny anecdotes can ease nervousness, disarm tension and anxiety, and help the targeted audience process, accept, and remember essential safety instructions.

PRO TIP: If you’re nervous about flying, try bringing along some weighted stuffed animals. They’re like fluffy anchors for your anxiety!

3. Universal appeal

Safety and security messages can sometimes feel impersonal or bureaucratic. Well-executed humor can humanize even the most complex message, and make it transcend cultural and language barriers. It can be digested and appreciated by a wide range of people, making it an effective tool for reaching diverse audiences.

4. Reduced resistance

Services that use humor can engage the audience and deliver critical information in a way that doesn’t feel too preachy or fear-inducing. As such, humor can lower resistance and, by making the message more relatable and less intimidating, encourage better compliance with safety guidelines.

5. Emotional connection

When people laugh, they experience positive emotions. Humor can foster an emotional connection between the audience and the message they receive, but also boost the positive brand image and trust in the organization behind the message.

6. Viral potential

Humorous content is the real king of the social media platforms. People can’t resist sharing and engaging with content that makes them laugh, which can significantly boost the organic reach of safety or security messages.

Humor as a serious safety marketing tool – conclusion

Travel experience, with its always new rules and regulations, can easily become a source of stress. All actors in the chain, from airlines and airports to organizations that manage destinations, can ease the tension with humor and make travelers swallow even those hard pills that they haven’t even considered consuming.

I’m not suggesting we need an army of comedians throwing dad jokes in a desperate attempt to make everyone laugh. As we have seen in examples, sometimes all it takes is just giving bureaucratic jargon a makeover – translating it into something more relatable. Whether it’s referencing pop culture, ditching the legal lingo, or simply not taking oneself too seriously, humor has the power to turn monologues into dialogues.

Humor takes raw information and makes it fun to absorbMichael McAdam

Jadran Kapović, who brought two PR professionals’ awards to Croatian Mountain Rescue Service, explains that the impact of their social media can be measured by the fact that, despite the rise of adventurous tourism, they’ve managed to stabilize the number of rescue missions. “Our educational posts, seasoned with a bit of irony, were great recipes to spread awareness and safety tips”, he says.

Of course, humor is subjective, and what might be hilarious to some may not resonate with others. It’s crucial to strike the right balance when using humor on serious topics. Offensive humor can backfire, causing harm to the brand or message. That’s why the task is best left to the professionals who can consider the target audience, cultural nuances, and the specific context when using humor in safety and security marketing.

The viral flight attendant Michael McAdam, who turned safety briefings into stand-up routines in the skies, summed it up nicely for Pipeaway: “I believe humor is a connection between people. It takes raw information and makes it fun to absorb, more interesting, and forges a connection between the speaker and the listener.”

After all, the word ‘humor’ has its roots in the Latin expression for ‘fluid’. Back then, a person’s health was measured by the balance of bodily fluids. Similarly, today, when humor is mostly connected to the world of amusement, it can be seen as an essential force that balances communication and makes it flow. It can improve the health of our social being.

What do you think about humor as a safety marketing tool?
Share your thoughts in the comments, and pin this article for later!

The post Humor to the Rescue: Can Jokes Be a Serious Safety Marketing Tool? appeared first on Pipeaway.

Mountains of steel and concrete (read: human-made apartment blocks) almost train us to be on our own. The closer we live to one another, the bigger strangers we become.

When I lived in a skyscraper in Zagreb, my fellow residents wouldn’t greet back in an elevator. Even in my current abode, a four-floor building, tenants often prefer to live unbothered by courtesy. I know my first neighbor’s name is Milka because I optimistically introduced myself when moving in. Since then, I never heard a ‘hello’ back.

The magic of the mountain is in making us connect

But in the mountains, where population density drops, every passer-by becomes the friendliest person one could hope to meet.

This past Saturday, I went hiking Zagreb’s Medvednica mountain, loosely translated as the mountain of bears. I was pleasantly taken aback. Despite the arduous climbing on a warm day, hikers managed to summon smiles between puffs and pants. Such is the magic of the mountain – we relate to each other.

Much like other transformative experiences, the hike up the Croatian capital’s mountain begins with a tunnel. You step into the darkness of the tube, but soon a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel assures you that more life awaits beyond. On one side, the towering human-made mountains, and on the other, the grand architecture of nature. Who wouldn’t want to pass through?

The dance of the fern

Many Saturdays ago (exactly 329, I counted), I was hiking in the Southern Hemisphere, a world away from Zagreb. Separated by an entire alphabet of mountains and seas, there was the city of Bandung, the capital of West Java, Indonesia. Overlooking the town, the highest peak was called Bukit Moko.

On that particular Saturday, I wasn’t hiking alone through the enchanting pine forest. There was me, equipped with my Canon, and Fathin Naufal, armed with his Polaroid camera. I had met him just a day before, through Couchsurfing, another platform that quickly connects mountains of strangers.

He had this dense hair and a thin mustache, wore glasses with a chain, and his wide smile, framed by braces, exuded boyish charm. Although he had circled the Sun just 23 times, he seemed mature, with well-defined visions and beliefs. On the other hand, Fathin was still playful like a child. It didn’t need much to pull me into playing fools for his Polaroid camera, as he liked to document life with instant photographs that adorned his tiny room.

At the same time, there was me, serious and ambitious, with a travel blogging agenda, lugging around a heavy camera bag to the top of Bandung’s highest hill I would never even report about. Until now.

I noticed a delicate fern swaying in the wind, between sunlight and shade, just calling for a photograph. It was challenging to capture that tiny fragile thing with its dancy groove, evading my intention to freeze the moment of beauty for… Well, for forever.

Fathin couldn’t contain his laughter as he watched my futile attempts to trap nature in my memory card. Kneeling on the forest floor, in front of that vivid, attention-eluding fern, I had to laugh as well.

A silent storm within me

While I was, 329 Saturdays later, following the winding trail toward Puntijarka, one of Zagreb’s mountain huts, my thoughts swirled around the fragility of life.

Unlike the dancing fern in the Bandung breeze, much sturdier Medvednica trees couldn’t withstand the ferocity of the July storm. It didn’t matter how rooted they were, or how strong they were; many just snapped in an instant. It was a powerful lesson about the unpredictable nature of existence; we cannot know when we will break.

Now, I may not have been the most prepared for this hike. While I was less broken than those toppled trees, there was still a storm of anger and confusion raging in my head, while I tried to put my best face forward when greeting fellow hikers, those nameless ambassadors of people who care. I was hiking up with that dancing Bandung fern etched in my mind, my tired eyes hidden behind sunglasses.

My smartwatch monitor usually scolds me for not getting enough sleep, urging me to improve my bedtime habits. Yet, this Saturday, after a restless night, the smartwatch had no objections. In fact, it commended my mere 4 hours and 58 minutes of sleep, calling it “not bad”.

“Napping boosts your energy and performance”, it said. That’s right, with such numerous awakenings that night, the smartwatch concluded my fractured dreams were a series of strategic power naps.

“Hello? You alive?”

Fathin wasn’t posting much on social media recently. Ever since he had updated his profile picture in November 2022, featuring him confidently dressed in a sleek all-black outfit, complete with high heels and a stylish purse that resembled a vintage camera, he seemed to have retreated from the online spotlight.

Nonetheless, we chatted in January. He shared his enthusiasm for “cool and huge” interior design projects he was about to do – exciting ventures ranging from new bars to an entire treehouse village. By March, he was reporting back as being super busy with work, with massive projects going on. “Super exciting, yet super exhausting”, he told me.

Fathin also spoke about the “fucked-up weather” in Bali, where he had been building his career in recent years. “Mostly super hot and humid, then crazy rain out of nowhere”, he said. “Hahahaha, all about the balance, hey.”

I was reaching out to him in July and August, when crazy rains were long forgotten, but received no response. It was not typical for him to ghost me. I figured he must’ve changed his phone number again, something he had done a couple of times before.

Facebook’s Messenger still displayed him as “connected”, yet my messages refused to go through.

My last WhatsApp message said “Hello? You alive?”

The wall of silence

On Friday, I attempted once again to fathom Fathin’s reasons for ignoring me. And then, on his Facebook wall, my gaze fell upon someone’s post – a photograph capturing his recognizable silhouette, flashing the victorious V sign. The message said: “Fly high and dance forever.”

The earlier post was even clearer for a sinking heart: “I will miss you so much, my darling. Rest in peace, Fathin. You’ve always space in my heart and will always complete my soul. Lots of love always.”

Fathin and I didn’t really have common friends. Our friendship was intensely one-on-one. Springboarded from just two in-person encounters, one in Java and the other in Bali, we felt strangely connected. I was looking forward to staying with him upon my return to the Island of Gods.

But Fathin has not been around since April 15, and it took me five months to find out. As I heard, he had just suddenly fallen ill, gasping for breath. His heart had stopped beating before he could reach hospital.

Saying goodbyes never comes easy, but this one was particularly brutal. He was just 29, always generous and listening, a wellspring of talent and ambition, brimming with realized and future potential. He had that youthful energy of a fern dancing in the wind, always smiling with his braces, showing off his radical haircuts, piercings, tattoos, and a personal style that boldly challenged the conventions of traditional Indonesian society.

I broke down in tears this Friday, learning that my dear friend was gone. It was a loss that defied comprehension.

It was on Facebook I learned about another tragic loss - the departure of Angela Laurier, the artist who understood the stress of performing "someone else".

From strangers to family

Back in Bandung, 329 Fridays earlier, I stepped off a train from Jakarta. He was there, waiting as promised. I was doubtful if a stranger, who had offered me a place to stay for free, would actually show up. I was new to the Couchsurfing platform. Fathin was my second host, I was his second couch surfer.

He loaded me and my bag on his scooter, and off we went to meet his family. It was a traditional Muslim household, and I was warmly welcomed by a chorus of women and children. Nobody spoke English except for Fathin. They extended offerings of food purchased outside, all the while apologizing for not being better hosts.

None of it made sense to me. Only later, I learned that, on the very day I arrived, the grandmother’s sister had passed away. Devastated by sorrow, these kind-hearted people wore the warmest of smiles, like some mountain hikers, prioritizing my comfort while their internal world was falling apart.

I completely understand where Fathin got his warm and positive spirit from. He was so obviously a black sheep of the family, and yet, instead of being a complete rebel, he had absorbed kindness and empathy.

Encounters with local families are what makes global traveling truly valuable. I met another modest, yet incredibly empowering family at Bete Giyorgis, one of the most impressive world churches.

That same evening, Fathin took me to a local street market and introduced me to pandan rice balls and martabak, thick, buttery pancakes, with peanuts and chocolate. I was bought.

Our original plan had been to ascend the Tangkuban Perahu volcano the following morning. But discouraged by the steep price for foreigners, we decided to visit a more affordable local attraction instead – Bukit Moko. After all, unlike people, volcanoes would always be there.

The road to Bandung’s hills was quite steep. I had to dismount from the motorbike at certain sections, so Fathin could drive through. Taking those asses uphill required effort.

The woodpecker’s tap-tap

Some sport bikes whizzed downhill, as I ascended the slopes of Zagreb’s mountain, with a lost friend in my mind. No friendly ‘hellos’ this time. Life’s too quick for that.

I’d stop only briefly, to take a sip of water, so my back could continue sweating, leaving a giant wet mark on my shirt.

“Super exciting, yet super exhausting”, rang in my ears. “Super hot and humid”, it all mixed up.

Mountains are restorative in more than one way. Even amid all those broken, seemingly strong trees, the rhythmic sound of a persistent woodpecker echoed through the forest. There was life beyond what you could see.

You pass the tunnel and disconnect from the civilization’s frantic rush.

Reflection in the stars

Bukit Moko forest was different. It was a hill where civilization and nature grew into each other. Streetlights emerged directly from the trees, and even charging stations were installed. After all, those selfies drain mobile phone batteries.

Among the most sought-after selfie spots were the colossal reflective stars of Puncak Bintang. Fathin and I, naturally, posed for some reflection.

In my travel journal, I would note that we paused for some juice refreshments before heading to the Babakan Siliwangi forest walk. The youngsters of Bandung were shooting urban fashion editorials there.

After savoring a cup of tea at a cozy coffee shop where Fathin’s friend worked, he took me for lunch to a place called The Volcano. Since I had missed out on visiting Tangkuban Perahu, Fathin thought we could at least eat some chicken at this eatery that promoted itself with “The Ultimate Experience” banner.

Fathin ordered an entire chicken, but it arrived at our table half-raw. We sent it back, and after an additional 15 minutes of baking, it returned equally undercooked. We requested a take-out, and later that evening my host would over-bake the hell out of that roast chicken.

Back to the chicken

Fathin’s Couchsurfing profile today says he was a vegetarian. I assume this dietary choice evolved after 2017. We shape our identities gradually.

I haven’t eaten much chicken in the last six years either. Yet, this Saturday, at Puntijarka mountain hut, in the absence of martabak, I ordered chicken for lunch. I wasn’t at the top of the volcano again. But this one was baked well.

Fathin Naufal – from ‘om’ to freedom

Those 329 Saturdays ago, I caught just a brief glimpse into the extraordinary life this unique artsy soul led in his hometown.

Fathin Naufal was the one who introduced me to NuArt Sculpture Park, where his friend smuggled us in, and I managed to snap a pic of the biggest Vishnu statue in the world while it was still a work in progress.

My friend was well-connected, especially within art circles. His talents knew no bounds: he was a performer, a storyteller, a dancer, a singer, a guitar and a piano player.

When I first met him, he proudly displayed his henna tattoo, an ohm symbol on his wrist. “I can’t have real tattoos”, he texted me earlier. “I’m a Muslim, lol. My parents would be angry.”

That changed when he moved away. Bali liberated him, and Fathin expressed himself through a handpoke tattoo. His fashion style also blossomed. He never seemed afraid of being judged as different, or eccentric.

When it comes to imagining new interiors, he was designing everything from toy stores and apartments to teenage gyms and contemporary dance centers.

This clearly perspective young man could hold deep conversations but also liked to laugh. I loved making him laugh.

During a quick tour of Bandung, he even took me on a journey back in time, to his student years. Villa Isola, an art-deco building on the campus of the University of Education, has an aura of mystery, with tales of apparition sightings.

Fathin recalled a peculiar experience there himself. He told me that he was with his friends when they heard the distinct sound of horse bells. That night, all three of them were haunted by the same chilling nightmare – a horse-drawn carriage running over them.

Bearing with the pain

When that May Sunday in 2017 arrived, and it was time for me to depart, Fathin accompanied me to the bus station. He was standing there long, refusing to leave before the bus’s tires began to roll.

“It’s a bit teary but I can handle it lol”, he texted me, just meters away, separated by the bus’s glass windows.

“Don’t forget about us”, he added. “My mom has bought chicken and everything to cook something for you. She feels guilty because she hasn’t even cooked anything for you.”

In that moment of familial grief, that generous woman had room for the feelings of guilt, toward a perfect stranger.

Perhaps I’m not naming things right. True, I had only met Fathin twice. Those 48 hours in Bandung in 2017, and then one evening in Bali in 2019. But our long-distance connection that kept on going was quite strong. I couldn’t just call him an acquaintance. There were too many tears in my eyes when I learned what happened. That vibrant 29-year-old, overflowing with love, was gone? It made no sense.

Our moment in time was like a casual passing-by on some mountain trail. But our “Hello” was far from an empty ritual

Before I left his hometown, Fathin gifted me a necklace adorned with a ceramic polar bear, bearing the word “chill” on its side. It was a profound reminder message, and I wonder if I should have worn it more often, as I undoubtedly will now.

Without anything of equal significance to offer in return, I presented him with a simple bracelet I had received in Kuala Lumpur on Vesak Day. He accepted it with gratitude and called it a lucky bracelet. Now I know bracelets aren’t miraculous.

It’s remarkable how brief encounters with strangers can connect us so deeply. Our moment in time may not have appeared different from a casual passing-by on some mountain trail. But our mutual greeting, though insignificant in the grand scheme of history, was far from an empty ritual.

It was an honor to be able to say “Hello” to you, my dear friend. Your presence has left an indelible imprint on my Polaroid heart.

Have you ever met anyone as briefly as I met Fathin Naufal? Did that person leave a mark on you? Reach out to them today!
And pin this in memoriam piece for later!

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Discover the best honeymoon destinations in Croatia, extraordinary holiday resorts for couples, and fantastic ideas to elevate your trip!

“Is Croatia a romantic country?”, you ask, covered in confetti, with wedding bells still ringing in your ears.

From fantastic islands to explore (some of which are shaped like hearts!) to quirky cultural institutions such as Zagreb‘s Museum of Broken Relationships (a great place to heal when dealing with a breakup), Croatia can thoughtfully cater to couples at every stage of their relationship.

Whether you’re love-struck youngsters chasing sunsets in Zadar and dancing the night away on Pag‘s infamous Zrće Beach, or a more mature couple who prefers tranquil walks on Opatija promenade, there’s a corner of the country that will serve your very personal romantic needs.

While Croatia has a strong naturist history, which makes nude beaches acceptable to everyone, including LGBT visitors, public displays of love among same-sex couples outside of safe zones of dedicated clubs and bars are still considered “provocative”. Especially in more conservative parts of Dalmatia, non-conventional love can lead to trouble.

So is Croatia a good honeymoon destination? You bet! It’s a beautiful country where newlyweds can explore their love. But, alas, there’s no magical recipe for the best honeymoon in Croatia, and ultimately, you should craft your own itinerary through this country “full of life”.

This guide will help you out by identifying the best honeymoon destinations in Croatia, revealing the best holiday resorts for couples, and showering you with a bunch of honeymoon ideas that will elevate your trip experience.

Honeymooning in Croatia was a great idea, and now the time has come to plan your perfect retreat on the Adriatic coast!

PRO TIP: To upgrade your romantic trip, there's more you could do besides planning the itinerary. For instance, learning Croatian before your journey will not only enrich your cultural experience but also open doors to authentic interactions with the warm and welcoming Croatian people, making your honeymoon even more memorable.

Historical attractions in Croatia

Croatia is a country steeped in history, and it will be hard to miss its rich heritage. You should definitely visit historical attractions during your Croatian honeymoon!

The iconic destination to celebrate your love is certainly Dubrovnik. The ancient town known as the filming site of the “Game of Thrones”, and a place that banished rolling suitcases from its cobblestone streets, has a lot to offer. Its impressively thick medieval walls open to breathtaking panoramic views of the Adriatic Sea, the cable car ride to Mount Srđ provides another stunning vista, and overall, the centuries-old architecture is a fairytale setting for leisurely strolls hand-in-hand. Dubrovnik is more than just another UNESCO World Heritage Site; it’s a living museum, a must-visit as long as you can stand other enthusiastic “museum visitors”.

Since Roman times, romantics have been flocking to Split too. The heart of the second-largest Croatian city is one of the best-preserved Roman buildings in the world, also protected by UNESCO  – the Diocletian’s Palace. Get lost in its labyrinth of narrow streets, visit ancient temples, make a wish by rubbing the toe of Gregory of Nin, and climb the bell tower of the Cathedral of Saint Domnius, the oldest in the world. A walk through Split is a true step back in time.

Another place to impress archaeology enthusiasts is Pula, in Istria. Practically a Roman treasure chest, the town is brimming with ruins, temples, and constantly new discoveries. Pula Arena, the two-millennia-old amphitheater, among the best-preserved in the world, hosted gladiator battles in its heyday. Now you can visit it without sacrificing yourself in the hunger games.

