As the years go by, it’s becoming harder and harder to refer to Croatia as a hidden gem. Can’t keep a massive slice of Mediterranean coastline secret forever, it seems.

Yes- those loser tourists have begun filtering in, in throngs at that. Dubrovnik has become infested, Split as well.

But while the islands are no doubt busier than they once were, the vast majority of tourists seem to stick to the cities and never venture out to sea. And I delight in their ignorance.

What absolute delinquents. They- ah. I seem to be getting sidetracked. It’s been a day. Anyway, back to task.

I’ll be walking you through a week of island hopping in Croatia, starting from Split and ending in Dubrovnik. Because there’s only one correct way to travel Croatia, and it’s by boat.

Why should you go island hopping in Croatia?

First off, I’d just like to say that if you want to skip the fluff, you can shoot right down to where the itinerary begins. I empathize- it’s what I would do. Unfortunately, Google seems to reward me for these added bits of information.

That’s not to say this is unimportant.

So why should you partake in island hopping in Croatia? I alluded ever so slightly to the main reason in the introduction, which is to avoid the savag- I mean, tourists.

But more generally, Croatia seems like it was designed by God specifically for island hopping. I mean, look at the map.

Likely He’d just discovered the “align” tool in his world creation software. He placed Hvar and Brač perfectly parallel to one another. Then- probably giddy with power- tossed in a few more for flair.

But in all seriousness, it’s incredible how perfectly aligned they are. And with the ferry system, it’s so easy to transfer from island to island, with or without a car.

How to get from island to island in Croatia

You’ll be island hopping in Croatia using ferries, either passenger or car- depending on what you need.

If you aren’t visiting during peak season, you’ll likely get away with booking right at the dock. But even so, I wouldn’t recommend it as you can be left waiting for a while before the next departure.

Book your tickets online. Peak season or not, it’s the right call. Trust me, you won’t save much by waiting until the last minute to book, and the cost of waiting may offset any wins from a bargained-down price.

Book directly through the ferry companies- it’s almost always cheapest. Krilo and TP Line are the sites you’ll want to check out for passenger ferries, and Jadrolinija for car ferries.

This should serve you fine, but it’s always smart to just do a quick google search of “ferries croatia” and seeing if you can find better options.

Days 1-2- Split-Bol

You’ll be starting your Croatian island hopping journey in Split- the second most popular coastal city in the country, after only Dubrovnik.

Feel free to spend more time in Split than the half day I’m recommending. But this isn’t an article about Split, after all- it’s about the islands. So let’s hop on a ferry and head to the island of Brač.

Specifically, to the town of Bol located on the southern end of the island.

Things to do in Bol

Luckily for you guys, I have an entire article on the best things you can do in Bol.

That being said, if you’d prefer a short summary I’ll get you that too. Lazy bums.

• Visit Zlatni Rat Beach. It’s possibly the most famous beach in Croatia, and for good reason. It translates directly to “Golden Horn”. You’ll understand why when you see the picture below.

Now, with the fame come crowds. If you want to avoid them, I’d recommend coming early in the day or for sunset. Another option is to walk down the sides of the horn. You can find some nice little coves on the left hand side of the horn- the side that is closer to town.

Note: I realize there are a couple pins on the map above. Don’t know how to get rid of the others, so make sure you head to the one in Bol (pretty confident you could have figured that one out, but you never know).

• Hike Vidova Gora. The peak of Vidova Gora is the highest point on any island in the Adriatic Sea. So naturally, it’s a nice flex to say that you made it to the top.
  
  It’s an incredible hike that will treat you with incredible views of the southern coast of Brač, with the magnificent beach of Zlatni Rat jutting out into the sea.
  
  The hike up takes around 1.5-2 hours (3-4 round trip). If you’re going in the summer, I’d recommend starting early before it gets too hot. Read more about the hike here.
  
  You can also drive (or ATV) up to the top if you’ve got young kids or hiking isn’t your forte. But the view itself still makes this one of the best things to do in Bol.

• Check out the old town. The town of Bol itself is incredibly charming. It’s not very big- everything is concentrated on the promenade by the water, and can be walked from one end to the other in about ten minutes.
  
  Even if your daytime adventures take you to the beaches and mountains of Brač, the town of Bol is a great place to unwind at night.

