Croatia has hundreds of enchanting islands, if you count all the little ones, of which around 50 are inhabited. Surrounded by the deep blue Adriatic, they offer a slower pace of life, in close harmony with nature, making perfect holiday escapes. You’ll find rocky shores, pine woods giving way to lush vineyards, hidden bays revealing historic harbour towns and fine pebble beaches.
Here I’ve chosen a broad range of islands, each special for a particular type of vacation, be it luxury, adventure or gourmet. After my 20 years exploring the Croatian coast, I love them all, and hope you will too.
Best for luxury
Hvar
Croatia’s most talked-about island, with fancy hotels, gourmet dining and tailor-made tours, has to be Hvar. For razzle-dazzle there’s Hvar Town, a picture-perfect huddle of Venetian-era stone buildings overlooking a harbour filled with sleek yachts, and nearby shores dotted with splashy beach clubs. Beyond town lie vineyards, olive groves and lavender fields – agriculture here began on Stari Grad plain, laid out by the Ancient Greeks in the fourth century BC, now Unesco-listed.
How to do it: Catch the catamaran to Hvar Town from either Split (1hr) or Dubrovnik (3hrs 30min). Stay at the newly renovated Hotel Sirena in a sheltered bay 2km from Hvar Town, opening in July 2026.
