Last updated on November 12th, 2025 at 12:25 pm
Planning a Croatia island-hopping adventure? The Dalmatian Coast is home to some of the best islands in Croatia, each with its own unique charm – from glamorous Hvar to tranquil Vis. Here are five bucket list Croatian islands you’ll love!
I’ve been fortunate enough to visit the islands of Croatia extensively, I fell head over heels for the turquoise bays, historic stone towns and vineyard hills years ago! It’s truly one of the most idyllic places to spend your summer and there are hundreds of beautiful islands to explore in the Adriatic, but these five Croatian Islands really stand out!
If you’re in the midst of planning your own island-hopping itinerary or even if you’re stuck trying to decide between islands or wondering how to get there, this guide to the 5 best islands in Croatia, plus insider tips, will give you the perfect start!
So grab a drink and get stuck into the 5 best Croatian Islands!
5 BEST ISLANDS IN CROATIA YOU NEED TO VISIT!
1. KORCULA ISLAND CROATIA (Wine, History & Venetian Charm)
Korcula is a charming island known for its vineyards and gorgeous old town, but what really makes this island special is the dazzling landscape of bright turquoise waters, rolling hills and mountains! It’s the island that surprised me the most, all I knew of Korcula was the likeness to Dubrovnik with its familiar fortified walls, I was not expecting this Croatian island to be so beautiful, charming and romantic!
The old town of Korcula is a great place to stay for a few nights, there are some lovely boutique hotels with sea-view balconies, like gorgeous Hotel Korsal. You will get a real feel for the Island’s low-key vibe walking around Korcula Town’s ancient cobbled lanes and strolling along the pretty promenade with huge trees and serene waterfront dining spots like Pensatore Restaurant – with a postcard-perfect view!
Korcula quickly became one of my favourite Croatian Islands, by far the most picturesque! It was a joy to uncover the gems, from hidden beach coves to swim, boat trips that take you around the coastline and my personal fave – glorious afternoons sipping wine among olive groves and vines with stunning vistas – one of my top tips is wine tasting in the Lumbarda Valley – it’s unforgettable!
Don’t miss:
Discover my Best Things To Do In Korcula, Croatia and discover hidden bays, local wine tours and charming old-town spots!
Where to stay on Korčula Island:
Stay within Korčula Town’s old walls for romance and harbour views or nearby Lumbarda for beaches and vineyards. I’ve detailed the best areas and hotels in my Where to Stay in Korčula, Croatia guide.
2. HVAR ISLAND CROATIA (Glamour, Vineyards & Hidden Coves)
Hvar Island is the sunniest and most glam out of all the Croatian Islands! It’s the ultimate blend of luxury and authenticity, there’s hundreds of reasons why it made this best islands of Croatia list!
Hvar is the first island I stayed in Croatia and it’s the one I’ve made repeated visits to, I instantly fell in love with the vibrance, attractions, beautiful Riviera and Venetian architecture! It may be only an hour from Korcula Island, but it’s worlds apart!
You can easily spend a week on Hvar soaking it all in and Hvar Town is a great place to start! It’s the top attraction on the island and boasts a super-yacht lined waterfront with gorgeous terraces to watch the world go by, a pretty square – St Stephen’s with a cathedral and above it all is a Fortress!
Hvar Town is incredibly picturesque. I’ve spent hours wandering the old town’s cobbles and strolling along the coastal path, discovering gems like Falko Beach Bar and spending time on the Pakleni Islands – just a 10-minute boat trip away with some pretty fabulous overwater restaurants!
And not to be outdone by Korcula’s vineyards, but Hvar’s interior is also incredible, you’ve got lavender fields, wineries and Stari Grad, the oldest settlement on the island, which I thought was particularly charming and a great way to spend an afternoon!
This island has a lovely feel about it and now that the outdoor parties have all but closed to save the island’s charm, you can stay central without any worries!
Don’t miss:
Read my full guide to the Best Things to Do in Hvar Town for beaches, rooftop bars, and secret coves you’ll love!
Where to stay on Hvar Island:
Stay in Hvar Town for stylish nightlife, Riviera charm and boutique stays surrounded by island scenery – read my full guide to Where to Stay in Hvar, Croatia for the best hotels and hidden gems.
3. VIS ISLAND CROATIA (Authentic & Untouched Beauty)
Vis Island is remote, wild, and wonderfully authentic; it’s one of the best islands of Croatia to visit to escape the crowds! As the most unique island in Dalmatia, I think it really deserves your time, whether that’s a day trip from Hvar Island or a longer three-night stay!
Either way, Vis is worth the effort to get to, if not only to see the stunning mountainous backdrop, pretty bays and authentic stone town of Komiza. I was instantly impressed with the scenery on this island; it’s unexpectedly rugged and beautiful – don’t miss the short 20-minute winding bus journey between the island’s two towns (Vis Town and Komiza) for spectacular island scenery and mountains!
