Just back from the best trip to the Balkans and sharing our Croatia Island Hopping experience.
When we were researching Croatia travel, it seemed that you had 2 choices – either Croatia by land or Croatia by sea. I’m happy to report that you can have it all – Croatia by land AND sea. It’s so much easier than you’d think.
We met quite a few people on our Croatia island hopping journey and everyone was on a different kind of trip.
That’s why I wanted to share all your options for a Croatia island hopping vacation. Just pick the one that suits you best and off you for for a fantastic trip! Don’t forget that Croatia islands make great day trips too.
When planning a trip to Croatia, check out our 3 Day Dubrovnik Itinerary, the 12 Best Boutique Hotels in Dubrovnik and 27 Epic Adventures for Your European Bucket List.
Best Time for a Croatia Island Hopping Holiday
You can actually visit the Croatian islands year round but the best time to go is summer so you can take advantage of the warmer weather and sea water.
We went in May, which was wonderful for less tourists. The downside was less ferry service and the water was too cold to get excited about jumping in. You could still do some sunning though!
Ferry service triples from June 1 – September 30. The busiest tourist season is July and August. If you want all the benefits of Croatia in summer with lighter crowds, go in June or September.
5 Great Options for Croatia Island Hopping
1. Taking Ferries as a Foot Passenger
If you are visiting mainland Croatia and you want to check out the islands, the ferry system in Croatia is surprisingly easy and affordable.
Even during summer, you can buy a ferry ticket and hop right on a ferry. You can also travel from island to island and see as many or as few as you want.
Ferry Companies:
- Jadrolinija has passenger catamarans and car ferries
- Kapetan Luka has high speed passenger catamarans
2. Taking Ferries with a Car
I highly recommend renting a car in Croatia and flying in and out of different airports. Most rental cars won’t charge you extra to drop off at another airport in Croatia.
The main international airports are Zagreb, Split, Dubrovnik, Pula, Zadar or Rijeka, with the first 3 being the most common choices. We flew in and out of Dubrovnik as Croatia was part of a larger Balkans Road Trip.
Croatia Island Hopping with a car is very similar to the Foot Passenger version but you are more limited on the ferry schedule because you need to take the ferries that accommodate cars. You also need to reserve ahead of time on Jadrolinija.
3. A Croatia Island Hopping Bike Tour or Multisport Tour
You can hop on your bike and do the same trip as a foot passenger or there are multiple companies that run guided and self guided bike/multisport tours like Croatia walking tours.
The benefit is that they do most or all of the planning for you. We met a group of people doing this trip and they were having a blast!
They were biking, kayaking, eating out at amazing restaurants. This is a great way to go if you are looking for an active vacation. Here are some of the outfitters:
4. Take a Croatia Cruise
There are so many options when it comes to taking a Croatia Cruise. When we were in Hvar, you could see millennial catamaran cruises next to a luxury yacht, next to a seniors cruise.
For island hopping cruises (not boat charters), there are a few main options:
- Catamaran cruises – typically party cruises for under 35 years old. Companies will match you up with like minded cruisers.
- Midsize cruises with approximately 36 people – These run the gamut from inexpensive to luxurious.
- Large cruise ships with only go to the major ports of Split and Dubrovnik.
5. Chartering a Boat to Island Hop Croatia
There are multiple companies that run boat charters. Prices run from $5,000-$100,000 per week. You can see all the available boats online and can customize your charter to be exactly what you want.
Sailing in Croatia is one of the top things to do, either on your own or with events like regattas and yacht week.
- Choose between small to large sailboats, catamarans with 4 cabins, yachts and mega yachts.
- You can charter a boat that you captain or you can hire a captain for the week.
- You can get your boat stocked with everything you need like groceries, towels, kayaks, etc. or you can do it yourself.
Related Post: The Ultimate 3 Days in Dubrovnik Itinerary
Croatia Island Hopping Itinerary
There are more than 1,200 islands to choose from so this post is just highlighting the more typical Croatia island hopping routes. Below you will find more information about the most popular islands so you can make your own itinerary.
These are all moving from Split toward Dubrovnik but you can start in Dubrovnik and go the other way.
When you plan your trip, you will find our 3 Days in Dubrovnik Itinerary helpful. Also there are amazing boutique hotels in Dubrovnik that you can enjoy at the beginning or end of your trip.
- Split – Hvar – Dubrovnik: If you have a car and only have time for the most well known island.
- Split – Hvar – Korcula – Dubrovnik: There is no car ferry between Hvar and Korčula so this is better as a foot passenger or a bike tour.
- Split – Vis – Hvar – Korcula – Dubrovnik: The most basic cruise itinerary.
- Split – Hvar – Vis – Korcula – Mljet – Dubrovnik: A faster paced, more islands cruise itinerary.
