Last updated on March 25th, 2025 at 06:55 pm
Vis Island is often called ‘the mysterious island’, and on my recent visit, I had the chance to uncover its hidden secrets!
Shrouded in history, serenity and bags of rustic charm – Vis has everything you would expect of an island off the beaten path and I am thrilled to share this post highlighting the best things to see and do in Vis Croatia!!
Vis Island is the ultimate ‘low key’ island, especially when compared to its glamorous neighbour Hvar, a place I have written about many times and love. However, there’s a lot to be said for a quieter ambience which makes you feel as though you have arrived somewhere special – a world away from tourism, beach beds and bars!
On this unique Island, you can escape the crowds and enjoy the rolling-hill landscape, beach coves, and luxurious boat trips to incredible spots, making Vis Island the perfect addition to any Croatia island hopping trip!!
Planning your trip to Vis Island last minute?
Here’s a few activities and top hotel recommendations to book before you get to Vis Croatia, so you don’t miss out!!
Top experiences and excursions
- Exclusive private speed boat tour of Vis Island, caves, beaches & more!
- Local wine tasting and tour through the vineyards of Vis Croatia!!
Top 3 Hotels in Vis Croatia
- San Giorgio – top boutique hotel
- Luxury Villa Envivo Komiza – ideal for groups
- Luxury Blue Villas – individual villas with private pools
Vis Croatia is the furthest Island away from the mainland and feels a little more adventurous, for this reason, I spent almost a week on the island of Vis to find the hidden gems!
Here’s my list of the best things to do in Vis Island, to help you plan your own trip! You will also learn how to get to Vis, where to stay, the best time to visit and more- it may be a super chilled island, but there’s still plenty of cool things to discover!
About Vis Croatia
Vis Island is still relatively new to tourism, having been closed for decades until its independence 1991 and it still feels like a place frozen in time where history and tradition remains untouched!
Vis is one of the smallest Islands in Croatia and there are only a handful of towns and tiny villages to explore, the two main spots being Vis Town and Komiza. You can reach either in 20 minutes and there’s nothing much in between but jaw-dropping mountainous scenery, just how an island should be!
Quick note: the Kroatian word for Island is “Otok” so you might see Vis kroatien as Otok Vis, which is just the Croatian way of saying “Vis Island”.
WHAT TO SEE & DO IN VIS ISLAND CROATIA
On Vis Island, you’ll spend most of your time relaxing on the beaches and exploring the island by speed boat. Vis is the perfect size to hop from one beach to another, discover nearby luminous caves, visit vineyards and simply enjoy the mountainous scenery and the bluest Sea!
In Vis Town, you’ll discover larger yachts and sailboats – a sure sign that word of Vis is slowly reaching the jet-set pack looking for something a bit different- and here it is! Visit before it changes!
EXPLORE VIS ISLAND BY BOAT
If you only select one excursion on Vis Island make sure it’s a day on the water, a private boat excursion is by far the best way to explore the island!
The highlights of Vis are truly best seen from a boat, you’ll see the rows of Venetian buildings, mountains and beach coves much clearer, plus with a private boat trip, the most luxurious way to spend the day you’ll be able to cater to your preferences and stop for a swim when it suits!
Typically you will explore the Blue and Green Caves, the iconic Stiniva Bay, the blue lagoon of Budikovac Island and swimming spots made famous by the Mama Mia film – along with other hidden gems and viewpoints!
You’ll be out on the water for around 7 hours, it’s so worth it, this private boat trip was my highlight of visiting Vis!!
I love this flexible private boat tour of Vis Island, reserve your spot today, it’s the most popular thing to do on the island and spaces fills up fast!
VISIT STINIVA BEACH OF VIS CROATIA
Stiniva beach is the most recognizable of all beaches in Vis Island and should be first on the list in terms of attractiveness!
Vis’s iconic white pebble-stoned beach sits in a small cove, flanked by limestone cliffs at either side with crystal clear blue water to swim and a little bar cabin in the corner for drinks – these are the reasons why Stiniva is frequently awarded top beach in Croatia!
The only snag is the access!! As well as being far away from the towns – it’s not that easy to reach, there’s little public transport around the island and you will need a pair of hiking shoes to scale down the cliffs!
A much better experience is to go with an unforgettable boat tour as mentioned above, instead you’ll arrive like James Bond and take a little swim to the shoreline, it’s so much fun and kind of perfect!
Pro Tip! Invest in water shoes and a waterproof pouch to swim with and buy a lemon beer from the little beach bar!!
WINE TASTING AND VINEYARDS IN VIS
Let’s break up the beaches in Vis with vineyards and wine!! Vis, like all the other Croatian islands, also offers local wine that you can sample straight from the rolling vineyards, Korcula is even known as ‘wine island’ and Vis Island is no different!
