The Best Islands In Croatia
Brac
One of the most beautiful islands in Croatia is Brac. It is the third largest island in Croatia, after Krk and Cres. This dream island is in Dalmatia, southern Croatia, and the next largest city is Split.
The most important city of Brac is Supertar, here you will be greeted by an idyllic promenade with pretty, old houses. If you wander into the alleys that branch off from the promenade, you can dine in typical Croatian style in the beautiful restaurants there. Other important cities on Brac are Bol and Milna. They all have a picturesque old town. Let yourself be carried away to earlier epochs of the limestone island.
For history fans, there are also one or the other highlight: the mausoleum of the Petrinovic family, several churches and in them mosaics from the 6th century. We recommend a trop to the gigantic quarries on the island. Archaeological excavations as well as the quarries document the history of one of the most beautiful islands in Croatia!
If you are more into nature, you are at the right place. Olive groves and vineyards characterise the island, as do small stone field houses. A particularly beautiful destination is the Blaca desert and the highest point on the island – Vidova Gora. Alternatively, we suggest you rent a bike and ride over the island’s hills.
Sun worshipers are also catered for. Numerous dream beaches line the island and invite you to throw your everyday worries far away – overboard or wherever else you want to throw them. Now and then you will see kite surfers or yachts passing by, as you relax and unwind at the beach.
Dugi otok
Dugi Otok translates as Long island and well, the description is pretty accurate. Dugi Otok is 43km long – and just 5 km wide. Dugi Otok is only accessible by boat or ferry. The island is very structured with 1500 people living on the island in 12 localities.
Highlights such as the Telašćica Nature Park and the Kornati National Park can be found near and on the island. Both are beautiful. The Telašćica Nature Park is known for its salt lake and the gigantic high cliffs, the Kornati islands are the densest archipelago in the Mediterranean – and they are under nature protection. The Kornati islands cover 220km² and, between May and October, are particularly interesting for yacht charters in Croatia.
Another highlight is the sandy beach Sakarun, where you get a Caribbean feeling, no wonder that Croatia is a European alternative for dream vacations that are too far away. Soft, white sand, blue sea, wide horizon – any more wishes? A few other activities maybe? Well, there are also cycling and trekking trails. There is even a paintball field in Sali, and archaeological finds can be seen all over the island.
For underwater fans there are several diving schools on the island, where you can either rent equipment or attend courses and finally get to the bottom of the underwater world. A worthwhile destination is the Brbinjšćica underwater cave, where you can see colourful fish and extraordinary plants.
Lively celebrations take place on Dugi Otok, especially in summer. The most famous festival is celebrated in Sali: it is called Saljske užance and lasts three days, with entertainment and good food. Part of the festival are, for example, the choice of the best fish stew, Dalmatian music groups, rope pulling and sack races, light shows at the marina, yachts and the like, donkey races and of course lots of dancing and drinks. The festival has traditionally been held on the first weekend of August for 50 years.
Hvar
Hvar is known across the Croatian border as one of the most beautiful islands in Croatia. The reason for this is probably also the large, fragrant lavender fields. The lavender surfaces bloom in summer and give the Adriatic island a special atmosphere. Coupled with the most hours of sunshine in Croatia, Hvar forms the perfect holiday setting for a relaxing yacht charter in Croatia holiday.
Hvar is considered to be one of the most diverse islands in the entire Mediterranean. Sun worshipers and water sports enthusiasts will find themselves on the Caribbean-like beaches, while nature lovers can go on countless hikes. In addition to lavender, many other fragrant plants grow on Hvar. Citrus trees, sage and rosemary fields pamper your olfactory bulb and motivate you to go on a herb hike in Croatia.
A highlight of Hvar are the so-called Hell Islands. Don’t let the gloomy name put you off. The “Pakleni Otoci” consist of around 20 islands that are anything but hellish. The small island paradises inspire with crystal clear water, natural dream beaches and an incredibly diverse flora. The fish-rich bays are ideal for everyone who loves snorkelling and diving. Incidentally, annoying tanlines are a thing of the past, because nude bathing is allowed on the Hell Islands.
