The city of Krk, the administrative, commercial, and cultural centre of the island, is one of those Adriatic and Mediterranean cities where traces of its millennia-long past are visible at every turn. Even in the very name of the city, one can discern imprints of the pre-Roman, Illyrian civilisation that called the city and island of Krk “K(u)R(y)K(ta)” or Kuryeta. Based on archaeological findings, the city is attributed to the Liburnians, an Illyrian tribe of the Kurikta clan (though it may have been founded even earlier!). They evidently found a strategically advantageous location, a source of fresh water, a naturally protected harbour, and fertile land in the hinterland.

After the Western Roman Empire was abolished in ad 476, Krk came under the control of the Byzantine Empire, which lasted for another thousand years. During Emperor Justinian’s rule in the 6th century, Krk became part of the Exarchate of Ravenna, a military-administrative district, a connection that would remain until 1115. Under Byzantine rule, Krk, as a former Roman municipium, retained a degree of independence and autonomy. The development gradually progressed toward democratically organised communes. At the time, the city was likely led by a prior, elected by clergy and citizens. 

In the 6th and 7th centuries, the migration of peoples marked a major historical turning point with long-lasting consequences. Given its proximity to the mainland, it was surely not difficult for Slavic settlers to reach the island of Krk. The first island settlements inhabited by Croats were Omišalj, Dobrinj, Vrbnik, and Baška, and over time, they came to dominate almost the entire island, except for the city of Krk. The city, secured by strong walls, became a refuge for the remaining Roman (and Romanised) population, preserving Roman culture within.

In Krk, Latin was in use, while Croatian and the Glagolitic script prevailed in the surrounding areas. A dual legal system existed, later formalised into two statutes. At the episcopal seat, worship was conducted in Latin, whereas in the surrounding settlements, it was held in Croatian (Old Slavonic). This relationship endured for centuries. 

Bartol and Vid Frankopan ruled the island for approximately 30 years. Evidence of their governance and desire for an organised duchy can be seen in the construction of the city courthouse on Kamplin Square, extensions to the cathedral, and the building of the Church of St Quirinus.

Over time, the Dukes of Krk expanded their estates and power to the mainland, including Vinodol, Senj, Modruš, Lika, and Kordun. They played a significant role in broader Croatian territories. Ivan V (?-1393) became the Ban of Croatia in 1392, and his son Nikola IV (1360–1432), also a Ban, marked the peak of Frankopan power. The last 30 years of Frankopan rule on Krk were led by Ivan VII (1451–1480). 

This centuries-long period was marked by politically driven iconography, with Venetian victory symbols appearing in various locations. Chief among these was the winged lion holding a book (open if the Republic was at peace, closed during wartime), representing St Mark the Evangelist, the patron saint of Venice.

Organised tourism in Krk began in 1897 when the newly founded Society for the Beautification of the City of Krk, the first of its kind on the island, approved its statutes. Similar societies were subsequently established in Baška (1904), Omišalj (1905), Malinska (1909), etc. This society promoted the city by printing postcards. A significant boost to tourism came from Czech professor Jaromir Mohaček of the Prague Commercial Academy, who built three villas known as the Mohač Villas in the Dražica area in 1909 and 1910. These villas were accompanied by beaches, while a bathing facility with cabins was constructed in 1910.  

The History of Hotels in Krk: The Entrepreneur Marica and her success

In 1925, Vid and Marica Festini bought several dilapidated buildings on the waterfront and erected the hotel Jugoslavija. As the first hotel in Krk, it was originally called Quarnero and was opened by the owner Marica near the Small City Gate as early as 1910. Marica remained the sole owner of the hotel until she sold it to Ivan and Anica Žic in 1926, who kept it until nationalisation in 1948. The Hotel Jugoslavija, known under its current name of Hotel Marina, was incorporated into the District Hospitality Company in 1948, with its headquarters in Malinska, and a year later it became a part of the Krk Town Hospitality Company. The Adria hotel was constructed in Dražica Bay but burned down before the war. Among the earliest hotels in Krk were also Bosna (later Zagreb), built in 1927 in Dražica, and the Krk hotel, established around 1928 in the old town centre.