Antonio Lipanovic is one of the most well-known wineries in Vis and you’ll find their produce listed in many of the local tasting shops and restaurants around Komiza or Vis Town – just ask your waiter for the local Vugava (white)or plavac Mali (red).
I love this wine-tasting tour of Vis, it takes you to two vineyards and you’ll get some lovely orchard and sea views along the way and charcuterie, it must be booked in advance!
WALK AROUND VIS TOWN & KUT VILLAGE
Vis Town is the most happening place on the island of Vis Croatia and will be your first glimpse of Vis when you arrive as all ferries and yachts dock at the main harbour – and what a first impression!
A pretty town surrounded by coastal and mountain scenery with pastel 17th century Venetian buildings lining the harbour, there’s even a little green island with a church just metres off the shoreline.
Kut is the cultural heart of Vis Town and my top hotel choice San Giorgio Hotel is located there. It offers all the cutesy things: cobble-stoned paths, wrought iron balconies and up-market restaurants with candle-lit courtyards.
Vis Town really comes alive in the early evening, the harbour is a great spot for drinks and people-watching especially when the yachts roll in – and even then it’s still low-key compared to Hvar Town Harbour!!
EXPLORE THE BLUE CAVE FROM VIS
The Blue Cave is the unique natural wonder on Bisevo Island, a tiny islet off the coast of Vis and one of the best things to see while staying nearby!
Visitors from all over – even as far as Split visit the Blue Cave specifically between the hours of 11am to 1pm to gaze at the streaming blue light phenomena which illuminates the entire cave.
To get to the Blue Cave, I highly recommend exploring with a boat tour of Vis Island as mentioned above! At the Blue Cave the experience lasts around 15 minutes or less and you’ll want to make the most of out it by visiting other places!
Note: At the Blue Cave entrance you’ll be transferred onto smaller wooden boats to fit through the narrow opening of the cave – there will be 3-4 other boats bobbing around at any one time.
DISCOVER THE GREEN CAVE FROM VIS
Green Cave is similar to Blue Cave, but much smaller and of course you’ll see green illuminations instead of blue! It is often combined with a trip to the Blue Cave as part of the aforementioned boat trip around the Vis Island!
The Green Cave is located south of Vis Island islet on the islet of Ravnik and one of the best things about the it is that you can swim and jump off the rocks!
BUT if you only have the desire to visit one illuminating cave, I would skip this one and focus on the Blue Cave, it’s more worthwhile and dramatic!
EXPLORE KOMIZA VILLAGE
If you’re staying in Vis Town then Komiza village is worth seeing and vice versa!
In Komiza you’ll discover a horseshoe bay filled with little fisherman’s boats, terraces and palm trees. It’s so pretty and the scenic 20-minute journey is all part of the experience, I would say that this bus transfer is one of the best I’ve been on in any Croatian Island.
Komiza sits at the very foothills of Hum Mountain, which you can clearly see all around, it’s quite the dramatic landscape!
You can walk from one side of Komiza to the other in 15 minutes, but you’ll need a few hours to really enjoy the stone houses, hidden pebble beaches and grab a bite to eat at one of the local taverns.
Tip! To eat I recommend Fabrika – for breakfast/brunch!
FIND THE MAMA MIA LOCATIONS
You may already be aware that Vis Island was chosen as the destination for the major Hollywood film Mama Mia 2 and the entire production team was based in tiny Komiza – not Greece as the film portrays!
Filming took place in five places on Vis, these were; Stiniva, Komiza, Barjoska Bay and Vis Town, which put Vis firmly on the wanderlust map!
To make everything look authentic and real, they even imported things like Greek fruit and veg for the market scene at Vis Town Harbour – right where the Jardrolinija anchors!
When exploring Vis Island keep an eye out for these locations!
EXPLORE MORE BEACHES IN VIS
Stiniva is the most famous and stunning beach on Vis Island, but if you want to explore further, there are plenty more local beaches is Vis to discover!
Stoncica or Milna are two of the most talked about and best explored by BOAT, while Vis Town and Komiza offer smaller pebble beaches that you can walk to from either sides of the town centres.
Personally, I would reserve at least one day for the beach or beach hopping as swimming in the clear Adriatic is one of the best things to do in Vis Island and in Croatia!
ENJOY SUNSET AT FORT GEORGE
Fort George is the secret place to go for epic views and sunsets over dinner and drinks!
It combines a little bit of history with a social activity – and for now not many people even know it exists on Vis Island!
You can read about Fort George’s legacy here – the character and stone walls are all still intact and now there’s also a sprawling Mediterranean terrace and restaurant serving local cuisine and wine – doesn’t that sound perfect?
