A majestic land full of spectacular views featuring jagged mountains and glistening seas, Rab Island should be on your bucket list for 2023. The little island in Croatia offers some super exciting activities you don’t want to miss out on, along with some of the most mouth-watering Mediterranean food you’ll ever find.
Since the place is basically a dreamland, there are so many beautiful places here that it almost feels unreal. Rab’s golden sandy beaches and rocky pebble bays, right next to its deep blue waters, are major tourist hotspots. There is historical architecture, stunning contemporary restaurants, and several hidden coves to explore.
To help you find the most Instagram-worthy spots on the island, we’ve curated a list of fifteen enigmatic sites you will not regret visiting!
Ciganka Beach
Unlike most beaches on Rab, Ciganka beach is more secluded and away from the hustle and bustle of tourists and children. You can reach the place by car but for the rest of the journey, you’ll need to walk on foot. Filled with beautiful clear waters, it almost feels like a picture out of National Geographic!
You can take the perfect shot in the gleaming water overlooking a long stretch of calming blue sky and rugged mountains without random people photo-bombing and ruining the shot. Remember to bring your own umbrella, sunscreen, and some snacks since there aren’t any stores here.
Since this is a nude beach, it is important that you make sure that no one feels uncomfortable when you’re curating content for your feed.
Komrcar Park
On the border of the old town, this pristine chunk of land is ginormous, filled with several stunning Cypress and Alpine trees, the brilliant blue sea water, a colorful ensemble of butterflies, and rolling hills behind. Though the walk is a bit long, it is worth definitely worth the view and you can even take a bike.
The huge stonewall entrance arching over the park, lined with moss and greenery on both sides, makes the rustic place perfect for a vibrant Instagram shot. You can also capture some of the most dazzling orange-hued sunsets with their fiery streaks encapsulating the entire sky that will make everyone’s jaw drop.
To get to the park, venture on a boat expedition or walk on foot, depending on your hotel, or even rent a bike and pedal your way there.
Kayaking, Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic sea is the literal definition of paradise, and when you can visit this exquisite dreamland on a kayak, it will definitely inspire some of the best Instagram-worthy posts. Take the Northern Delights tour and witness the wildlife, gentle waves of the turquoise sea, wooded patches of land, and golden grainy sand.
Capture a candid moment on the kayak featuring a gorgeous backdrop or wait for some dolphins to flap out of the water making a perfect streak of water. Additionally, there are several grey boulders that make the best spot for a picture so climb your way to the top and strike a cute pose.
Not only can you snap some photos, but the entire activity is filled with adrenaline and will make your trip even more memorable.
Kuća Rabske Torte
A vintage rustic museum based on the infamous local dessert, the Rab cake, Kuca Rabske has a warm and cozy aesthetic. Mimicking a scene right out of a Hollywood movie, the place has a live baking display along with several aromatic baked goods and local products on display.
The spiral-shaped slice of heaven makes for a pleasing shot with the brown wooden tables and a huge metallic bronze chimney oven at the back. Plaster on that big beautiful smile and add another mouth-watering photo to your account. You can even take a picture with the lady baking the dessert.
Make sure you also find time to enjoy some of their scrumptious food since they have a huge variety of divine goodness on their menu.
Pizzeria CRESHCENDO
Rab Island is filled with aesthetically pleasing landscapes, however, it is also packed with some of the most flavorful seafood, gorgeous restaurants, and a huge array of fresh drinks and desserts. Pizzeria creshcendo is one such place featuring not only some of the most delightful pizzas but also a very aesthetically pleasing one.
Order a burning hot, crispy-edged, cheesy pizza and take those amazing food-centric pictures to overshadow all the food accounts on Instagram. You can also have their pasta, salads, and steaks that are served with astoundingly pleasing plating making the food look as good as it tastes.
To get the right picture, choose a spot with more soft and diffused lighting to help you get a compelling image highlighting the story behind the food.
The Glass Boat
Yup, you read that title right, Rab in fact does have a glass-bottom catamaran that is a huge white structured beauty carrying around fifty passengers. Offering a relatively cheaper ticket, the boat sails to nearby islands as well, the Island of Goli and Grgur.
Getting a direct view of the sea and marine life from the bottom of the catamaran, you’ll be able to capture life under the sea with a click of a button. You can also take pictures of your sexy outfit when you’ll get dropped off at one of the islands for a quick exploration visit.
Capturing fish swarming around the blue water might be difficult, but you can adjust your phone’s shutter speed in the “pro mode” by clicking on the settings icon within the camera app to capture their movement better.
The Town Loggia
Having old Roman buildings, the town is constructed from cobblestone and has a ton of history associated with it dating back to the sixteen century. The influence of the renaissance era is vividly clear with the place being perfect for the history fanatics.
The faded paint combined with the vintage look of the entire town means that you can take some stunning pictures in front of any of the buildings here. Not only will it be an enchanting image but, it will also help spread information about its historical background.
