Some 1,244 islands are sprinkled along Croatia’s Adriatic coastline, with only around 50 of these permanently inhabited. With so many to choose from, we spoke to Travel Director Greg, an expert on Croatia and this week’s Insightful destination expert, to help find your perfect island. Take a look at the delights that await on Hvar, Brač, Korčula, Vis, and Mljet, and test your knowledge with our Insightful Trivia Game.
GREG’S LOVE FOR CROATIA
A draw for many visitors is Dubrovnik, one of the world’s finest and best-preserved medieval cities, dubbed the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’ by English poet Lord Byron. Along with stunning cities, Croatia has outstanding natural beauty in spades.
One of the most famous areas is the UNESCO World Heritage center of Plitvice Lakes National Park. A glorious expanse of forested hills with 16 cascading turquoise lakes and over 90 waterfalls, including the highest in Croatia, it’s simply mesmerizing. The jewel in Croatia’s crown, however, is undoubtedly the Dalmatian coastline and the exquisite islands dotted along it.
For travel inspiration, read our Croatia destination guide.
FULL OF SURPRISES
“Another thing that may surprise you about Croatia is that you rarely see Dalmatian dogs,” he adds with smile. “The Croatian’s are a nation of dog lovers, and the breed originated here in Dalmatia, but don’t expect to see them around every corner.”
Take a look at: Eastern Capitals & the Dalmatian Riviera
THE DALMATIAN COASTLINE AND THE ISLANDS
“The islands have their own kind of feel, compared to the mainland. They haven’t changed much in a long time, so they’re a bit more traditional and very authentic. The most popular islands have got some more modern parts to them for sure, but all have very quiet areas too.
“The most famous beach is on Brac, Zlatni rat, which you often see on iconic photographs, but they all have magnificent beaches and waters for swimming. And all have huge traditions in olive oils, winemaking as well in stone masonry. There’s a lot of very famous limestone from these islands, which is used all around the world.”
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SPLIT – GATEWAY TO THE ISLANDS
“Split is a great place to explore, and is home to a lot of historical sites,” Greg tells us. “Diocletian’s Palace is one of the best-preserved examples of Roman palatial architecture in the world.” The ancient palace was built for the Roman Emperor Diocletian at the turn of the fourth century AD.
“It’s simply awe-inspiring, an architectural wonder,” says Greg. “Diocletian’s Palace is also unique because people actually live in the site and have done for generations. Its myriad of streets also hold within them many bars, shops and restaurants.”
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HVAR
“As with all the islands you have amazing Venetian architecture, however Hvar is considered more lively, with Hvar Town being a popular spot for the younger crowd,” he continues. “The island is a highlight of the Dalmatian Riviera and a great draw for the rich and famous. You can see their super-yachts moored in the Hvar Town marina. It’s also home to some of the most expensive restaurants in the whole country. However, you could stay in a little village in Hvar, home to just a few dozen people and enjoy calm and quiet also,” Greg explains.
“In the smaller towns and villages, you find famous products that are still being cultivated, such as lavender. And the whole island is filled with lots of wild herbs that are used in traditional dishes.”
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Read more: How to spend a sunshine filled, 48 hours in Hvar, Croatia
BRAČ
“Brač attracts a more general crowd compared to Hvar, and is somewhat a quieter island, although each island has its quiet parts,” Greg says. “It is also definitely a different experience – you will see wild sheep running around everywhere. A lot of the sheep are still owned by people, but they just run free, so you see a lot of lamb on the menu!”
Bol is the oldest town on the island of Brač and one of Croatia’s most famous seaside resorts. Here you can walk along the promenade and swim at the picture-perfect Zlatni Rat beach.
Brač is also famous for its stone, which has been used in the construction of the White House, Diocletian’s Palace in Split, and the Parliament building in Budapest. “Brač has a high school dedicated to stone masonry, that people from around the country can attend,” Greg tells us. “As part of their schooling, students also learn to become sculptors and stone masons.
KORČULA
Korčula is known for its wine culture and the island is covered with vineyards, producing many unique wines only grown here. Over recent years the Dalmatian island has become a desired destination for wine lovers, looking or unique tours and tastings. The island also offers olive groves in abundance. “It is also the only place in all of Dalmatia that still has traditional sword dancing every summer, which is a real treat for visitors,” Greg adds.
A must visit is the Korcula’s town museum which houses a stone tablet called ‘the psephism from Lumbarda’ (4th century BC). “This is the oldest written document in Croatia with translations on it from Ancient Greece,” Greg explains. Discovered in the second half of the 19th century, it tells the story of how Lumbarda was founded two thousand three hundred years ago.
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VIS
ABBA fans might also recognize the island from the film ‘Mamma Mia’. “When they were filming Mamma Mia, they were originally filming in Hvar,” Greg tells us. “But it was too crowded, with too much going on, so they moved the filming location to Viz because it was much quieter, more traditional, and felt much more like going back in time.”
MLJET
“Mljet is a great Dalmatian coastline destination if you are seeking tranquility and calm,” Greg says. “The national park is beautiful and offers a great contrast to the other islands. Pomena, a small village and harbor, has some lovely restaurants serving fresh seafood and is where most overnight visitors stay. Here you’ll have plenty of opportunities to mix with the locals.”
To enjoy the best of the Dalmatian Coastline, its islands and more, take a look at our premium guided tours to Croatia.