Due to the location, you would need to hunt down a taxi (easier from Vis Town) or have your own transport and in summer I recommend reserving a table in time for sunset!
TIP! Fort George also hosts garden parties – all details of these types of events are listed on the website.
Good to Know
Did you know? Vis spent decades as a military base before opening its doors for the first time to tourists in 1991. This has kept Vis Island in the past and is one of the reasons why there’s military tours and artefacts to see. I didn’t venture into this as it’s not my cup of tea, but it might be for others!!
WHERE TO EAT & DRINK ON VIS ISLAND
RESTAURANT BOCCADORO
Restaurant Boccadoro is a charming restaurant in the historic neighbourhood of Kut serving high end tasty food within a lovely courtyard setting!
This is the place to be in the evenings and reservations are a must during the summer months, it belongs to the popular Hotel San Giorgio, as previously mentioned and the restaurant is just another perk!!
FRUTARIJA
Frutarija is a nice little spot for a pre-dinner drink, it has a terrace overlooking the sea and the harbour of Vis Town, the setting is very appealing, especially in the late afternoon when the yachts roll in!
Sometimes there’s live acoustic music in the evenings, hopefully worth sticking around for – I only visited at the quieter times in the day, but I can see it being much livelier and atmospheric.
LOLA KONOBA
Lola Konaba is a real hidden gem in Vis Croatia! A cosy charming place in the centre of Vis Town, it has a garden lounge and fountain filled with wisteria, lemon trees and relaxed music.
This is one of my favourite spots for tapas and it’s one of the few places on Vis Island that serves vegetarian options!
BEST DAY BOAT TRIP FROM VIS ISLAND
Spend the day in Vis touring around by private boat tour, it’s one of the best ways to explore all corners of the island and see some amazing attractions nearby.
WHERE TO STAY IN VIS ISLAND
Vis Island only has a handful of accommodation options, in fact there’s only one true hotel and a few other luxury apartments and villas that are viable!
Vis Town and Komiza are the main two towns to choose between if you want to stay somewhere with amenities, however, my vote goes to Vis Town, it’s much more up-market with a selection of good quality restaurants and nice harbour views.
In Komiza the scene is more local, you’ll find mainly guest houses and fisherman boats rather than yachts and restaurants, but it is very scenic with Mount Hum framing the background, which is why a lot of boat trips go there!
HOTELS IN VIS ISLAND
Hotel San Giorgio
Hotel San Giorgio is the most charming boutique hotel on Vis Island, favourably located in the nicest part of Kut. I chose this hotel for a couple of nights because of the amazing location and also picked the deluxe double as it’s the only room with panoramic views and a balcony – with sunbeds!
It’s the perfect place to stay and enjoy all that Vis Town offers and this friendly hotel has the best spot on the island for breakfast! As I mentioned above it has a gorgeous atmospheric courtyard!
As San Giorgio only has a few rooms I recommend booking as soon as possible!!
Luxury Blue Villas Vis
Luxury Blue Villas are modern and comfortable individual villas situated just above Kut Village in Vis Town, from this vantage point you get stunning views over the old town and the sea!
At the Blue Villas each villa has a pool and three double bedrooms, guests love the spacious rooms and pool terrace – and it’s just a short walk to the bars and bakeries!!
Luxury Villa Envivo
Luxury Villa Envivo is a wonderful luxurious villa with 4 ensuite bedrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows and a heated pool, it’s ideal for groups or families!
This villa is situated above Komiza with mountain and sea views, it has lots of equipment like SUP, kayak, e-scooter, coffee machine and much more!
More Places To Stay On Vis Island
Villa Rocca – A stunning 5-bedroomed modern villa situated within a private bay with a infinity pool – a place to truly splurge and relax, this villa is top!!
LISSA Home – A beautifully decorated boho 4-star guest house in Vis Town with a lovely patio and on-site coffee shop!
For more information about the different areas of Vis Island, be sure to check out my full guide on Where to Stay on Vis Island and Top Hotels in Vis!
HOW TO GET TO VIS ISLAND
Where is Vis Island? You might be wondering! Vis Island is the furthest Dalmatian island from Split and is located an hour from vibrant Hvar Town.
You can get to a ferry to Vis Island from either Split, Hvar Town or Milna on Brac Island direct with the Jardrolinja.
Ferries from Split to Vis – 2.5-hours travel time and operate a few times per day.
Ferries from Hvar or Brac – take 1-hours and operate around 3 times per week and one time slot – good to know this if you are planning your Croatian island hop itinerary!!!.
Check the Jardrolinja schedule here.
Private Boat Rental Split to Vis – Hire a private speed boat from Split if you just want to see the highlights of Vis Island! Check the availability and rates of this tailormade private boat from Split to Vis here.