Your time travel through Croatia can continue. From Korčula to Vis, Trogir to Šibenik, and Zadar to more towns than you can count, this country is a history buff’s buffet. A perfect place for honeymooners to make history together.

Exploring the natural wonders of Croatia

Croatia is more than just a history lesson. It’s blessed with an abundance of natural beauty too. While you’ll love just randomly wandering along the country’s coastline, consider visiting Croatian national parks as well.

For lovers who are nature lovers, the cascading waterfalls of the legendary Plitvice Lakes are a must-see on any Croatian honeymoon itinerary. Explore one of the seven Plitvice walking routes, wander along wooden boardwalks passing over crystal-clear water, and admire the lush greenery protected in this national park. Truly photogenic ambiance will provide plentiful envy-inducing opportunities for your social media testimony. The likes will just roll in. But keep in mind that Plitvice are a superstar, so they can get truly crowded with nature-loving paparazzi.

For an alternative, but similarly beautiful waterfall experience, head over to Krka National Park. Here’s how to plan a day trip to Krka Waterfalls.

When exploring Croatian nature, use common sense. You don't want to have to call the Croatian Moutain Rescue Service, even if they are fun guys!

All Croatian islands come with their charm, but in national parks, nature is specially protected.

Consider visiting Mljet, the scenic island that, like a Russian doll, features a lake with another tiny island chilling inside.

For the adventurous souls, Kornati Islands is an archipelago maze of 89 untouched islands that are perfect for a boat trip.

If you’re in Istria, Brijuni Islands is a national park worth visiting. The former summer residence of Yugoslavian president Tito is like a Jurassic Park of political presents: zebras, cows, camels, and even an elephant! Here history and nature go hand in hoof.

Brijuni might have imported Indian cows, but Istria has its own native breed. Get impressed by boškarin, the Istrian ox!

Planning an unforgettable honeymoon itinerary in Croatia

To maximize your experience, go for a multi-destination honeymoon! There are numerous ways to design the perfect honeymoon in Croatia, but try to balance the relaxation and exploration in your itinerary. After all, you don’t want your trip to become overwhelming. Also, focusing on fewer destinations is definitely better than feeling rushed, so be smart with the time you can allocate to Croatia.

Start your trip in Dubrovnik. Immerse yourself in rich culture and history, explore charming streets, visit museums, and enjoy local cuisine.

After Dubrovnik, head to the islands. Start with the unspoiled paradise of Mljet, and then hop over to Hvar, known for its vibrant nightlife. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the secluded beaches of the nearby Pakleni Islands, for some intimate moments. Soak up the sun in peace, take a dip in the sea, and indulge in delicious seafood dishes.

From Hvar, make your way to Split, where you can explore the architecture of the ancient Roman Empire, and soak up the city’s lively atmosphere. Take a day trip to the nearby town of Trogir to discover its medieval charm.

While heading north, make sure to stop by the cities of Šibenik and Zadar. When you feel the need to cool down in the mountains, detour to the national park of Northern Velebit and/or Plitvice Lakes. These tranquil corners of nature provide an air-conditioned break from the sizzling coastline.

End your trip with a tour of Istria, the Croatian Tuscany that will reward you with its own gastronomic and enological treasures, cultural monuments, and opportunities for both relaxation and adventure. From Pula, the region’s imposing capital, to Hum, the tiniest town on the planet, there’s a lot to discover on this extraordinary peninsula.

While this itinerary through the best honeymoon spots in Croatia goes from Dalmatia to Istria, you can totally flip the script and do it in reverse, depending on your personal preferences and interests, or your arrival airport (Dubrovnik or Pula?).

You could even fly to Venice, and then hit the road to Croatia. As a matter of fact, with other Mediterranean countries nearby, combining a honeymoon in Croatia with a trip to Italy, Montenegro or Greece can be a genius two-for-one deal.

If you are eyeing South Korea, you should know that the country has a honeymoon island of its own. These are the best things to do in Jeju! 

5 best honeymoon resorts in Croatia

Deciding on where to honeymoon in Croatia is sweet trouble. The one that’s most easily tackled by picking not one, but several favorite bases in different regions.

From romantic boutique hotels to lavish historic villas, you’ll find top-notch resorts to anchor yourself during your honeymoon in Croatia.

Ranked by geographical order, from north to south, these are the best places to stay in Croatia for couples, offering seductive honeymoon packages.

1. Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery
Location: Bale
Price per night: starting at 262 euros

Located at a secluded private estate in Bale, Istria, with vineyards and olive groves planted back in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy era, Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery is a Relais & Chateaux property providing luxury to anyone looking for some peace. Their newest 5-star accommodations come with always-available butlers and experience ambassadors.

Imagine hectares of vineyard land ideal for jogging and bicycle rides. Or you can just chill like a grape on a private beach. Not enough? How about lounging by indoor and outdoor pools, indulging in an anti-stress sauna, or spoiling yourself with spa treatments that include organic red wine and olive body serums?

Of course, their award-winning homemade wine and olive oil are a part of a gastronomic experience too. The high-end Meneghetti Restaurant offers traditional Istrian cuisine with a modern twist. This year, they’ve got another signature product to toast with – grappa Aqua Vita.

If you book a Romantic Getaway package, your two-night stay will include a romantic breakfast in bed, a beach picnic, a personalized cocktail session, a three-course dinner, and a 75′ spa package for two. It’s easy to see why Meneghetti is one of the best hotels in Croatia for a honeymoon.

Check the availability, reviews, as well as best prices for your planned dates, and reserve your stay at Meneghetti here!

2. Grand Hotel Brioni Pula
Location: Pula
Price per night: starting at 282 euros

Named after the nearby Brijuni Islands, Grand Hotel Brioni Pula sits on the Verudela peninsula, one of the most prestigious parts of Pula. The luxurious retreat overlooking the sea is a member of the prominent Radisson Collection.

Close enough to Pula’s historic sites, but also far enough to escape the summer crowds, this 5-star hotel will win you over with views of dramatic coastline and dense greenery. It’s a romantic nest with elegant rooms and modern amenities.

The hotel’s private beach and infinity pool are front-row seats to the epic sunset show, maybe with cocktails in your hands. For a candlelit dinner, visit Brioni Forum Restaurant, one of the five dining venues at the property. They will woo you with dishes featuring truffles, the Istrian favorite aphrodisiac.

When you want to completely relax, pamper yourself with a couples’ massage and tension-releasing bath treatment that will have you floating on cloud nine. If you love an adventure, go with a revitalizing scrub experience that will teleport you from the Adriatic to the Arctic!

Read superb reviews, see more photos, check the availability, and book your stay at Grand Hotel Brioni here!

3. Le Méridien Lav Split
Location: Podstrana
Price per night: starting at 126 euros

Split‘s only 5-star resort is technically located 8 kilometers south of the city, in the elite suburb of Podstrana. As a hotel belonging to the Le Méridien brand owned by Marriott International, Le Méridien Lav Split embodies the idea of glamorous travel available to everyone.

If you want to add island hopping to your luxury honeymoon in Croatia, this is an ideal starting point. Right beneath your balcony, there’s a marina where, if you’re lucky to have it, you can park your own megayacht, or rent a Lav boat yacht with a skipper, and enjoy the sea adventure with style.

For those who prefer staying on firm ground, rosé spritzers paired with local light bites, from grilled fish to oysters, are here to spice up your love life. At an infinity pool, thanks to the Au Soleil summer program, you can enjoy the golden hour by indulging in the exclusive Whispering Angel-inspired rosé sorbet signed by the TikTok-famous chef Meredith Hayden.

One of the best honeymoon hotels in Split will pamper you like royalty. RE:CUPERA Wellness and Spa has got your back, and everything else! Expect steam baths, saunas, and sophisticated body rituals.

To secure the best prices for your travel dates, reserve your room at Le Méridien Lav Split here!

4. Maslina Resort
Location: Stari Grad
Price per night: starting at 443 euros

Just a walking distance from the UNESCO-protected Stari Grad on the island of Hvar, Maslina Resort is nestled in the lush pine forest of Maslinica Bay.

This 5-star hotel follows the philosophy of mindful luxury, proving that it’s possible to combine high-end hospitality with sincere respect for the environment. That means non-intrusive architecture, supporting nature and native species, energy efficiency, seasonal cuisine, locally sourced produce, and ditching plastic like a bad ex.

If you want to experience an intimate setting on one of the most popular European islands, this chic hideaway can enhance your honeymoon in Croatia with Romantic Panoramic Escape. Think nights adorned with flower petals and candles, enriched with rosé wine and chocolate truffles, and completely unwinded with a lavender-infused bath, dimmed lights, and light background music!

For a complete restorative experience, there’s Pharomatiq Wellness, where a garden-to-skin inspired menu serves home-grown organic herbs and locally sourced essential oils. Reward each other with personalized treatments that combine Western and Eastern techniques with mindfulness practices, or just relax in Aquathermal facilities covering everything from a Finnish spa to a Turkish hammam.

If you’ve been intrigued by one of the best hotels for a honeymoon in Croatia, find out the room prices for your dates and reserve your stay at Maslina Resort here!

5. Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik
Location: Dubrovnik
Price per night: starting at 256 euros

Another 5-star beachfront property, Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik has an unmatched view of the iconic Dubrovnik silhouette. With the Old Town and blue sea as a spectacular backdrop of your panorama, you’d be staying at a place that is just a five-minute walk away from the famous medieval walls.

If you want to add an exclusive shine to your honeymoon in Croatia, picking the hotel that has been welcoming A-list celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor and Morgan Freeman, and even some crowned heads, such as Queen Elizabeth II, is a no-brainer choice.

This historic landmark, a member of Adriatic Luxury Hotels, has been charming guests since 1913 and can boast unparalleled service, a beautiful beach, peaceful gardens, and a luxurious spa that can add a glass of champagne to your massage for two.

For a romantic dinner at one of the best Dubrovnik honeymoon hotels, book a table at Sensus, one of Excelsior’s three restaurants, that serves unconventional creative dishes paired with the finest Croatian wines.

Many will agree that Dubrovnik is the best place to honeymoon in Croatia. If you still need convincing, see more photographs and reviews by Excelsior guests here!

Do you want to spend your honeymoon in Indonesia? Read our reviews of the best honeymoon hotels there! If you're traveling to Bali, stay at The Balé Resort or Aria Villas Ubud; if you opt for Lombok, check out Hotel Tugu Lombok!

Romantic activities for honeymooners in Croatia

There is a plethora of romantic activities for honeymooners in Croatia, each promising unforgettable moments.

The offer of “sun & sea” was once a Croatian tourism cliché, but then again, watching the sun setting down over the Adriatic can be a truly romantic experience. Probably the most famous is the sunset in Zadar, the one that Alfred Hitchcock declared the most beautiful in the world. You can upgrade your sunset chase with a wooden karaka boat, fishing adventure, dolphin watching, or at least some sparkling wine. You can also just find a cozy spot on the beach, and hold hands while the sun dips below the horizon, spilling its vibrant colors over the sky.

If you’d love a thrill of adventure during your honeymoon in Croatia, slide down the zipline in Dubrovnik, snorkel around a shipwreck in Šolta, explore Pula caves by kayak, or even see King’s Landing walls from the seaside.

When you get hungry, go truffle hunting in Istria, channel your inner sommelier while wine tasting on Hvar, pair olive oil with prosciutto, ricotta cheese, and even ice cream near Umag, learn how to make the traditional peka, the slow-cooked dish under a bell, in Dubrovnik countryside, and check if oysters are truly an aphrodisiac in Ston. Crown your day with a dinner at one of the romantic waterfront restaurants, with stunning views in the background and the sound of waves crashing against the shore.

Whichever Croatian town you choose to visit, you’ll be able to go on some island-hopping adventures or fish picnics. If you love swimming and snorkeling away from the crowds, this is a great idea. From Dubrovnik explore Elafiti Islands, from Split hop on a four-islands boat tour that includes Brač, Pakleni Islands, Hvar, and Šolta, from Zadar visit the idyllic Ugljan, and if in Rovinj – head to Lim Fyord.

In the grand finale, love is in the air. If you’re close to Sinj Sport Airport, check out this panoramic flight over Split, the one that will take you over Dubrovnik and Biokovo mountain, fly over Šibenik and Kornati islands, or even see how Krka and Plitvice look from above.

Getting around Croatia on your honeymoon

While you can always opt for boring bus connections between towns, getting around Croatia during your honeymoon will benefit from your independence. You’ll be able to see more, change plans, and even go off routes.

There are several ways to hit the road (or the sea) in style:

1. Rent a car. If you want to drive a rented car during your honeymoon in Croatia, don’t overpay the service. You can find the best prices on this car rental comparison website.
2. Rent a luxury camper van. For an even greater level of independence, you can rent a van that could be your luxury home on wheels in Croatia. For traveling around without unpacking at each destination, check out the best motorhome options here.
3. Charter a yacht. Wouldn’t it be awesome to travel between Croatian coastal cities and amazing islands without traffic jams? Discover the freedom of sailing provided by a yacht rental that comes with concierge service.

Tips for a memorable honeymoon in Croatia

To make your honeymoon in Croatia truly memorable, here are a few tips to keep in mind when planning your trip:

1. Plan ahead. Croatia is a popular destination, especially during the summer months. Book your accommodation, tours, and activities, as well as pre-reserve your vehicle, well in advance to secure the best prices and avoid disappointment.
2. Choose the shoulder season. Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) are the magic months in Croatia. The weather is mild and pleasant, tourist crowds are thinner, and prices are lower.
3. Pack for all occasions. In the era of climate change, the weather can drastically change in a matter of days. By packing a variety of clothing options, you’ll be prepared for different conditions, but also diverse occasions, from coastal beaches to mountainous landscapes.
4. Don’t forget the sunscreen. With the Mediterranean sun shining down, Croatia can have some truly hot summer days. Protect your skin by regularly applying sunscreen, not just when you’re at the beach. There’s a reason why cancer in a horoscope is represented by a crab – that’s your visual and health future if you don’t follow this advice.
5. Always have a camera ready. Croatia offers endless opportunities for beautiful honeymoon photography, plus it’s a way to preserve your memories. For a magical glow, take advantage of the golden hour (soft light around sunrise/sunset time), capture natural non-posed moments, and experiment with different angles (which doesn’t mean you should climb rocks in flip-flops).

You don't have to buy pricey vacation packages to prove your love to your fellow traveler. Check out these romantic travel gifts!

Conclusion: Is Croatia good for a honeymoon?

Choosing Croatia for the honeymoon holidays is a fantastic idea. The country’s historical and natural treasures provide a romantic setting for newlywed couples, whether you’re adventure enthusiasts or professional relaxers.

As this virtual tour of Croatia has showcased, from magical Istria in the north to always enchanting Dubrovnik in the south, the country’s coastline is sprinkled with surprises, both in charming coastal towns as well as the alluring archipelago.

You’ll be left wondering whether your honeymoon in Croatia should last 10 days or even 2 weeks. Every corner of this Adriatic gem has something special to offer, and all you need to do is pack your bag, grab your partner’s hand, and let Croatia cast a spell on your hearts.

Follow your instinct and adjust your itinerary. When visiting the best European honeymoon destination, there are no wrong turns!

Hopefully, this thorough guide has helped you with choosing where to stay, when to go, and what to see and do in Croatia for your honeymoon.

With technicalities sorted out, do allow yourself to follow your instinct (or heart, as they would say). Itineraries should always be treated as suggestions, and changing plans, even when visiting one of the best European honeymoon destinations, is all part of the fun. There are no wrong turns on this love journey!

It’s good to know there is also a continental Croatia, the lesser-known part of this inviting honeymoon destination. But that’s another story, and another incentive to plan a romantic trip to a country that loves lovebirds.

When they ask you if you want to go to Croatia, all you need to say is: “I do.”

Are you planning a romantic honeymoon in Croatia?
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The photographs in this article have been sourced through Depositphotos, Unsplash, and hotels.

In the order of appearance, the credits are as follows: 
Hug in Dubrovnik (cover image) - Shevtsovy
Dubrovnik harbor - mana5280
Pula Arena - James Qualtrough 🇮🇲
Plitvice - Dominik Lange
Brijuni zebras - Igor Bumba
Hvar beach - Nikola Radovani, Maslina Resort
Tulove Grede van kiss - Marta Rastovac 
Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery - Meneghetti
Grand Hotel Brioni Pula - Grand Hotel Brioni Pula
Le Méridien Lav Split - Le Méridien
Maslina Resort - Maslina Resort & Kate Sevo
Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik - Adriatic Luxury Hotels
Rovinj sunset - Florin Beudean
Oysters - Adriatic Luxury Hotels
Maslina Resort beach (pin image) - Kate Sevo, Maslina Resort

The post Croatia Honeymoon: The Ultimate Guide for the Best Romantic Retreat on the Adriatic appeared first on Pipeaway.

We practically have a non-traditional couple, the one whose connection resembles more a friendship with benefits (financial ones, of course) than true love. Croatian politics likes to play moral police (although they lack the actual authority in that domain), and has the blessings of the Catholic Church to do so. As a consequence, the nation and the naturists prefer to “not make it official”, and are often on the edge of a breakup.

If we would strip away the ongoing exploitation of the concession contract and the impending “urban” development of the area, we could truly see Kandarola Beach as  a precious FKK paradise. On the sun-kissed southern side of the Frkanj peninsula (part of the Kalifront or Capo Fronte peninsula), the century of public bathing in birthday suits claimed home in peaceful coves shaded by thick pine trees. With clear waters begging you to take a dip from pebbled beaches or even go all-in and jump straight from the rocks, it’s easy to see the appeal of skinny dipping at Kandarola.

Coves on this side of the island are historical safe havens. Kvarner Bay may be the best sea route between Dalmatia and Istria/Venice, but it can still get extremely windy and dangerous. The storms have seen a pope seeking refuge in Rab, but also numerous shipwrecks of those who didn’t manage to call for help. Sailors who survived the raging waves were those who knew they could find shelter in Rab’s western coves.

There are new “storms” threatening Rab’s naturist sanctuary, and safe havens for nudists may be no more. This is the naked truth of Rab’s FKK Kandarola Beach’s glorious past and questionable future.

Nudism and politics – FKKing things up

Social nudism in Croatia bloomed in the era of Yugoslavia, when religious influencers were not as powerful, and politicians didn’t have to worry about re-election, so they calculated less.

Almost paradoxically, Croatian acceptance of public nudity was more liberal in communism, as the society recognized the commercial potential of naturism. While other European countries were barely dipping their toes into nudist membership clubs, Croatia proudly cannonballed into the scene, opening full-scale naturist resorts. Koversada in Vrsar was established the first, in 1961.

But as time went on, the nudist landscape in Croatia saw some shrinkage. Out of the 34 naturist camps that flourished in the 1980s, only 10 remain today. Textile enthusiasts invaded exclusive naturist territories, fencing off the nudists in their enclaves, or exorcizing them completely.

In places like Rovinj, once firmly established FKK beaches are slowly being erased. Even the one tucked kilometers away from prying eyes – Punta Križ beach in Monsena – is under increased public scrutiny in recent years, with municipal policemen paid to prevent “indecent acts” between relaxed beachgoers.

While Croatia was busy patrolling what consenting adults do in their free time, other European countries like France and Spain snatched the title of the most hospitable naturist destinations.

Croatian politics could afford to exercise the moral verticality on nudists (because, why bother with politically-enabled crimes?) simply because the country had a strong textile tourist pool to rely on.

