13 Croatian Islands You've Probably Never Heard Of

Croatia’s island hotspots get hotter every year – especially the island of Hvar, whose popularity shows no sign of slowing down – and its neighbour Brač, which draws the crowds to Croatia’s most famous beach, v-shaped Zlatni Rat.

People can’t seem to get enough of these Adriatic beauties, but there are so many more Croatian islands just waiting to be explored. Ferries and catamarans run all year round and get you from island to island and back and forth to the mainland.

So take off on your own odyssey by island-hopping in the Adriatic, spending a few days in one idyllic spot before carrying on to the next and getting to know this endlessly enchanting country.

1. Krk

Tied with its neighbour Cres as Croatia’s largest island, Krk in the Kvarner Gulf has been welcoming tourists since the middle of the 19th century – even if it’s still not well known among the British.

Enjoy the medieval architecture of Krk Town before heading south to Baška, where the island’s loveliest beach hugs the coast. Wine lovers should visit the pretty hilltop village of Vrbnik, home to some top-notch white wines.

How to get there: Krk has its own airport (Rijeka), which you can fly directly to from Stansted. The island is also connected to the mainland via a bridge.

2. Cres

Wilder and sleepier than Krk, Cres is a favourite among hikers who want to explore several hundred kilometres of footpaths through woods and scrubby mountains.

Nature lovers should keep their eyes peeled for the island’s resident griffon vultures hovering around the cliffs near the village of Beli.

In the waterside restaurants in Cres Town, you can feast on the fabulous seafood, before relaxing on the beaches at Valun and Lubenice towards the south of the island.

How to get there: The easiest way to reach Cres is to fly into Rijeka Airport on Krk then take the ferry to Merag on Cres. The journey takes 25 minutes.

3. Lošinj

If you’re already in Cres, it’s hard to resist driving to the southernmost tip of the island, where a bridge connects it to Lošinj.

This remarkably fragrant island is filled with luxuriant green vegetation, whose aromas keep you company on walks through wooded trails.

Take in the lively scene around the harbour in the main village, Mali Lošinj, where colourful architecture hints at its Venetian past, or take a boat trip to admire one of the island’s marvels – a colony of about 200 bottlenose dolphins that have made their home in the island’s waters.

How to get there: You can catch a ferry to Lošinj from mainland destinations including Zadar, Rijeka and Pula. Check Jadrolinija or Kapetan Luka for schedules.

4. Rab

Croatia isn’t particularly known for its sandy beaches, as you’ll usually find pebbly or rocky ones instead. But the little island of Rab, just to the east of Cres, has managed to snaffle about 30 sandy beaches in spite of its diminutive size – the aptly named Paradise (or Rajska, as it’s called) being the most popular.

It’s not just the beach experience that sets Rab apart – Rab Town surely ranks as one of the most beautiful in Croatia, with a glittering medieval centre, winding marble alleys and a distinctive skyline of elegant bell towers.

How to get there: Either take a ferry from Krk or from Stinica on the mainland. The closest airport is Rijeka on Krk.

5. Šolta

Overshadowed by its glitzier, bigger neighbours Hvar and Brac, little Šolta tends to get overlooked. But it’s only a short ferry ride from Split, and a world away from Croatia’s second-largest city.

When you’re not swimming in the clear pebbly beaches dotted around the island and tucked into coves, get a taste of Šolta by trying its renowned dobričić red wine, gorgeous honey and extra virgin olive oil. Then, take a boat trip around the island so you can drop anchor in some of its most secluded bays.

How to get there: Various UK airports fly directly to Split including Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham. It’s then an hour’s ferry to Rogač on Šolta.

6. Lastovo

Marooned in the Adriatic, south of Korcula and practically on its way to Italy, is tiny, tranquil Lastovo. It’s so small that there’s only one hotel – although you’ll be able to find apartments and even a lighthouse where you can spend the night.

If you want to see the secret side of Croatia, you’ve come to the right place. Prepare to be lulled into a blissed-out state in Lastovo’s dazzlingly blue pine-fringed beaches, or rent a kayak and explore the indented coast under your own steam.

How to get there: Jadrolinija operates a ferry from Split to Ubli on Lastovo (approximately four and a half hours), or you can catch a catamaran from Dubrovnik with TP Line (around four hours). Sailing schedules vary by season.

7. Lopud

If you’ve been to Dubrovnik, chances are you would have joined a boat trip to the Elaphiti Islands just to the north. Chances are just as high you thought you’d like to stay and get to know this chilled-out little place a bit better. Now’s your chance.

