Rabac is a small coastal town on the eastern side of the Istrian peninsula, unlike many of the most famous destinations in this part of Croatia which are all on the western side! It’s a popular holiday town as can be attested by the wide variety of accommodation here; in summer, it’s quite a bustling place with many holidaymakers enjoying the fine Blue Flag beaches of the town as well as entertainment put on each year.
Getting There
The closest airport to Rabac is Pula Airport, which is about 45km away. Brioni and FILS operate shuttle bus services (they operate on alternate days) from the airport to a number of Istrian towns, including Rabac, and the journey time to there is 1 hour.
Arriva have some bus services from some major towns and cities (e.g. Pula and Rijeka, also Zagreb) to Rabac. If you can’t find a bus direct to Rabac, take a bus instead to nearby Labin and then another one to here.
There’s a ferry from Porozina on the island of Cres to Brestova on the mainland, which is about a 30km drive up the coast from Rabac. This ferry is run by Jadrolinija.
What to See & Do in Rabac
There’s not all that much by the way of sights in Rabac – if you’re after some cultural and historical heritage, we’d recommend visiting the hilltop town of Labin.
Beaches
Rabac is home to a number of Blue Flag beaches which are given this award due to clean beaches and seawater. Girandella Beach is a lovely, clean pebble beach that has plenty of excellent facilities (it is by one of the Valamar resorts) including beach loungers and umbrellas for hire, changing areas, inflatable water activities for children and water sports hire. There are also a number of cafes and bars for refreshments. Similarly, Lanterna Beach is another Blue Flag pebble beach with great facilities and places for food and drink. Further round the bay is the equally popular and well equipped Maslinica Beach, which also has facilities for disabled access into the sea. All three of these beaches are very suitable for families with small children due to the shallow waters.
Events
The Rabac Open Air Festival takes place each summer from June to August with numerous associated events – live music, a summer carnival, kids’ events, an open-air cinema and more.
Activities
Local agency Four Elements can organise sea kayaking, hiking and mountain biking tours.
Visiting Labin
The small town of Labin, up on the hill about 5km away from Rabac, is a pretty place to spend an afternoon. Explore the old town streets and be sure to check out the old town gate Porta Sanfior, the town loggia, and the red-hued Battiala-Lazzarini Palace which is now home to the town museum. There are also a number of churches in Labin, including the impressive Church of Blessed Virgin Mary’s Birth; spot the Venetian lion (added to the church in the early 17th century) on the front.
Eating & Drinking in Rabac
Restoran Rapcanka is a long-standing family run restaurant right in the centre of town offering up some excellent quality Istrian, Mediterranean and European dishes. Try their specialities including fish stew brodet, black risotto, dishes with typically Istrian ingredients such as truffle or asparagus and meat options.
Restaurant Nostromo offers good quality food (think the usual menu of Croatian fish and meat dishes) if you’re after something a bit more special.
Robinson Cafe is ideal for a reasonably priced tasty meal with a view (it’s right by the sea) – think salads, simple fish dishes, tasty cevapcici…
Craft Beer & Grill is a laid-back, cool kind of place serving burgers, steaks and – of course – craft beer and is a good option for family groups.
Black & Blue Steakhouse is the place to come if you’re hankering after good quality steak and other sumptuous meat dishes (ribs, lamb, pork chops). Great selection of wine here too.
Head to Pingo for some amazing ice cream and dessert concoctions!
Movie Bar is a good choice for drinks and evening entertainment, whilst the Beat Beach Club is a great place for cocktails and DJs.
Accommodation in Rabac
The Valamar Hotel Group and Maslinica Hotels & Resorts run most of the hotels in town. These include the popular 4-star hotels Valamar Bellevue Resort, the Valamar Sanfior Hotel & Casa, and the Girandella Valamar Collection Resort, all with outdoor pools and located very close to a beach. There’s also the 4-star Hotel Narcis with indoor and outdoor pools and kids’ club; the Hotel Hedera and the Hotel Mimosa. Right in the centre of town is the chic, 4-star Boutique Hotel Adoral.
For 3-star hotel options, take a look at the Hotel Nostromo (home to the popular restaurant mentioned above) and the Miramar Sunny Hotel by Valamar.
Campers may like to take a look at the Camp & Residence Oliva by Maslinica which offers camping facilities (for tents and camper vans) and mobile homes.
There are also plenty of private apartments available in Rabac – take a look at the selection of accommodation in Rabac on Booking.com.
Do also take a look at our Accommodation in Rabac page for more options.
More info
Take a look at the Rabac Tourist Office website for more details on the town.