9. The island of Vis
The island of Vis is different to many of its neighbours. The most westerly of the larger Croatian islands, it is its history that really sets it apart - used as a naval base during Yugoslavia, the island was completely shut off to foreigners until 1989. As such, the island has developed its tourism in differently to the other Croatian islands. It's the place to go to if you want to sample Croatia and its island life but without all the crowds, and where those in the know head to - get there before everyone else does!
There's a handful of sights in both Vis Town and the other larger settlement on the island, Komiza. Both only have a few accommodation options, so neither place gets too crowded. If you have your own car (you can also rent scooters on Vis), the island really does lend itself to exploring - set off down the roads and see where they take you.
One of the most popular sights in the area is the beautiful Blue Cave on the uninhabited island of Bisevo, with sunlight drifting into the cave to catch the sea waters, creating a stunning, shimmering experience. Boat trips are available from both Vis and Komiza. There's a direct ferry from Split to Vis, so it's easily reachable; there's also a route that goes to the neighbouring island of Hvar (which stops at Hvar Town - number 5 on our list) if you'd like to explore some of the other nearby islands. |
