The furthest inhabited island from the Croatian mainland, Vis spent decades as a closed military zone, which spared it from overdevelopment. The result: two mellow harbour towns, inland vineyards, and coves like Stiniva, a pebble amphitheatre reached through a cleft in the cliffs. The ferry from Split takes about two and a half hours — enough to deter the day-trip masses. Hire a scooter and circle it slowly.
Featured in Ten quiet beach escapes for a slow, sunny week · Beach
The furthest inhabited island from the Croatian coast, closed to foreigners as a military base until 1989 and still blissfully behind the times. Mamma Mia 2 was filmed here, but Vis remains more fishing net than film set. Stay in Komiža, take a boat to the glowing Blue Cave on neighbouring Biševo early to beat the queue, and eat lobster at a konoba where the day's catch decides the menu.
Featured in Ten island hideaways built for two · Romantic