Mali Lošinj, the largest settlement on Lošinj island and a traditional sailing hub on the Adriatic, is surrounded by one of the Mediterranean's few permanent resident populations of bottlenose dolphins. The mild microclimate that once made the town a well-known Austro-Hungarian health resort still draws boaters seeking calm away from the crowds of larger islands.

The dolphins of the Lošinj archipelago

The waters around Lošinj are home to a resident population of bottlenose dolphins monitored by Blue World, a marine research institute based in Mali Lošinj. A dolphin encounter is never guaranteed and shouldn't be actively pursued — but responsible boating, keeping distance and never chasing them, improves the odds of an authentic encounter in open water.

Čikat Cove

West of town, Čikat Cove, surrounded by dense pine forest, offers calm beaches and crystal-clear water just about ten minutes by boat from the town harbor. This area was part of Lošinj's original tourism development in the late 19th century and has kept that quieter, park-like character.

Osor and the Vela Vrata channel

At the north of the archipelago, the small town of Osor connects Cres and Lošinj across the narrow Vela Vrata channel, which periodically opens to let boats pass through. It's one of the rare spots where you literally sail between two islands separated by just a few meters of water.

When to rent a boat in Mali Lošinj

The season runs from May to October, peaking in July and August. June and September offer warm seas and calmer coves, and the odds of encountering dolphins aren't tied to any particular part of the season.