Vis, although small, is famous for a few things, including the film set locations for blockbuster Mamma Mia, Stiniva Beach, known as ‘James Bond Beach’ for its dramatic limestone cliffs and the Blue Cave – a natural phenomenon, which is extremely impressive! In fact, one of my favourite things to do in Vis is take a boat excursion to all of these spots from Vis Town – a perfect Venetian-built harbour town to base yourself from!
Don’t miss:
Read my complete guide to Vis Croatia for charming restaurants, blue caves and pretty beach coves!
Where to stay on Vis Island:
Stay in Komiža for a local feel and sea views or Vis Town for convenience and charm. See my guide to Where to Stay on Vis Island, Croatia for boutique stays and waterfront villas.
4. BRAC ISLAND CROATIA (Famous For Zlatini Rat Beach)
Brac Island is the largest island in the Dalmatian chain. It’s one hour from Split and only 30 minutes from Hvar Island, which makes it a very easy island to visit!
Visitors flock to this island to see the famous Golden Horn Beach (local name Zlatni Rat), possibly the most photographed and original beach in Croatia and the busiest spot on the island, but there’s more to this family-friendly Croatian Island as I discovered over a few days!
Bol is the main town, it has a lovely square with some nice restaurants and a pretty tree-lined coastal path that leads directly to the Golden Horn Beach – a long strip of white pebbles that juts out into the sea and changes shape with the wind, it’s dazzling and the shallow water is the clearest shade of turquoise blue!
Bol Town, like the rest of the island’s villages, is peppered with traditional stone houses with green shutters, but I urge you to also visit tranquil Pucisc and pretty Milna as the journey is lush! You will travel amongst pretty green landscapes and olive trees – there’s plenty of stunning viewpoints and culture on Brac Island and even olive oil tasting!
Don’t miss:
Explore Bol Town, swim in Golden Horn Beach, and go olive oil tasting in the hidden valleys, Brac also makes a great day trip from Split or short boat trip from Hvar Town’s Harbour!
Where to stay on Brac Island:
Stay in Bol to be close to Zlatni Rat and beachside restaurants, or in Supetar for a family-friendly base with easy ferry access. → See the best hotel options for Bol here!
5. MLJET ISLAND CROATIA (Turquoise Lakes, Lush National Park)
Mljet is a beautiful and serene island, known for its epic nature and natural environment – it is mostly a National Park with two dreamy turquoise saltwater lakes, surrounded by pine forest, and this is what visitors come to see!
Beyond the National Park, you’ll find an island of tranquillity with quaint villages, white pebble beaches, lots of Adriatic views and activities such as hiking, swimming and kayaking. Mljet Island is really unlike any of the other islands on this list!
It makes a nice contrast from Hvar and Korcula, being mostly a National Park, even in the height of summer, this place is still lovely and quiet! I visited Mljet as a day trip from Dubrovnik and spent around 6 hours on the Island, it’s much easier to explore the highlights this way and uncover off-the-beaten-path locations! (I mean it’s 5,375 hectares – so you can easily go wrong!).
One of the highlights was walking along the white chalk paths that surround the lakes, visiting the floating Monastery and beautiful Saplunara Beach’s crystal clear waters. We also stopped by Odysseus Cave, set amongst a stunning rocky landscape, another quirky landmark on this island!
Don’t miss:
Salt water lakes, Monastery, Saplunara Beach and Odysseus Cave, bring your trainers for Mljet Island!
Where to stay on Mljet Island:
Mljet Island is best explored as a boat trip from Dubrovnik or Korcula Island (Korcula is closest), but if you do want to stay, I recommend the town of Polače, near the National Park’s entry, there are a handful of guest houses and apartments.
CROATIA ISLANDS – ESSENTIAL TRAVEL TIPS
When To Visit The Islands Of Croatia
Summer time is a must when visiting the islands of Croatia! You’ll want to swim in the sea, dine alfresco and enjoy long balmy nights on the terrace!
In my experience, the best months are mid-May to early June and mid-September when the weather is warm and sunny, the vibe lively, but not overbearingly so and the prices are not super crazy!
July and August are the peak months, which are much busier, especially the beaches and the old towns and best avoided if you can. Mid-October to April is the off-season – but in the case of the Croatian Islands this means a lot of things will be shut, including restaurants, hotels and boat trips.
How To Get To The Best Croatian Islands
Travelling between the islands is easy and affordable! The ferry system works incredibly well and serves all islands from the major travel hubs of Dubrovnik and Split – and the best thing is there’s only two hours at the most of cruising time from one island to the next!
You might wonder where to start your island-hopping adventure?! Below are the most popular routes that can also be taken in reverse, but I would suggest, especially for Croatian first-timers, to start your trip with a 3-4 day stay in Dubrovnik – Croatia’s pearl of the Adriatic!
