Camp Omišalj

If you've come for maximum beach time, your best bet is to stick on the island. For a pebble beach close to a fishing town, grab your towel and head to Malinska (15 minutes' drive) or Punat (30 minutes). Sandier beaches can also be found, including Oprna Bay (35 minutes) and Stara Baška (40 minutes). While on the island, make sure to drop by the town of Krk (30 minutes), a walled city with terracotta roofs, ancient stone walls and beachfront promenades.  Over on the mainland, top attractions include Rijeka (25 minutes), the third largest city in Croatia. Big tourist groups tend to give this spot a miss and head to Split or Dubrovnik instead, so sites like the castle, clock tower and covered market should be on the quieter side.  Jaunts to other islands can also be sorted if you fancy more offshore adventure. Head to Valbiska ferry port (20 minutes) if you're tempted by Cres, a craggy, sparsely populated spot (crossing time 25 minutes). For trips to Rab and its landscape of forests, beaches and olive groves, catch the ferry at Krk (30 minutes' drive, then a 30-minute crossing).