Where to stay in Bol

The best places to stay are in the old town, of course.

You really can’t go wrong anywhere. I’d personally recommend finding a place a little up the road. Even though this means a small hike to get to and from your place, it also means that you get a spectacular view.

Try and find a place with a balcony. Things are pretty affordable here. Airbnb and Booking.com are your best bets.

Days 3-5- Hvar

Off to the next island!

You’ll get a ferry from the port in Bol off to Hvar. Likely, the ferry will take you to Jelsa, a town on the north end of the island.

You can explore Jelsa if you like- it’s quite charming- but eventually you’ll want to head towards Hvar Town, the famous town on the island.

There’s a direct bus. For more info, check out this article.

Then let the fun begin.

Things to Do

• Explore Hvar Town. It probably deserves to be mentioned first. Hvar Town is all about the glitz and the glamour. Old European town at its finest by day, and the party capital of Croatia by night.
  
  Lots of celebrities come here to partake in the festivities, which is pretty clear when you see the kind of boats docked at the marina by the boardwalk.
• Take a boat to the Pakleni Islands. You can get a nice boat if you want, or do it the budget way like us and get a nice 5hp boat for $100 a day.
  
  She was nothing fancy, but she got the job done. It really didn’t matter- you don’t have to drive so far, as the islands are all kind of bunched together.
  
  The scenery was incredible, and the color of the water was as turquoise as it gets in some spots. I wouldn’t skip this one.

• Rent a scooter. Hvar is a big island, and there’s a lot to see.
  
  Beaches on the south end. The lavender fields and expansive views at the elevated center of the island. You may be able to find other ways here, but a scooter is the easiest and most convenient.
  
  If you know how to ride one, of course.
  
  You can find rental spots around Hvar Town. Look on google maps. The ones a little out of town will likely be cheaper.

Where to stay in Hvar

Again, you’ll want to stay in town. Hvar Town, to be precise.

The nightlife is just too good to pass up, and you’re going to want to be a part of it. Even if you’re not looking to party, just walking around and taking it in is enough.

The lights, the insane yachts, the fancy restaurants. It’s a beautiful place.

Days 6-7- Mljet, Dubrovnik

Brač and Hvar are definitely the main islands to visit on a one week Croatia island hopping adventure. But you’ve got time for one more on the way down to Dubrovnik.

There are a few options, but the best and most convenient are Korčula and Mljet. I personally recommend Mljet: Korčula is known to be beautiful, but if you want a truly unique experience that you won’t get elsewhere in Croatia, go to Mljet.

Mljet is known for its national park, filled with lush greenery, wildlife, and electric blue lakes. Note that there is an entry fee- around $25 for adults in high season, with substantial discounts for children and students.

I did it as a day trip between Hvar and Dubrovnik, although you can spend the night if you have time.

Things to do in Mljet National Park

• Check out Veliko and Malo Jezero (or large and small lake, but it sounds better the Slavic way). These are saltwater lakes, connected to the sea by a narrow inlet.
  
  They are the most electric of turquoises, and the water is warmer than in the Adriatic since the lakes are more shallow and sheltered.

• Take the boat to the Benedictine Monastery on St. Mary’s Islet. I recall that the boat price is included in the entry fee. And definitely shouldn’t be skipped. Gliding over those striking waters is an experience in itself.

• Try finding the coral reef. Mljet has the only coral reef in the Adriatic Sea, and the only reef shallow enough for snorkelers in the entire Mediterranean.
  
  They don’t advertise where it is in an effort to protect it, but ask around and people will point you in the right direction.
  
  You can technically swim there from the islet, but only attempt if you’re a strong swimmer- it’s quite far. A better idea might be to swim to shore and walk the path until you’re closer to the reef.

Where to stay (Mljet or Dubrovnik?)

You can stay on Mljet if you like. Pomena and Polače are the most common spots, as they are located by the entrance of the park and have the most accommodations and restaurants.

Sobra is another option, being located by the ferry port that has the most trips to Dubrovnik.

But I personally think it’s a better idea to stay in Dubrovnik. Even if you have a couple days there, it doesn’t hurt to add an extra night!

So ends our Croatia island hopping adventure. There’s so much to see that it’s hard to squeeze it into a week. But follow this guide, and you won’t be disappointed.