Baška: Glagolitic Culture and Regional Cuisine

Get to know Baška through tangible traces of its culture and history: a Glagolitic Path winds through stone-paved lanes and natural landscapes, a historic bell is displayed in the Church of St. John, and local culinary traditions range from lamb to handmade pasta. Which of these interests you most may be the deciding factor when choosing your hotel in Baška.

Culture and Flavours in Baška

The Glagolitic Path winds through stone-paved lanes and natural landscapes and includes 32 stone-carved sculptures featuring Glagolitic letters. The project was completed in 2009. The route offers a cultural way to explore the Baška Valley, with the script and the landscape forming a shared theme along the path.

The Church of St. John in Baška offers a different focus. The “Starac” bell, dating from 1431, is permanently housed there. From the church, the view stretches across the Baška Valley towards the island of Prvić. So, the path highlights the Glagolitic letters and the route, while the church centres on the historic bell and the view.

Baška’s local culinary traditions include lamb, cheese, prosciutto and fish, as well as kroštuli, smokvenjaci, frita and hamenturnjaka. A distinctive pasta is handmade šurlice, also known locally as valcići. They are served with stews, seafood, asparagus or other sauces. Dishes and their availability on individual menus may vary.

Akvarij Baška is also located in the town centre. It has 21 aquariums containing a total of 35 cubic metres of seawater. They are home to more than 100 fish species and 400 species of shells and snails.

In the wider destination of Općina Baška

Coastline and protected landscape

In the wider destination of Općina Baška, the Kuntrep ornithological reserve extends along ten kilometres of coastline, from Cape Glavine to Mala Luka Bay. The reserve can only be reached on foot or by boat. Check the current management rules before visiting.

Vela Plaža is a 1,800-metre-long beach overlooking crystal-clear water. It has been awarded the European Blue Flag in recognition of its high quality and beach standards. Baška has more than 30 other beaches in addition to Vela Plaža. Some can be reached on foot, while others are accessible only by boat or water taxi; access may vary by beach and season. Parasailing, surfing and sailing are offered at Vela Plaža, though availability may depend on the season.

Trails and active experiences

Eleven officially marked trails start in Baška, Jurandvor, Zarok and Draga Bašćanska. Options range from a two-hour riverside walk to a full-day crossing of the Moon Plateau. The six-kilometre Baška–Zarok–Batomalj–Pod Lipicau educational trail takes about two and a half hours on foot; its route may change due to diversions. Two stages of the Camino Krk pass through the Baška area. Check the stage route before setting out.

The “Put ka Mjesecu” trail starts at Heritage Hotel Forza in the centre of Baška. It is 4.5 kilometres long, takes about one hour and 15 minutes, and reaches an elevation of 370 metres above sea level. For mountain bikers, the Mjesečeva staza (Moon Path) is a different proposition: the route is 26.6 kilometres long, has a total ascent of 690 metres and is considered technically demanding. Figures and difficulty may change due to diversions or surface conditions.

Climbing areas are another option in the wider destination of Općina Baška, with four in total. Portafortuna has 76 routes across four sectors, while Belove Stijene has around 50 routes. These totals may change as the areas develop.

Churches and traditions in the wider area

The Baška Tablet was found in the Church of St. Lucy in Jurandvor; a replica remains in the church. The church was probably built around the turn of the 12th century on the remains of an early Christian basilica, and did not take its present form until the 14th century. A short path connects St. Lucy’s Abbey, where the tablet was found, with a viewpoint overlooking Baška and the island of Prvić.

On the feast day of Saint Lucy, 13 December, a small loaf called hlipčić is still thrown from the bell tower in Jurandvor. Another annual tradition takes place on 15 August: pilgrims carry a statue of the Virgin Mary by candlelight up the steps above Batomalj. The Church of Our Lady of Gorica was built in 1415; it is considered one of Croatia’s oldest sanctuaries and the largest sanctuary in the Diocese of Krk. It can be reached by road or via 237 steps; route conditions may change.

Discover more destinations: Batomalj, Stara Baska, Draga Bašćanska, Jurandvor.

Back to the wider travel overview: Općina Baška.