The European integration in the last decade, which culminated this year with Croatia joining the Schengen space and adopting the euro (meaning more open borders and even more open wallets), solidified the country’s position as a tourist hot spot. There are no more passport controls, but vehicles are now queuing on highways, as old-fashioned tolling methods transform by Croatian speed.

While EU systems are in place mainly nominally, old habits die hard. Croatia is still one of the most corrupt member states, where rules can be bent if it serves the particular interests of those in power and those close to those in power.

And naturists became sacrificial lambs. After all, naked people don’t exactly scream deep pockets.

If you're a naturist looking to spend holidays in Greece, check out these clothing-optional hotels!

The Emperor has no clothes

You surely know Andersen‘s famous folktale “The Emperor’s New Clothes”. It’s the story painting the intellectual vanity of corrupt minds. The two swindlers sell the emperor a suit that’s invisible to those who are incompetent and stupid. The emperor then, dressed in nothingness, parades through the town, with nobody aspiring to admit the obvious truth, as it would expose their weakness. Until an innocent child shouts out that the emperor is naked.

Prince Harry partied in Croatian swimming pool fully clothed and changed only the tabloid headlines. King Edward VIII swam in Croatian sea naked, and changed history

Royal protocols are extremely strict. They do not allow free spirits to misbehave and endanger the precious image, the cornerstone that empires rely on. Croatia, perceived as a place of indulgence, and the English royal court, perceived as a buttoned-up house of rules, have an ambiguous connection. Croatia was supplying its finest wines for the coronation of both Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III, but at the same time, it also played a role in stripping royal members of their privileges.

In 2020, Prince Harry stepped down from his royal duties that he later described as a “trap”. With a history of scandals that ranged from donning a Nazi uniform for fun to stripping naked at a party in Las Vegas, Harry had trouble conforming to the stuffy royal mold. Reports from his drunk club nights on Hvar, another famous Croatian island, showing Harry jumping into a pool fully clothed, did not amuse the royal family.

While the Prince’s clothed swim in Croatia may never be a truly historic event, King Edward VIII‘s clothless swim in the previous century definitely left a mark.

The stories of fleeing royal misfits are somewhat similar, from disobeying court protocols and performing a series of scandals, to having their romantic choices with American women disapproved and sympathies toward Nazi Germany questioned.

In 1936, King Edward spent less than a year on his throne, from January to December, when he abdicated because of forbidden love. But hey, at least the couple had a Croatian summer to remember.

King going au naturel at Kandarola

It was August 1936. The Summer Olympics in Berlin were in full swing, with sports representatives saluting the mustached man that will change the world.

Freikörperkultur (FKK) or Free Body Culture movement was growing in Germany, with Hitler’s namesake, Berliner Adolf Koch opening sports centers devoted to nude athletics, in the spirit of the original Olympic Games. The Nazi regime was quick in shutting these centers down. Sharing strictness with the Communists in Eastern Berlin, the idea was the same: naked gatherings were simply a no-go.

Of course, in true colors of hypocrisy, in his spare time, Adolf Hitler was painting nude portraits of his own niece and indulging in the company of Eva Braun, whose naked photographs would eventually surface too.

While the Führer didn’t like to appear in public with his mistress, believing that their photographs would endanger his self-explanatory appeal to women, in the European South, one leader cared less about hiding his amorous adventures.

King Edward VIII took a divorced socialite Wallis Simpson on a cruise of the Adriatic Sea. Even if they were photographed together, the British press did their best to not write about the king’s controversial relationship with a despised American, a woman deemed unworthy of the royal family’s acceptance.

The forbidden lovers arrived in Šibenik, hopping off a train from Paris. On August 10, they embarked on the luxury Nahlin yacht that would soon be seen cruising in Trogir, the Velebit Channel, and eventually anchoring in – Rab.

The most scandalous couple of their time decided to spice things up, and with the approval of their Rab hosts, made a bold move. They took their clothes off, and plunged into Kandarola Beach waters, embracing the naked freedom.

The paparazzi dawn was still behind the horizon, so King Edward’s nude pictures never made it to the front pages. Yet, the scandal still brewed. King’s photographs in swimwear were considered dishonorable enough to ignite an abdication crisis. The British public had never seen their monarch bare-chested before.

Edward’s Mediterranean adventure with a double divorcee would never be approved by the Anglican Church or the UK government. Confronted with that reality, the royal enfant terrible shocked by choosing love over the throne. The course of British history was forever altered.

Ponder this: had King Edward never visited Rab and experienced the allure of total freedom on FKK Kandarola Beach in 1936, his niece Elizabeth might never have become a queen, the longest-running British monarch in history. Who knows, maybe that’s why she insisted on making a toast at her coronation with Croatian wine.

Bare beginnings on Rab

While naturists across Europe celebrated King Edward for disrobing royal garments, Rab was home to naturism even before this prominent pioneer tested Kandarola’s inviting waters.

Online sources often mention the article “Trade in Nakedness”, published in the Austrian economic journal Trend no. 11/83, supposedly claiming that, already in the late 19th century, Rab hotels had reserved 50 beds for naturist guests.

There are also mentions of the Czech Josef Herman writing about naturism in Rab in his article in 1907, as well as certain Professor Günther in 1912.

Richard Ehrmann-Falkenau, a man destined to become the first president of the International Naturist Federation in 1953, made his mark on Rab’s sandy shores in the 1930s. Seeking respite from Hitler’s nude-bathing bans in his hometown of Vienna, he found shelter in Croatia’s more welcoming attitude toward FKK. In 1934, he is said to have christened the first naturist beach in Rab and fostered a thriving nudist colony.

Rab’s wild wild west – nature preservation with a parking fee

Getting to Kandarola, fondly dubbed the English Beach in honor of its royal visitor, is possible by taxi boats from Rab town harbor or Škver town beach.

While I knew it would take me a full hour if I decided to go there on foot from my accommodation, I still gave it a go. After all, my hiking trail was gonna lead me through the unspoiled landscape that has been proclaimed a Geopark back in 2004.

It should be easy, I thought. I’d enter the Premužić Trail at the ramp just above the emergency helipad at St. Euphemia Bay, follow it as it traces along the northern coast of Frkanj, and then before reaching two little coves (one of which is called Mala Dražica or, in loose translation, a Little Clit), cut to the other side.

It would be hard to miss the center of attraction, as I found myself at a wild parking lot at the end of the fire road that should be closed off for traffic by another ramp.

Due to the forest environment protected by the state firm Hrvatske šume (at least on paper), this road should be used only for fire emergencies. Paradoxically, that emergency could be caused by mainly car visitors. There have been protests against them in the past, mostly led by taxi boat operators losing customers, because nothing motivates nature preservation better than lost income.

Still, a girl was sitting at the entrance to the Rab’s wild west, obviously charging motorized visitors for the convenience of parking in a protected forest.

Freikörperkultur, not so frei

I exited the forest on the southern coast of Frkanj, and Kandarola Bay opened up, a series of shoreline indentations that would first see Gavranišće Beach, and then the iconic FKK Kandarola Beach.

The path seemed straightforward, but then out of the blue, an older mustached gentleman sitting behind an equally blue round desk stopped me. Sporting policeman vibes, he pointed at a signboard nailed directly to a tree declaring “concession charge = 4 euros”.

Free access to beaches is nominally a hot Croatian topic, but I wasn’t about to dive into a political debate by exclaiming that beaches cannot be privatized in such a way. I just innocently voiced my confusion, as I was simply following the designated Premužić Trail. It didn’t mention I should pay a toll for free passage to a random guy behind a blue table, controlling a couple hundred meters of shoreline.

“What Premužić Trail? There’s no such thing!”, claimed the man who, later I would find out, was called Josip Jurešić Kačka. He became the carrier of the County-given concession for the exploitation of FKK Kandarola Beach in 2015, eleven years after Rab City signed an agreement for establishing the Geopark, an initiative aimed at protecting and sustainably utilizing the island’s natural heritage.

Even if I was clearly following the free Premužić Trail marked by the signboard, Mr. Concession outright denied its existence and just demanded his toll.

It was already late afternoon and, softened by my hiking goals, he decided to show mercy and offer me a half-price passage to the other side of his concession beach. I wasn’t given a receipt nor a ticket, even if his makeshift concession board had a Tax Administration sticker proclaiming “Bez računa se ne računa” (something like “No bill, no deal”).

Well, there was also a sticker forbidding photography. It’s rather convenient to be able to hide one’s malpractice behind the guise of protecting nudists’ rights.

Instead of denying the existence of hiking trails, Rab should embrace them fully. After all, why wouldn't it have even trails dedicated to - naked hiking?

Profiting on a barricade

Josip Jurešić, the owner and the only employee of Boja d.o.o. (translated as Color Ltd.), the micro-enterprise specialized in wall painting and glasswork that was chosen as the most favorable bidder for economic exploitation of a nude beach, sadly had all legal rights to perform his toll collection.

Croatian concessioners may charge for the entrance to nudist beaches for security reasons. Because one feels more secure as soon as one pays for breathing air

Even if Croatia mainly gives concession permits to bidders providing beach amenities, there are rare cases when the state allows charging the entrance to the concession area, and even fencing.

FKK Kandarola Beach on Rab is one of 18 such exceptions. Those were mainly given to campsites, high-end hotels, and some nude beaches. Often, they are explained by “security reasons”. Of course, all of us know that beaches become more secure as soon as you charge the beachgoers for breathing air.

While Jurešić’s concession was given legally, history has taught us that legality and legitimacy are not the same things (even that German mustached chap made his way to power through elections). We have all the rights, even duty, to question the legitimacy of barricading public paths for private exploitation.

Mr. Concession practically hit a jackpot with this curious arrangement, as all he needed to provide were some parasols, sunbeds, and a kiosk with a terrace. But don’t think that you can use these amenities just because you paid for the entrance. A day’s use of a sunbed will cost you an additional five euros.

Are visitors happy with what they get for “free” at least? Let’s read the latest Tripadvisor review: “Infrastructure poor: 3 freshwater showers only and two small toilets only at restaurants/bar Kanderola for a lot of visitors, not well maintained.”

Wall painter showing true colors

I disobeyed the photo ban, and at the end of the day decided to snap some photos of a part of the concession area, which in total covers some 3.000 square meters of land.

While the concession permits a modest number of 20 parasols and 20 sunbeds, my eagle-eyed lens counted a far greater abundance. The real number is closer to 40 parasols, and each is accompanied by not one, but two sunbeds, so 80 sunbeds at least.

Instead of capping daily income from sunbeds at 100 euros, Mr. Concession can earn 400 euros, and pocket the difference of 300 euros per day. These violations would already be enough for the County to break the contract and demand compensation, but could this audacious charade go on for 8 years truly unseen?

If we focus solely on the visitors renting sun loungers, we could conclude that this brings 720 euros daily (entrance + sunbed). The yearly concession fee is 12,700 euros, plus a silly amount of 1% from (reported) entrance fees and 3% from other services. This means that only with sunbed users, the concession fee could be covered in a mere 18 days of “work”. And here we did not factor in the beachgoers who sprawl on their own towels, or surely the substantial revenue from the beach bar.

According to the 2022 financial report of Boja d.o.o., the total income was just 85,869 euros. If we take into account that the beach is open from May to October, the report would tell us that the concessioner gets barely 477 euros on an average day. Plus, as the company could have other sources of income beyond the concession included in the sum, they may be reporting even less revenue from the beach.

I leave it up to you to estimate if the business of selling free passage to hundreds of daily visitors to the area, renting out 80 sunbeds, and selling drinks truly yield such modest returns or if the bills just get lost, like mine.

Should you pay for the entrance to FKK Kandarola Beach?

Unless you have an insatiable desire for that beach chair and a desperate need for a post-swim shower, or unless you happen to be an undercover state inspector (haha, right), my suggestion would be to skip altogether the portion of the beach monopolized by this dubious concession.

There are better ways to spend your money. And also, I think it’s morally not right to support overexploitation of marine resources, simply because someone was granted the privilege to do so. There’s something fishy here, and I’m not talking about Kandarola’s sea life.

Just a little further north, beyond the grasps of the profit-hungry concession beach, and before Malovica Bay ending in Suha Punta Beach, there is a growing alternative FKK peninsula, a land bulge where better-informed locals and foreigners come to enjoy nude bathing without the burden of paying anyone for sun exposure.

And the good thing about it is that you can access this area from the Suha Punta side if you don’t want to fight for your right to freely walk the coastline with the toll guy.

Escaping the toll trap: How to get to FKK Kandarola Beach on Rab without paying?

Coming from Kampor, you can reach the Suha Punta settlement by car, but you can also walk toward Matovica Beach, navigating the paths that wind past local houses. I’ll explain the path that seemed the easiest to me.

The most important thing is to NOT follow the turn on the main road marked by an improvised road sign to FKK Beach, and a billboard advertising naked poolside ladies and Biser Kandarola restaurant, also operated by the Jurešić family. That turn would lead you to that doubtfully legal parking lot I stumbled upon when following Premužić Trail, and if you head there, you’ll have to deal with paying the entrance fee.

Instead, continue along the main road from Kampor to Suha Punta further south, and once you spot a modest road sign for apartments with “carpavle” e-mail, turn left.

Now follow this road downward, over asphalt and some macadam.

Turn to the right behind the last house, and walk between the green fence and stone wall, to pass the house.

I haven't stayed here, but the house that you are passing by is a rather convenient place to stay if you want to be accommodated close to FKK Kandarola Beach. Apartments Novak come with a garden, a swimming pool, and free use of bicycles. They have exceptional reviews, so check them out here!

When you get to the field, make a left turn and continue down toward the sea.

You will reach another asphalted road, but you should just cross over that one, and continue following the green path.

Before you know it, you’ll emerge at Matovica Beach. Take a left turn when you reach the coastline, and follow the footpath beside the beach, that will start ascending through the forested area. Some ancient cavemen have drawn male genitalia in the concrete, so you’ll easily recognize you’re on the right track.

If you continue along this path until the very end, you will reach the northern blue-table checkpoint, the official start of the concession beach.

You can turn right just next to the toll-collecting station, and follow the coastline, or cut through the forest anywhere before, including the trail heading south from the town’s official FKK beach sign.

Eventually, you’ll exit at the seaside, and be in a position to look for the best spot for free parking of your beach towel. There’s a pebbled beach for easy water access, as well as rocky areas to jump from. Visitors find small nooks and crannies amidst the rocks or shaded areas under the trees to set their base.

Where to stay on Rab Island?

Besides already mentioned Apartments Novak, absolutely the closest accommodation to FKK Kandarola Beach on Rab is Apartman Miljenko – Matovica. Practically located just above Matovica Beach (separated just by a patio door), this place with a nice garden offers the convenience of an easy walk to your naked freedom. The place where I stayed, Guest House Violeta, is a solid and affordable option in Palit, just between Kampor and Rab town. That’s a perfect choice for those who want to be closer to the city life, but also not too far away from the nature escape. For those who like to spend their holidays in the center of the action, Arbiana Heritage Hotel in the Old Town will take care of all your 4-star needs. And then, for getting to Kandarola, you can always count on a luxury of a boat transfer from the town’s port.

Spiky sights: spines in the sea, groins in the grove

The free FKK Kandarola Beach is spacious and offers everyone the freedom to enjoy it. A part of the beach is marked by ‘gay only’ graffiti (the right-hand side when looking toward the sea). But there is no strict division and everyone is welcome to use the beach according to basic rules of mutual respect.

Just like with many nude beaches in Greece, the more forested area of this little peninsula is a vibrant cruising zone, as a local told me while I was drying off on the rock from a refreshing swim in Kandarola’s lovely waters.

Side note: there are some sea urchins, so if you don’t want to experience the pain of stepping on their spines, water shoes could come in handy. Or do we say feety, in this case?

Anyway, my newfound beach buddy spilled the beans, explaining the sex rituals among those who get wood in the woods.

“If you just go up any of the paths, you’ll see men cruising around, and then stopping if interested for something more. It can get really busy”, he whispered, claiming he knows guys who spend their entire vacations strolling around. “There’s this guy from Varaždin, and he does it with anyone. I’m not so open to that, especially with foreigners. For some of them, I know their app profiles mention they’re HIV positive, and I don’t want to pick up anything.”

Truth be told, during my two visits in June, I didn’t find the Kandarola bush was as busy as described. Only when I was looking to get to the beach for the first time, a visitor I asked for a direction was clearly eager to show me much more than the beach. But otherwise, I felt it was as decent as nude beaches go, and certainly not something that would require monitoring officers like Rovinj chose to do.

My beach buddy told me that Rab had trouble finding these officers anyway. Nobody wants to do an underpaid job of controlling others for a low salary. Most locals prefer the simpler path of renting out rooms and apartments, which is a much more lucrative and hassle-free gig.

Given the lack of control, it’s no surprise that the concession beach managed to shamelessly sprout four times the number of sunbeds allowed.

Valamar’s hungry whale and gray propaganda

According to this well-informed local, the concession beach is a small fish when compared to the gigantic whale threatening to swallow their FKK paradise from the north.

Valamar, the heavyweight of Croatian hotel operators, already manages five properties on Rab island, including Carolina Hotel & Villas and Suha Punta Apartments, the closest to FKK Kandarola Beach. But these accommodation units are not enough for the hospitality giant’s appetite, so they were pushing for the new urban development plan (UPU 25) that would allow them to build four tourist resorts in Suha Punta, ranging between 300 and 1,140 beds.

The investment worth 100 million euros should also include grooming of natural beaches, deforestation for new facilities, and 500 new jobs, a favorite argument in any politician’s talk on a depopulating island.

The ruling party, HDZ, didn’t have enough council hands to execute the megalomaniacal scheme that would further exploit the greenest part of Rab in the most commercial way.

But this June, the proposal was brought back, my beach buddy explained, and suddenly a member from the opposition party, SDP, timidly raised his hand in favor of the plan.

In an extremely condescending announcement, local SDP president Josip Ivić – Lero hilariously attacked HDZ for arrogancy and irresponsible behavior, declaring that SDP’s final decision to support Suha Punta urban development plan was an expression of a wish that they, “as a responsible party, rise above the inter-party bickering, and enable the conditions for the realization of the investment”.

He also stood against the rumors spread by unnamed sources about the secret coalition between the two parties. Ivić disclosed that SDP never lies, but instead uses “gray propaganda” as adapted truth, where “not all facts are given, but the ones that are – are true”.

For the end of the surreal announcement, he even pulled out a supposed quote from American general George S. Patton: “If you have shed your blood for this country so you could charge for it later to death, say how much this love costs so that we can pay you, so you can go where the homeland can be bought for money.”

Obviously, there is a lot of effort invested to prove that SDP’s vote for the urban devastation of Croatia’s greenest island had nothing to do with corruption. The strange thing here is that this is not a prime topic in Croatian national media at all, which stay mostly silent on the subject. So SDP announcement directly talks to voters, where rumors are seemingly circling.

“How could all of that happen? Shouldn’t you be in the streets, protesting, instead of sunbathing? Shouldn’t you make this politician’s life miserable?”, I asked my beach buddy. There was no real answer, as media hush adequately reflects shrugs of the quiet Rab people, busy with renting out their apartments to tourists.

The silence of the lambs

As dusk settled over FKK Kandarola Beach in Rab, chirping crickets were practically a live metaphor of silence in which once royal naturist paradise was fading away. A public beach was being swallowed by the waves of particular interests from all sides, seemingly with nobody defending its legacy.

Naturism is a lifestyle that embraces nature at its fullest, and it is not an accident that it found its place nestled on Kalifront, in the shades of the most preserved holm oak forest in the entire Mediterranean. Could the real problem lie in the fact that naturists are people of pacific gestures, always happy with a secluded spot on the margins of society?

