Lush with greenery, secluded coves with some of the best beaches in Croatia, medieval towns and vibrant summers, Rab island in the Kvarner bay has something for everyone. Robin McKelvie explores the isle which attracted Greeks, Romans, Venetian and British royalty long ago.

It may be one of the smallest of the Kvarner Gulf islands, but what the island of Rab lacks in size it more than makes up for with its swathe of rugged hills, aromatic blanket of pine trees and tempting sandy beaches, not to mention the chocolate box charm of Rab Town, one of the Croatian coast's shining stars. Rab Town is up there with the likes of Korcula, Trogir and Dubrovnik further south in Dalmatia in the beauty stakes.

Rab is only now really opening up to tourism, though man has been enjoying the pleasures of this idyllic Adriatic island for many centuries. It is easy to see what attracted people to Rab in the first place: the northeast shore rumbles along in a crumple of hills and vaulting sea cliffs that help keep the worst of the bitter northerly winds at bay, while the more fertile southwest is blessed with a shroud of pine trees as well as sandy bays and coves.

Rab enjoys an enviable location nestled between the islands of Krk and Pag. It is home to less...

The full article can be found on pages 38-47 of June/July issue.