Korcula
The name Korcula comes from the many pine and oak forests on the island. They make up more than half of the island’s landscape. Coupled with the dreamy beaches, they form the perfect holiday setting for every holidaymaker in Croatia.
Lots of tasty fruits grow on the island. What could be better than fruity pomegranates, figs and mandarins fresh from the tree? Vineyards and olive groves provide the Mediterranean flair and promise quality olive oil and wine.
Korcula is considered the wine island of Croatia! So wine lovers can enjoy themselves. According to rumours, Korcula is the birthplace of Marco Polo. That is also the reason why the entire capital is practically paved with the name, hotels, cafes, bars … everything bears the name of the famous trader and explorer.
Tasty wine is a given here and is served in every good restaurant. Travel here for yourself and you will understand why Korcula is one of the most beautiful islands in Croatia.
Murter
Another one of the most beautiful islands in Croatia is the island of Murter off Dalmatia. You can easily get to the beautiful island by starting your yacht charter holiday in Biograd. There is a bridge that also connects with the mainland, so you could visit the Garden Festival in Tisno.
The charm of Murter has been preserved and there are really beautiful, almost untouched bays on the 17.5 km² Croatian island far away from the celebrations. And you will also find beautiful beaches on Murter. For example the beach called Slanica, located on the southern side of Murter. This can be seen as the main beach: it is well attended and there are good water sports on offer. Sandy sunbathing areas alternate with rocky sections, and the bank slopes gently. Children and non-swimmers are in good hands here.
There are more beautiful beaches on Murter. From the beach of Podvrske you have a great view over the turquoise blue sea to the islands of the Kornati islands, the beach Cigrade is a perfect place for everyone who is looking for peace and seclusion – pine forests surround this beach on Murter. And when you have had enough of swim breaks: hiking, cycling, diving, snorkeling, fishing, kayaking – that and much more are your options to make your stay on Murter super diverse.
Krk
Krk is one of the most popular islands in Croatia on the northern Adriatic. The island is developed for tourism and impresses on the one hand with its beautiful bathing bays, romantic, medieval villages and on the other hand the city of Krk with its cozy old town, excellent fish restaurants and good bars that serve locally produced wine.
There are not often sandy beaches, rather the beaches are on meadows or you can go straight into the water from a stone slab. The rocky beach in Krk City offers entry into the water via ladders. Attention non-swimmers! It gets really deep! For snorkellers this beach is an exciting affair, because even with a snorkel you can go deeper for a long period and explore different rock formations. In general, most of the bays in front of Krk are ideal for snorkelling. Colourful fish cross your paths, corals move to the rhythm of the waves, you might even see a lobster crawling along its path or a shipwreck -conveniently in front of Krk there are some shipwrecks that snorkellers can reach.
After swimming you can explore the promenade of Krk City and visit one of the excellent fish restaurants – the view of the harbour is spectacular The fish is freshly caught – and if you want, there is a well-mixed cocktail with it. Krk is popular, so you are not alone there, hence why this charter destination is one of the most beautiful islands in Croatia.
Pag
Relax and unwind? Yes, you can do that on Pag too. The north Dalmatian island north of Zadar has made a name for itself because of the frequent parties that are held here. It is the fifth largest island on the Adriatic. Pag`s coastline has 84km of fabulous beaches. These include both sandy and pebble beaches.
The most famous cities are Novalja and Zrce – both popular party venues. In Novalja you will find seven open air discos on a beach, where you can turn night into day. In Zrce on the beach as well as in Novalja the best DJs of the international party scene play, there are party cruises with adrenaline and fun. The party starts at 4 p.m. with so-called after-beach parties – the end is of course fairly open. Festival fans are also drawn to Zrce Beach between May and September. Weekly changing music festivals take place here and delight fans from all over the world. House, Hi-Hop and RnB – the choice is really wide.
