Camino Krk Included in the European Cultural Route of St. James

Camino Krk is now officially part of the network of European St. James pilgrimage routes. The Island of Krk received confirmation of its inclusion in this prestigious European cultural route, which attracts millions of pilgrims from around the world, at the Adria Camino Festival held in Šibenik from September 26th to 28th.

During the festival’s ceremony, the certificate recognizing Camino Krk as part of the official European Camino network was accepted by Branko Karabaić, director of the Punat Tourist Board, on behalf of all the tourist boards of the Island of Krk involved in the project: City of Krk Tourist Board, The Municipality of Malinska – Dubašnica Tourist Board, the Tourist Board of the Municipality of Omišalj, Tourist Board of the Baška Municipality, Dobrinj Municipality Tourist Board, Tourist Board of the Municipality of Vrbnik, and the Punat Tourist Board.

With this, the Island of Krk has become a part of a thousand-year-old tradition of pilgrimage routes that connect European countries and cultures, contributing to sustainable cultural tourism.

By joining the Camino network, Camino Krk gains greater visibility and significance at the European level, becoming part of a community that promotes cultural heritage, spirituality, and sustainable development. Camino routes today attract millions of pilgrims and enthusiasts of active outdoor experiences, and the inclusion of the Island of Krk in this network further affirms its value as a destination that blends natural beauty, rich history, and cultural tradition.

At the festival’s closing ceremony, the president of the Camino Europa Compostela Federation, Pascal Duchêne, highlighted the importance of Croatia’s contribution to the European Camino network: “In just a few years, Croatia has become a recognizable part of the European Camino family and an example of sustainable cultural tourism in Europe.”

The Adria Camino Festival was organized by the Šibenik Tourist Board, the Camino Europa Compostela Federation – which includes 25 members from 19 countries – and the Confraternity of St. James – Croatia, the leader of the Camino Croatia project. The Croatian Camino network currently spans over 2,400 kilometers of marked routes and has attracted more than 90,000 pilgrims in its first five years, mostly outside the peak summer season.

The Camino Krk is a circular island route, approximately 150 kilometers long, that connects the existing network of hiking and cycling trails. The starting point is in the center of the island, in the City of Krk near the Cathedral of Krk, while the route concludes at the Parish Church of St. James the Apostle in Kornić. The route is divided into seven pilgrimage stages – seven days needed to experience the island in its historical, cultural, and spiritual dimensions, immersed in stunning natural landscapes and unique urban settings.

The inclusion of Camino Krk in the official European network is a confirmation of the Island of Krk’s importance on the map of European cultural tourism and a new incentive for the further development of sustainable tourism offerings that connect natural and cultural heritage.