The Učka Nature Park is located in the western part of the Republic of Croatia, on the eastern side of the Istrian peninsula. The Park is well connected both to the Istrian peninsula and to the Kvarner area by road. The most important roads are the “Istrian Y” expressway that connects Istria with the network of Croatian motorways via the Učka Tunnel, then the Adriatic coastal road (“Jadranska magistrala”), and the old regional road that brings visitors from Kvarner and Istria directly to the heart of the nature park via the Poklon mountain-pass (922 m).

The closeness of two international airports (Rijeka and Pula) and several sea harbors underlines the good accessibility of Učka Nature Park from the rest of Croatia and Europe. Major urban areas near the Park are the city of Rijeka and smaller towns along the Opatija Riviera (Opatija, Lovran, Mošćenička Draga and Matulji). On the Istrian side there are the cities of Buzet, Pazin and Labin, and the more distant Umag, Poreč, Rovinj and Pula. Before the construction of Učka Tunnel in 1980, the old regional road that passes the Park area in the east-west direction was the main traffic route between Istria and the rest of Croatia.

How to reach the Učka Nature Park by car:

Coming from Rijeka or Zagreb, continue along the expressway in the direction of Učka Tunnel (Pula, Poreč etc.) and take the exit Veprinac. From there continue along the regional road that leads to the Park.
Coming from Istria, turn right before the entrance to Učka Tunnel, next to the INA petrol station, and follow the signs that will bring you to the old regional road and to the centre of the Park.
The Učka Nature Park can also be reached from nearby places along the Liburnian coast, which lie at aproximately 30 minutes driving distance:
Ičići – turn off the main road at the shop in the centre of Ičići, continue driving through Poljane to Veprinac, and then follow the brown signs that will lead you to the Park.
Matulji – from the centre of the town, head towards Bregi and Veprinac and then follow the brown signs that will lead you to the Park.

Učka Nature Park – road distances:

Opatija – Učka Nature Park: 25 km
Rijeka – Učka Nature Park: 32 km
Zagreb – Učka Nature Park: 190 km
Split – Učka Nature Park: 440 km

How to reach the Učka Nature Park by bus:

On Sundays and holidays the Učka Nature Park, or more precisely the Poklon mountain-pass, can be reached from Opatija (Slatina bus stop) by the local Autotrolej bus line no.34. The journey takes cca. one hour.

Opatija departure – 09:40 ; 17:15

Poklon return – 10:30 ; 18:00

If coming to Kvarner by bus, Rijeka Bus Station is well-connected with most major Croatian and European towns.The journey from Rijeka to Opatija takes ca. 45 minutes by the local Autotrolej bus line no. 32. Here you can find its timetable.

Information

Did you know?

The griffon vulture feeding site

…that griffon vultures, endangered in Croatia, are often flying over Učka in search for food? Once they were nesting here, but today their northern-Adriatic population is decreasing and in order to help in their preservation, a feeding site was build in Učka Nature Park, popularly called 'griffon vulture restaurants'.

The „Two towers“ trail

…that in 2018 a trail named „Two towers“ was established, which connects the town tower in Lovran with the Vojak tower on Učka? The trail goes through the existing hiking trail, and alongside there are educational boards that inform visitors on the flora and fauna of Učka.

The Roman cheese

…that it is traditional on Učka to produce the „molded“ sheep cheese of distinctive taste since the Roman Empire time? Its production was standardized due to its use in the nutrition of the Roman legions, while today's cheese made on Učka doesn't differ much from its antique ancestor.

Slavic mythology

…that the Mošćenička Draga's canyon used to be the scenery of sacred beliefs for the first Slavic settlers on the Kvarner area? The local toponyms like Perun, Babin grob and Voloski kuk witness about the old Slavic cult of Perun.