There is something irresistibly appealing about ruins that stand silent. As the boat engine gently hums and salt dries on your skin, the outlines of stone walls overgrown with wild figs and capers appear on the horizon. These are not places from tourist guides – these are fragments of the past scattered across the Kvarner islands, silent witnesses to centuries of prayer, work, and ultimately – abandonment.
The Kvarner archipelago hides five exceptional monastery ruins that can only be visited by boat. Each has its own story, its own energy, and its own kind of silence. Prepare for a journey through time.
1. St. Peter's Monastery on Ilovik – The Car-Free Island
On small Ilovik, an island known for its oleander and donkeys, lie the ruins of an 11th-century Benedictine monastery. Located on the northern part of the island, the complex is now almost completely overgrown with Mediterranean vegetation, but the contours of the church and cloister are still clearly visible.
Practical tips: You can reach Ilovik by ferry from Mali Lošinj (the journey takes about 30 minutes) or by your own boat. The anchorage is safe in the bay in front of the settlement. From the dock, walk about ten minutes along a gravel path toward the lighthouse. Bring water – there is no shade along the way.
The best time to visit is early morning or late afternoon, when the light creates dramatic shadows among the walls. The island has no hotels, but there are several family houses that rent rooms – ideal for those who want to experience true isolation.
2. Ruins of the Augustinian Monastery on Cres
Few people know that in the interior of the island of Cres, near the medieval town of Lubenice, lie the remains of a 14th-century Augustinian monastery. The complex was destroyed during the Venetian-Ottoman wars and was never rebuilt.
How to get there: Arrive by boat in St. Ivan Bay (one of the most beautiful beaches on the Adriatic, by the way), then follow the marked hiking trail toward Lubenice – the ascent takes about 45 minutes. The monastery is located about a hundred meters before entering the town, on the left side of the path.
What makes this place special is the view: from the ruins, there is a panorama of the open sea and the islet of Zeča. At sunset, when the stones turn golden, you will understand why the monks chose this location for contemplation.
Where to Stay Nearby
The town of Cres is about 30 minutes by car from Lubenice and offers a rich selection of apartments with sea views. For a more authentic experience, look for accommodation in Lubenice itself – there are only a few, but sleeping in a place with 30 inhabitants and stars above your head is an experience to remember.
3. Franciscan Monastery on Košljun – A Preserved Wonder
The islet of Košljun in Punat Bay is a unique case – the 12th-century monastery is not a ruin but a living organism. Nevertheless, it deserves a place on this list because you can only visit it by boat, and its collection and atmosphere surpass many famous destinations.
Visit details: Small taxi boats run from Punat on the island of Krk every 30 minutes. The ride takes 5 minutes and costs about 4 euros per person round trip. The entrance fee to the monastery is 5 euros and includes access to the museum, the library with incunabula, and the botanical garden.
Monks still live in the monastery, so we ask for quiet behavior and appropriate clothing. Photography is allowed in the courtyard but not inside the church.
If you are planning a longer stay in this part of Kvarner, Punat is an excellent base – it is quieter than Krk and offers an excellent selection of restaurants with local fish. Konoba Šime serves black cuttlefish risotto that is a reason to visit in itself.
4. St. Mary's Monastery on Mljet? No – The Glagolitic Monastery on Krk!
While everyone knows about the Benedictine monastery on Mljet, few have heard of the ruins of the Glagolitic monastery in Vrbnik Bay on the eastern coast of Krk. This place has special significance – here monks copied Glagolitic texts and preserved Croatian written heritage.
Access by boat: The bay is accessible only from the sea. Anchor on the sandy bottom (depth 4-6 meters, excellent holding) and reach the ruins by dinghy or swimming. The remains are modest – just foundations and part of an apse – but the energy of the place is undeniable.
For context, visit Vrbnik and its Glagolitic museum before or after. This town on a 50-meter-high cliff also offers the narrowest street in the world (43 cm!) and excellent Žlahtina wine in local taverns.
5. Ruins of the Pauline Monastery in Čikat Bay (Lošinj)
Our last stop is the most mysterious. At the entrance to Čikat Bay on Mali Lošinj, hidden in a pine forest, stand the remains of a 15th-century Pauline monastery. The monks abandoned it after a plague epidemic, and since then nature has slowly been reclaiming it.
How to find it: If arriving by boat, anchor in Čikat Bay and disembark at the small concrete pier. The ruins are 200 meters inland, but there are no signs – look for the stone structure to the left of the path toward Sunny Bay.
Mali Lošinj has excellent nautical infrastructure and a wide selection of accommodation – from luxury hotels to intimate apartments in the old town center. Here you can spend several days combining history, sea, and gastronomy.
Practical Tips for Sailing to the Monasteries
- Season: May, June, and September are ideal – fewer crowds, pleasant temperatures, calm seas
- Equipment: Be sure to bring good footwear (the ruins are on uneven terrain), water, sun protection, and a flashlight for exploring darker corners
- Charter: If you don't have your own boat, daily boat rental with a captain on Krk or Lošinj costs 200-400 euros, depending on the season
- Respect: Although abandoned, these spaces are still sacred places. Do not remove stones or leave trash.
Why Visit Abandoned Monasteries?
In an age when every corner of the Mediterranean has been photographed and hashtagged, these places offer something rare – an encounter with history without intermediaries. There are no audio guides, no souvenir shops, no selfies with monks. Just you, old stones, and the sound of wind through empty windows.
The abandoned monasteries of Kvarner remind us that the Adriatic was much more than beaches and sunshine. It was a space of spirituality, learning, and silence – values we can rediscover, at least for a day.
Book accommodation on one of the Kvarner islands, rent a boat, and follow the trail of monks who centuries ago sought peace on these shores. Perhaps you too will find yours.