Kandarola’s storm was happening at the society’s core but in a deafening silence. Will Rab really lose its historical advantage of being a safe haven, and become the soulless site of yet another mass-tourism Disneyland?

We took our underwear off not for nudism, but for some other thingsMarko Sandalić, independent councillor

Amidst the resounding absence of voices, one lone council member sarcastically “congratulated” the leading parties on their coalition against Rab.

Marko Sandalić, from Nezavisna lista pučana Rab (Independent List of Commoners Rab), was vivid in describing the political acceptance of getting raped with harmful investment: “An old German tourist slogan from the eighties led us to Suha Punta with pants off, yet today we took our underwear off not for nudism, but for some other things.”

He went on to expose the shameful handling of the urban development plan, revealing that he was the only council member present during the public discussion. Others, he noted, just appeared on the unlucky 13th session of Rab City Council “raising hands like sheep” for the project decided by “one or two people” in HDZ establishment.

“We are turning the destination into an Aquapark right next to the cleanest sea in this part of the Mediterranean, in Suha Punta”, Sandalić said in the announcement published on Rab Danas. “But the water for those pools has to come from somewhere, doesn’t it? No one wondered how much natural water wealth must be taken up in Lika for a Kraut to swim in Aquagan right next to the sea. The current government didn’t have the nerve to ask the councilors or the department heads, let alone the citizens about this project.”

“We can only persevere with our goals and opinions, to act and to fight for them as much as we can. Most importantly, we cannot do what others are doing right now – KEEP QUIET!”, Sandalić concluded.

FKK Kandarola Beach on Rab denuding the corruption – conclusion

The story of FKK Kandarola Beach on Rab Island could have been one of a unique and liberating getaway. Instead of raising a monument to its historic contribution to the naturist movement, the politics enabled exploitation that can only threaten its natural appeal.

Sandwiched between one over-exploitative concession and another upcoming mass tourism project that Croatia already has enough of, this secluded stretch of Rab’s coastline is doomed to disappear.

Rab is giving up on the shade of ancient forests that gave the island its name, and enabling shady business instead

Surrounded by lush Mediterranean vegetation, pristine waters, and stunning landscape, it was almost a perfect recipe for those who wanted to throw off the shackles of societal norms and simply be one with nature.

But the appreciation for the great outdoors doesn’t produce dollar signs in the eyes of shortsighted local politicians as much as bland resorts that count the number of beds or concessioners that miscount the number of sunbeds.

Unable to see the value of preserving the unspoiled beauty that drew visitors in the first place, Rab is giving up on the shade of ancient forests that gave the island its name, and enabling shady business instead.

Hans Christian Andersen warned us where unchecked power and the human desire for material things eventually end. But even more than just pointing out how easily our incompetent and unwise rulers can be deceived and corrupted, the moral of the disrobed emperor story lies in depicting the danger of social pressure and blind conformity.

It’s disheartening to see the lack of raised local voices, and even the absence of media reports in Croatian language which would thoroughly research, analyze and question the rulers’ headless frenzy.

The silent surrender with which Croatian natural wealth is handed over to exploiters for not more than Judas coins is a disturbing portrait of society’s downfall.

I intended to write a simple travel blog post about yet another naturist beach. Yet, I found myself standing on the Rab coastline littered with enough shipwrecks already, and a boy in me whispered that I should shout.

The emperor is NAKED!

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Rab cake was considered so sacred and special that its recipe has been kept secret, almost like a relic, behind the thick walls of the local abbey for centuries

I traveled to Kvarner Gulf, where Rab has been known as the Happy Island since Roman times. This was the birthplace of Saint Marinus, the founder of San Marino, but also the place that pioneered naturism, with the audacious King Edward VIII making headlines by embracing skinny-dipping.

However, a delectable treat of rapska torta, born in the medieval city-state thanks to an unexpected pope visit, is the most illustrious product of Rab that should convince you to include the island in your Dalmatian itinerary.

Not every cake can boast of receiving the honor of approval by the pope himself. Rab’s unique pastry, crafted by skilled hands in the local nunnery, holds that distinction.

The cake was considered so sacred and special, almost as the skull of St Christopher, the patron saint of travelers, housed in the local Church of Saint Justine, that its secret was equally shielded with devotion and protected as a treasure for centuries.

Well, the mystical veil gets lifted today, as we explore Rab cake’s origins, reveal the ingredients and recipe of this heavenly treat, and expose the secrets behind the mouthwatering flavors that delighted generations of Croatians. Indulge in rapska torta, the cake that puts a smile in the Happy Island!

Kuća rabske torte – the home of the melted ‘b’

The most eager ambassador in promoting Rab cake is called Kuća rabske torte. For a decade now, nestled in the heart of Rab’s Old Town, this charming museum-meets-temple is dedicated to the island’s most famous dessert. Their employees tirelessly knead the cake dough and sculpt the scrumptious filling into traditional spiral forms. The culinary sanctuary could have the fastest bakers handcrafting the snail-shaped sweet, but those eager tourists’ mouths are even quicker.

But wait a minute. Why is this establishment called Kuća rabske torte when the cake it produces goes by the name rapska torta? I can see the confusion in your eyes. The Croatian language is not the easiest to master, and even when scholars defend the principles of natural speech, the realities of everyday life don’t always conform to those neat linguistic rules.

So if the island is called Rab, should the cake from Rab be referred to as rabska torta or rapska torta? According to the rule of equalization of consonants by sonority, the correct name is rapska torta. But at the same time, we can see that the main institution promoting the island’s tastiest souvenir calls it rabska torta. Even the local and national tourist offices disregard the rule that changes ‘b’ into ‘p’ in front of ‘s’, ignoring the difficulty of pronunciation. For the sake of this article, we will stick with the linguistically sound version – rapska torta, even if this report was made at Kuća rabske torte.

With a full mouth, nobody cares about strict lingual laws. When the scrumptious combination of velvety almonds, zesty citrus, and cherry liqueur crosses our lips and makes our taste buds dance, the bilabial consonant ‘b’ melts in the sound of munching. It’s summer, rules take a vacation too, and everything is forgiven.

Vilma Brna – the woman behind rapska torta revival

Rapska torta is not the easiest to make and it’s even harder to perfect. It demands precision, skill, determination, and a pinch of culinary magic. Just like many other complex cakes, rapska torta is a labor of love.

It was exactly love that brought confectioner Vilma Brna to the island in the groovy 1970s. The man who stole her heart was a local waiter who would later become her husband.

Vilma began creating desserts for the esteemed Hotel Imperial, but her sweet ambitions were bigger than that.

In 1996, she decided to take a leap of faith and open her very own bakery. In a time when only nuns were known for making the Rab cake, Vilma managed to learn its secrets and brought the heavenly treat to the non-religious masses.

Ten years later, Vilma would officially retire, but her Vilma Slastice company would continue on with a new leader. The confectioner passed the whisk to her son, the ambitious chef Josip Brna.

In 2015, a new chapter of the dream unfolded as Josip introduced the House of Rab cake – Kuća rabske torte. He expanded the empire, offering an array of cookies, treats, and eventually even their very own gin.

What started as a one-woman-show, blossomed into a sweet factory employing around 30 people, and raking in a yearly revenue of 1.1 million euros.

Busy bees at Kuća rabske torte

Kuća rapske torte is an authentic place, somewhere between a shop and a workshop. On Ulica Stjepana Radića, right next to the city lodge, I’m greeted by an ever-attentive host, Marinko. It’s always refreshing to step into a place adorned with a genuine smile. I did my part in the service industry, so I know that friendliness is hard to fake, especially in a job that’s a magnet for both wandering passers-by and organized tourist groups all longing to witness the making of Rab cake.

Amidst the constant stream of visitors, Marinko casually tells me his son’s name is Ivan too. And as I open the topic of my upcoming birthday, and the idea of buying their product as a birthday cake, he confesses his son was actually born on the day of my visit, yet he hasn’t managed to find a spare moment to give him a call. Selling Rab cake requires dedicated attention. Even the siren call of the nearby sea, begging for a refreshing dip, must be ignored during the bustling peak season.

When Ružica Ribarić comes to work, her hands don’t stop. Rab cake doesn’t just magically appear out of thin air, after all. “My personal record was 196 cakes in one day”, Ružica tells me, with a smile that could rival Usain Bolt‘s.

“As a matter of fact, we don’t manage to make as many as the sale demands. Here, in front of guests, it’s me in production, but we also have our central pastry shop where we produce Rab cake and all our other cookies too. Yet, there never seems to be enough of us.”

Rab cake history – satisfying the pope’s palate

The cultural significance of rapska torta is based in its history. The origins of Rab cake are in the 12th-century Benedict recipe as, according to the legend, it all started with one unexpected visitor to the island.

It was 1177, and Pope Alexander III and his entourage of ten mighty galleys were returning from the episcopal synod to Italy when a heavy storm hit the Northern Adriatic.

“He actually had to travel from Zadar to Venice, but as the weather was bad, he sheltered in our town’s harbor”, Ružica retells me the story as she deftly cracks the eggs for the cake.

Coincidentally with the arrival of the pontiff and his crew in the welcoming haven, the people of Rab had just completed the renovations of their Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary. It was an opportune moment for the pope to bless their church.

The Benedictine nuns from the Abbey of Saint Andrew set out to surprise the esteemed guest. To express their respect and gratitude, they crafted a divine cake carefully selecting the flavors reminiscent of the traditional sweets of Siena, the pope’s birthplace in Italy. While there is a theory that Arab sweets inspired the creation of the famous ricciarelli di Siena in the 14th century, the similarity in ingredients between the macaroon biscuits and Rab cake might suggest that inspiration arrived even earlier, with the pope.

Rab cake continued to be perceived as precious, becoming the darling of noble palates during Venetian rule. Considered the food of the wealthy elite (the poor actually mimicked the cake with humble pine nuts instead of almonds), rapska torta ascended to the throne of ultimate cake for holidays and special occasions. Even today, baptisms, first communions, confirmations, and weddings on Rab are religious sacraments that would be deemed blasphemy without the presence of rapska torta.

Rab cake ingredients

Originally made on communion wafers, the key ingredients of Rab cake were almonds and eggs. According to Ružica, whose name itself translates to ‘little rose’ in Croatian, the original Rab cake recipe from the 12th to 16th century featured a splash of rose liqueur. “Later, Franciscans brought maraschino cherry liqueur from Zadar, and since the 16th century, maraschino was used.”

In the old days, when the world was a little less connected, gastronomies celebrated all things local. So even Rab cake was made with ingredients that were readily available on the island back then.

“Before, Rab Island had really a lot of almonds. As Punta Luna on the island of Pag was also under Rab’s jurisdiction, our ancestors were planting almonds there too. That’s why our cake’s crucial ingredient is almond”, Ružica explains.

“As the climate changed, sadly we don’t have almonds on the island anymore. We manage to bring it in from the other parts of Dalmatia, near Benkovac and Zadar, but the rest comes from anywhere where we can get it, depending on the demand. Luckily, citrus fruits successfully grow on Rab, so we do have our own oranges, tangerines, and so on.”

And that’s the backbone of the flavor profile of Rab cake: the alchemical blend of almonds, lemon/orange zest, and cherry liqueur.

Unlike other available online recipes, Ružica reveals that she puts butter into the filling. It’s a little twist that elevates the indulgence factor and makes each slice even more irresistible.

Rab cake recipe – decoding the delicious

“Until a hundred years ago, it was unthinkable to get your hands on the recipe for Rab cake. The cake was made primarily by Benedictine nuns, and a few women here in the Old Town, but they also kept the recipe, they didn’t like to give it away”, Ružica says.

If you dare to crack the rapska torta’s secret code by consulting the “all-knowing” AI models of today, despite their enormous data pool, they will typically just spew out some blathering that won’t get you far. That’s how well the secret was hidden.

Keeping the Rab cake recipe out of the sight of even neighboring villages was considered a matter of prestige. But the most tightly sealed lips eventually did part ways, and the longest-guarded town secret spilled into secular kitchens, where the divinity of the dessert could be achieved by anyone who approached it with hallowed commitment.

“That’s right, the elderly ladies who were regularly going to church, made friends with the nuns, and eventually they got their hands on Rab cake recipe”, Ružica tells me. “But while the nuns preserved the recipe from oblivion, written on a piece of paper with calligraphy, it only reveals the ingredients, without measures. So the secret still exists. We have to achieve the result we want on our own. You have to make rapska torta at least 100 times to get it right. Because the ingredients must be felt under fingers.”

Basically, making this treat is a dance between intuition and experience. The Rab cake recipe can even hardly be put into words. Still, to cut your journey of trial and error, we’ll give it a go here!

How to make rapska torta: A step-by-step guide, from preparation to serving

For the crust:

– ½ kilo flour
– 8 eggs
– water
– salt
– sugar
– maraschino liqueur

For the filling:

– 2 kilos almonds
– 2 kilos sugar
– 12 eggs
– ½ kilo butter
– 2 dcl marachino liqueur
– peel from 6 lemons and 2 oranges

Steps for making Rab cake

1. The first step has to be made a couple of days before you want to bake the cake. Blanch the almonds in boiling water for 10 minutes, peel off their skins, and let them dry at room temperature for 2-3 days.
2. The second step – the making of the dough – should be done a day before you want to bake the cake. It’s similar to pasta dough, but with a twist of sugar and maraschino liqueur, for that aromatic touch. After you knead the dough by hand (just like everything is done by hand in this recipe), let it rest overnight in the fridge. That will make it easier for tomorrow’s work.
3. On the big day of baking, half of the work is already done. Roll out the dough, and let it dry a bit, as that will enable easier lacing (creating the decorative mold for our filling). The dough should be really thin. Remember, long ago, the cake base was sacramental bread, the one Christians consume during the Eucharist. So your dough has to be as thin as a wafer.
4. Grind the dried almonds.
5. Combine the ground almonds, sugar, melted butter, citrus peel, eggs, and a good cup of liqueur. If you cannot get your hands on maraschino cherry distillate, you can experiment with something similar. Mix by hand until compact. The mixture should not be too hard, nor too soft, just right.
6. Place the rolled-out dough on flour-dusted parchment paper, on an oven tray. Cut the dough base into your desired shape (you can use a paper form to guide you). The traditional shape is the one of the snail’s shell, but it could be just a regular bar (baštun), a heart, a horseshoe, letters, numbers, or anything you imagine.
7. The filling mixture should be compact and sticky enough to be shaped in any desired form. Place the filling on your dough base, and shape it nicely.
8. Use a fork to gently rake the top of the placed filling, for aesthetics.
9. If you want to additionally decorate your cake, you can place whole almonds on top of the mixture, marking the beginning and the end of the cake.
10. Cut out the dough ribbons, some 1,5 cm in width, and use them to lace the sides of the cake. The process consists of gently pressing the dough strips towards the almond mixture, creating little ruffles, as well as towards the bottom base, so it all connects and holds together during the baking.
11. Preheat your oven to 150 degrees Celsius, and let the cake bake for 20 minutes.
12. When the cake cools down, you can dust it with powdered sugar, decorate it with Bianca Neve flowers, or even serve it on a lace napkin. Pair it with a cup of coffee or tea, but a shot of maraschino will also do.

As they would say in Croatian, dobar tek! Bon appétit!

Cake whisperer’s tips and tricks

• The amounts of ingredients in this recipe may seem like a cake army but fear not, and adjust them to fit your needs. For instance, a snail-shaped cake requires half a kilo of filling. So go ahead and play with the proportions!
• Using high-quality ingredients is key. Always blanch the almonds by yourself, as pre-peeled almonds from the supermarket may not produce the desired result.
• While Rab cake can be eaten warm, it is actually a cold cookie. Its shelf life is two months, as its abundant sugar content acts as a preservative. Remember, this is a millennium-old recipe, from the times when there were no refrigerators or electricity.
• Do everything by hand. Temperatures and moisture vary in summer and winter, and you may need to adjust your ingredients, either by adding more eggs (in cold months) or more almonds (in warm months). One gets the feeling for it by doing it, that’s why it’s important to use your fingers, as well as make a hundred Rab cakes before you master the craft.

If you still need support in making your cake, check out how Ružica does it in our rapska torta video recipe!

The experience of Rab cake

If you followed my sugar rush from Korean desserts in Seoul to Hungarian desserts in Budapest, you may already know I’m a vulnerable sweet tooth.

On paper, rapska torta reads like a sugar avalanche, but it’s surprising how its balanced flavors hit your tongue, and it doesn’t feel overtly sweet at all. I am actually somewhat disturbed, as when you enter Kuća rapske torte, controlling yourself while tasting free samples is an incredibly hard task.

During my visit, I see tourists dropping in, equally captivated, with eyes wide open, and mouths salivating at sight. Sometimes, it’s not convenient for them to buy the cake, as they are heading to the beach, but that doesn’t stop them from entering and tasting samples, with a promise they will purchase the cake before leaving Rab.

Delightfully light and airy, this subtle bite from the Happy Island provides a harmonious mouthfeel. As comfort food, it embodies the warmth of Croatian cuisine. While it springs off from Benedictine nuns and gets celebrated as the centerpiece of Christian festivities on Rab, rapska torta is so devilishly good that most non-religious souls could equally surrender to this temptation. Resistance is futile.

Rab cake is not only a symbol of the island of Rab. Its cultural significance and contribution to local identity were also recognized and protected as national cultural heritage. The art of preparation of rapska torta, that’s orally passed down through generations and can be tracked to at least the 18th century, has been included in the Register of Cultural Goods of the Republic of Croatia, under the label Z-7348. It’s not just a cake; it’s a slice of history.

Rapska torta price – sweetness in every size

At Kuća rabske torte, one can find Rab cakes of various sizes and shapes. Rapska torta price depends on your cravings, and any desire will get an offer.

If you’re seeking a bite-sized souvenir, the round 40-gram cake costs 5 euros, and 100-gram – 7.10 euros. These are perfect for a quick indulgence.

The most popular among the buyers, however, is the 200-gram Rab cake, shaped like a petite bar. Wrapped in cellophane, it costs 10.80 euros, and if you want it in a cardboard box, the price will be 11.60.

For the adventurous souls who crave a grand experience, there are XXL Rab cakes in the traditional spiral form. The half-kilo cake is priced at 26.94 euros, and the kilo cake – 47.70 euros.

If you want the most special Rab cake, the generous 400-gram heart can be yours for the irresistible price of 19.80 euros.

From abbey to airport: Where to buy rapska torta?

The very best Rab cake is produced at Kuća rapske torte, which is open to visitors from 10 am till midnight every day.

If you want the most authentic cake, you should head to the creators themselves – the Benedictine Abbey of St. Andrew. The nuns’ shop is open Monday through Saturday in the morning hours (9 am – 2 pm), and Monday through Thursday in the evening hours (6 – 8 pm). Besides the cake, here you’ll find a cornucopia of wonders: healing tinctures and ointments, jams, liqueurs, and even massage oils. The Rab cake made by Benedictine nuns costs 7.30 euros (200 g).

Rapska torta can also be bought at many local pastry shops, souvenir havens, restaurants, and hotels.

If by some twist of fate, you miss them all, you could score your Rab cake at duty-free shops in Croatian airports, as your last resort before leaving the country.

Where to stay in Rab?

Now, the crucial question of where to rest your weary head after indulging in the delightful world of Rab cake. Here are some accommodation options that will perfectly complement your sweet adventures.

For those with a taste for refined elegance and a penchant for historic grandeur, look no further than Arbiana Heritage Hotel. Nestled along the seafront, this beauty from the opulent era of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire offers 4-star rooms starting at 123 euros per night in the off-season, and 300 euros at its peak.