First take a stroll around the bay of Lopud Town and have a look at the grand houses built in the 15th century. Then follow the wooded path for about half an hour to the wide sandy beach at Sunj, one of the most alluring in the Adriatic.

How to get there: Fly to Dubrovnik (Bristol, Edinburgh, Gatwick and Manchester all offer direct flights), before catching the ferry to Lopud. The crossing takes about an hour.

8. Šipan

Another of the Elaphiti Islands, Šipan is the largest but it’s by no means busy. Bookended by its two main villages, Šipanska Luka and Suđurađ, the island is filled with olive groves and family-run vineyards.

Little beaches are squeezed in and around the two main villages, and you can hire a bike if you want to get around the island easily.

On your travels, you’ll see the remnants of the palaces built by 15th-century Dubrovnik nobles at a time when they wanted a mellow little summertime bolthole. Who can blame them?

How to get there: As with Lopud, you’ll need to take a ferry from Dubrovnik to reach Šipan. Jadrolinija runs a year-round connection that takes 1 hour and 20 minutes.

9. Dugi Otok

Sprawling in the Adriatic near the coastal city of Zadar are several long finger-like islands, of which Dugi Otok – 'Long Island' – is the best known.

One of its big draws is the splendid beach of Sakarun (also known as Saharun). Then, there’s the emerald beauty of the Telašćica Nature Park, whose sheltered bay curves around for 8km (about 5 miles) and is exceptionally wonderful.

You can take boat tours of Telašćica from the little village of Sali, which also offers trips back to the coast at Zadar.

How to get there: There are multiple ferry sailings that connect Zadar to Dugi Otok’s four main ports: Brbinj, Božava, Zaglav and Sali. You can fly direct to Zadar from most major UK airports in approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

10. Murter

Dance festival fans might know Murter if they’ve been to some of the big parties that Tisno's held over the years, such as the Garden Festival and SuncéBeat. But while Murter has its own attractions – including the delectable Slanica Beach – it’s also the departure point for one of Croatia’s jaw-dropping wonders.

The Kornati Islands are the largest archipelago in the Adriatic, and most of its barren, white-bleached islands are uninhabited. Seen from the perspective of a sailing boat, they’re a mesmerising collection of otherworldly islands surrounded by a deep turquoise sea.

If you’re not on your own boat, you can join an organised jaunt from Murter.

How to get there: Murter is connected to the mainland by a drawbridge in Tisno. The drive time from Zadar takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes, or 1 hour and 30 minutes from Split.

11. Vis

Despite standing in for Greece in the Mamma Mia! sequel and getting a taste of Hollywood, far-flung Vis still has a wonderfully relaxed air about it.

The island’s main port, Vis Town, is a beautiful base from which to explore the island.

Stroll along the long Venetian waterfront after having a swim in the town beach. Hire an electric bike or a scooter to visit the pretty village of Komiža tucked into the west coast, or hike along mountain paths for wonderful views of Vis Town.

How to get there: Jadrolinija operates a daily ferry from Split that drops you off at Vis Town. The journey takes 2 hours and 20 minutes.

12. Mljet

Croatia’s greenest island is an easy ferry ride from Dubrovnik, and most visitors nip over for a day to explore Mljet National Park.

But it’s worth spending more time in this lush place. Hiking and biking trails wind past the park’s two saltwater lakes, which tempt you to jump in for a swim, and there’s a little boat that chugs across to the island monastery of Sveta Marija.

Fans of sandy beaches head to Saplunara on the eastern side, while adrenalin junkies jump off the cliff overlooking the deep blue Odysseus’ Cave on the southern coast.

How to get there: The quickest way to reach Mljet is to take a passenger catamaran from Dubrovnik. Kapetan Luka runs a seasonal service with a sailing time of 1 hour and 30 minutes.

13. Pag

This long, misshapen, barren island north of Zadar has several distinct personalities.

Clubbers know Pag as the setting for some of Croatia’s biggest dance festivals, particularly in Novalja and Zrće beach. But make your way south towards Pag Town and discover a compelling, lunar-like landscape of vineyards and pastures filled with sheep whose milk goes into the delicious and prized Pag cheese.

In contrast to hedonistic Novalja, Pag Town is a sleepy place of pretty Venetian architecture squeezed into narrow cobbled lanes.

How to get there: Pag Bridge connects the island to the mainland. It takes just under an hour to drive from Zadar.