With so many people heading to the Croatian coast every summer, it’s becoming harder to escape the crowds and enjoy a peaceful holiday. If you are looking for unspoiled nature and stunning beaches on the Adriatic sea, you just found the perfect place: Vis Island. Sitting off the Dalmatian coast, this remote rocky island is one of the most mysterious places in Croatia.
Vis is the farthest inhabited island from the Croatian mainland; situated beyond Hvar and Brac, it sits basically on the halfway point between Croatia and Italy. Vis is hard to reach, and its inaccessibility makes it both an exciting and exclusive place to be. It is made up of 90.26 square kilometers of stunning beaches, bays and two cities where life goes as slowly as it has for ages. No, this paradise hasn’t been spoiled yet.
Why should you visit Vis, Croatia?
Unspoiled nature, great beaches, a stunning underwater world, interesting history and great local cuisine; Vis offers a little bit for everyone. Spend your morning hiking and then retire to the beach in the afternoon. Overall, it is more authentic and laid back compared to what you can experience in Dalmatia.
Plus, it’s really very photogenic. No wonder it was chosen as a shooting location for Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!, the sequel which is coming nearly two years after the first one. The original Greek island has been overdeveloped and changed so much that it was no longer possible to shoot there.
Things to do in Vis, Croatia
Vis island is divided into two major sections, with two cities each found in a different bay: Vis in the southeast and Komiža in the southwest. The island’s coast is dotted with beaches, caves and bays.
I recommend staying in the Vis downtown area; that way, you will always be within walking distance of the harbor, which makes both your arrival and departure smoother. There are daily buses between Vis and Komiza, however if you want to see more of the island, renting a scooter is a good idea. There really isn’t a shortage of things to do in Vis, Croatia.
01 | Visit legendary Stiniva Beach
Awarded as the top beach in Europe in 2016 (there must be something about it, getting votes from 10,000 holidaymakers), Stiniva is known as the prettiest beach in Vis Island. The beach itself is actually pretty small, but its unique settings make it a must-see: Stiniva is situated in a narrow bay surrounded by steep, 35-meter-high cliffs.
Stiniva beach is hard to reach, so you have to plan how to get there. Walking is possible but you’ve got to have trekking shoes and be prepared for an adventurous hike that you many given up on before reaching the beach. Going by boat is the safest option; you can organize a boat taxi from Rukovac.
The water is crystal clear but keep an eye out for jellyfishes; I saw a few around and decided not to swim. It seems it was just bad luck; my guide told me that this problem is not so common at this location. But don’t worry; there are many more beaches on Vis and you can find a new one every day.
02 | Take a day trip to Komiža
Once primarily a fishing village, charming Komiža town takes pride in being the more elegant of the two cities on the island. Walking around, you can see houses from the 17th and 18th century all lined up in small lanes. The harbor, situated at the center of the town, has been used since as far back as the 12th century until now. The nearby promenade and its cafes and restaurants are pleasant and chilled.
Wandering around the old stone streets of Komiža is definitely one of the best things to do in Vis. The city is situated at the foot of Mt. Hum and the views are amazing. You can spend the day in town or you can organize a trip to Blue Cave from its beach (on the east side of the town),.
If you are staying in Vis town, a day trip to Komiža is one of the easiest trips. Buses travel between the two towns at regular intervals but make sure to check the schedule for the last bus
03 | Climb Mt. Hum
Set at 587 meters above sea level, Mt. Hum is the highest mountain on Vis Island. This place offers the most glorious views that you can imagine. You can enjoy a bird’s eye view of Komiža and there is a cute chapel (Church of the Holy Spirit) build at the top.
You can earn those panoramas by doing a two-hour hike from Komiža town, one of the more adventurous things to do in Vis. If you are too lazy for that, it is also possible to get there on a scooter. The best views are during sunset!
04 | Visit Blue Cave
Blue Cave, also known as Blue Grotto (Modra špilja) is stunning natural wonder located on the island of Biševo near Vis. There is an interesting phenomenon occurring every day when the sun is at the peak: the cave is flooded with blue light. I have never seen anything like this before!
The cave is in its original state, and until 1984 it was only possible to dive inside. Then they created an artificial entrance, and this is where small vessels enter, bringing visitors in to experience the magic. The best light is between 11am and noon, when the reflection of the sun on the blue water lights up the cave the most vibrantly.