Slightly more affordable, but not compromising on comfort, is the 3-star Hotel International, where Vilma Brna started her sweet Rab journey. A room here can cost between 120 and 189 euros per night, depending on the season.

I stayed at private accommodation in nearby Palit. Guest House Violeta is operated by a genuinely warm and supportive family, and you can get a room there for 50 to 100 euros per night. That price will allow you to save some dough for extra slices of Rab cake.

Rapska torta, a cake fit for a pope – Conclusion

Rab cake or rapska torta (or even rabska torta, if you insist) is a culinary superstar of Rab that showcases the rich cultural heritage of Croatia, and the country’s dedication to preserving traditional recipes.

Its unique blend of local fragrant flavors (from citrus fruits and almonds to renowned liqueur from the Zadar region), with its delicate execution, make it a truly unforgettable dessert.

Rapska torta is a reason enough to travel to Rab and loosen that belt buckle

Even if described as a “dry cake” with a long shelf life, Rab cake’s mouthwatering taste and texture regularly surprises everyone who tries it. It’s a struggle to take just one bite of this unique cake tart.

From its humble beginnings on the island of Rab, where its absence from any celebration could provoke a curse, to its revered status as a protected cultural treasure, this traditional cake has endured the test of time and continues to entice food lovers worldwide.

Rapska torta is a reason enough to travel to Rab, loosen that belt buckle, and discover Croatia’s legacy compressed into a single dessert perfected through centuries.

If Rab cake’s recipe was worth all the trouble of guarding it as a top-secret, and passing it down by word of mouth through Croatian family trees (because what’s whispered and not written down can hardly be stolen), it has to stand for something.

Guarded by the sisters of the church, behind the thick walls of Rab town, with practically the status of a holy relic, the culinary masterpiece exposed something deemed impossible. Even decadence can find its place in Pope-approved reverence.

Have we awaken your appetite for Rab cake?
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Islands that look like things have been modeled over centuries. The result is a unique physical appearance that cannot go unnoticed

During my island-hopping adventure through the Philippines, a local pointed to the silhouette of Coron Island, and suddenly, a face appeared out of nowhere. Just like the Sleeping Warrior of the Scottish Isle of Arran, or the iconic Nounou Mountain in Hawaii, Coron’s peaks formed the contours of the sleeping giant, a human figure resting in the water.

The phenomenon has a scientific name – pareidolia. The human brain is wired to recognize and identify familiar patterns around us as a way to make sense of the world. This fascinating aspect of our perception is an evolutionary advantage keeping us away from threats and closer to treats. At the same time, it makes us recognize resemblances even when they are not obvious: be it in clouds, rock formations, stains on the wall, or – island shapes.  

Today, we’re delving deep into the treasure trove of the strangest islands on Earth. They’ve been modeled over centuries by the forces of erosion, volcanoes, tectonic dance-offs, and more. The result is a unique physical appearance that couldn’t go unnoticed.  

These cool island shapes range from human body parts and garments to tools and even meals you don’t expect to be served in the ocean. Get ready to feast your eyes on the world’s best islands that look like things!

Islands that look like things – top 17

1. Lu Dan Dao – the island that looks like a fried egg

They say that every day should start with a substantial breakfast, so the first thing served on the list of the islands that look like things, should be a – gargantuan fried egg!

Just off the coast of Clear Water Bay Peninsula, a sheer contrast to bustling Hong Kong, this rural area is home to an island of a peculiar shape. It’s called Lǜ Dàn Dǎo in Chinese, which translates as Green Egg Island. On this sunny-side-up masterpiece, the central yolk is a green, grassy hill. 

Visitors have been comparing the island’s clear waters with those in the Maldives, which might be a bit of a stretch. Sharp rocks and pebbly beach call for sturdy water shoes, but if you bring snorkeling gear along, you can certainly enjoy the undersea too.  

How do you get to Green Egg Island? You’ll need to prepare for a hike through the wild ruggedness of Clear Water Bay Country Park. Start from the Tai Au Mun bus stop, either via Lung Ha Wan Road which passes by the equestrian center, or via Clear Water Bay Road which approaches the eggstraordinary island from the other side. Either way, prepare for an intermediate-difficulty hike of 4 hours in total, with some steep and narrow sections at the final descent. 

Alternatively, you can rent a kayak at Sheung Sze Wan Beach and paddle your way to the island. The real daredevils can opt for coasteering, a thrilling mix of climbing, scrambling, and exploring the rugged coastline, that includes even a cave full of bats.

Whichever path you choose to go to Green Egg Island, know that there’s not much shade on the way, so bring a hat, sunscreen, and enough water. Getting fried as an egg isn’t a recipe for a good time!

I love this Instagram video that makes it look as if the Green Egg Island is just in the middle of frying in oil!

 

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If you haven't opted for accommodation in central Hong Kong, the closest hotel to the Green Egg Island is Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Kowloon East. It will give you that well-deserved celebrity treatment.

2. Hans Island – the island shaped like a pancake

Moving on now to a sweeter, or bitter-sweeter portion of land in the Arctic, once used as a hunting ground for polar bears. The barren and uninhabited Hans Island in the frigid waters of the Nares Strait sandwiched between Canadian Ellesmere Island and Danish Greenland, is shaped like a pancake. That’s right, chilling in the freezer for ages, there is a thick, fat, American-style pancake!

But the United States abandoned all claims to the region bounded by ice back in 1917. And even if Hans Island looks nothing like Canadian crepe or like an even thinner Danish pandegaker, the two countries have been fighting over this cold-served pancake since the 1970s.

The silly war over 1,3 square kilometers did not employ maple syrup from one side and syltetøj fruit jam from the other. Canada and Denmark engaged in something more serious and epic: the whimsical Whiskey War. 

The friendly dispute involved countries’ officials visiting the unassuming Hans Island, planting their national flags, and leaving a bottle of fine brandy. Danish would mark the territory with their signature Schnapps, and Canadians would soon replace it with the Canadian Club. 

In the spirit (literally!) of an international agreement, the back-and-forth battle with bottles was finally settled in June 2022. The diplomats managed to draw the border right through the heart of Hans Island, slicing the now boozy pancake in half.  

As for Hans Island’s name, it got it after the nickname of the Inuit guide Suersaq whose services European and American explorers used while mapping the area. The Inuits, on the other side, call the island Tartupaluk, which means ‘kidney-shaped’. That would explain why none of the countries were ready to sell their rights on this piece of land.

3. Hashima – the island that resembles a warship

There are 505 abandoned islands in the Nagasaki Prefecture of Japan, but one is unique. Some 20 kilometers off Nagasaki coast, lies Hashima, better known as Gunkanjima or the Battleship Island. When approaching it from the sea, you could easily mistake it for some ghostly warship.

Coal mining started in Hashima back in the 19th century, and with delving deeper and deeper underground, the infrastructure on the top of the island also grew. Stacked upon one another, there were huge apartment buildings, restaurants, shops, schools, a hospital, a cinema, a public bath, a shrine, and even a pachinko parlor. At its zenith, over 5 thousand people called this 7-hectare island home, making it the most densely populated place in the world ever. 

Besides being the monument to Japan’s industrialization and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hashima’s crumbling walls also hide a dark history. Before and during the Second World War, it was a forced labor hell for the imprisoned Koreans and Chinese. Just like in the case of the Kanchanaburi railway, this ghost town is a concrete reminder of Japanese war crimes.

The tiny island, just 480 meters long, and 150 meters wide, was completely abandoned in 1974. Its decaying buildings still standing behind the high seawalls were reopened to the public 35 years later. The haunting skeleton of the Battleship Island even inspired the Dead City in the iconic James Bond movie “Skyfall” (2012).

As long as it’s not a typhoon season or extremely harsh weather, several tour operators can secure your very own 007 moment at Hashima. It can still be a rough ride, so if you want to explore the site’s past without seasickness, join the simulated journey into the island’s mineshaft at Gunkanjima Digital Museum, as a part of Nagasaki’s full-day private tour.

When in Nagasaki, choose one of these convenient accommodation options: the fabulous apartment gate nagasaki stay&green, or a choice of rooms and suites at Grand Base Saiwaimachi.

4. Kosor – the island that looks like a machete

Croatia has an abundant archipelago of 1.244 islands. It is only natural that we would find many notable examples for the list of islands that look like things on the eastern side of the Adriatic Sea. Thanks to the eagle-eyed aerial photographer Boris Kačan, these hidden gems of the Mediterranean get the exposure they truly deserve.

The first listed Croatian beauty is Kosor, a tiny islet just south of Korčula, the alleged birthplace of the famous medieval explorer Marco Polo. Modern ramblers visiting the “little Dubrovnik” can wield their sense of adventure, and find a unique uninhabited island that bears an uncanny resemblance to a machete, with a rather sharpened blade.

Kosor, which shares the name with former Croatian PM Jadranka Kosor, is located just south of the beach that has quite an unappealing name – Plaža Izmeta (translatable as Feces Beach). It could be a reference to significant trash left by irresponsible visitors, but Kosor is definitely a prettier site.

With a coastline of just 1.244 meters (and yes, it corresponds exactly to the number of islands in Croatia), the tiny landmass has some nice undersea, with a reef loved by fish and octopuses. The machete-shaped islet might not point to the hidden pirate’s treasure, but divers can still find a sunken fisherman’s boat at a depth of 35 meters.

Part of Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Kosor is nature’s most literal homage to the realm of swords, daggers and epic battles popularized by the famed “Game of Thrones”, filmed in this very region.

Whether you’re an intrepid explorer, an underwater adventurer, or simply someone seeking a quirky island to add to your travel tales, Kosor Island is just waiting to be discovered.

Anchor your base in Prižba nearby. For exceptionally rated accommodation options, check out Villa Zen or Holiday Home Melanie, both with direct sea access!

5. Petch Reef – the boomerang island

Forget the dragons and throne battles; the real showdown is happening in the South China Sea. China claims coral atolls in the territorial zone of the Philippines, and in the last 25 years, plays a game of fishy business. They produced more than 100 incidents including killing sea life with cyanide and dynamite and removing endangered turtles, giant clams, giant oysters, baby sharks, eels, and ornamental coral. Beyond just demanding fishing rights, China constructed a number of artificial islands on coral reefs in the Spratly Islands, leaving permanent scars on once-vibrant ecosystems. 

Still resisting the total harm in this aquatic battlefield, rectangular Jackson Atoll is formed by five reefs, one of which has a peculiar shape. Petch Reef is not technically an island, but when the tides recede, it does reveal its unique shape to the world. If you happen to fly above the 46-meter-deep lagoon, you’ll see an island that looks like a boomerang.

Parts of the reef flats do look damaged by dredging and other destructive human activities in the past, so it is truly a big question whether the unique Boomerang Island can survive China’s aspirations in the area.

Illegal poaching and large-scale land reclamation are a constant threat that the atoll the Philippines call Quirino and Chinese Wufang Jiao could become a victim of irreparable environmental harm. Pillaging one of the world’s last great coral seas for short-term gain will come back at all of us – like a boomerang. 

6. Vela Bisaga – the island shaped like a bowling pin

The Croatian archipelago looks as if a giant played a bowling game with rocks, and they’ve been scattered around in a variety of shapes. One island ended up looking like an actual bowling pin – Vela Bisaga.

Now, be warned, there are name duplicates on both sides of Pašman Island. On the northern side, Vela Bisaga is the first neighbor of the heart-shaped island of Galešnjak. But Vela Bisaga which resembles a bowling pin is south of Pašman, just off the coast of the island of Žut. There are actually five Croatian islands named Bisaga in this county, so… Good luck?

Anyways, when we talk about the bowling-pin Vela Bisaga, it’s yet another uninhabited island. Its size is 0,037 km², which equals 1.800 bowling lanes, or five soccer fields. You can easily circumnavigate the entire island in 10 minutes unless you decide to take breaks for snorkeling, diving, and fishing. You’ll love these crystal-clear waters!

For even more exploring, you can hop over to the neighboring Mala Bisaga, which is, you guessed it correctly, shaped like a – ball. Nature really had a bowling tournament here. 

If you're looking for a place to rest your weary adventurer's bones, you'll find accommodation options in the village of Pristanište on Žut Island. Whether you choose the cozy Kornati Robinzon House or the charming Buba Holiday House, you'll have access to barbecue facilities. So if you manage to reel in a big catch during your stay, you can savor a delightful feast on the spot. Strike! 

7. Merara – the soccer-ball island

If you’re more of a fan of soccer or football, Merara in the bay of the small Croatian town of Sevid could grab your attention. Together with the leg-shaped mainland peninsula, it forms a scene that looks like a freeze-frame of some cartoonish football match.

Merara, the ball, is just 140 meters away from the coast, so you can score your goal easily by swimming. Additionally, its crystal-clear waters offer excellent diving spots.  

The tiny uninhabited island with a circumference of just 577 meters, and an elevation of 10 meters, looks as if it’s suspended in time, just about to be kicked in the direction of the tourist town. 

If you look closer at Google Maps and employ some more imagination, you could even see Sevid itself forming a comically oversized hand of a goalkeeper, ready to make an acrobatic save against any incoming shots. Talk about a football match made in cartoon heaven!

While staying in the heart of Sevid offers its charms, opting for a soccer-inspired quarantine is a special experience. Pick your favorite basecamp among the secluded houses right in front of Merara itself: one is aptly named Apartment Merara, and the other one is Holiday Home Brodina. They are both rated as exceptional, so you won't want to hear that final whistle!

8. Plitka Sika – the island that puts the ‘leaf’ in the belief

Near the Croatian island of Premuda, there is a small islet that looks like a dry leaf – Plitka Sika. It’s a skerry so bare it would make a tumbleweed jealous. Without plentiful resources, it is obviously an uninhabited slice of nature.

The islet’s name means ‘shallow submarine reef’, which is something the Italian speedboat Selvaggia did not take into account in 2010. The boat ran aground and caught fire, but luckily all passengers evacuated in time.

If you want to leaf all your worries behind and are a fan of natural rocks, you’ll see Plitka Sika as an oasis. Additionally, there is a vibrant undersea and, at a diving center in Krijal port nearby, you can rent all the necessary gear for encounters with aquatic creatures, from lobsters and octopuses to moray eels. 

For those seeking some thrills above the water, windsurfing in the area is a popular choice. The same wind that swiped life off of Plitka Sika, and made it more leaf than land, will be a friend of your sail. Enjoy riding the waves!

At the end of your day, unwind in Krijal. For a direct view at Plitka Sika, book your stay at Apartman Rosanda or sea-view holiday home Krijal. If you desire a swimming pool at your doorstep, opt for Villa Temida Premuda. 

9. Bavljenac – the island that resembles a fingerprint

If giants had committed any crime in the Adriatic Sea, the CSI would have easily identified them via Bavljenac. This criminally beautiful island in the Šibenik archipelago looks like a gigantic fingerprint. You can pass by it on your Kornati National Park boat tour!

Centuries of building meandering dry stone walls on this oval-shaped island created a sprawling network of stones that resembles the papillary lines of a finger when viewed from a seagull-eye perspective.

People from the neighboring island of Kaprije started stone-stacking here in the 19th century, but there are theories that the first dry stone walls were erected already in the 1500s. 

The idea was to clear the island of stones and define agricultural plots on Bavljenac (locals call it Baljenac, sometimes Banjevac), and build protection from the notorious ‘bura’ wind. All of that hard work, only to grow grapevines, olives, figs, and citrus trees. Little did they know that they were inadvertently creating a masterpiece of natural art!

On the island barely 500 meters in length, villagers made more than 23 kilometers of waist-high drywalls, producing the densest web of stones Dalmatian islands have ever seen. It is said that this peculiar agricultural labyrinth marks the boundaries of over 100 registered properties (by the way, the island of Kaprije has only 189 citizens!). Just like unique human fingerprints, Bavljenac is also one-of-a-kind. 

While we are playing Sherlock Holmes, it’s worth mentioning that the inventor of dactyloscopy, the revolutionary method of identifying criminals by fingerprints, was a Croatian genius. Already in 1891, Ivan Vučetić started cracking complex cases in Argentina, making innocent people happy, and putting guilty ones behind bars. 

To experience the fingerprint-shaped wonders of Bavljenac up close, your best bet is to stay on Kaprije island. Not only will you have a front-row seat to the mesmerizing wall network, but you'll also get fantastic opportunities for hiking and cycling adventures. Consider booking White Rock Villa or Villa Sonia. You'll have the intricate fingerprint patterns of Bavljenac at your fingertips!   

10. Žavinac Veli – the island that looks like a footprint

Žavinac Veli is another uniquely shaped island leaving its trace on the map of the Croatian archipelago. It looks like a massive footprint! This natural wonder will tickle your imagination just off the main coastline, between the towns of Pakoštane and Drage. 

By size, it might be five times smaller than Bavljenac, but who said giants were proportionate creatures? Its resemblance to the sole of a shoe makes an impression on this list of cool-shaped islands.

Žavinac Veli, just like the neighboring Žavinac Mali (possibly shaped like a ball that’s about to get kicked by our foot-island?), is uninhabited. But the first houses are just a few steps away (well, if you measure a step by Žavinac Veli) – the mainland is at an approximately 400-meter distance.

For some observers, the contours of the island are reminiscent of that iconic bottle of the “real magic” soft drink. That’s how playful nature can be!

If you are looking for accommodation with a nice sea view, you can enjoy the footprint-island directly from the bungalows of Camp Port, on the Pakoštane side, or the swimming-pool-equipped holiday home Island of Heron, in Drage. 

11. Unnamed penis-shaped island

One doesn’t need to own a plane or fly a drone to start discovering hidden secrets of the world usually reserved for birds’ eyes. In this era, Google Maps is all you need.

That’s exactly how in 2021, a 50-year-old intrepid explorer Joleen Vultaggio from Detroit, Michigan, discovered a penis-shaped island amid the Pacific Ocean. As a member of the Google Earth Superfans community, she was doing some innocent search, browsing through the satellite images of New Caledonia, and suddenly stumbled upon a striking sight in turquoise waters: a 500-meter-long schlong. 

Talking to the ever-dignified British tabloid The Sun, the lucky founder cheekily commented on the jaw-dropping size of the island: “I didn’t go and measure how big it is, but considering it’s in the middle of the ocean, it’s a pretty big penis.”

The suggestive island shape that sparked giggles among online observers can be located off the coast of tropical Ouvéa Island, part of the Loyalty Islands Province. Joleen called it uncircumcised and added that she’d love to sit on it. It’s The Sun, after all. 

Now, if Detroit lady ever fulfills her fantasy and embarks on a trip to this phallic paradise, we can only hope she remembers to use protection. Against the scorching sun, of course. Without the sunscreen, in the heat of the moment, she could be more than just blushing.

For a possible day trip to the island shaped like a penis, Joleen and anyone interested would have to stay at Ouvéa Island. There are just a couple of beachfront accommodation options, such as Hôtel le Beaupré and Hotel Paradis d'Ouvéa. If you do head there, please let us know if your vacations were indeed - hard to forget.

12. Vodenjak – the island shaped like a bikini top

It would be a sin to talk about beach getaways on the sun-kissed shores of the Mediterranean without mentioning the iconic symbol of beach fashion – the bikini. Well, unless you are a fan of the au naturel experience, in which case nude beaches got you covered. Or uncovered. But you know what I mean; swimming in the sea and tanning under the sun is an inseparable part of the lifestyle in countries blessed with amazing beaches.

