7 Islands in Croatia to Visit in 2019

After spending three weeks traveling through Croatia, I feel like I have a pretty good grasp on some of the best places to visit. I had the luxury of visiting many different locations in Croatia, including multiple islands. Whether you are based in Split or Dubrovnik, it’s very easy to visit a number of these islands along the Dalmatian coast. I’ve also included a couple bonus destinations, located on the mainland, that deserve attention and are easy to access.

1. Brač

Brač was my favorite island in Croatia. Everything about the port town we entered seemed magical. The people were gorgeous, the scenery was stunning, and the energy was cool, calm, and collected. To reach Bol, and the famous v-shaped beach, Zlatni Rat Beach, you’ll need to take a local bus. From there you can walk 20 minutes alongside crystal clear water.

While the beach can get crowded, it felt surprisingly comfortable. One thing to note is the ice cold temperature of the water. With it being so cold, you could almost assume it was fresh water you were swimming in. Shockingly enough, it is some of the saltiest water in the world. Like in the Dead Sea, you can easily float on top of the surface without moving your arms or legs. Pretty remarkable stuff.

You can easily visit Brač as a day trip from Split. The easiest way to reach the island is via ferry. A round trip should cost you approximately $10.00 and ferries leave multiple times a day. You can find out more about the ferry schedules here, or go to the port itself in Split {MAP}.

2. Hvar

Hvar is the most popular island in Croatia. Personally, it was the only island I had heard of before I went island hopping along the Dalmatian coast. Celebrities like Tom Cruise and Beyonce have graced the island with their presence over the years, making it a celebrity hot spot. The Hvar tourism board do their best to respect the privacy of celebrities, giving them a bit of relief from flashing cameras and reporters.

Hvar also has a reputation of being a party island. While we did go out in Hvar, it wasn’t anything spectacular in comparison to other destinations in Europe. The island itself is equipped with beaches, wineries, history, and great cuisine. As you can see, there is so much more to this island than nightlife. For more about what to do in Hvar, check out this article.

3. Korčula

Korčula received the nickname “Little Dubrovnik” due to its medieval Old Town. Similar to Dubrovnik, the Old Town is surrounded by a wall, and each building is home to an orange rooftop. This laid back island is a great day trip from the actual Dubrovnik. While activities are somewhat limited to beaches, eating, and drinking, Korčula is extremely picturesque and charming. Plus, what more do you need on vacation? For a more detailed break down of how to spend a day in Korčula, check out this blog post.

4. Mljet

Mljet is actually a national park, as well as an island, along the Dalmatian coast. This island offers the most to those seeking nature in Croatia. There are two lakes within Mljet, and kayaking along them is the very best way to explore. I would be lying if I said it was easy to do so though… I was in a kayak with another person and it took all of our strength {read: his strength} to get us to our destination: the tiny islet of Sv Marija.

Here, you can visit an old monastery, grab a beer outside, and wander the small side streets. It’s easy to spend an entire day on Mljet, and it’s absolutely a highlight in Croatia. There is a steep admission price of 125 KN {approximately $20 USD}, however, to enter the national park. The best way to get to Mljet is by ferry. You can find out more about what to do on the island, and how to get there, here.

Related: Plitvice Lakes in Croatia: A Complete Guide

5. Lopud

Lopud was another favorite island of mine in Croatia. Easily accessible from Dubrovnik, Lopud has one of the best beaches of the islands. Unlike a majority of the beaches in Croatia that are home to pebble beaches, the beach in Lopud has fine white sand. In order to reach the famous beach, you will need to hop aboard a golf cart, which turns out to be bumpy ride. Prepare yourself! A word of advice: don’t be a hero and attempt walking to the beach, it’s not worth it.

It takes about 50 minutes to reach the island from Dubrovnik, and is usually included in the island hopping day trips offered on the main land. While the entire island is quite stunning, the beach is definitely the highlight and shouldn’t be missed. The water was extremely refreshing on a hot day, and although it was quite crowded, it never felt overwhelming.

6. Šipan

Šipan was a much larger island than I had initially expected, but I only had access to a small port and a limited amount of time for exploring. If you take a day trip from Dubrovnik, you could easily hire a kayak for a few hours or sip on a cocktail by the water. There is an easy walk on the island that offers stunning views of the island, and only takes a short amount of time.

My favorite aspect of Šipan was the narrow walkways scattered along the island. The whole island is somewhat untouched, and remains tourist-free {for the most part}. It’s a perfect getaway for anyone looking to visit a lesser known island in Croatia.

7. Koločep

Speaking of untouched, Koločep is another island worth exploring if you want to avoid crowds. In fact only a mere 163 people live on the island. It’s only a 20 minute ferry ride from Dubrovnik, making it an easy stop if you choose to island hop. There are no cars on the small island, but you can rent a bike or use your two feet to get around. I only had a short time to spend on Koločep, but like most of the islands in Croatia, it was absolutely beautiful. This is also a fabulous place to rent a kayak and get out on the crystal clear water.

Bonus: Makarska

Okay, so Makarska is not actually an island at all. It’s part of the mainland, but I was so blown away by this destination that I wanted to include it in this post. The beaches are beautiful, and the entire area is home to hundreds of pine trees, which make for a unique environment. There is a main village with a number of open-air seafood restaurants and bars worth checking out.

Makarska is known for a couple things, most importantly, cliff jumping. Locals regularly jump from the jagged cliffs into the sea. Every now and then, tourists find these hot spots and learn from the locals. This was indeed what we did when I visited Makarska. While there was no chance in hell that I was going to cliff jump, my boyfriend at the time was game. Therefore, we made it our mission to locate the best cliff jumping location in Makarska. In the end we were successful and took notes from a 12 year old local boy who was more than willing to show us the ropes.

Makarska is also known for having a rather lively nightlife. We attended a party that was hosted in a cave on the edge of the sea. That was something I’d never experienced before, and definitely left a good impression on me as we departed Makarska the next day. Taking a bus from Split will get you to Makarska in about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Bonus: Omiš

Omiš {also part of the mainland} is a famous port town that used to be popular with pirates. Now it’s tranquil environment, and large mountainous terrain, is another popular day trip from Split. While the pebble beach isn’t anything special, the fortresses in Omiš shouldn’t be missed. I was too hungover to hike to one fortress myself, but my boyfriend at the time got plenty of shots from the top. It’s only a 30 minute bus ride from Split, and will cost you $3.00 USD. Find tickets here.

I hope this island guide was helpful for anyone planning to spend some time along the Dalmatian coast in Croatia. Any of these islands would be a worthwhile day trip from either Split or Dubrovnik. They are each charming in their own way, and offer the perfect environment to sit back and fully enjoy your holiday.