Having several notable landmarks like the Cosimo church and Notary house, explore the place to find more unique spots for the gram.
Pudarica Beach
Another secluded beach, Pudrica is one of the most dreamy beaches within the town of Rab. The place is filled with mysterious hidden coves and a tiny private beach a little further away from the main area. It is clean, litter-free, and hygienic, making it stand out even more.
Grab a book, and a nice cloth to lay on the sand and snap the perfect photo. Since the beach has crystal-clear water, you can also dip your toes and pose for the camera. Use the shallow water to your advantage and take some middle-of-the-water quirky pictures to spice up that profile.
Going to Pudrica early in the morning can help you catch the mesmerizing sunrise that will surely leave you star-struck.
Restoran Piano
Offering some of the most flavorful and succulent Mediterranean cuisines, Restoran Piano has a wide variety of dishes on its menu. They also have a cozy terrace overlooking the gleaming blue waves and rocky undulating hills that makes it an ideal spot.
Piano’s meticulously plated dishes look like a work of art making the restaurant a perfect place for collecting captivating content ready to be posted on your Instagram story. You can also make a boomerang combining the sensational view from the top with your mouth-watering plates of food.
If the picture you’re trying to take is too bright, reduce the exposure levels by tapping on the screen and sliding the bar for a more moody image.
Zidine Fortress
Dating back to the Roman era, Zidine Fortress is an old historical landmark preserved to this day. The fortified stone walls bursting with protruding plant growth mixed with a magical view of the entire island, makes this an attractive site.
To get a main worthy picture, sit on the huge stone staircase going around the fortress. You’ll not only be able to highlight the beautiful landscape of Rab, but you’ll also be able to showcase the magnificent history-rich vintage Zidine at the front.
Take multiple shots from varying angles to get the one that looks best. It’s important that you don’t shy away from experimenting with the camera.
Santa Maria
A huge mansion-like structure dating as far back as the 1800s, the Santa Maria is an old palace serving fresh food. Not only does it have mouth-watering dishes on its menu, but it is also an aesthetically pleasing building with faded walls giving it an old and expensive look.
At this restaurant, you’ll be able to feature some of the local cuisines found on Rab including gleaming king crabs, an array of fishes, and sticky octopus. On top of that, the antique look of the place follows the genre of the island, so you’ll be able to post a running Instagram theme.
Make sure you use a wide lens for the photo to fully encapsulate the entire essence of the mansion in all its glory.
Banova Villa Beach bar
Located on the edge of the sea, the Banova Villa is a cozy beachside bar with an extensive drinks menu and options for food. The place is super cozy, offers a homely ambiance, and there are washrooms nearby for a quick touch-up.
Showcase the nightlife at Banova by taking a picture sitting at their wooden bench with a rack of drinks in the background, posing with their colorful mocktails. You can also take a picture on the beach, under the clear starry night with the well-lit bar behind.
Make sure you choose the right lighting as nighttime photography is an arduous task so good lighting will make that image pop.
Church of St. Justina
Another ancient historical landmark, the church of St.Justina stands out due to its salmon-pink color that makes the place look unique. The beautiful museum has tons of history attached to it which is readily available to be seen from within.
An ancient artifact and relic make for a very-Instgrammable photo along with the eye-catching distinct color of the church itself makes it an ideal backdrop due to the pastel pop of color in the midst of the typical stone buildings.
It is important to respect cultures and their history so make sure you’re not disrespecting anyone when capturing the moment.
The Harbour
A happening place on Rab, the harbor features a variety of places for souvenirs and local products that you can grab on the go. On top of that, there is a cute little ferry located there, where tourists can hop on and explore nearby areas.
Grab the ferry and take a stunning picture right on top of the blue water waves, or get a shot of the traditional ornaments on display on the harbor itself. You can even capture the entire hustle and bustle in the form of a time-lapse.
An effective time-lapse requires steady surfaces so make sure you put your phone somewhere flat while filming.
Arbiana Hotel
White limestone building with brick-red rooftops, the Arbiana hotel is one of the best hotels on the Island of Rab. Located on the site, their restaurant, Agatha’s garden serves the most succulent seasonal dishes paired with crisp local wines. You can reach here with minimal commute due to the close proximity to the heart of the island.
Their railings match their contemporary look making the place perfect for your dramatic staring-into-the-open-sky picture. Since they offer outdoor pools, you can dip your toes in the water and take a sexy swimwear picture.
A lower ISO in your camera settings makes the picture quality better as the phone will be able to capture more surrounding detail.
Final Thoughts
A magnificent island filled with landscapes that look right out of a movie set, picture-perfect scenery, an adventure for everyone, and delightful food, planning a vacation here should be a must-do on your bucket list.
If you’re planning on a visit to the island Rab, then you most certainly need a collection of vacation content either for long-lasting memories, or just to post the highlights on your Instagram feed.
So, you should explore these places, and jump straight into the list not only to take some of the best Instagram pictures, but also to have lots of fun while doing it.