Hvar Island
Probably the most well known and popular island, also the sunniest, Hvar is so much fun to visit.
Within 24 hours of being there I felt like totally adjusted to the relaxed pace and fun vibe and was ready to be a local.
Even if you think Hvar might be too trendy for you, it’s a big island with many towns and absolutely worth the trip.
Here are a few of the fun things you can do:
- Hang out in Hvar town – very charming with a huge central square, marina with gorgeous yachts, stylish old town, terrific restaurants, a fortress with great views and quite the nightlife, it’s definitely a fun place to spend some time.
- Visit the Pakleni islands – a group of islands you can see from Hvar town, you can take a water taxi. rent a boat, or a skippered boat and spend a lovely day sunning and swimming.
- Boat trip to the Blue and Green caves – these are visited by a tour. Around noon on a sunny day the sunlight hits the limestone floor and makes the water an incredible blue.
- Tour other parts of the island and see the towns of Stari Grad, Jelsa, Sveta Nedjelja to see the vineyards of the local wines, or visit lavender fields and olive orchards.
Korcula
Korcula is more relaxed and less touristy than islands like Hvar or Brac. It’s actually the birth place of Marco Polo. You can see the house where he grew up in Korcula Town.
On the opposite side of the island is the town of Vela Luka. There’s a cool cave to see in Vela Luka that’s worth a visit if you come in on the car ferry from Split.
Mljet
Mljet’s big attraction is Mljet National Park. Consequently it’s the island you want to visit for it’s natural beauty. The national park takes up a good portion of the island, bordering two big saltwater lakes.
One of the lakes has an island with a monastery that you can take a boat to see. Cost to enter Mljet National Park is 125 Kuna including a monastery boat trip.
Daytripping Instead of a Full Croatia Island Hopping Trip
If you don’t have time to island hop and just want to have the experience of visiting an island, you can visit almost every Croatian island on a day trip.
Brac
Brac is a really popular day trip from Split. You can take a foot or passenger ferry from Split. You can also travel between the islands of Brac, Hvar, and Vis by catamaran but if you are taking a car, you have to return to Split in between.
If you are taking a car, you might want to consider going to one island like Hvar and day tripping to Brac. On the other hand, Brac is the 3rd largest island so you may want a car there if you intend to explore beyond Bol.
The main town is Bol. Definitely take a stroll around the Riva, the harbor area where you will find restaurants and bars.
It’s less touristy than Hvar so this is a nice choice if you want an island that’s more low key but has a lot of the same activities of the neighboring islands.
One of the biggest draws on this island is Zlatni Rat Beach pictured above. This pebble beach changes shape constantly with the current, which is so amazing and just one of the many interesting facts about Croatia.
As you can see in the photo above, the beach is quite crowded and lively in the summer with cocktail bars and beach loungers.
Lokrum
Lokrum is a tiny UNESCO nature reserve right off the coast of Dubrovnik (If you don’t have time for a full island hopping in Croatia trip, you can still get the island experience by taking a 15 minute water taxi to Lokrum from Dubrovnik’s old town.
Another, more adventurous way to get there is a sea kayak tour.
It was raining when we were there so we didn’t go but here are some things to see and do on Lokrum:
- Climb up to Fort Royal Castle, a Game of Thrones filming location and check out the view of Dubrovnik.
- See the botanical gardens and peacocks that were originally brought there by Maximilian von Habsburg.
- Visit Mrtvo More lake (also call The Dead Sea) and the nearby Benedictine monastery.
- Go snorkeling or swimming.
- Fun fact – Lokrum was a temporary home to Richard the Lionheart when he was shipwrecked on his way back from the 3rd crusade.
Elafiti Islands
The Elefiti islands are typically visited on a day trip from Dubrovnik. Tour boat companies visit 3 main islands – Koločep, Lopud (has a sandy beach) and Šipan and serve a fish lunch on board. You can book a trip online or at the Old Port.
You can also do a DYI trip with the Jadrolinija ferry.
Renting a Car in Croatia
Renting a car in Europe can be tricky. In the United States, car rentals are very straightforward. You look on a website, you rent a car, you choose insurance (or not) and you pay what you were quoted.
In Europe, we’ve rented cars in 4 different countries but each time, the price we were quoted and what we actually paid were very different. Don’t let that dissuade you though. Renting a car in Croatia made our trip so much better.
Croatia Car Rental Tips
- Reserve a car online but don’t pay ahead of time so you aren’t stuck if the price is more than you thought.
- Insurance – If you have a credit card that includes car insurance, it typically only applies to collision. What it doesn’t cover is injury to you or another person. My advice – just pay for the car company’s insurance but make sure they offer a fair price.