Tip! If you are staying in Split and are really stuck for time, you could go on the popular 5 islands tour Croatia from Split’s Harbour, it covers Hvar, Pakleni Islands, Vis Island, Blue Cave, Blue Lagoon and many more scenic spots and locations, you’ll get to see a lot of the beautiful Adriatic coastline with this full day boat tour!
How Many Days To Stay On The Islands Of Croatia
If you’re staying on Croatian islands: Hvar, Korcula or Brac, I recommend at least four FULL days to see the highlights properly and have time to absorb the atmosphere, take a boat trip or beach day and relax without rushing.
The last thing you want to do is pack and unpack too often and accidentally miss things; it would not be a good experience – for reference, I once spent two weeks on Hvar Island, and it was perfect!
Vis Island is smaller, you could get away with three days and still see the highlights, Mljet is a National Park with tiny villages. Personally, I have only visited Mljet on boat tour from Dubrovnik, which is enough to enjoy the tranquil nature.
ISLANDS OF CROATIA – FAQ
How many Croatian Islands are there?
Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast is dotted with hundreds of islands, yes, hundreds! Some are small and unspoiled, while others are magnificent, boasting jaw-dropping scenery, history, and attractions.
I may be biased, but the best five islands in Croatia to concentrate on first are those listed in this guide; Korcula Island, Hvar Island, Vis Island, Mljet Island and the island of Brac Croatia!
What are the most beautiful Croatian Islands?
Korcula and Hvar Island are the most beautiful Croatian Islands to visit! The scenery of Hvar from the Fortress view over the Pakleni Islands and Hvar Town Harbour below is breathtaking, while Korcula Island’s charming old town, picturesque vineyards and mountainous landscape is just like a postcard!
(Incidentally, the archipelago of Pakleni Islands, just off the coast of Hvar are also very pretty, some are inhabited islands with gorgeous overwater restaurants and tropical bays, like the island of Palmizanna.)
What are the best Croatian Islands for couples?
For couples visiting the islands of Croatia, I highly recommend Korcula Island, which offers pretty boutique hotels, a tranquil vibe with lovely scenic promenade walks, hidden beach coves, romantic waterside dining and candlelit wine bars. Truly, Korcula is just perfect for couples!
What is the most visited island in Croatia?
Hvar Island is the most visited Island in Croatia! It is the longest Island and boasts more sunny days in the year than any other island!
Plus, the beauty of Hvar Town draws visitors by the thousands, just one glimpse of the harbour, fortress, square and coastline will have you booking a ticket ASAP!
What are the best islands in Croatia for Island-hopping?
Island hopping is a great way to explore Croatia’s best islands and coast, I really do think it’s always best to visit more than one island; they are so different in attractions and looks!
The five best islands in Croatia for island-hopping are listed in this post: Korcula, Hvar, Vis, Mljet and Brac, between the major travel hubs of Dubrovnik and Split, but I recommend stopping over in two or three islands as the distance between them are only 1-2-hours, meaning you can do boat trips to the smallest ones!
My absolute favourite Croatia Islands itinerary is:
Dubrovnik (4-nights) – Korcula ( 4-nights) – Hvar Island (5-nights) – Vis Island (3-nights) – Split (3-nights).
From Hvar Island, you can easily visit the Golden Horn Beach of Brac Island as a day trip and from Korcula, stunning Mljet Island is only an hour away! Also, if you wanted to skip Vis Island, you can visit some of the highlights with a boat tour from Hvar.
My Croatia Islands Essential Travel Toolkit!
Before you hop around the Croatian Islands, or begin your adventures in Dalmatia, I recommend downloading a few apps to help make your visit more seamless!
- Croatia eSim: Install an easy and cheap Croatia eSim to get data on the go without changing your card!
- Booking.com: The best hotel and apartment booking app for Croatia, with advance booking and fully-refundable options.
- Omio: Book the ferry or coach on Omio for easy and inexpensive island hopping or travelling between the major towns and cities.
- Get Your Guide: My go-to platform for booking boat trips, wine-tasting excursions and adventures in Croatia!
Start planning your trip, here’s my ESSENTIAL Croatia Guides!
Essential Croatia Tips: What You Need To Know!
The Ultimate Guide To visiting Dubrovnik
The Complete Guide To Hvar Island Croatia!
What To See & Do In Split Croatia!
Best Things To Do In Korcula Island Croatia!
Wondering where to stay? Check out my WHERE TO STAY top posts!
Where To Stay In Dubrovnik Croatia!
Where To Stay In Split Croatia!
Where To Stay In Korcula Croatia!
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Michelle Trudie, is the founder of Little Wanderblog, a luxury boutique travel site. She has travelled to over 30 countries in the last 15 years. Michelle share’s her passion for stylish and affordable luxury travel experiences in Europe and beyond! Her goal is to make travel planning easier to hidden gem places!