Scenic Drive: Rovanjska to Novi Vinodolski

Perhaps the most interesting road in Croatia

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Road Metrics

• Twist Factor: High (frequent sharp corners with high elevation changes)
• Traffic: Mostly light, lots of bikers during sunny days
• Safety: No tolls, very often winds
• Surface: Smooth, new asphalt

The first time I did this drive was in my 2017 Mazda 3, a car with possibly the best handling in its class. The route has a combination of flowing corners that end in big elevation changes towards the sea, forcing you to brake often and then give it a bit of gas on the way up. This is due to the terrain configuration, as the lowest and sharpest points of the road are usually the nearest to the sea.

There is also the question of rhythm; the road flows all of the time, and you are always trying to either accelerate, brake or turn. Despite taking only around an hour and a half, the route is challenging and tough regardless of how you drive it, but it is probably the best hour you can spend in Croatia.

Recommended Stops

• Zavratnica Bay: Zavratnica is somewhat easy to get to but is worth climbing down because it is one of the most interesting coves in Croatia. The bay is also the resting place of one of the Siebel ferries, a German landing ship sunk during World War 2.
• Karlobag: Small town with a great view of Pag Island.
• Viewpoints and scenic stops: There are plenty along the road, but they’re better to visit when travelling towards Rovanjska since you’ll want to park nearer to the sea and not run across the road.

Let’s drive

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