Croatia Travel Blog

Archive for the ‘Croatia Islands’ Category

The editors of Yahoo travel voted the Split to Vis ferry ride the second most beautiful ferry ride in the world (the number one spot went to an Australian ferry line). Think of how many ferries trundle around Greece alone and you can see that it’s quite an honor! The article noted “Among the Adriatic Coast’s thousand islands and 250 miles of ferry routes, this two-and-a-half-hour ride stands out for its exceptional scenery.” The red-roofed buildings of Split recede, you pass little Solta and big Brac before gliding past a sprinkling of islets on your way to Vis Island.

I love the ride and heartily endorse the vote but before you run out and book passage, check the Split-Vis ferry schedules. There are two ferries from Split to Vis: a Split-Vis car ferry and a Split-Hvar-Vis passenger ferry. Throughout most of the year both ferries leave Split in the afternoon and return from Vis in the morning so you’ll have to stay overnight. During the summer months, there’s usually a morning ride out on the car ferry and an afternoon ferry back to Split. It doesn’t leave much time on Vis but you do get the benefit of the scenery. See more on Croatia ferries.

It’s awards season! That would be travel awards. Just yesterday the Sunday Times Travel Magazine awarded Croatia beaches a bronze medal. Well, not literally, but beaches in Croatia placed third in a reader awards for Europe’s best beaches. Only third? Competition was stiff. The first and second place winners were Spain and Greece. Tough to beat! Croatia has an enormous quantity of beaches but, it’s true that very few are sandy. Sandy beaches do exist though; I’m thinking Saplunara on Mljet Island, Lopar on Rab Island, Lopud Island. Pebbles have some benefits though. No sand in your bathing suit! Crystal-clear water is another benefit.

Croatia’s coastline is highly indented and that includes Croatia’s islands. For sunbathers, that means that rather than a big, wide strand of beach lined with rows of lounge chairs and parasols, you can stretch out on a rocky little cove with only a few other people. Brela Beach is a fine example. There are a lot of rocky coves in Croatia which is why the country has become a prime destination for naturists.

See Croatia’s best beaches.

Sun-saturated Hvar Island made it onto Lonely Planet’s list of 10 Top Destinations for 2012, clocking in at number five. Hvar Town is the glittering jewel of course. Isn’t that where Prince Harry plunged into a nightclub pool this past summer? Why yes, I believe it is.  Is there a Hollywood A-list or wannabe who hasn’t touched a manicured toe in Hvar’s blue sea? Not too many.

But besides the sizzling nightlife, Hvar offers fields of undulating lavender, mountain villages, offshore islets of pine fringed beaches, fishing ports and everything else to make an Adriatic holiday perfect. Read more about planning your trip to Hvar Island.

Many is the time I’ve taken the convenient passenger boat that runs daily from Orebic to Korcula. Unlike the car ferry that runs from Orebic to Domince, this boat left you off right in Korcula town, a boon for the carless.

That connection has just been cancelled. The company that runs the line, Mediteranska Plovidba, has gone bankrupt and must sell all its assets, including the boats. The last service is scheduled for 13 November 2011. After that, you must take the car ferry to Domince and then a taxi to Korcula town. Too bad.

Planning to spend autumn on the Dalmatian coast? A fine idea. But if you plan to visit the islands, you’ll need the ferry schedules.

Now available for download is my Dalmatian Ferry Guide in pdf format ready for easy viewing on your netbook, smartphone or other portable device. You get the timetables to all ferries running to the islands between Split and Dubrovnik. Plus you get prices, booking information and practical tips. The schedules are currently valid from October through December 31, 2011 but you get free updates through May 2012.

If you’ve previously downloaded the Summer 2011 schedule, you can update it to the Autumn Schedule for free. A number of routes that ran in the summer are dormant all winter, most notably the coastal ferry from Rijeka to Dubrovnik and the Nona Ana catamaran that connected Dubrovnik to Korcula this summer. So pay attention!

Read more about the Dalmatia Ferry Guide and purchase it here.