Together with 20 smaller villages, Malinska forms an area of the island called Dubašnica (“dub” is the local name for oak). The wooded bay on the west coast of the island of Krk, where Malinska and the surrounding villages are located, boasts lush vegetation because it is sheltered from the cold winds and characterized by a mild climate, so the potential for developing health tourism in this area was recognized very early on. Malinska is a relatively new settlement on the island, mentioned for the first time only in the 15th century. It was named after a mill, the remains of which are still visible in the town center next to a water source. The town underwent significant expansion in the 18th century when a port was built mainly for exporting wood. The first houses were then built around the port, forming the nowadays very popular and lively tourist promenade.