Getting to Vis Island from Hvar
As a lot of travellers visit Vis Island from Hvar Town, I’d like to give you another amazing option!
From Hvar Town you can take a private speed boat tour of Vis Island and explore most of the above highlights in this Vis Island Guide including Blue Cave, Vis beaches and Budikovac Blue Lagoon, this is what I experienced a few years ago and loved it!!
Check availability and book this 5-star rated private boat tour from Hvar Island to Vis today!!
For a full breakdown of routes and options, be sure to check out my guide on how to get to the Island of Vis in Croatia!
HOW TO GET AROUND VIS CROATIA
Once on Vis, if you are stopping for a few days, there are a few transport options for getting around the island of Vis, depending on where you end up staying!
Vis Public Bus
There are local buses that run every hour approximately (and meet in time with the catamaran arrivals and departures) which run between the two main towns of Komiza and Vis Town.
The journey is 25 minutes and it costs less than a coffee! The schedule is clearly marked at the ferry port bus stop for either direction – take note of it!
Taxi & Private Transfers
Taxis and private transfers are available from the ferry port and in both towns, (but not many!!), agree a price as they are not metered, this might be a good option for families and those travelling with lots of luggage.
Car & Scooter Rential
Locally you can rent a scooter or car from Vis Rent, Paiz Travel or Nika Rent, but bear in mind that there’s a lot of hills on Vis Island and being a small place with alternative transport – it might not be necessary if you’re staying in Vis Town or Komiza!
Boat or Water Taxi
If you’re staying in Vis Town and are wanting to visit hidden beaches and nearby islands, renting a boat or hiring a water taxi is the best option.
Note, water-taxi’s depends on the group size and will take you from A to B, but renting a private boat for the day will take you many destinations and hidden gems – a tailormade tour to suit!!
VIS ISLAND CROATIA FAQ
Is the island of Vis in Croatia worth visiting?
Is Vis Island worth visiting? Absolutely! Vis Island or Vis Kroatien as it’s known locally is the perfect addition to any Croatian island-hopping itinerary or to combine with Split or Hvar. Vis Island is a more authentic option in Dalmatia!
At the end of my fourth Croatian trip, I booked a five-night stay in Vis Town after a 2-week jaunt around my favourites islands – Korcula and Hvar Island – and was glad I did! The setting is just like a beautiful painting – little green islands, mountains and gorgeous pastel houses!
When to visit Vis Island Croatia?
The best time to visit Vis Island is during the summer months between June and mid-September. The peak months of July and August, which will bring more crowds and higher prices.
If I had to choose a perfect time it would be June, Vis is a little off the beaten path and receives fewer visitors in general therefore the summer facilities on this island close early for the season!
Speaking from experience the island’s facilities and excursions almost close down by mid-sept.
How long to stay on Vis Island Croatia?
How much time do you need for Vis Island Croatia? I highly recommend spending 4 full days on Vis Island, it’s more of an effort to get to so I would really make sure you have time to stop and enjoy it all!
Explore the main sights; Komiza, Kut, Vis Town, a couple of lovely restaurants, Blue Cave, a boat day trip, relaxing day at the beach – or maybe some wine tasting?
Is Vis a party island?
Vis Island is low key when it comes to bars and nightlife, the age group travelling to this island in general are more mature, having said that you never know when a yacht of lively people are going to show up on Vis Town harbour!!
Which island to visit next? The easiest island to reach from Vis Island is the Island of Hvar by Jardrolinja catamaran, which takes you to directly to Hvar Town a few times per week. Take a look at my guide to Croatia island hopping for more inspiration!
VIS ISLAND CROATIA FINAL THOUGHTS
Vis Island is a authentic island, see it before mass tourism reaches its shores! I hope you enjoyed reading the best things to see and do in Vis Island Croatia in this Croatia Guide!
Whether you’re visiting for the day or staying for a few nights, wandering through the charming streets, finding hidden beaches in Vis or hopping around via private speed boat, Vis Island is the perfect choice!
Now you know all the different things to do on Vis Island, check out my guide to the best beaches in Vis!
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Plan your Vis itinerary, Croatia’s most authentic island!
Here’s my go-to list of resources for transport, accommodation, and tours for travel in Vis Croatia!
- Booking.com for the best boutique rates
- Viator for great day trips
- Get Your Guide for unique day excursions
Read Next:
- 5 Wonderful Island To Visit In Croatia
- How To Get To Vis Island Croatia
- Where To Stay On Vis Island: Hotels In Vis
- The Best Boat Tours Of Vis Island: Vis To Blue Cave & More!
- The Best Beaches In Vis Island: A Complete Guide!
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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!
