Not so long ago Bakar was the centre of tunny-fishing in the Northern Adriatic, and is still visited by numerous tourists from abroad. Bakar fishermen provide fish for nearby Rijeka, distant Trieste, even Venice. Future tourism, including a public beach surrounded by pine forests, will be incited by the picturesque vineyards of the Bakar Bay; foreign tourists spread the word about the famous sparkling wine "Bakarska vodica". Due to inadequate industrial development these natural resources have almost disappeared; lately Bakar and the whole Bay have been gaining the original ecological attention, which provides conditions for quality as the one that has developed in the areas surrounding Bakar. The hilly hinterland of Bakar is a forest ecosystem with a hundred-year-old forests and rich karst terrain. A winding road across Gornje Jelenje (882 m, 19 km) leads to Lokve, Crni Lug and Risnjak National Park. Winter attractions are ski resorts Platak, Delnice, Mrkopalj, Bjelolasica.

Major cultural-artistic events include Margaret's Summer (concerts, chakavian evenings) and the "Mare croaticum" encounters of visual artists (27th-31st of June).

BAKAR, a town and port in the north-western part of the Bakar Bay, 15 km southeast of Rijeka; population 1,853; includes the hamlet of Vitasevo. Bakar resembles an amphitheatre; its older part, Grad, is located on slanted slopes and includes the Frankopans' citadel (16th c.), while the newer part of town, Primorje, is located along the coast. In the past, Bakar was an important trade port, as well as a centre of fishing, viniculture, shipbuilding and maritime affairs with nautical school (opened in 1849). Economic decay of Bakar was caused by the development of steamship navigation and, especially, by the construction of the railroad to Rijeka (1873), which by-passed Bakar. The branch line Bakar - Skrljevo was built in 1931. The immediate hinterland of this little town features green areas and gardens. Not far from Bakar a coke plant had been built which destroyed the Bay's ecosystem; the plant was dismantled in 1995. The port is connected with Rijeka port area and is intended for bulk freight. A little shipyard serves as a building and repairing yard. The Adriatic main road passes over the town of Bakar (M2, E65).