The Most Relaxing Islands on the Croatian Coast

by croatiaweek
May 3, 2016
in Latest

Stiniva beach, Vis (photo credit: sailweekcroatia)

Sometimes you don’t want a crazy vacation. Sometimes you’re in search for some peace and quiet. Sometimes you need to rest your body and mind. Sometimes you need to charge your batteries. Sometimes you’re into wellness. Sometimes you need to get in touch with nature. And there’s no better place to do that than on these Croatian nature oases.

LOŠINJ ISLAND

This gorgeous northern Adriatic island is also known as „the island of vitality“. It is famous for its lush green vegetation, loads of secluded beaches, tiny fishing villages and totally breath-taking scenery. Lošinj has always been a health tourism destination, since the benefits of its climate and vegetation were discovered by the Austro-Hungarian aristocracy. They built numerous villas and summer residences, which have been restored.

Besides them, there are numerous newly built hotels offering spa & wellness programs as well as swimming pools with heated sea water. The island’s traditional cuisine is based on wild, aromatic plants and olive oil which is a true remedy for the body.

Mali and Veli Lošinj are the two main towns on the island and there are scattered campsites along the entire coast. Beautiful beaches are protected from the sun by loads of pine trees providing the visitors natural aromatherapy.

KORNATI ISLANDS

The Kornati Islands are a National Park stretching along the central part of the Croatian coast. They can be reached by boats that leave regularly in the summer up and down the coastline between Zadar and Šibenik. They’re made up of more than 130 islands and reefs packed into the length of only 35km.

The name of the archipelago comes from the largest island called Kornat. Jewelled with immense natural beauty, diverse coastline and preserved marine ecosystem the Kornati Islands stand out as one of the most beautiful places in Croatia. The crystal clear water is full of reefs, shellfish, many species of fish and dolphins.

For all of you looking for a Robinson Crusoe type of vacation, this is the place to be. The Kornati Islands are only populated during the summer months when old field and fishing houses spread out in secluded inlets. There is no electricity or fresh water springs on the islands.

VIS ISLAND

This paradise island is the farthest inhabited island off the mainland, situated in the cleanest part of the Adriatic Sea. In 1944 the island was declared a military zone, inaccessible to all foreigners until 1989. Due to isolation the island has retained the charm and style of the Mediterranean from the 1950s.

The island’s most valuable treasures are its unpolluted sea, soil and air. On the south side of the island, the open sea waves sculptured some of the most breath-taking coves and beaches, out of which the most famous one is definitely Stiniva cove. There are two towns on the opposite sides of the island: Vis and Komiža with a distance of around 20km in between them.

Stiniva beach (photo credit: Ante Babic)

Vis island is also famous for its gourmet delights – there is a very strong fishing and wine tradition. Make sure to pay a visit to one of the most impressive natural phenomenons on the Croatian coast – The Blue Cave. This water-logged sea cave is located on the east side of the Biševo island, about 8 km from the town of Komiža.

LASTOVO ISLAND

The island of Lastovo belongs to the central Dalmatian archipelago and it’s located 13 km south of Korčula island. It connects to Split, Dubrovnik, Mljet and Korčula by ferries. The Lastovo archipelago consists of 46 small islands, 46 vinyards, 46 churches and chappels. There are five caves on the main island and the coastline is very diverse, steep and surrounded by deep sea.

Lastovo (screenshot)

There are numerous rocky, gravel and sandy beaches on the main island as well as along the entire archipelago. The island of Saplun, well known for its sandy beaches is quite a popular destination for sail boats.The town of Lastovo lays over the steep banks of a natural amphitheater overlooking a fertile field instead of the sea which is very unusual compared to other Adriatic islands. Lastovo is famous for the wonderful raw nature and typical, simple Mediterranean way of life.

MLJET ISLAND

This magnificent island covered by forests, vineyards and small villages is located south of the Pelješac peninsula from which it’s separated by the Mljet channel. It is one of the eight National Parks in Croatia, famous for its lush vegetation, pine forests, saltwater and mud lakes.

The National Park includes the western part of the island, Veliko jezero (the Big Lake), Malo jezero (the Small Lake), Soline Bay and a 500m wide sea belt from the most prominent cape of the island. The northwestern part of the island includes an inland sea as well as a small island within it.