Vodenjak in Croatia is an island that could be a poster child for summer in style. This tiny piece of land in Zadar County (be careful not to confuse it with two islands also named Vodenjak in the Kornati group!) takes the shape of a cheeky bikini top. 

If it’s hard to find it on the map, I’ll say it’s west of the larger island of Ist (which coincidentally resembles a fluttering butterfly), and just north of the intriguing La Sfinge rock formation (that gives a sphinx-like vibe). That’s a stylish neighborhood!      

The coastline of Vodenjak is 1,84 kilometers long, and its size is 0,117 square kilometers. You may think that bikini-top island easily turns heads, but even then, it can get out of sight, as the ill-fated fishing boat Marc learned in 2013. The report of the stranding accident says that it was the negligent captain’s fault. Lesson learned: one should never take the eyes off a bikini top! Or it could allure distracted sailors like a siren’s call to disaster.

If you want to explore Vodenjak and the area, I’d suggest you seek accommodation on the nearby Ist island. Options worth considering are Villa Elen which comes with a pool and free bikes, Holiday home Villa Galetta which has a cool garden with barbecue facilities, and Cosy House by Sea in Kosirača Bay.

13. Vatu Vara – the Hat Island

We’ve been stripping in the last couple of examples, but as they say: you can leave your hat on. Or in the case of Fiji islands, that extravagant headpiece would be called Vatu Vara. 

This extinct volcano overgrown by coral reefs under water, and dense tropical jungle above it, with its flat top and steep limestone cliffs, creates a silhouette that screams ‘hat’ to all who lay eyes upon it. Hence, the island’s nickname: the Hat Island.

Technically a truncated pyramid, it stands head and shoulders above the rest. Vatu Vara’s summit is 305 meters tall, and the diameter of the island’s base is 3 kilometers. That’s impressive enough to be recognized as a hat from the islands of Kaibu and Yacata. Even a neighbor called Mel Gibson can marvel at Vatu Vara’s haute couture from his Mago Island. 

An excursion to Vatu Vara in the Nothern Lau Group of Fiji islands promises pristine white sand beaches in a lagoon wrapped by coral reefs. Once you reach this South Pacific paradise, you won’t bump into another human being, just abundant marine and bird life. 

The American billionaire Jim Jannard bought Vatu Vara in 2006, but now he is selling it, together with three other islands, an airplane, and a foundation. The package deal is estimated at 155 million dollars.

Vatu Vara is uninhabited, but one can stay at Vatuvara Private Islands Resort whose three all-inclusive villas are actually located on Kaibu island. It’s a haven fit for royalty, just ask Prince Harry and Megan Markle who in 2018 enjoyed this privacy, infinity pools, and personal masseuses. If you don’t have 10 thousand dollars for a night of such regal treatment, you can settle on Yacata, at Ocean Souldiers Amanzi-Wai, for a more pocket-friendly 300 dollars a night. 

14. Wizard’s Hat – the island witches would wear

The USA also has its very own hat island, one that Harry Potter fans would love. On sandy Bandon Beach, on the southern Oregon coast, a pointed rock formation with a slightly bent top looks like it was plucked straight out of a witch’s wardrobe, but it’s mostly referred to as the Wizard’s Hat.  

More a sea stack than an island, formed by eons of tides and winds eroding the rock, Wizard’s Hat adds magic to the already spellbinding seascape of Bandon. 

Besides captivating photographers at most magical hours of the day, the hat-rock might not hide a rabbit inside, but it does come with a magical surprise of its own. If you come from the northern side, you’ll see the silhouette of the sorcerer’s hat. But if you approach it from the south, the shape-shifter will suddenly remind you of a Howling Dog.

This very beach has a ton of creatively named sea stacks, from Table Rock and Whale to Cat and Kittens. But maybe the most famous in this playground of natural sculptures is the haunting Face Rock. A profile of a woman sinking in the depths of the Pacific is an image that’s hard to wash away from one’s mind. 

Before you jump to the conclusion that the drowning lady must be the witch who lost her hat, know that native tribes call this rock Ewauna, after a princess who defied warnings about the evil gaze of the ocean spirit Seatka and decided to take a moonlit swim. The legend says that she tried to look away when the spirit appeared, but was still turned to stone. All that was left was her petrified gaze toward the skies. 

If you want to explore the fascinating coastline of Bandon, consider staying close to the Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint. Ocean Aire holiday home looks straight at Cathedral Rock, Tidal Links vacation home is a stone’s throw away from the rock known as The Castle while staying at Coquille Point Condo will reward you with a direct view of the Elephant Rock. 

15. Majsan – the island that looks like The Rolling Stones logo

Our list of cool islands that look like things continues with nature’s tribute to rock’n’roll. The Croatian island of Majsan looks like the most famous logo in music history – the Tongue and Lips that became an iconic Rolling Stones brand. The contour of Mick Jagger’s signature pouty lips with a tongue sticking out was not something you expected to find in the Adriatic, was it?

John Pasche, who designed the logo in 1970, probably never heard of Majsan, so let’s give it a quick introduction. The island is located in the Pelješac Channel of Southern Dalmatia, a part of the Korčula archipelago. Its land area is just over 0,15 square kilometers, and the coast stretches 1,74 kilometers.

While uninhabited today, Majsan had a variety of tenants since prehistory. This valuable archeological site impressed experts with findings of ancient flint stone knives, but also villa rustica architecture from the Roman period, as well as a shipwreck with remains of anchors and amphoras, 35 meters beneath the sea surface. 

From Late Antiquity, there is a sacral heritage of a chapel and a tomb, from Byzantine rule – the defense structures, and the pre-Romanesque period left remnants of the church of St Maximus. Christian monk Maximus the Confessor allegedly spent his days here and inspired the island’s name.     

Majsan even played a role in the rise of an empire. In 1000 AD, Doge Peter Orsello II of Venice anchored his fleet at the tongue-and-lips island, as he plotted the conquest of nearby lands. 

Today, no more battles, except over the towel space on the small beach. If you do decide to go for a day trip, keep your eyes open when your boat approaches the island. Some say its profile resembles a sleeping crocodile, but then these are the same people that describe Majsan’s shape as a manta ray. 

You can rent a taxi boat to Majsan from the charming towns of Korčula or Lumbarda. If you choose Korčula, consider staying at superb 4-star properties such as Aminess Korcula Heritage Hotel, Hotel Korsal, and The Fabris - Luxury Inn. For the ultimate VIP experience, book a luxury apartment at 5-star Lesic Dimitri Palace. If you decide on Lumbarda, opt for the exceptional ECO Aparthotel The Dreamers's Club.

16. Manukan, Mamutik and Sulug – islands that form a smiley

Sometimes, one island is just not enough to put a smile on your face. In the case of the Malaysian part of Borneo, it took three little islands to send a cheerful message to anyone flying over them. Manukan, Mamutik and Sulug islands together form a recognizable smiley face. 

Located just off the coast of Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah state, the island threesome is a perfect excuse to demand a window seat when flying from or to KK airport. 

Pulau Manukan takes center stage as the jovial mouth, while two smaller islands, Pulau Mamutik and Pulau Sulug, play the part of the left and right eye of this island emoji. Together, they make the core of the Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park, a marine sanctuary named after Malaysia’s first prime minister. 

Besides the smile, the three islands offer fantastic white sand beaches perfect for chilling out, vibrant coral reefs that call for snorkeling and diving, and lush tropical forest that envelops an exciting hiking paradise. You’ll be grinning from ear to ear in no time!

Formed some million years ago before the yellow ideogram would become the world’s most popular emoticon, Malaysian Smiley can thank its existence to the melting ice that raised the sea level after the Ice Age. Former hills became islands. Or – smislands?

The Smiley Islands are connected with Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal in Kota Kinabalu by speedboat, and the ride to the happiest place takes only 15 minutes. While a day trip is an option, why rush through the joy? Stay overnight at Sutera Sanctuary Lodges as their villas and suites provide direct access to a private beach, and the return boat transfer is included in the accommodation price.

17. Islands that look like hearts

As we wrap up this collection of extraordinary island shapes, it’s time to give a heartfelt shout-out to those little patches of land that have the loveliest shape out there – islands that look like hearts. 

Here comes Croatia, the land of island wonders, to steal the show once again. As if claiming half of this weirdly-shaped islands list was not enough (their island portfolio already includes a machete, bowling pin, soccer ball, leaf, fingerprint, footprint, bikini top, and even Mick Jagger’s lips!), the small European country dominates in the love department too: at least five heart-shaped islands are dotting the Adriatic Sea.

But love knows no geographical borders. Islands in the distinctive shape of a heart are sprinkled across the globe, from Australia to the USA, from Italy to Maldives (the sandy heart in the picture is exactly from the South Asian archipelagic state). To learn everything about the most amorous destinations out there, head to our ultimate guide to the world’s heart islands.   

Any island that looks like a heart will surely make you instantly fall in love with nature. If that doesn’t work out, scroll back up and start with a fried egg.

Islands that look like things – Conclusion

After this extravagant island-hopping through pancakes, penises, and potential fashion accessories, it’s clear that Mother Nature has a mischievous side. These extraordinary creations have been sculpted over millions of years by the whims of wind, water, and geological sorcery. The result is a dramatic gallery of eccentric island marvels, demanding our attention and igniting our imagination.

Like some gigantic Rorschach test, the outlines of weirdly shaped islands unleash our storytelling

These island oddities remind us that the world is full of surprises that defy conventions. Just when you thought you’d seen it all, along comes an island that resembles your breakfast, or flashes a smile at you.

While nature is certainly an impressive sculptor, human imagination plays a crucial role in recognizing patterns. Our minds are practically hardwired to find magic in the mundane. It’s our wild and wacky pareidolia interpretation that turns a cluster of rocks into a rock’n’roll cover album. Like some gigantic Rorschach test, the outlines of these islands unleash our storytelling while we try to grasp the meaning. 

Beyond their aesthetic appeal, the islands that look like things invite us to see the world with a fresh perspective. They are a testament to the wonder that can be found across the world’s oceans, only if we look hard enough.

While humans are invited to be observers in a living museum, too often they try to take the role of an uninvited sculptor, adjusting the world instead of adjusting to the world. We are intelligent creatures, but the ones that can both recognize and destroy the magic. 

Japanese warship-island is a cautionary example of how our exploiting spirit can only go so far. Nature will eventually reclaim what’s hers, but sometimes we push, and push, and push, beyond the point of no return. We still have a hard time imagining the trajectory of events that our actions will cause tomorrow, even when nature literally paints a boomerang in front of our eyes.

Do you have a favorite among these islands that look like things? If you know of any other that we’ve missed, shared it in the comments!
Pin this guide to the world’s most unusually shaped islands for later!

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The following photographs have been licensed under the following licenses:
Hans & Hashima islands - Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
Petch Reef - Creative Commons — Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic — CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Smiley Islands - Creative Commons — Attribution 2.0 Generic — CC BY 2.0

The post 17 Cool Islands That Look Like Things appeared first on Pipeaway.

If you are still looking for that perfect Valentine’s Day gift, this one would certainly be a showstopper no lover could ignore.

But before you dig deep into your pockets, it’s good to know that only a third of the island is available for purchase.

If you have 155 million dollars, you can even buy yourself an island that resembles a hat! Find it in our list of the most unusual island shapes!

Opportunity for elite tourism?

As Silvestro Kardum, the representative of the sellers, explained to the local media: “It is about four connected plots owned by several owners with a total area of ​​about 32-33 thousand square meters.”

Update: At the beginning of February 2023, another plot has been added to the stack, so the initial price of 10 million Euros has been raised to 13 million, and now you’ll get 40 thousand square meters for that sum!

“There is maquis scrub on that land, and there used to be olive trees before. All ownership papers are in order and the owners are registered. The owners are from Mrljan on the island of Pašman. The owners of the rest of the island were not interested in selling.”

… an excellent opportunity for agricultural elite tourism with a villa and/or restaurant…Ad for the sale of Galešnjak, the heart-shaped island

Mr. Kardum, who once pursued a model career and goes by the nickname Baby, has a Facebook profile where he posts strong anti-vax statements and just occasional low-range property ads. He admits he doesn’t have a real estate agency, but just helps the owners of Galešnjak in achieving this hopeful transaction.

The ad for the sale of the famous Croatian heart-shaped island does have bold statements which you should double-check with your lawyers. It claims that one can register a family farm (known as OPG in Croatia) which supposedly entitles you to not only cultivate the three hectares of land, but also build 400 square meters above the ground, and 1.000 square meters of building underground. The ad calls it “an excellent opportunity for agricultural elite tourism with a villa and/or restaurant, and a large warehouse for olives, wine, and other herbs”.

Even if the possibility of building a solid structure on the island turns out to be true, it’s worth mentioning that Galešnjak is always under public scrutiny. Already when the Jureško family brought excavators to the island in 2013, to prepare the land for the olive groves, they changed the aerial image of the island, and the wounded heart received a strong public backlash.

If you don’t have a yacht, you can always access the heart-shaped island of Galešnjak from your private plane!

Croatia is one of the most popular European destinations for romantic holidays. Learn how to plan the ultimate honeymoon in Croatia!

13 million for a priceless heart-shaped island

Who can afford a piece of the heart-shaped island on sale? The first public comments under this news already call it a ridiculous offer.

“There are 15 co-owners on the island. You cash out millions, and then the remaining 14 quarreling co-owners f**k you with every piece of paper you have to get. The cattle are not able to resolve their co-ownership, and then sell it cleanly, and still ask for millions”, says one commenter.

“(…) You can build 400 square meters. According to which math could that be a good deal for someone? Only if you make a restaurant that sells a portion of sardines for 1 thousand Euros”, comments another one.

Well, if Galešnjak does find a buyer, maybe their motives would not be quick profits. It seems the ad is anyway shooting at wealthy individuals who see 13 million as pocket money.

“You can do something really unique with this real estate, especially when you have guests with yachts like Beyonce and Jay Z (Beyonce even celebrated her birthday there), Jeff Bezos, Michael Jordan, etc. parked all the time”, lists Silvestro just some of the rich and famous who anchored their boats in front of the Croatian heart island. “After all, who wouldn’t come to visit the only sea island naturally shaped in the shape of a heart in the world?”

And this is where the seller gets it wrong. As Pipeaway already extensively covered the story of romantic island geography, there are at least five heart-shaped islands in Croatia and at least two dozen heart islands in the world.

But then, you cannot buy them all, can you?

Would you consider buying a part of this heart-shaped island if you had money? Comment below! Or pin it for later, if you still need to think about it!

The post Heart-Shaped Island up for Sale: 13 Million Euros Buys You Galešnjak Love Story appeared first on Pipeaway.

The cow crossing sign will be the first warning post when approaching Kanfanar, a small town in inner Istria, Croatia’s largest peninsula. Next, you’ll be alerted of possible pedestrians on the road, and only then the name of the settlement most drivers just rush through will appear. There are 500 humans here, but Kanfanar is still capital in a way. Last weekend in July, the town attracts a dozen boskarin ambassadors, the proud breeders of the endangered Istrian cattle. Jakovlja is a fair where Istrian ox takes a central stage.

Boskarin (or more correctly, boškarin) is a native Istrian breed that has been roaming these lands for more than a millennium. But from 60 thousand specimens in the 1960s, their number dropped to low three-digit figures in the 1990s.

Replaced by tractors in the fields and more lucrative milk-producing cows in the stables, the working partner of an Istrian farmer was facing extinction. In 1994, Istria could count only 104 cows and 8 bulls.

Establishing the Alliance of Istrian Cattle Breeders and resurrecting Jakovlja or Saint Jacob’s Festival after four decades of communist-era proscription, provided a new public spotlight to boskarin. Today, their number is estimated at 2.000.

Exhibiting the best representatives of the Istrian ox at Jakovlja is somewhat a Gordian knot. A bull becomes an ox only after a castration. But then again, a castrated bull produces no offspring.

Somehow, the breeders managed to enlarge boskarin cattle numbers, and still deliver Istrian oxen to Kanfanar’s annual fair. Here, the gentle giants of Istrian pastures lock horns for the titles of the most obedient, the prettiest, and the heaviest boskarin.

Kanfanar – municipality of Istrian ox and fuzi

The main generators of Kanfanar’s economy are the quarry (mining the famous Kanfanar limestone) and the tobacco factory (producing the only Croatian cigarettes). In this strong competition, traditional agriculture had weak chances.

Nevertheless, Kanfanar did try to get away from the image of the “stone & smoke” town by rebranding itself as the “municipality of Istrian ox and fuzi”.

The home of the traditional Istrian pasta (the inventor of fuzi was local grandma Luca in the early 20th century) adopted the traditional Istrian cattle too. From the gastronomic point of view, it made sense, as the two merge well together, on a plate.

The week preceding Jakovlja, the so-called Šetimana od Jakovlje, is the best period to have a taste of it all. This is when Kanfanar restaurants offer special and specially discounted boskarin dishes such as boskarin pizza, boskarin tartare, or the famous fuzi pasta with boskarin meat sauce.

Looking for the ox whisperer

At the central junction of the Istrian Y motorways, one could joke that all roads lead to Kanfanar. But the place where I was heading was not even marked on Google maps. For all that I knew, it could’ve been the middle of nowhere.

I wanted to meet Mario Udovicic, a gentleman whose ox won at the first edition of Jakovlja back in 1991, in the category of obedience.

Istrian ox can weigh over a ton, and his horns can grow over 1,5 meters in length

The newspapers of the time were calling this breeder from the village of Gospodi “the ox trainer”. Mario’s ox Bakin was reportedly as tame as a poodle, cheering up the crowds by executing commands with no resistance.

“We have never encountered such a tame ox”, the jury members claimed. “And tameness and diligence are the most precious characteristics of the Istrian ox.”

While Istrian cows can weigh over 550 kilograms, the bulls’ weight is usually between 750 and 900. But after a castration, oxen can weigh over a ton. Their long, lyre-shaped horns can reach over 1,5 meters in length.

I’ve always wondered what keeps enormous animals (from Asian elephants to Istrian oxen) under the control of their masters. Surely, the power of these muscular beasts could easily set them free. So how does one domesticate an obedient giant, one of the strongest animals on the planet? Does it happen by force, with a help of a bullwhip and a stick, or does the job truly call for ox whisperers?

There are places in the world where you can try out farming life as a tourist! Plowing the land with a buffalo is just one of the fantastic things to do in Luang Prabang, Laos!

What makes boskarin so special?

Boskarin, the local nickname for the Istrian cattle (sometimes also called bakin or podolac), stands for an autochthonous breed of the largest Croatian peninsula Istria and some Kvarner islands, notably Krk.

His name derives from 'boška', the Istrian dialect word for the forest, boskarin's natural habitat.

It is a member of the Podolic cattle family that arrived in Europe in the 5th century, during the great migrations.

Defined by the natural environment (free-grazing in forests and pastures), and human intervention through selective breeding of the best, the largest, and the most beautiful specimen, boskarin was developed as primarily working cattle. The farmers used them for plowing, rolling, weeding, harvesting, and hauling material.

We can credit Croatian boskarin even for the existence of Venice, as they were the ones transporting Istrian stone and wood, necessary for the construction of the Italian floating city.

The hard work in the karst terrain strengthened Istrian cattle which became known for their powerful legs, firm hooves, slow gait, and general resistance. These bodybuilders among cows could pull loads weighing over 2 tons, up to a total of 70 kilometers per day.

When the breeding bull became an ox (after the castration), he championed strength and obedience. Being so useful in everyday life, the robust Istrian ox was successfully evading the skewer, and his lifespan could reach over 20 years.

