Croatia Island hopping from Split to Dubrovnik

With its long, inviting coastline home to quite literally hundreds of islands, Croatia is an ideal island hopping location for those looking to get out and explore the seas. The main airports along Croatia’s coast are in Dubrovnik, close to the border with Montenegro and Split which is more centrally located along the coast.  Both Split and Dubrovnik are great starting points for exploring the Adriatic coast. Many airlines also fly to Zadar almost 2 hours north of Split. To explore the main coastline of Croatia, you’re best renting a car or scooter and finding the many secluded coves and that make this coastline so charming.

Here, however, are some tips for how to explore some of the surrounding offshore islands and how to make the most of this unique coastline.

Split

Split

The historic town of Split is a great spot to base travel plans to several of the Croatian islands, including Brac, Hvar, and Vis. Although the city can be heavy with tourists during peak season, the beauty of Croatia is that with so much coastline there is plenty of space for everyone. From the port, take the fast ferry to Bol on the island of Brac and explore the famous white pebbles Zlatni Rat beach for a cool down dip.

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Bol on the island of Brac

Bol

While Zlatni Rat is a well-known tourist spot the town of Bol, the port town on the island of Brac, can be surprisingly quiet. Bol is the main spot in Croatia for windsurfing and kitesurfing and while Zlatni Rat can be quite crowded, the beaches beyond the harbour in Bol can remain a lot more tranquil. Look out for the beach next to the landmark Dominican convent for a spot that’s more secluded.

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Korcula

Korcula

Also directly accessible from Split, the island of Korcula is a further journey than Brac but definitely worth it. The beaches are as beautiful as those on the Dalmatian coast but far less crowded making it a great place to escape to if all you want is a quiet beach day. If you want to do more exploring, hire a moped in the old town of Korcula dive along the coast of the island. If you’re lucky enough, you may even find a beach that you can have to yourself.

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Hvar

Hvar

Image courtesy of sailn1

The midpoint between Brac and Korcula is the island of Hvar. One of Croatia’s best-known islands, a fast-ferry service operates from Split to Hvar as well as to Korcula. While the town of Hvar is more built up than many of the cities that dot the islands and certainly has a more glamorous feel, the rest of the island has remained tranquil and unspoilt. Water taxis from the port of Hvar can also take you to some of the small offshore islands as well as to the island of Vis, which takes approximately half an hour. Much like Brac, Hvar is easily accessible for a day trip, but it’s worth spending a night or two on these island to really get a feel for life when the ferries of tourists have gone.

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Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is a holiday in itself, from the architecture and history that defines the city to the vibrant night life that always attracts the crowds and more recently, the fame the city has found as the filming location for King’s Landing in the television series Game of Thrones. If you’re looking to explore the coast from the city, however, you’re best bet is to take a short ferry trip to the nearby island of Lokrum. The journey takes around 15 minutes, and the island is entirely car-free. Go for a swim in the inland salt lake on the island or if you’re feeling brave, head the nudist beach on the south coast of Lokrum.

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