If you prefer to steer away from lively party scene, you can enjoy the natural surroundings. This is characterised by pine trees, Aleppo pines, reeds and olive trees, in some places you can even find bamboo. If you want to try local specialties, then you should reach for Paški sir – a cheese from Pag or locally produced olive oil – or just both.
Rab
While the east coast of Rab is rather stony and the climate is rough, the west coast inspires with lush green landscapes and perhaps the most beautiful bays in all of Croatia. The “Paradise Beach”, for example, as the “Rajska Plaza” is translated, is very accurate. Turquoise blue water and a light, fine sandy beach make the beach perhaps the most beautiful beach in Croatia. Mother Nature has done a great job here.
Those who feel like doing some sport can explore the island wonderfully by hiking. In addition to the beautiful scenery, the island is also known for its medieval towns. In the island capital of the same name, four bell towers soar above the houses and give the city, together with the historic city wall and defensive towers, an ancient charm.
If that’s not enough, you can travel to Rab at the end of July. During this time of the year the so-called “Rabska Fjera” or jousting games take place. The islanders go out of their way at this festival to bring visitors closer to the history of their island. Everywhere residents dressed up in knight costumes cavort, dishes from bygone times are served and games such as crossbow shooting are held.
Another special feature: Nudism is allowed on Rab, so you can drop your covers at any time. The mini bays ensure that you can relax uninhibited and that you often have a small bay to yourself. Not overcrowded, sun-drenched and natural – Rab is without a doubt one of the most beautiful islands in Croatia.
Silba
The northernmost Dalmatian island is called almost like the valuable metal: Silba. It has the shape of a strip that is 700m wide at its narrowest point. And in this little space you will find beautiful vegetation and romantic little bays with pebble or sandy beaches.
There are no roads for cars or motorbikes on Silba, and even bicycles are forbidden from July to August. The largest beach on the island is called Pocukmarak. There you can get snacks and refreshing drinks at a nice little beach bar. There are many small bays around this beach. If you just want to spend a little time to yourself, you have the chance to have a bay completely to yourself here.
Of course, the main beach Sotorisce and the beach called Nozdre are also very popular. The water is deep blue and clear, the waves are mostly moderate and comfortable. It’s definitely bearable here. And with a bit of luck, a few dolphins can be seen.
The island itself has more to offer than beaches. One of the sights are the sarcophagius in the bay of Pocukmarak and the Toreta love storm, from which a captain in the 19th century is said to have kept a daily lookout for his missing love. If you are looking for peace and relaxation, you are definitely right on Silba, one of the most beautiful islands in Croatia.
Susak
The beautiful little island of Susak is located on the Adriatic Sea, south of Istria. The hilly landscape is mainly characterised by blackberries, grapevines and ship reeds. On the island there is exactly one settlement of approxiamtely 200 inhabitants, where an old Croatian dialect has been preserved due to the isolation.
The traditional costumes are also culturally very important to the residents – because in Europe it is the only costume whose skirt ends above the knee. Apart from that, the islanders live largely from tourism, viticulture and fishing.
The Air & Art Festival in early summer, where international kitesurfing audiences come to Susak. For diving fans there is also everything that makes you happy – for example two shipwrecks underwater to explore.
On land, the 96m high Garba – a higher hill – is the highest point on the island. There is a lighthouse on the elevation of the island of Susak. Apart from a few tractors, there are no cars on the island. The overall package clearly makes Susak one of the most beautiful islands in Croatia.
"If you want to see paradise on Earth, come to Dubrovnik"
-George Bernard Shaw
COVID RESPONSE
Stringent cleaning procedures are already in-place across all boats globally for the well-being of our crew and guests. These will be further enhanced to meet government guidelines in the UK and Italy which are in place in July 2021 in relation to the COVID pandemic. These will include temperature checks prior to boarding; hand-sanitising stations in public areas; additional deep cleans of public areas including decks; social distancing if required. With each catamaran’s capacity at a maximum of 10 people including skipper and chef, if required in August, guests would remain in catamaran bubbles during visits to vineyards and other on-shore activities.