- Some companies are absolute robbers. One very reputable car company wanted to charge us 240 euros for the week just for insurance AND they wanted a 3,000 euro deposit, which made no sense since we were having to pay their full insurance. We ended up renting with Avax and paid 85 euros for insurance for the week. They had the best price and everything they told us was accurate. They didn’t seem to have a lot of cars though and they do charge extra for a one way rental.
- In Croatia and the neighboring countries, an international license was not necessary if your license came from a country that uses a Latin alphabet.
- Check to see if you are allowed to cross borders. In Croatia, there is a spot where the country is split in two by Bosnia. You may also want to go to Montenegro. Crossing borders is easy but you need a “Green Card.” It is provided to you by the rental car company so make sure it’s part of your rental cost.
- Some companies offer one way rentals at no extra charge as long as you are in the same country. In Croatia, you may want to get a car in Split and drop it off in Dubrovnik.
Where to Stay in Croatia for Island Hopping
If you are taking a cruise or chartering a boat, your accommodations are set. For everyone else, there are so many great lodging options from hotels to affordable Airbnbs to gorgeous Villa Rentals.
If you are going during high season (summer) just know that the prices will be higher and you should book as far ahead as possible. In May, we were able to book everything hours before we got there. The same would be true for September.
We highly recommend spending some of your time in Croatia to do an Island Hopping holiday. It is definitely the bucket list adventure of your dreams. This is one of those trips that lives up to the hype and then some.
You can add it to a trip to Dubrovnik or a Balkans road trip. If you have any questions about your trip, leave a comment below and we will respond.
Other Posts You Might Like:
- CROATIA: The Ultimate 3 Days in Dubrovnik Itinerary
- GREECE: 3 Days in Santorini Itinerary & Travel Guide
- TURKEY: 7 Day Turkey Itinerary: Istanbul, Cappadocia & Bodrum
- PORTUGAL: 2 Days in Lisbon – Everything You Need to See and Do
- ICELAND: Iceland Ring Road Itinerary
44 Comments
Lake Toba
May 28, 2022 at 8:33 amSuch a wonderful post so many information, love your photos alot so beautiful!
Veronika
June 25, 2021 at 7:39 amSo much information for almost for everyone! The water is is so clear, and the beaches are absolutely awesome, cant wait to get there. I am planning to rent a yacht. Thanks for sharing dear!
Kelli Nordhus
July 24, 2019 at 1:16 amYour blog posts are so informative, with amazing photos! I love reading them!!!
Jenifer
July 24, 2019 at 1:30 amThank you so much Kelli!
Nicole
July 9, 2019 at 11:06 amI’m heading to Croatia next month! It looks like such an amazing place, I can’t wait to visit! x
Jenifer
July 9, 2019 at 2:59 pmI’m so excited for you! Croatia is amazing. I’m writing blog post out about our whole week in the Balkans in the next week so check back because you may want to include some of it in your itinerary.
Nina
July 8, 2019 at 11:25 pmwow these are amazing pictures. I hope I will visit these places one day. xx
Jenifer
July 9, 2019 at 2:52 pmThank you! Hope you get to go soon!
Diana
June 26, 2019 at 6:08 pmI’d love to do a bike tour around Croatia! I’ve heard so many wonderful things about Croatia, it’s been on my bucket list for years xx
Jenifer
June 28, 2019 at 12:53 amWe met people that were doing a bike tour and they were having the best time!It’s a terrific way to see Croatia.
Kara
June 26, 2019 at 4:31 pmYour travel posts are always filled with so much helpful information! Croatia looks absolutely beautiful and it’s good to know what each island has to offer. I have never thought about going there before, but now I want to!
x Kara
Jenifer
June 28, 2019 at 12:47 amThanks you! So glad to inspire a possible trip. Croatia is such a beautiful country. More posts coming soon.
Shann Eileen
June 26, 2019 at 2:49 pmAfter watching Game of Thrones I have been dying to go to Croatia, it looks so beautiful there! Your pictures are amazing and I’ll definitely refer back to this post when I get to go.
Shann Eileen | http://www.shanneileen.com
Jenifer
June 28, 2019 at 12:51 amThank you so much. Hope you get to visit Croatia soon. I just started watching GOT so I can see all the cool locations!
Dheera
June 22, 2019 at 1:22 pmWow!! those are some great shots. This place looks so beautiful. I would love visit. Thanks for sharing the informations
Dheera
http://www.thestylepanorama.com
Jenifer
June 23, 2019 at 7:24 pmThank you! It’s a beautiful place to visit.
Olga
June 22, 2019 at 12:52 pmGreat post! Thanks for the tips! I have to visit Croatia, it looks so beautiful!
https://www.lostindaydreams.com/
Jenifer
June 23, 2019 at 7:23 pmCroatia is amazing! It definitely lives up to all the attention it’s been getting.
aditi oberoi malhotra
June 21, 2019 at 2:09 pmSuch a nice and informative post. Amazing pictures, hon.
