Explore ex-prison islands Goli otok & Grgur

Goli otok - a small and uninhabited ex-prison island with a troubling past

Goli Otok Croatia, or Naked Island, is a small rocky island located at the foot of the Velebit slopes, between Rab Island and the mainland in the northern part of the Velebit channel. Goli otok was once a top-secret political prisoner concentration camp with a very dark history, in operation between 1949 until 1956.

Male political prisoners were located on Goli otok and female political prisoners were the nearby St Gregory's Island. 

Yugoslav President Tito used this prison as a cruel re-education system to send those he deemed unjustly loyal to Stalin. Here, prisoners were made to overcome their assumed ‘Stalinism’ through a punishing system they had to endure while also inflicting pain on their fellow inmates as an act of loyalty towards Tito.

Later, Goli otok remained active for regular criminal inmates until 1989. Goli otok was chosen as a prison due to its uninhabited nature and the impossibility of escape. Its haunting solitude in the middle of the Adriatic Sea has earned it a reputation as the “Croatian Alcatraz".

Even today, you can feel haunting and surreal reminiscences of this former prison island. Crumbled walls and giant empty buildings give away their former life - once bustling with activity and now deserted relics of time past.

The island of Goli Otok has acquired great symbolic importance in the history of Croatia and the former Yugoslavia. Its history still remains a sensitive topic among many Croats.

Goli Otok serves as a reminder of the atrocities committed and the need for continued healing and learning for those involved to move forward.

Goli otok as a symbol of hope and a place of amazing natural beauty

Goli otok serves as a reminder of the past and holds significance as a symbol of hope for visitors.

The once oppressive atmosphere has now been replaced by calming turquoise seas and lush green hillsides.

Nowadays, Goli Otok has transformed from a place of punishment to a paradise for travellers, attracting visitors from all corners of the globe.

Visit the ex-prison island Goli otok

Excursion boats now head for Goli otok daily to show tourists around the grounds and enjoy its beautiful natural surroundings.

From Krk, you can visit Goli otok on a day trip starting from Punat. On this tour, you will stay on Goli otok for about 2 hours - and get to know Goli otok with a guide. There we will also have a break for swimming and lunch on the boat.

You can also go to Goli otok by boat from Baška, on a trip that takes you along the traces of the wind bura to the uninhabited islets of Goli, Grgur and Plavnik.

Private taxi boats from Punat also run to Goli Otok - an ideal opportunity to discover this unique island at your own pace.

There is even a tavern on Goli otok open during the summer months. The possibility of having lunch or refreshments there is especially convenient if you are arriving at Goli otok with the boats that don`t serve lunch on board.

Goli otok  - great boat trip for groups

Goli otok is very popular as a group tour. We can organize an excursion to Goli otok with boats of different sizes. You need about a 2-hour boat ride from Krk to reach Goli otok.

The boat ride to Goli otok offers a unique landscape view that is always enjoyable: beautiful hidden beaches, karst coast and uninhabited islands.

For group tours to Goli otok, we always recommend a guide that will welcome you there, tell you about the island's intriguing history and show you around.

We can also organize a lunch in the tavern, according to the group`s wishes.

Did you know that on Goli otok, you can even ride a train? A panoramic train can take the group around the island and show you a broader perspective of Goli otok.

View the attractions on Goli otok on the panoramic train ride

A narrow, paved road connecting the western side to the island's eastern side serves as an excellent reminder of this prison's sombre past; one can easily imagine how difficult it must have been for prisoners to traverse this road to get around the barren island.

This 5.2 km road may not be particularly large, but it is steep and has five hairpin turns, making it a rather demanding and very picturesque panoramic road.

Nowadays, the panoramic train "Goli Express" provides an excellent way to view the attractions on Goli otok.

The train ride across Goli otok is ideal if you wish to learn about its past during a 20-minute ride without any physical exertion on your part.

Discover some of the secrets of Goli otok, including a former prison administration building, an industrial zone, a water collection pool used for washing laundry, a hospital, infamous isolation cells and section 101 (also known as Wire). Returning to the starting point of Tetina bay offers a unique view of the island of Rab.

You can experience all of it comfortably onboard The “Goli Express” train. This train ride is ideal for families, photographers, historians and everyone who wants to get to know Goli Island better!

St Gregory's Island

St Gregory's Island is an uninhabited Croatian island located in the Adriatic Sea between Goli otok, Rab and Krk. Saint Gregory was once known as Arta on medieval maps but was later named after Saint Gregory. In the past, St Gregory's islet was also known as a deposit of bauxite.

Covering an area of 6.7 square kilometres (2.6 miles), this Mediterranean-type evergreen island is home to a variety of wildlife, including a sizeable population of fallow deer that roam freely in search of food and water.

St. Gregory has rocky coastal cliffs that descend steeply from heather-covered hills and beautiful beaches sheltered by pine forests along the entire coast of this island. St. Gregory now has a peaceful atmosphere in contrast to his turbulent past.

The history of the island has varied greatly over time. Thus, the Yugoslav Communist Party used the islet of St. Grgur as a women's penal camp. In the period after the Second World War, those who opposed the communist party were imprisoned and sent to prisons on the island of Sveti Grgur & Goli otok, where they were exposed to harsh and inhumane conditions under strict supervision. The prisoners were primarily political enemies of the Yugoslav government and were housed in barracks.

Despite its dark past, St. Gregory today also offers its visitors beautiful beaches, clear sea and stunning sunsets - making it a popular destination for travellers looking for unspoiled nature and an escape from everyday life's hustle and bustle.

Sveti Grgur is widely known for its beautiful landscapes where the Mediterranean greenery meets the crystal clear sea, attracting visitors from all over Europe. Sveti Grgur also has ecological significance because it is considered the northernmost evergreen island of the Mediterranean type.

Sveti Grgur has become a popular destination for nature lovers who want to experience the diverse flora and fauna found on these shores, including wild goats, pheasants, rabbits, hedgehogs, partridges and many species of birds. The fallow deers are particularly popular among its visitors - they are so tame that you will be able to feed them.

You can visit the islet St. Gregory on several boat trips leaving from Krk, Punat & Baška.

Private boat rides to ex-prison islands Goli otok & Grgur

Both ex-prison islands, Goli otok & Grgur are perfect for private boat rides with a taxi boat.

To fully explore them and their beautiful surroundings, it is best to take a whole-day private boat tour.

Visit these amazing ex-prison islands with a complex history and stunning natural beauty.

You can chose these boat trips to take you there. On a private panoramic flight, you can also experience the Goli otok and St. Gregory islands from a bird's eye view.

We can also create a fully customized private trip for your family, friends or your group to Goli otok & Grgur.