Abroad: On foot from Labin to Rabac along the official hiking trail 804

If you want to go on a mini hike during your holiday in Croatia/Istria, you can walk from Labin to Rabac along a relatively well „laid out“ hiking trail. The path is appropriately signposted and is suitable for walking dogs. 

Our holiday in Croatia

During our last summer holiday - which we spent in Croatia - we discovered the hiking trail from Labin to Rabac. It wasn't as easy with a dog 🐕 on holiday in Istria as I had thought or wished, but the hiking options were well suited to us dog parents. So if you're ever here (with or without your four-legged friend) and want to stretch your legs, this little hiking trail from Labin to Rabac is a good choice. 

One thing in advance: the hiking trail is NOT easy and, in my opinion, you should have a certain amount of stamina and basic fitness.

Approach and access

On my Komoot tour (which you can find at the bottom of the article), the hike deliberately starts at a certain place - namely the roundabout.

If you want to park for free, you can do so at the aforementioned car park near the cemetery and spend the whole day walking and strolling along the promenade in Rabac without having to worry about your parking ticket expiring.

However, if you want to park near the centre of Labin, you will need a few coins (currently still in kuna) to buy a parking ticket from the machine. 🤑

A clear recommendation, however, for the roundabout, as walking to Labin takes you to a viewpoint where you can take a great selfie of yourself with Labin in the background. 📸

Hike from Labin to Rabac - Key facts

✅ approx. 11 km from the Labin car park to Rabac and back

✅ approx. 350 hm ascent & descent

✅ Partly very rocky path

✅ Some high steps to climb

Suitable for fit dogs

✅ Good labelling available - partly blue/white and green/blue - both mark the same route

⛔️ not suitable for small children and pushchairs

⛔️ not suitable for less fit people

⛔️ Some foreign dogs are not on a lead (not even those of tourists - for whatever reason 🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️)

I wouldn't describe the path labelled as easy as such. It is more of a moderate difficulty (at least the ascent), including the risk of slipping and falling. In my opinion, it is also not suitable for children. 

Why it is also normal here not to keep dogs on a lead is a mystery to me. If a dog doesn't listen to the „SIT“ command on the tenth request, why should it be able to run around off the lead? As I said, it's a big mystery to me.

Nevertheless, it is a beautiful path and definitely worth a trip if you are already here.

How fit do I need to be for the hike from Labin to Rabac?

As already mentioned several times above, the path should not be taken lightly. If you don't have a problem with slippery stones and can climb high (rock) steps, you won't mind the path.

The descent from Labin to Rabac is easier as it is downhill all the way. The way back, on the other hand, is really unsuitable for unfit people, in my opinion.

If you feel sure-footed and want to enjoy the course, you are welcome to use our Komoot tour below.

⚠️ ATTENTION: We expressly point out that we accept no liability for accidents or possibly closed trails. Before hiking, check the availability of the trail and reflect on your own fitness.

Shortly before the finish in Rabac, you can see a football stadium on the descent 🏟 - then it's not far, as this is already located in a resort in Rabac. A few more minutes on foot and you will pass a modest waterfall and a mini oasis 🏝, as I like to call it, where you can enjoy a great view or let your little four-legged friend take a dip. You may not be able to see the water directly from the path, but if you get to the bottom and then turn left instead of right towards the stadium, you will reach the hidden spot after a few metres.

Eyes on us go! 😁

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Culinary delights and catering during the hike

So if you attach great importance to eating out, you have a large selection of restaurants to try out in both Labin and Rabac. Fortunately, they offer dishes perfectly tailored to German/Austrian tourists. Who doesn't know the typical Croatian Neapolitan pizza? Kind, steaks and burgers? 🍔

Sorry for the mini-sarcasm, but if you want to try the typical food of Istria or Croatia, you are not well advised to visit these places.

Unfortunately, I also have to disappoint vegetarians and vegans here. Meatless dishes can only be found in the form of Margherita pizza, mixed salad & Greek salad with feta. 

Nevertheless - there are a few pubs. 🍕You don't need to worry about starving.

Offtopic: If you are interested in good food, take a look at our Article about Le Burger in Gmunden or of city love in Linz to.

Can you swim in the sea in Rabac?

Yes, swimming in the sea is possible along the entire promenade. Unfortunately, four-legged friends are not allowed in the water in the official places - you have to look for (and find) a spot where it is not explicitly forbidden.

We walked to the last end of the promenade (approx. 3-4 km) until we reached a mini dog beach. This is a small bay just before the nudist area. A few hundred metres further on you come to various wild bays where you can also go swimming with your dog.

My summary of the hike from Labin to Rabac

Personally, I really enjoyed the short walk from Labin to Rabac. It was an excursion that sweetened my stay and I really deserved the pizza afterwards. 

If you are on holiday in Labin or Rabac, are reasonably fit and want to spend some time in nature - you absolutely must take this route.

You can also see a few snakes and lizards. 🐍

You can find more information about Labin directly on the tourism page.