Adventurous Kate includes affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks!
Share on Twitter
Share on Facebook
Share on Pinterest
Share on Email
You might know your way around the Croatian islands — but none of them are like Vis, Croatia. Vis island is one of the most special places in Croatia, and has a different feeling from everywhere else.
I’ve been going to Croatia’s islands for nearly a decade. My two favorite islands in Croatia are Korčula and Vis — but for very different reasons.
Korčula is where you go to do tons of amazing activities. Vis is where you go to chill out and relax. and sure, you could unwind on any other Croatian island, but the isolation, calmness, and exclusivity of Vis bring it to the next level.
Vis island is the furthest Croatian island from the mainland. A former Yugoslav military base, Vis was actually closed to outsiders until 1991. because of this, Vis feels more like how tourism in Croatia used to be, before the islands were discovered by an international audience.
Vis might be better described by what you DON’T find there: Rows of low-cost souvenir stalls. Backpacker cruises. Inflatable water playgrounds. Irish pubs.
More than anything, Vis feels much more exclusive than other Croatian islands, and it feels like it attracts a different cadre of travelers.
It feels different here. It’s slower. more intentional. It’s a longer journey here than the other islands, and there’s only one good hotel, so everyone has made a conscious decision to choose Vis over simpler options.
For these reasons, I think that Vis makes an excellent choice for your second or third trip to Croatia — or the end of your first trip, after having went to other islands. I think the appeal of Vis increases enormously once you realize how special it is. and that can be a bit lost on people who have never traveled to another Croatian island.
Table of Contents
Vis Island
Things to do in Vis, CroatiaBoat trip around Vis Island
Blue Cave Vis
Biševo Island
Green Cave
Stiniva Beach
Budikovac Island
Military Tunnels
Submarine Tunnel
Vis Beaches
Hum Mountain
Wine tasting Vis
Komiža
Kut, Vis Town
Stand Up Paddleboarding
Where to stay in Vis, CroatiaWhere to stay in Vis Town
Where to stay in Komiža
How much Time to spend on Vis, CroatiaDay trip to Vis Island
How to get to Vis IslandHow To get around Vis, Croatia
Best Time to visit Vis, Croatia
What to pack for Vis, Croatia
Travel insurance for Croatia
Is Vis Island worth It?
The view from Vis Town, through Shutterstock.
Vis Island
Vis island has a complicated, multicultural history, having been ruled by the Greeks, Romans, Venetians, Austrians, and Italians. In the 1920s, Vis became part of Yugoslavia; in 1940, it was converted into a military base and one of Tito’s favorite hideouts.
Vis was closed to visitors for the next 50 years. In 1989, Vis was abandoned as a military base; in 1991, Croatia became independent and Vis opened to tourism for the first time in decades.
Today, Vis welcomes all kinds of tourists during the summer months — but it’s especially popular as a sailing destination. Whether small sailboats or enormous yachts, seafarers of all kinds treasure Vis as an Adriatic getaway.
How do you get to Vis, Croatia? The Jadrolinija automobile ferry from Split to Vis has several departures per day in summer and takes 2.5 hours. If you don’t have a car, there are passenger-only catamaran ferries from Hvar Town, Hvar, and Milna, Brač, though not daily.
What are the best things to do on Vis island? spend a day on the boat trip around the island, going to the blue Cave, green Cave, Stiniva Beach, and the beach where Mamma Mia! here We Go again was filmed!
how much time do you need on the island of Vis? I recommend spending at least three days on Vis, but you could easily stretch it into a week if you wanted a more unwinded trip.
Where is the best place to stay on Vis? There are very few hotels in Vis; many of the accommodation is rentals. I highly recommend hotel San Giorgio, a boutique hotel in the Kut neighborhood of Vis town.
how do you pronounce Vis? “Vis” rhymes with “peace.”
Even for a laid-back island, there’s tons to do on Vis!
Things to do in Vis, Croatia
Vis Island has two main towns: Vis (which I will call Vis town in this post to avoid confusion) and Komiža (ko-MEE-zha). like many small islands, these two towns are only 20 minutes apart but locals act like you’re going to the ends of the earth if you’re driving from one to another!
In between there are smaller, blink-and-you-miss-it sinullnull