Adi xx | http://www.fancycorrectitude.com
Jenifer
June 23, 2019 at 7:22 pmThank you!
SundayDahlias
June 19, 2019 at 5:27 pmWow Croatia looks stunning! It sounds so amazing to go on a cruise and go island hopping!
Jenifer
June 20, 2019 at 5:00 pmThank you. It is pretty dreamy to cruise and island hop 😊
Martyna
June 19, 2019 at 9:12 amNice and helpful post. I’m from Poland and I was in Croatia many times by car. I especially liked Hvar (the island) when the lavender was blooming
https://matiime.blogspot.com/
Jenifer
June 20, 2019 at 5:00 pmThank you Martyna. I would have loved to be there when the lavender was blooming in late June and July. We did get some lavender sachets to bring home as gifts.
Elena Isabelle
June 19, 2019 at 7:58 amCroatia looks beautiful and I would love to go one day. we are going to Sardinia this summer and I can’t wait.
❤︎
Jenifer
June 20, 2019 at 4:58 pmThat sounds amazing. Have a great time!
Mia
June 19, 2019 at 5:59 amOh my goodness, this sounds like the absolute trip of a lifetime! Thank you for sharing all this great info, I’d love to plan a similar trip when I’m back in Europe xx
mia // https://beautiful-inspiring-creative-life.com
Jenifer
June 20, 2019 at 4:58 pmThanks for reading. It really is an amazing trip and I also highly recommend seeing the neighboring countries of Montenegro and Bosnia.
Michelle Tucker
June 19, 2019 at 5:08 amGreat Post! So much information for almost every type of traveler. It was far too cold to visit any of the islands when I was there. Next time for sure!
Jenifer
June 20, 2019 at 4:56 pmI know some people head there in winter but it’s definitely too cold for the beach and the ferry system is more limited. The end of spring, summer and the beginning of fall are definitely better.
Jessica
June 19, 2019 at 4:44 amWhat a charming place indeed. The water is crystal clear, and the beaches are absolutely gorgeous. Thanks for sharing dear!
Jessica
Jenifer
June 20, 2019 at 4:52 pmSo glad you enjoyed it!
Wynne
June 19, 2019 at 12:23 amgreat post! I wish I had more time to explore Croatia when I visited. We only spent time in Plitvice park which was outstanding but I’m sure other parts of Croatia would’ve been as beautiful <3
Jenifer
June 20, 2019 at 4:53 pmI understand how you feel. I was so disappointed to miss Plitvice park but time is always a factor. It leaves something fun to go back to see though.😉
Simone
June 18, 2019 at 11:32 amI’ve heard so many good things about Croatia and according to your beautiful pictures it looks very stunning. The colour of the sea is breathtaking. Brac looks picture perfect, similar to Maldives. Croatia is only a short trip from Switzerland away so I definitely got to explore this country one day!
xx Simone
Jenifer
June 18, 2019 at 8:17 pmThere are so many amazing places to visit in Croatia. I honestly wish I had another week to explore. Brac has a really pretty walk along the shore to get to that amazing beach. The islands there are so dreamy!
jade bevan
June 18, 2019 at 9:45 amomg pleasee telll me how you edit your photos!!!! they are beautiful!!!
Jenifer
June 18, 2019 at 8:15 pmI keep planning to make a post about how I edit my photos. Typically I use presets in Lightroom and I use the apps Snapseed and FaceTune 2 sometimes.
Radi
June 18, 2019 at 6:33 amOhh wow these islands are amazing! This would be a trip of a lifetime.
http://www.fashionradi.com
Jenifer
June 18, 2019 at 8:14 pmThe islands are great and there are so many ways to visit them depending on preferences. It’s definitely a bucket list adventure!
Allie Mackin
June 17, 2019 at 10:54 pmWhat an informative post! If I ever get there I will have to bookmark this, sop helpful. Your trip looked wonderful and I must Brac Island looks pretty sandy. But yes beaches can be pretty different. Even here: the north shore beaches are pebbles and the south shore beaches are sandy. LOVE your photos!
Allie of
http://www.allienyc.com
Jenifer
June 18, 2019 at 8:13 pmSo glad you liked it. I love sandy beaches so it’s a little bit of a bummer when they are rocky. Ultimately it worked out well because we spent more time boating, which was super fun.
Kara
June 17, 2019 at 8:43 pmSo much great information. I’m saving your blog for my upcoming trip to Croatia. Thank you
Jenifer
June 18, 2019 at 8:10 pmCroatia is wonderful. I already want to go back!