Which of the Dalmatian islands is for you?

Join the jet set in Split

Hvar, an island with an unpronounceable name, is the most visited island in the region of Dalmatia, perfect for jet set evenings spent surrounded by the Croatian upper classes. There are several boat crossings per day, departing from Split. Some passengers will just stay for one night of partying. But Hvar is in fact an incredibly beautiful island with a charming harbour and splendid, almost untouched beaches once you have left the beach resorts.

The town gets busy in the evenings. Once the sun has set, young people meet in Hvar's trendy cafés and dance on the sofas. In the bars overlooking the harbour, tourists and scantily clad young women come together to drink cocktails. One thing you must do is take the boat to Carpe Diem Beach, one of the world's most famous open-air nightclubs. During the day, it is one of the nicest private beach/lounges.

In the same region, Brac is the closest island to Split and is the place to be in Croatia when it comes to windsurfing. Meanwhile, Bol's Corne d'Or beach makes it the most famous village on the island of Brac – it features a famous sand spit which moves every day! Vis, the island to the south west of Hvar, is worth a visit. The Blue Grotto of Bisevo resembles that of Capri in Italy. 

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Jeremy Couture

Peace and isolation around Dubrovnik

If it is the wild creeks of Dalmatia's typical villages that you are looking for, head to the islands around Dubrovnik, at the southern tip of Croatia. Korcula and Peljesac are the largest of the islands, which means that they have better-developed hotel infrastructure. Moreover, Peljesac is connected to the mainland by means of the "European wall of China" at Mali Ston. 

The Elaphite islands and the small island of Lokrum can be seen from the heights of Dubrovnik and can be reached by boat as part of a one-day excursion. I would personally recommend Mljet. It is the most unspoiled and also the southernmost of the string of Croatian islands. 

Groups and larger families can rent a boat for the day and make the most of all of these islands. However, you do need the budget to suit! We suggest that you choose just one or two of the islands and save your time for discovering Split and Dubrovnik, the true gems of Dalmatia.