In the old days, the Istrian ox was a measurement of one’s wealth. To have an ox meant to be richer than others. The villages with more oxen were more powerful and respected than those that had less. Today, when Istria is the richest in its history, there are only 30 Istrian oxen alive.

Boskarin, between life and extinction

I left Kanfanar behind, passed by the ruins of the abandoned Dvigrad town, and continued even deeper into the Istrian mainland. The winding roads of patched asphalt with rusty fences led me through villages that Google hasn’t discovered yet. It didn’t feel far from civilization, but it was still fitting well into the puzzle of oblivion, where medieval towns and traditional agriculture were disappearing in the same plague of forgetting.

Exactly on the border of Kanfanar and Tinjan municipalities, I arrived in Fratrije, the village with no signpost. I would find out its name only after navigating the roads with the help of a human GPS, the 84-year-old Mario Udovicic.

He bought the three village houses from the blacksmith family in 1971. They sold the estate and left to live in Rovinj, today one of the brightest stars of Croatian tourism.

For the last five decades, no human resident lived in the village. The only inhabitants of these houses were four-legged animals: twelve horses, 22 cows, 1 bull, and three oxen.

Well, on the morning of the 32^nd edition of Jakovlja, a new citizen arrived in Fratrije world. In the corner of the stable, a reddish-brown calf caught a glimpse of my eye. Curled up next to its white-colored mother, the 40-kilos heavy newborn would be gaining a kilogram per day, changing its color as it grew.

The birth of a new calf almost stopped Mario Udovicic from attending Jakovlja, as new life always has a priority against the prizes and accolades. But luckily, in this natural world where almost everything happens without a veterinarian, mother and daughter cows were both fine.

Mario could politely ask Sarozin, the largest Istrian ox he ever had, to enter the truck. Sarozin would obediently understand and follow his master’s instructions. He would enter the vehicle with no hesitation or fear that it would bring him to the slaughterhouse. Such was the trust of this animal.

The largest animal in Europe?

Mario always knew Sarozin was bigger than others. He was winning competitions for the heaviest Istrian ox for several years in a row. The obedient boskarin was breaking records, exceeding the 1.300 kilograms mark, which was considered to be an extreme maximum for the species.

“Our home scale can weigh only up to a ton”, Mario told me. His giant thus maintained the fame of one of the biggest surprises.

When Sarozin came to the world eight years ago, he was already the size of an adult man. If we would have compared it to the newcomer that joined the stable on Jakovlja morning, Sarozin with 60 kilograms was literally a calf and a half.

And to make the story even more extraordinary, Sarozin was born together with a twin sister of the same size. That mother had to have one of the largest bellies Istrian cattle breeders have ever seen!

When Sarozin stepped off the truck in front of the judges of Jakovlja 2022, the Earth must have trembled. The scale was stressed to its limits and the number that showed up surprised everyone. With unbelievable 1.421 kilograms, Sarozin became the heaviest Istrian ox ever weighed!

Far away from elephants, hippos, rhinos, or even European bison, I was standing next to one of the largest animals on the continent. Knowing how often I hit my toenails into heavy objects, maybe I should mind my step, I thought.

“In boskarin world, weight can vary 50 kilos up or down any day. To be honest”, Mario grabbed my hand, with a sound of regret in his words, “if he wouldn’t have gotten diarrhea three days ago, Sarozin would have had a ton and a half!”

Size does matter, at least at the Kanfanar’s annual Istrian ox fair. See this record-breaking boskarin moving on Mario Udovicic’s farm, in a video!

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The secret of boskarin’s size

While we were standing in front of the stables, I wondered what the secret of this enormous animal was. The opponents must have thought Mario was filling him up with steroids.

“No secret”, the owner claimed. “He eats normal hay like all other cows, thirty to fifty kilos a day. You cannot force him to eat more!”

Besides hay rolls stacked like gigantic sushi, there was also a big bathtub in the courtyard of Fratrije. Temperatures were reaching 35 degrees Celsius these days, and I thought this was an ingenious solution of the owner to beat the heat wave. But the bathtub was not there for bathing.

“Fancy a drink?”, Mario asked Sarozin. The ox didn’t seem to be thirsty, but it was a ludicrous image. The animal that could barely fit through the stable doors used the bathtub as a – glass of water.

Boskarin can drink between 50 and 70 liters of water per day. During this extreme climate change, the need could reach 100 liters of water per animal. Bills quickly add up, and the Udovicic family pays several hundred Euros for water every month.

While the Istrian government had to enforce a particular water reduction policy this summer, animals have to drink. It is said that Istrian cattle prefer rainwater, and often refuse to drink the water from the tap. Luckily, Sarozin is not picky.

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Royal Ascot, Istrian way

Sarozin’s size was impressively exhibited at Jakovlja. Standing next to the other contenders for the prize (and the ox that came second had 300 kilograms less!), Mario’s boskarin was unbeatable.

Parked at the Istrian Ox Park (Park istarskog vola), the new center of Kanfanar, twenty oxen competed in this unusual beauty contest. They were quite tolerant towards a large mass of people squeezing through the forest of horns, hoping to pet the future winner or take a selfie next to him.

The event had all the elements of a local fair, from those old times when “circus would come to town”. There were colorful balloons, tacky souvenirs, fast food, streams of beer, a brass band, baton-throwing majorettes, twirling folk dancers, and among all these hoofers – the bovine center of attention.

With Mademoiselles in wide brim hats posing next to the white stock, it almost seemed the event had a potential of an Istrian version of Royal Ascot. Kanfanar was transforming into a place to see and – be seen.

Mario Udovicic, with groomed sideburns and a small signature hat, accustomed to the tranquility of the pastures, was not the happiest with the fair buzz. “People would play ‘circus’, they put the child on the ox… I do not allow that. Luckily, in 32 years, there were no incidents”, he said.

Judging the oxen

“Please move the children away, we need to evaluate the oxen”, a member of the jury, with a paper and a pen in hands, scolded parents in a rather serious manner.

The kiddos were touching the lying boskarin, throwing hay on him, while he would just continue to chew the grass, unconcerned. It seemed that vide or brass beads placed on the top of the Istrian ox’s horns were indeed purely decorative, and not meant to protect anyone from this calm animal.

At that moment, the jury member requesting proper conditions for her serious judging work was the one who seemed excessively strict.

A quartet of judges would go from animal to animal, and with an analytical gaze tried to translate what they saw into numbers. Tables rating a variety of ox qualities were quickly being filled.

Nothing went unnoticed. The shape of the horns and the tail, the gaze, the height of the wither, the depth of the chest, the flatness of the back, the size of the skin on the neck, the color of the hair… It all deserved a meticulous observation. And a grade.

“7-8! 7! 8! That’s more 6-7!”, the judges tried to pinpoint different qualities of an ox into the most precise evaluating system possible. It’s not easy to measure beauty.

Where to stay in Kanfanar?

If you want to witness Jakovlja first-hand and stay in Kanfanar, you should know that there are no hotels in the town. Your best accommodation solutions are apartments and holiday villas.

Places such as Holiday Home Ana, Apartment Greta, or this two-bedroom apartment in Kanfanar, all have excellent ratings.

If you want to be able to refresh yourself in a swimming pool during your Kanfanar holidays, consider Apartments Ivan & Tina, Alba apartment, Villa Darte, or Villa Dva Pina.

Enjoy your stay!

If you love the idea of staying in the proximity of animals, check out these Ethiopian lodges where wildlife is your first neighbor!

The forgotten language of the Istrian ox

For the obedience category, oxen are specially monitored during the weighing and the parade. Some of them, like Sarozin, complied with the master’s orders easily, but others needed more aggressive guidance.

“Last year, he was the most beautiful and the largest, but the jury decided not to give double prizes anymore”, Mario sadly stated. Was Sarozin a victim of his own size? Would his enormous growth be a handicap for recognizing his other qualities?

“If Sarozin was not the most obedient, I’d cut my head off! He goes wherever you tell him to go”, Mario said. “It is not easy to calm an ox. People only care for money, but a calf needs to be good and polite. One needs to school the livestock, teach them. For half of them on the fair, I wouldn’t allow competition. Their ox doesn’t even want to go ‘on a rope’, and yet they get the obedience award!”

During the parade, when the town’s main street closed for car traffic and oxen went for a catwalk, one could truly see the variety of approaches to handling the stock.

Some oxen followed their owner as a well-trained dog. The ones that pulled away were generally those whose masters used the stick the most. Squinting at every threat of the owner’s hand, these oxen were refusing to cooperate.

“Some people think that oxen are brought up by themselves! I get up at 6:30 every morning”, Mario told me.

Instead of using the stick, the champion breeder talked to his cattle, in a language many didn’t speak: “Shu is ‘go ahead’. Konca can be ‘left’ or ‘right’, depending on which side I want them to move their rear end. Shti means ‘go right’, tsa means ‘go left’. Long ago, your stock would listen to your shti-tsa order kilometers away! That’s how precise Istrian cattle was!”

The hidden gene of auroch

Boskarin (Bos taurus primigenius) is a primitive species, exceptionally close to auroch (Bos primigenius), the wild herbivore that ruled Europe after the ice age and was the ancestor of the first domesticated cattle but was hunted to extinction in 1627. His genes are still existing in species such as Croatian boskarin. The Tauros Programme tries to resurrect the European original wild bovine species through back-breeding his closest relatives.

Even if zoos can be a controversial subject, they do play an important role in saving animals at the edge of extinction. Check out how Basel Zoo does that!

Istrian ox and Istrian farmer have one thing in common; they both belong to an endangered species

Boskarin, back to the woods

Once again, I returned to Mario’s disappearing paradise world. While his efforts were currently supported by his son and his grandson, the old man was aware of how fragile raising Istrian cattle was.

“They all have their day jobs. Anyone who gets schooled doesn’t want to work hard anymore”, he said.

With a variety of secure income possibilities in today’s Istria, Mario was aware that breeding cattle lost its appeal, and that Croatian boskarin and farmer had one thing in common; they both belonged to an endangered species.

We escorted Sarozin back to the stable, and his neighbor ox, almost half of the champion’s size, produced a loud “I missed you” roar. This bromance couple preferred to spend their daytime inside and go outside only during the night.

But Mario, now with the childish excitement in his eyes, wanted to show me the pastures where his herds spent most of their days. Horses were outside throughout the year, while a cow harem with a bull enjoyed Istrian outdoors from April until the first autumn rains.

We hopped into our vehicles and drove even deeper into the unknown. How deep? At our destination, we left the cars in the middle of the road, without the fear they would be obstacles for anyone.

Harem on the edge

After walking through the thicket, and navigating between dried dung, in the sunny meadow we encountered the cow herd, lazing under the warm Istrian sun. Unlike most of the cows I’ve seen, these preferred sunbathing to hiding in the shadows of the trees.

“This is the harem recess. There is no veterinarian. Everything happens in nature!”, Mario said, checking the belly of the newest pregnant member of the herd.

It was an idyllic image, a dozen of cows of various ages and sizes peacefully lying around, and enjoying the days slowly passing by. I could almost understand the spark in Mario’s gaze.

One could think that leaving domestic animals on their own in nature would make them less keen on having humans around. But after an initial reservation, they were curiously approaching even me, the never-before-seen stranger on their meadow.

I touched them, and their story touched me. While it was true that boskarin or Istrian cattle was brought back from the edge of extinction, I wasn’t convinced that this was enough for their survival.

Behind the luxurious industry of sea and sun, where the high price in restaurants was reserved for Wagyu beef and fake but quick-profit-guaranteeing “truffle dishes”, there was this ignored potential of wealth slipping through our hands.

In the middle of the richest Croatian region, hidden behind the asphalt patchwork and nameless villages, the secrets of the partnership between Istrians and their boskarin cattle were slowly dissipating with possibly the last Istrian ox whisperer.

“People only care for money”, rang in my ears. Yet, the word ‘priceless’ could hardly be described in currency.

“Shu! Shu!”, Mario’s words echoed over the silent hills of inner Istria, kilometers away. And only cows understood them.

Meet more boskarin oxen from Jakovlja Kanfanar 2022 edition in our photo gallery!

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For a long time, the most photogenic symbol of this Mediterranean country was Zlatni Rat beach on the island of Brač. This golden cape is a true shape-shifter. The tip of its 500-meter-long pebble tongue constantly moves under the influence of winds, waves, and sea currents!

But after Google Earth highlighted Galešnjak as an island shaped like a heart in February 2009, the Dalmatian coast got another peculiar shape contender that even most Croats were not aware of.

Could the Mediterranean as It Once Was, formerly known as a Small Country for a Great Holiday, make us literally – fall in love with Croatia?

While nature comes in all shapes and sizes, a country’s borders follow both natural as well as political divisions. Croatia itself ended up being a state with a distinctive shape. Observers say it resembles a boomerang, hurricane, dragon, croissant… In one of my lectures, I compared it to crocodile’s jaws.

Unlike neighboring Italy, which doesn’t only have the shape of a boot but also an internationally successful footwear industry, Croatia doesn’t produce boomerangs, croissants nor crocodiles.

With tourism as the country’s main export, could Croatia capitalize on the newly found island that looks like a heart for more than it is? Especially because, as we will reveal here, there are at least 5 heart-shaped islands in Croatia!

Could the Mediterranean as It Once Was, formerly known as a Small Country for a Great Holiday, make us literally – fall in love with Croatia?

Tourism campaigns can sometimes go awfully wrong. Check out some of the biggest flops in tourism marketing!

Heart-shaped island mapped two centuries before Google

Before Google enabled the bird’s-eye view of Earth and before drones became a standard tool of aerial photographers, there were still people who managed to precisely envisage how our planet looked like from above.

French cartographer Charles-François Beautemps-Beaupré, the father of hydrography, sailed the Adriatic Sea in the spring and summer of 1806. Unlike the French tourists of the 21^st century, Beautemps was not on the Croatian coast for ‘good weather’ (literal translation of his last name, Ed.)

Appointed by the orders of His Majesty Napoleon Bonaparte, a delegation of the French Navy’s Hydrographic Institute embarked on a mission of mapping the harbors of the eastern Adriatic.

Signing the Peace Treaty of Pressburg in 1805, Austria left the Third Coalition against Napoleon. They handed over Venetia, Istria, Dalmatia and the Bay of Kotor to the newly formed Kingdom of Italy.

Napoleon Le Grand, the ambitious Emperor of the French and the King of Italy, wanted to fortify the earnings of the newest Napoleonic War. He sent the 40-year-old French cartographer on an expedition south of the Gulf of Venice. His task was to explore which ports, bays and channels could be suitable for the deployment of the French fleet.

Under the supervision of General Caffarelli, the Italian Minister of War, cartographers Paolo Birasco and Ekerlin from the Italian Military Geographic Institute (Deposito generale della Guerra) finished the job. They used French measurements and field sketches and created four nautical charts, eleven port charts, and two side view panoramas of the Adriatic coastal landscape.

In Pašman Channel, scattered with many little islands and islets, the rocky heart covered with greenery emerged out of the clearest waters of the Adriatic Sea.

Napoleon’s Atlas, whose single copy is kept at the National and University Library in Zagreb, was the first to record the heart-shaped Croatian island of Galešnjak.

Without the use of drones or satellite images, 19^th-century cartographers succeeded in delivering an authentic shape of the Croatian “Island of Love”.

South Korea has an island of love and lava, where you can discover these Jeju Island attractions!

Make love, not war

Besides accurate maps drawn in ink and watercolor on handmade paper, Reconnaissance hydrographique des ports du Royaume d’Italie (Hydrographic presentation of harbors of the Italian Kingdom) also included a 65-page military report written in calligraphy.

On the paper embellished with Napoleon’s portrait and French Imperial Eagle, Beautemps-Beaupré concluded that Pašman Strait, the narrowest part of Zadar Channel, covering the area between the island of Pašman and the town of Biograd on the continent, was not important for His Majesty’s Navy.

The cartographer reported that the strait was four miles long and one mile wide. It had a shallow bottom and many small islets. This makes navigation difficult, he said in the manuscript, “dangerous for frigates and almost impossible for warships”.

In other words, already two centuries ago, Galešnjak’s destiny was not written for war, but for – love.

Of course, an uninhabited island didn’t have much relevance in this geostrategic inspection of Dalmatia. In the first hydrographic survey of the Adriatic in history and one of the oldest such surveys in the world, Galešnjak didn’t get the name on the map. Beautemps’ Italian colleague Ekerlin depicted it only as a verdant heart in the sea.

The French survey of the Croatian Adriatic coast from Piran to Split had to continue further south. The ship lieutenant Tician brought Beautemps- Beaupré and his assistant, hydrographic engineer Pierre Daussy, to the area of the port of Šibenik next.

And there, next to the town of Tribunj, the 19^th-century experts of cartography mapped another unnamed Croatian heart-shaped island. We would have to wait for people to start flying, and only then, in the 21st century, one photographer would notice that Galešnjak has a lookalike brother in the island of Lukovnik.

On one heart-shaped island in Indonesia, people celebrate their love by releasing chicken. Find out more about alternative Valentine's Day celebrations!

Finding hearts in the blue Adriatic

Boris Kačan was born in Sydney, but in 1980, still a boy, he flew over to the Croatian town of Zadar, with his family, where he lived ever since.

The flight from Australia, however, was not the one that would shape his career. This avid flier capitalized his love for aerial photography by immortalizing the breathtaking landscapes of Croatia.

After the heart-shaped island of Galešnjak achieved international fame, discovering other heart shapes sprinkled in the Adriatic Sea became a sequence of natural coincidences during Kačan’s frequent flyovers.

“It was all mainly without planning. I would see one, take pics, then research and photograph what I didn’t have”, Boris told me.

“Google Maps never crossed my mind. On one flight towards the Kornati, I’ve seen the island of Mrtonjak. From one angle, it had a shape of a heart. Then it flashed to me that there could be more. Not long after, I was flying around Šibenik and saw another island – Lukovnik next to Tribunj. Only after the third heart-shaped island, I opened Google Maps. That’s how I found Lisac in front of Sveti Juraj. As for Rončić, I didn’t find it on the map, but also by chance. On one flight, it turned out to resemble a heart from a certain angle.”

Check this aerial video footage of Galešnjak by Ivan Verunica on Youtube:

5 heart-shaped islands of Croatia

Galešnjak might be an island that comes in the most perfect shape of a heart. But it is certainly not a lonely heart.

People found heart islands all over the world. From Maine, USA, to the Philippines, from the Maldives to Australia, the love symbol appeared in a form of an island on practically every continent. A heart-shaped island showed up even on a virtual continent – in Fortnite!

However, none of these examples could compare to a mere concentration of hearts scattered over the eastern side of the Adriatic Sea.

Boris Kačan scanned the sea from Trieste to the Bay of Kotor. Thanks to him, we can now confirm that there are at least 5 heart-shaped islands in Croatia!

1. Galešnjak

Heart-shaped island coordinates:
43°58′42″N, 15°23′01″E

The most famous on this list of the heart-shaped islands of Croatia is Galešnjak.

Nicknamed “the world’s most adorable island” by Huffington Post, Galešnjak is today better known as Croatia’s Lovers’ Island.

Standing proud in the Pašman Channel, between the island of Pašman and the town of Turanj on the mainland, this uninhabited island is home only to wild vegetation and a colony of small rabbits and wild pigeons.

Do not believe Google maps telling you there are strangely named businesses on Galešnjak, such as a bakery, two ice-cream parlors, and even a hotel! As you can see from its aerial view, none of this is true. There is no place to stay, eat or drink on this island.

