Modern & artKvarner

Krk Bridge: the record-breaking arch to the island of Krk

The Krk Bridge (Krčki most) is a 1,430 m reinforced concrete arch bridge that links the island of Krk with the Croatian mainland in the Kvarner region. Its two arches meet on the tiny islet of Sveti Marko and span some of the windiest water on the Adriatic. More than a road, it is a monument of Yugoslav engineering, and a striking landmark for anyone heading to the island.

When the Krk Bridge opened in July 1980 its main arch was the longest of its kind in concrete anywhere in the world. It was first named after Tito, who had died only two months earlier.

WhereBetween the mainland near Kraljevica and the island of Krk, Kvarner Bay

TypeReinforced concrete arch bridge, 1,430 m long, opened in 1980

Best forEngineering fans, photographers, drivers heading to the island of Krk

Getting therePart of the road to Krk, branching off the main coastal road; it also links Rijeka with the airport on the island

The history of the Krk Bridge

The wish to link Krk to the mainland is old. After the First World War, when nearby Rijeka went to Italy, the port of Sušak took over its role, and a Viennese firm drew up a plan for a steel bridge on several piers. The plan was never built because of the difficult economic situation. After the Second World War the idea came back: studies began in 1960 and proposed various bridges and even a tunnel under the sea.

In the end the design by the Belgrade engineer Ilija Stojadinović, with his colleagues Vukan Njagulj and Bojan Možina, was chosen. It uses two concrete arches resting on the islet of Sveti Marko, which gave the builders a place to anchor the foundations of both arches and carry the road between them. Work began in July 1976 under the patronage of Yugoslav president Josip Broz Tito. The companies Mostogradnja of Belgrade and Hidroelektra of Zagreb built the bridge over four years.

The arches were built from prefabricated box segments, extending outwards from both sides with temporary cable-stays until the halves met in the middle. The longer arch has a span of 390 m, or 416 m counting the part under water. At the time it was the longest concrete arch in the world, and it held that title until Wanxian Bridge in China surpassed it in the 1990s. The shorter arch spans 244 m.

The bridge opened on 19 July 1980 as Titov most, Tito's Bridge, named in honour of the president who had died two months before. It has since been called Krk Bridge. In its first twenty years about 27 million vehicles crossed it, more than twice the ferry traffic to and from the island. Tolls were charged from the opening until 15 June 2020, and a larger replacement bridge has been discussed because of growing traffic.

Curiosities about the Krk Bridge

The two channels under the bridge have telling names: Tihi kanal means “quiet channel”, while Burni kanal is named after the bora wind that sweeps through it.
On 17 January 1987 a bora gust of 220 km/h was recorded at the bridge, and the wind still sometimes closes it to certain vehicles.
On a summer day up to 28,000 vehicles can cross the bridge.
Pipes of the Adriatic oil pipeline, which begins at the nearby Omišalj terminal, and water pipes for local industry run inside the bridge.
A theory that a wooden bridge once linked Krk to the mainland in the Middle Ages rests on a misreading of a Venetian report from 1481; the word in question means a point of land, not a bridge.
The sea under the bridge is up to 60 m deep, and the bridge also connects Rijeka with the airport that lies on the island of Krk.

Tours near Krk Bridge

Experiences in the area that you can book online with Viator:

Zipline Experience Krk

★ 4.7 (113 reviews) · 2 h

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Private Wild Bays Boat Trip with Captain Bobo

★ 5 (50 reviews) · 3.5 h

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PUBLIC 3,5h Swimming and Snorkeling on the Wild Bays

★ 5 (22 reviews) · 3.5 h

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Private Plavnik Island Half-Day boat trip with capt. Bobo

★ 4.9 (22 reviews) · 5 h

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Visiting the Krk Bridge

Most visitors meet the bridge on the way to Krk: there is one lane in each direction, so allow for queues at busy times.
In strong bora the bridge may be closed to certain vehicles or to all traffic, so check conditions before you travel.
The sources do not say whether the bridge can be crossed on foot or where the best viewpoints are, so ask locally about vantage points on the mainland and island shores.
The area combines well with Trsat Castle in Rijeka (about 13 km) and with Frankopan Castle (about 25 km).

Opening hours, access and conditions can change. Check before you go.