In high season, this place is really busy and you might end up queuing for up to one hour. The entrance fee is 70 HRK. It’s not possible to go inside on your own boat. There are toilets and a bar nearby to make the waiting time more bearable. It’s a good idea to come in advance so that you get inside during the best time.
You can organize a trip to Blue Cave from Komiža. Boats leave from at 8 am (50 HRK) and coming back in the afternoon. Alternatively, you can book a trip with one of the local travel agencies and combine Blue Cave with other locations.
05 | Chilling at Stoncica beach
Although I visited several beaches on Vis island, Stoncica was my favorite one. If I was moving to Croatia, I would be tempted to buy one of the few houses overlooking the Stoncica bay.
The bay is one of the deepest and safest on Vis island. There is a sandy beach with easy access to the water and a restaurant that serves some of the most delicious seafood I’ve ever had just few meters from the water. Spending a day in Stoncica bay is one of the most relaxing things to do in Vis.
The beach is sandy, so you will not need your swimming shoes here!
06 | Sunset walks in Vis town
The beautiful town of Vis is filled with historical monuments including 17th century houses, remains of a Roman cemetery, and an archeological
museum. Above the town, the English fortress is an ever-visible landmark. The city is big enough to provide for great sunset walks. End the evening with excellent seafood at one of the promenade restaurants.
Vis features several beaches; you can get to the water from pretty much anywhere, but always look down when you go in. I saw lots of spiky sea urchins, except for at the city beach. It’s best to have swimming shoes, but if you forget them like I did, you should still survive.
The city is pretty quiet but always becomes more lively with the arrival of each boat. They have a summer cinema, too. The posters around town keep you informed about the program.
07 | Tito’s Cave
Thanks to its strategic remote location, Vis played an important part in the resistance movement during World War II. Until today, the island is home to a number of military buildings, bunkers and more. An interesting place to get a taste of this part of the island’s history is Tito’s cave, where the resistance leader Tito hid for several months from November 1943.
After visiting Tito’s Top Secret Bunker in Konjic, Bosnia with all its advanced technology, I almost didn’t believe it when I finally saw the much simpler hideout on Vis. It’s really just a cave, but if you are into history, then its interesting to check it out. The best way is to combine it with a visit to Mt. Hum.
When traveling to the cave, head toward Mt. Hum from Podšpilje (‘Under the Cave’). You will see the marker and steep stairs. I visited it with a guide, which is a good option if you want to hear the background story. However, you can just visit the place individually, and there is no entrance fee.
08 | Visit Mamma Mia shooting locations
When the film producers of Mamma Mia were searching for a location for the second movie, Vis was a top choice. It was unbelievably back luck for Greece and equally unbelievable good luck for Croatia.
You can imagine how big of an event it was at the end of last summer, when such a remote island suddenly got a visit from Dominic Cooper, Pierce Brosnan, Julie Walters and others, along with the 1000-person film crew. The movie is coming out in July.
When exploring Vis, you can find many scenes features in the movie. Filming took place at five locations on Vis, three in Komiza, one in Barjoska Bay, and one in gorgeous Stiniva Bay.
09 | Swim in the Green Cave
If you are after natural wonders and have seen Blue Cave already, consider checking out Green cave, too. It is a little less spectacular, but still interesting to see when you are already out on the boat. It’s located on a small uninhabited island called Ravnik, just a stone’s throw from Vis. Unlike in the Blue Cave, is possible to swim in the Green cave.
I visited it in May when it was free to enter, but in the high season (July and August) you should expect to pay a fee to enter it. According to a local legend, if you dive through the golden bubbles of light in the cave, you will live for one hundred years. I am not sure whether that is true. However, you can dive for underwater pictures and see what happens.
10 | Try the excellent local cuisine
Both the lifestyle and the cuisine on Vis island are defined by the word “Pomalo” (meaning slowly, or little by little). It defines the slow pace of life in general on the island. Vis has a great reputation when it comes to gastronomy and wine.
Most restaurants are tiny, giving you the feeling you are sitting at a table in somebody’s house. The cuisine in Vis is not complicated; it is all about understanding and appreciation of fresh products. And as Vis was all about fishing in the past, it comes as no surprise that seafood is one of the best things that you can eat.