| With 1185 islands to choose from, Croatia's Adriatic | | | | ride from the coast. But it's so worth it. Neither hip nor |
| coast truly offers an embarrassment of riches. | | | | chic (yet), Vis has the unspoiled nature, the swimming |
| Whether your interest is lounging lizard-like in the sun, | | | | and diving possibilities plus two great villages. Vis Town |
| exploring ancient villages, hiking through lavender fields | | | | has early Greek and Roman remnants and Komiza is |
| or partying until dawn, there's an island in Croatia for | | | | the kind of charming fishing village that is rapidly |
| you. And you don't need your own yacht to see them! | | | | disappearing from the Mediterranean. Think St Tropez |
| All of the following islands are easily reachable by | | | | about, oh, 100 years ago. |
| regular ferries run by Jadrolinija, Croatia's largest ferry | | | | Dugi Otok |
| company. Let's start at the southern tip of Croatia and | | | | Also not on the tourist circuit, Dugi Otok is long and |
| work our way northward. | | | | relatively flat compared to the other islands. Still, there's |
| Mljet Island | | | | good swimming and a calm and peaceful atmosphere. |
| A good part of Mljet Island is pristine national park | | | | It's main highlight is the Telascica Bay nature park with |
| including two inland seawater lakes that present the | | | | a saltwater lake and miles of rugged coastline. |
| very picture of tranquility. You can bike around the | | | | Pag Island |
| lakes, paddle or swim them or take a hike through the | | | | All Croatians sigh over Pag Island as it produces the |
| interior. Most people visit on a day trip from Dubrovnik, | | | | country's finest cheese, pungent and aromatic. Dry and |
| but there's no reason you can't stay overnight. There's | | | | flat, Pag Island still boasts a kind of offbeat beauty. |
| only one hotel but a good amount of private | | | | The main town is Pag Town, with its straight, stone |
| accommodation. | | | | streets but party people will want to head to Novalja |
| Korcula Island | | | | on the northern end of the island. At the first thought of |
| Large and forested, Korcula offers endless possibilities | | | | summer, Novalja's main beach is transformed into a |
| for exploration. Start in the Old Town, crowded onto a | | | | non-stop outdoor party with DJs, cocktail bars, foam |
| little peninsula and then explore some quiet islets | | | | nights and a regular circuit of theme events. |
| around the main island via excursion boat. To get | | | | Cres & Losinj Islands |
| away from it all, stay in one of the interior villages. | | | | These two long thin islands are separated only by a |
| Hvar Island | | | | narrow canal. Losinj in the south is much more |
| Unquestionably the trendiest of Croatian islands, it | | | | developed for tourism with a range of hotels and a |
| seems that everybody wants to head to Hvar. The | | | | magnificent bay that is a center for windsurfing. Cres is |
| old town is impossibly romantic, the harbor is the most | | | | much wilder and mostly devoted to fishing and sheep |
| delightful in the Adriatic and the nightlife. . .Suffice it to | | | | raising. Accommodation is somewhat limited in terms |
| say that you'll find everything from chic cocktail bars to | | | | of both comforts and quantity but it's easy to stay in |
| down 'n' dirty backpacker joints (although much more | | | | Losinj and visit Cres. |
| of the former). During the day, take a boat to the | | | | Rab Island |
| naturist islands that beckon offshore or traipse through | | | | This is a pretty island near the northern coast with |
| the lavender fields that dot the interior. | | | | scenic Rab Town as its center. Tourism is very |
| Brac Island | | | | developed here largely because of the splendid sandy |
| The most accessible island from the Dalmatian coast, | | | | beaches in Lopar. Sandy beaches are a rarity in |
| Brac is a favorite getaway for Croatian mainlanders. | | | | Croatia! This is the place for an easy, relaxing beach |
| Cheaper and somewhat less crowded with foreigners, | | | | holiday. |
| Brac Island's highlight is the unusual Zlatni Rat beach, a | | | | Krk Island |
| staple of Croatia's tourist brochures. Supetar is the | | | | With an airport receiving international flights right on the |
| main entry point and boasts an appealing "fishing port" | | | | island, Krk is one of the easiest islands to reach. |
| ambiance. | | | | Desolate it isn't but you'll find a wide choice of places |
| Vis Island | | | | to stay on this large island. Visit the historic center, |
| Here is that special gem that is still relatively | | | | walled Krk Town but also Baska with its long stretch |
| undiscovered, mostly because Vis Island is a long ferry | | | | of pebbly beach and the hilltop village of Vrbnik. |