With no infrastructure, it is just a wild oasis to stop by while sailing the blue Adriatic. That’s exactly what people do, from Pope Alexander III who anchored here in the 12^th century before visiting Zadar, to Jay Z and Beyonce who celebrated her 39^th birthday by swimming on Galešnjak’s pebbled beaches, in the 2020 pandemic year.

The tiny island of barely 1.545 meters long coastline attracts other lovers too. They paddle here to celebrate anniversaries, honeymoons, or even propose.

After they heard Angelia Jolie considered giving a New York heart-shaped island as a birthday present to Brad Pitt, the owners of Galešnjak, the Jureško family from Pašman, saw an opportunity.

In 2013, the bulldozer deforested two large stripes of the land. Those scars caused quite a stir in the press at the time. The imagined future? Olive trees and a chapel for weddings.

If you want to own a piece of this romantic topography, it’s worth knowing that Galešnjak is a heart-shaped island now available for sale. Well, at least a part of it!

You can visit Galešnjak and enjoy local food on this full-day excursion!

2. Lukovnik

Heart-shaped island coordinates:
43°45′09″N, 15°44′31″E

Similar to Galešnjak’s figure, Lukovnik is just 40 kilometers to the south.

This heart-shaped island is located right in front of Tribunj, a village in Šibenik-Knin County, best known for being the birthplace of the popular Croatian singer Mišo Kovač and for organizing summer races of donkeys.

First charted in that Napoleonic Atlas, Lukovnik’s shape managed to remain a secret ever since. Even if it is just 50 meters away from the shore.

With a coastline of 930 meters, this little uninhabited island shaped like a heart has some vegetation providing shade after summer swims.

3. Mrtonjak

Heart-shaped island coordinates:
43°57′20″N, 15°10′36″E

In front of Sali, another place known for donkey races, but also for its thousand-year-old fishing tradition, Mrtonjak is our next island that looks like a heart.

Overshadowed by Dugi Otok (in translation: long island), the seventh-largest island of the Adriatic Sea, Mrtonjak is a Lilliputian neighbor of barely 0,079 km².

Just like other heart-shaped islands in Croatia, Mrtonjak is uninhabited. But it has a construction from the newer times: a shelter for fishermen and their fishing nets.

This heart-shaped island has its own green heart, the greenest of all islands on this list.

Its shape is also more rounded than others, and the total length of the coast is 1,08 km.

4. Lisac

Heart-shaped island coordinates:
44°55′48″N, 14°54′59″E

Under the slopes of the Northern Velebit National Park, the village of Sveti Juraj looks at another island shaped like a heart.

Lisac is a bare rock, the product of the strong and turbulent bura wind from the mountain which stripped it of larger vegetation.

On the other hand, Lisac protects the village from the moist jugo wind. It had this function since the pre-historic period when the Liburna Lopsi tribe lived here.

In Roman times, the island was connected with the mainland town called Lopsica by a stone causeway. Later it sunk under water, together with the antic harbor.

Those remnants can still be seen today. The sea is clear and suitable for diving, and Lisac is at a swimming distance from the shore.

The coastline of this heart-shaped island is 540 meters long, while it covers a surface of 0,018 km².

5. Rončić

Heart-shaped island coordinates:
43°54′23″N, 15°16′26″E

Almost a twin brother of Lukovnik, Rončić is the smallest heart-shaped island on this list.

With only 0,016 km² in size, and with a coastline of just 520 meters, it easily gets overlooked in the Kornati island group.

The densest archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea, besides being home to one of the eight Croatian national parks, was hiding another heart island all these years.

All romantics visiting the area should definitely make a stop-over on Rončić, and enjoy the sunset from its shores.

Supposedly, even dolphins, known as mammals that can experience complex emotions, love to play around this heart-shaped island. So keep your eyes open!

Besides championing with heart-shaped islands, Croatia also dominates our list of islands that look like things. Think everything from fingerprints to bikini tops, the Mediterranean country has it all!

Morgan Freeman revealing the lost world of Croatian Atlantis

The shapes of these heart islands might be monuments to the mastership of nature. But what lies beneath the blue Adriatic Sea surface could be an even bigger treasure.

Croatian archeologists dived six-meter deep at Galešnjak in 2019. They found an 80-meter-long rectangular “bridge” that connected the island with the continent in the Neolithic when the sea level was lower.

It turned out that 7-8 millennia ago, people crossed the shallow sea by depositing stones and inhabited the heart-shaped island. They left traces of their existence in ceramics, the first olive seeds, and the oldest underwater stone construction in the Adriatic Sea.

The story of Galešnjak attracted the attention of US TV producers and Morgan Freeman who approached Boris Kačan recently.

“We were filming the submerged pathways between the islands of Galešnjak and Ričul, and further towards the continent”, Boris revealed. “The discovery of Zadar archeologists intrigued the Americans who included it in their documentary on old settlements that are now underwater. Let’s say, they are making a film about the legendary Atlantis.”

The climate is rapidly changing, and ocean levels are growing again. Looking into the sunken worlds of previous civilizations could bring educative insight into both our past and our – future.

Maybe the heart-shaped Adriatic Sea islands could be the key to the secret of how we can continue loving life on this Earth.

If you were intrigued by the Adriatic Sea, you should definitely plan romantic holidays to this part of the Mediterranean. Here are our best tips for the honeymoon in Croatia!

Love is in the air

Flying made us see the planet from a perspective that was earlier a privilege of birds. Croatia, that strangely shaped boomerang, turned out to have many hidden forms in its natural treasures. It almost seems that the region of Dalmatia is sprinkled with more hearts than Dalmatian dogs are with spots.

However, the heart-shaped Adriatic islands of Galešnjak, Lukovnik, Mrtonjak, Lisac and Rončić are not the only play of Croatian nature that speaks the universally recognizable language of love.

Lake Prokljan, on the edge of Krka National Park, hides another heart-shaped secret under its surface. On the mouth of the river flowing into the Adriatic, a shoal of a peculiar shape presents another impressive work of Mother Nature. The locals call this heart overgrown with red algae – Gromilica.

But hearts are not just a peripheral decor of this lovely country. Even Zagreb, the Croatian capital, has a heart of its own!

The two original settlements of the Old Town, known by the names of Gradec and Kaptol, form the shape of a heart together!

The photographer Roberto Pavić flew by plane over these neighboring hills. The probably unintentional notion in the design of the urban planners of the Middle Ages caught his attention.

So it seems the city in the heart of Croatia is not just home to the world-renown Museum of Broken Relationships, or to the festive Croatian Licitar hearts, the national souvenir that is a must-have gift for Valentine’s Day.

The heart is also inscribed in the architectural design of Zagreb, the capital of the country one can easily fall in love with.

Fall in love with Croatia – time for a new slogan?

In its three decades of independence, Croatia has tried out many touristic slogans and destination branding ideas. Some of those were successful, others were incredible failures.

Croatian National Tourist Board which once promoted the country through ‘the Thousand Islands of the Croatian Adriatic’, finally settled with ‘Croatia, Full of Life’ in 2015.

In the 1990s, Croatia was a ‘Small Country for a Great Holiday’, the ‘Heaven on Earth’, ‘So Beautiful, So Close’, and even ‘An Old Friend with a New Name’ (with an intention to remind tourists on memories from the ex-Yugoslavia).

The country’s most successful slogan was probably ‘The Mediterranean as It Once Was’. The largest disaster was the quickly removed promise from 2019: ‘Croatia Will Waste Your Time’.

There was one slogan that mentioned hearts too. But even if they launched it in 2009, it didn’t take into account the heart-shaped islands. ‘When Heart Says Summer, It Says Croatia’ aimed at summer lovers, no matter where their hearts were calling them to.

Whether you are married to God like Pope, or dangerously in love like Beyonce, Croatian hearts can easily steal yours

‘Fall in Love with Croatia’ is my proposition for a face-lift of the country’s communication with touristic markets.

From that excellent atlas made for the personal use of Napoleon, Croatia evolved into a country where everyone is allowed to feel like an emperor.

Whether you are married to God like Pope, or dangerously in love like Beyonce, Croatian hearts can easily steal yours.

Falling in love with Croatia could mean falling in love with incredible nature, rich history, mouthwatering gastronomy, exciting adventures, a high level of safety, and a laid-back lifestyle. Now, these are all components of a great love affair!

Some earlier big idea slogans have cost Croatia 350.000 Euros. I’d give away ‘Fall in Love with Croatia’ in a more economical arrangement, cross my heart!

What do you think about this idea for the touristic promotion of Croatia?
Bare your heart with me in the comments!

Huge 'thank you' to dr. sc. Mira Miletić Drder from the National and Univerity Library in Zagreb, as well as to freelance photographers Roberto Pavić and Boris Kačan for the selfless support in the preparation of this article!

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When I looked into the data of the last year, suddenly the title “Bestselling Bookings of 2020” sounded like a joke. The decline of Pipeaway readers who continued towards the platforms such as Booking.com or Airbnb in order to plan their accommodation was staggering. For instance, only 14.937 Pipeaway visitors continued surfing at Booking.com in 2020, in comparison to 39.546 of them in 2019.

The number of international arrivals worldwide fell by 74 percent last year and brought the loss of 1,1 trillion Euros. Can the industry recover in 2021?

This drop of 62 % is probably something that many hospitality providers would even see as their success in the utterly depressing 2020. World Tourism Organization reported that the number of international arrivals worldwide fell by 74 percent and brought a loss of 1,1 trillion Euros.

The pandemic has changed, and in some places completely stopped the world from traveling. Nationwide lockdowns made it impossible to even see our closest family members. They did not leave much room for dreaming about faraway destinations and the idea of holidays. Many people lost jobs and sources of income, and travel was indeed reaffirmed as a luxury we can all refrain from.

However, vaccination against COVID-19 could restart the world economies, and eventually enable tourism as we remember.

That is why I combined the data of Pipeaway readers’ bestselling bookings in 2020 and the data of our most popular articles and search terms on Google with the research of online booking platforms! And the result is here, my very own international travel predictions for 2021!

Should I stay or should I go?

Before we dive into the recommendations of 10 countries to discover in 2021, let’s address the burning question: will we even want to travel this year?

According to the research made by Booking.com, the pandemic only fed our desire for traveling. During the lockdown, 38 % of travelers looked for potential travel destinations as often as once a week. 53 % of travelers claim to have a greater desire to see even more of the world now.

As expected, the rise of the concept of staycation will dominate. Many will not want to travel too far away from their homes so that potential new waves of the pandemic do not leave them stranded. Because of that, domestic travel and destinations reachable by personal vehicles will have an advantage in comparison to those relying on flight connections.

The research showed that 46 % of the respondents plan to take the time to appreciate the natural beauty of their home country. But that doesn’t mean that long-haul getaways are written off. Surprisingly, 21 % of people intend to travel to the other side of the world by the end of 2021. Lesser-known places and hidden gems will have an advantage, especially if visiting them means avoiding crowds.

We have all learned that staying at home is a nice privilege of the pandemic. But our restless human psychology has problems with concentrating all life activities in one place. Those of us who had to combine working from home with raising a family know how complicated things can get. Therefore, the trend of workcation is not a surprise either. Now that many learned they can do their job duties from any location, travelers will be extending their vacation time in order to work remotely in the new surroundings.

10 countries to discover in 2021

1. Greece

The overall winner of my personal 2020 year in review, my favorite new country, is also on the top of your future travel dreams, it seems. Greece has implemented a responsible approach to dealing with the pandemic, and it might just pay off.

According to 2020 bookings, you have been particularly focused on the Greek islands of Naxos and Paros. One of my own dearest discoveries was Donousa (the featured image of this article).

But judging by your conducted Google searches, in 2021 you might also be drawn by historical places such as Delphi, the center of the world, or Mount Athos monasteries, the synonym for isolation from the world.

In the field of private apartments, you have been especially looking for Airbnb stays in Santorini. The volcanic island, home of the legendary Oia sunset, could benefit again from tourism, this time on a more human scale, with hopefully fewer crowds than it is used to.

For more beachfront properties in the fantastic Greek archipelago, check out these Cyclades islands hotels.

2. Malaysia

I’ve been to Malaysia many times in recent years, but haven’t written even close enough to what this fantastic country deserves. Always immersed in visiting my friends there, my posts on Pipeaway mainly covered some of the amazing festivals the country’s diverse minorities have to offer.

While the well-attended Thaipusam piercing extravaganza, an extraordinary religious ritual, is canceled this year due to the lockdown, smaller events, such as Chap Goh Mei 2021, the very special Chinese version of Valentine’s Day, could still get under your travel radar if you happen to be around.

Last year, Pipeaway readers’ bookings focused mainly on the capital of Kuala Lumpur and Batu Caves, but for the throwing of the mandarin oranges in the sea, you will need to travel to George Town on Penang Island.

3. South Korea

With its efficient fight against the pandemic, South Korea became a role model for many countries. But there is certainly plenty of other reasons that made it one of Airbnb’s top trending destinations by the search for trips in 2021.

K-pop and Korean spa are rising in popularity everywhere, and the Oscar-winning movie “Parasite” was the most Google-searched movie title on a global level in 2020!

The modern metropolis of Seoul, the home of the Gangnam style, is definitely drawing loads of attention. When you pick your accommodation, make sure to stay somewhere close to these mouthwatering Korean desserts.

Then again, if you already fly to this exotic country, it would be a shame not to discover Jeju, South Korea’s version of Hawaii. This guide through Jeju Island attractions, including the raunchy Jeju Loveland, will help you make the most out of your stay there.

4. Philippines

Having the island sharing the name with the most talked-about virus of our times, it is not unusual that the Philippines ended up being the result of many Google searches by Pipeaway visitors.

Coron Island, in northern Palawan, is definitely a place of exquisite beauty and will be finding its spot on the bucket lists of travelers even after the memories of coronavirus fade away.

For ideas on where to stay in this tropical paradise, do your accommodation planning for Palawan here!

If you are visiting this archipelago country during Easter, experience the Holy Week crucifixion in Pampanga with your own eyes! Maleldo Festival is one of those extraordinary events that are not for the faint-hearted. Approach the bloody religious celebration with caution!

5. Norway

About 56 % of travelers questioned by Booking.com claim that they will seek out more rural and off-the-beaten-track experiences in future travels.

Norway, with its amazing nature and the old law of allemannsretten (that gives freedom of wild camping anywhere for free), is a perfect destination for everyone who wants to immerse in the great outdoors.

Fjords, such as Aurlandsfjord or Lysefjord, are exciting places to start your hiking adventures in Norway that could eventually bring you to the famous natural rocks of Kjeragbolten and Preikestolen, or even the longest staircase in the world!

If you prefer civilization, you may follow the hint of those Pipeaway readers who searched for Bergen, the rainiest European city.

6. Japan

One of my all-time favorites, Japan is definitely a potential winner of international travel predictions 2021. The country had to postpone the Olympics due to the COVID-19 world pandemic. But as a nation that showed more than once that it can rise from the ashes, the Japanese could be back on track in no time!

If you head to the capital, consider staying at these artsy Tokyo hostels that will save some of your accommodation money, but also offer a unique experience.

Japan’s historical capital of Nara is not a huge metropolis but is definitely worth a trip. The former home of Nara Dreamland amusement park, the city is a strong outpost of the Shinto belief system, and Nara Deer Park is full of these sacred animals.

If you think this was an unusual religious take, what would you say about the penis celebration in Japan? Kanamara Matsuri is an annual festival in Kawasaki, and you haven’t seen anything like it!

As tourism predictions for 2021 do include trips in nature, our suggestion is – Kegon Falls!

7. Indonesia

According to Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards, the most popular world destination in 2021 will be Bali, Indonesia.

There is plenty of top resorts and luxury escapes in Bali, but if we trust the interest of Google searchers for Pipeaway hotel reviews, the winner of the year could be Munduk Moding Plantation, the isolated resort on a private coffee plantation and with swimming pools that repay in Instagram likes.

You could also consider The Menjangan, my favorite hotel of the past year, in an equally isolated area of West Bali National Park. You would be surrounded by amazing wildlife in the jungle and the ocean. It’s the closest you can get to owning a slice of paradise.

In urban areas of Bali, you should pay attention to Aria Villas in Ubud, The Santai in Canggu, and The Bale resort in Nusa Dua.

8. Cambodia

The research suggests that an eco-conscious mindset will prevail in the years ahead of us. 69 % of Booking.com respondents expressed their expectations that the travel industry should offer more sustainable travel options.

The movement of travelers against plastic is very strong in Cambodia, with Jaya House River Park in Siem Reap leading the race, and not only in the hospitality business.

Long gone are the days when tourists would arrive only to experience Angkor Wat sunrise or similar stunning attraction.

Hotels after COVID-19 will need to offer more, and implementing environment-friendly methods in their business seems to be in line with the expectations of future travelers.

9. Hungary

It seems that the crisis in the job market synchronized with the crisis in the travel market will inevitably make us price-savvy. 62 % of travelers in Booking.com research said they will be price-conscious when it comes to searching and planning a trip.

Hungary has been known as one of the most affordable world countries for years and could reap fruits from that status in 2021, in case the pandemic gets under control.

Budapest as the capital will be on the top of the list of places travelers wish to return to as soon as possible. After its cancellation in 2020, people are eager to get back to the Sziget music festival, one of the biggest live events in Europe. Budapest is also the city of spas, and places such as Rudas Baths will help us get back to our “old normal” selves.

10. Croatia

Predictions on international travel in 2021 also speak of prioritizing increased cleanliness, health and safety standards. 70 % of travelers will only book a particular accommodation if it’s clear what health and hygiene policies it has in place.

Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, has been declared the European capital with the cleanest tourist accommodation on both Booking.com and Airbnb! That’s quite some success!

Another country’s jewel worth discovering is definitely Dubrovnik, the home of the “Game of Thrones”, where the abandoned Hotel Belvedere Dubrovnik still speaks of the King’s Landing’s heydays.

With 2020 having a worldwide negative impact on cruise ship tourism, always great results of Dubrovnik decreased. But as probably the largest attraction of the Adriatic Sea, it will rebuild its tourism as an engine of recovery for the entire region.

2021 travel predictions – Conclusion

Nobody could have predicted what would happen in the tourism business in 2020. With an experience of a pandemic that stopped the world economy, giving international travel industry predictions for 2021 seems like an ungrateful task.

With no crystal ball in possession and no prophet colleague to ask, fortunetelling is still possible through analyzing the trends in the travelers’ market.

Using private cars could resurrect the idea of a road trip as the favorite way to spend holidays

In short, we cannot stand staying at home anymore. But we are also not brave enough to leave far away from it. If we do make a long-distance trip, we will make sure we are bringing work with us. We have learned that surprises can happen when we least expect them. The paramount quality of traveling is the feeling of freedom. Being stranded in a foreign place certainly opposes this basic idea.

With the experience of canceled flights and waiting for refunds for months, travelers will prefer being in charge of their travel arrangements. Using private cars could resurrect the idea of a road trip as the favorite way to spend holidays.

We will also be careful about what we pay and what we get for it. This means we will expect flexible cancellation policies, as well as high standards of cleanliness.

When we combined the data of Pipeaway’s readers and booking platforms’ users, Eurasia turned out to have the most tourism winners.

In Europe, we are talking about Greece, Norway, Hungary, and Croatia.

Asia heads its travel race with Malaysia, South Korea, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, and Cambodia.

I hope you have found travel inspiration in some of these destinations.

For the best overview of hotels, always check the offer on Booking.com.

Safe travels!

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The post International Travel Predictions 2021: Top 10 Countries to Discover appeared first on Pipeaway.