With its picturesque towns (Brsec, Opatija, Senj etc), incredibly blue water, beautiful islands (Krk, Rab, Cres et Lošinj) and indented coastline, this gulf was already popular with tourists during the Belle Epoque. The Istrian side is home to more dense vegetation, while the terrain south of Rijeka is more austere and stony. The area is best explored out of season.