Is it worth coming here? Absolutely. Koversada is not only a beautiful beach but a whole resort that is the size of a small town. For us, an absolute top one and a default point in our holiday plans.
What we love about Koversada
- The most beautiful beach is on the island. The island is the most important and astounding element of this resort. It is overgrown with old pines, without cars or houses, which makes this place feel like contact with nature. You can also pitch a tent on it and spend your entire vacation here.
- You can live in this resort without leaving. You can buy everything on-site in local shops when it comes to food and rentals when it comes to sports such as bicycles or water bikes.
- You can eat here really well. Our favorite place is Batana Fish Restaurant. It serves delicious food, especially seafood, accompanied by a beautiful view. Other possibilities are pizzerias and burgers.
History
The Koversada resort was founded in 1961 on 120 hectares, on a peninsula and a tiny island connected to the resort by a small bridge. The resort is approximately 2 km from Vrsar.
- At the peak of its splendor, it housed 10,000 people at a time.
- Centers such as Koversada allowed the Yugoslav government to show Western European countries that it was a free and tolerant country, unlike other countries of the socialist bloc.
- It was interesting that Koversada became an essential destination for Italian tourists. Because the Catholic Church led to many restrictions in Italy, Italian no-tan-lines-fans had to come to communist Yugoslavia to feel the breath of freedom.
- And how did the story of Koversada itself begin? From Munich-born German Rudolf Halbig, who started visiting Vrsar in the 1950s. Vrsar was a small town whose inhabitants were engaged in producing wine and olive oil.
- Halbig reached an agreement with a local agricultural cooperative that wanted to expand its activities to include tourist services. The cooperative built several dozen cottages for rent, and Halbig undertook to bring hundreds of German lovers of natural sunbathing to them every year. For this purpose, he founded a travel agency called Miramare. This took place in 1961.
- Over time, the resort grew, covering both the Koversada island and the coastal areas, where more apartments, restaurants, and sports facilities were built.
Who visits Koversada?
The whole of Europe:). But most of all, there are Germans, Italians, Slovenes, and Austrians. Much less, but you can also meet Poles and Czechs.
Many regular visitors have permanently bought their camping places here, which they have built nicely with small garden architecture and plants. It is very cute and reflects well on this place. Many lovely people we spoke to have been coming here yearly for over 25 years. I don’t know many other places that people love so much.
What are the options for staying at the resort?
Camping
The campsite has over 1,100 camping places. Approx. ⅓ with own water and Internet access. The whole camp is located in olive groves. Toilets and showers are scattered throughout the resort and generally well-kept and clean.
The coolest part of camping is the tents on the island. You can’t drive there with cars, so you won’t pitch a motorhome on the island, which is cool because it is tiny and thus retains its atmosphere. But everywhere else, there are plenty of lovely places for motorhomes.
Glamping
Fabulously located among old pines on the island, there are about 15 tents, each of which has two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a large wooden terrace. Many of these cottages have an ideal location overlooking the sea. They all have access to a rocky beach. Shared toilets and showers are available, as for other campers. These tents are on our wish list, and although it is worth going there in a slightly larger group of 4-6 people, their price also becomes more attractive than apartments.
Koversada Villas
This is our choice so far. Over 200 rooms across the center of the resort. Close to the restaurant with breakfast, sports fields, and shops. The houses have not been renovated long and have an average standard. Nevertheless, they are pleasant and clean daily. The bungalows do not have a kitchen, only beds, a bathroom, and a fridge.
Koversada Apartments
The apartments are much more modern than the Villas. They also have their own kitchens. A minor drawback is that they are located a bit off the beaten track of the resort, but still, the beach is not far from here. We’ve only seen them from the outside, so we can’t say much more about them. Their price is only slightly higher than the bungalows.
Where to dine
There are many restaurants, pizzerias, snack bars, two supermarkets, a kiosk, a fruit and vegetable stand, a bakery, a dance terrace, and unguarded parking.
We could not resist and took a picture of a fish plate for two, from Batana restaurant. We have tried it in many restaurants nearby, and mostly it’s delicious.
What to do at the resort
Sports facilities are available for volleyball, basketball, football, and boccia. There is also a small playground for children.
There are also tennis courts, mini-golf, table tennis, darts, and massages for an additional fee. It seems that there were also kayaks available for rent somewhere.
Where can you go in the area?
Istria was part of the Republic of Venice for 400 years and then part of Italy for another 100 years. Only after World War II did it become part of Yugoslavia, and in 1991 it became part of the newly created Republic of Croatia.
Currently, it is one of the most popular tourist regions in Croatia. Istria is a large and, unusually for Croatia, very forested peninsula. The weather is almost guaranteed here, and the views are breathtaking, especially the small bays and islands scattered along the shoreline. There are plenty of both here.
Istria also has many small historic towns with lots to see. The nearest Koversadas are:
Vrsar – about 2 km away so that you can go on foot, it has about 2000 inhabitants. The historic center is on top of a hill, including the Church of St. Martin and a 40-meter bell tower.
A view from nearby Vrsar, Istria
A little further, 9 km from Koverada, lies Poreć. It is also worth a look here, especially around the port. There is also something for children nearby – Dinopark Funtana.
Further away – it is worth going to Rovinj and Pula – the district’s capital, with an airport. In Pula, there is a well-preserved Colosseum, built by Caesar Augustus. It is worth driving these 50 km to feel a piece of the history of this region and European civilization.
The future of Koversada
Currently, Koversada is owned by Maistra, a company from the tourist industry. There are rumors that Maistra plans to turn the place into a family resort for textile tourists.
It is generally believed that by investing in new amenities, such as glamping or apartments, you can increase profits because modern, wealthy customers are usually ready to spend more. We are convinced that it is not true in this case. Many people we meet here are regulars, almost unheard of in other resorts.
A loyal and regular clientele is a treasure in years such as the pandemic or after. The pursuit of increasing profits can backfire on the owners. There are thousands of typical family resorts all over the Mediterranean coast. After such a conversion, Koversada would not stand out, losing its atmosphere, history, and loyal customers. Other resorts can only dream of such a heritage.
In summary, some downsides are:
- Part of the infrastructure had its heyday in the 80s. Especially in the cottage part – Koversada Villas. But we admit that the sanitary facilities that have been renovated are at the highest level
- Few attractions for children
- Most of the beach is rocky or concrete
But despite everything, we believe that Koversada is one of the most beautiful places in the world. If you like to rest in nature, come here while you can. And you can take our word for that! 🙂
Address
Koversada b.b. 52450 Vrsar Croatia.
