Croatia’s coastline is a must see on any interrailing trip, and has been for a few years now. Stunning beaches, Mediterranean food, great value for money and beautiful weather make it the perfect holiday destination. Croatia’s islands can prove a little harder to get to, but they make the perfect day trip during your stay in any of the region’s largest cities. For this reason, we’ve compiled a list of the Adriatic Islands you need to visit while you Interrail Croatia, all of which are easily accessible from Euroventure’s Destinations this summer.
This Northern island is situated just off the coast from Zadar, separated by the Zadar Channel. Ugljan is one of the most densely populated Islands on the adriatic, but that doesn’t detract from its main attraction – stunning beaches with clear blue seas. The big bonus of Ugljan’s beaches is that they’re covered in acres of soft golden sand – unlike the majority of Croatia’s coast which is mostly made up of rocky or pebble beaches. Favourite sandy beaches in Ugljan include Jaz beach in the main town of Preko, as well as Sabosa and Jelenica, which can be reached by bus from Preko.
Pag is famous for its amazing moon-like landscape, which can be explored easily by bus from Zadar – The island is actually a peninsular connected to the mainland by a bridge. Sheltered on one side by the Velebit mountains, the rocky landscape is amazingly different from the rest of Croatia’s green countryside.
Pag town itself is a great spot for foodies with plenty of great restaurants, and it’s nightlife is also renowned, with top clubs in Zrce beach staying open till the early hours. Favourites with locals include Papaya, Kalypso and Aquarias which host international djs at their beach parties.
You’d be forgiven for forgetting you’re still in Europe once you reach Brac. With densely forested areas leading out onto pure white beaches and crystal clear seas, you could easily convince yourself you’re on a tropical island. Luckily for you though, Brac is just an hour or so from Split by ferry, making it the perfect day trip destination.
From Supetar, a 30 minute taxi ride will take you to Zlatni Rat, one of the island (and Croatia’s) most spectacular and famous beaches. This triangle of sand jutting into the Adriatic is just about the most idyllic place on the island to sip a cocktail and admire the view – get there early though because the crowds can spoil the ambience. If you can tear yourself away from Zlatni Rat, there are also plenty of charming villages and landscapes to explore around the rest of the Croatian island.
If you fancy somewhere a little less well known, Solta is a great alternative to party islands such as Pag and Hvar. Tourists aren’t so common here, and you’ll find a more traditional vibe with plenty of Mediterranean restaurants and wine bars. If exploring small towns and getting an idea of genuine Adriatic life is your thing, then Solta’s fishing villages, hilly landscape and secluded beaches are a good place to start.
Hvar is the Cannes of the Adriatic. You’ll find its stunning shores lined with classy restaurants, boutiques, elegant bars and buzzing nightlife – not surprising considering it’s the hang out of the rich and famous, with the marina being one of the most prestigious yachting centres on the Mediterranean.
Spend your days lounging and celebrity spotting by the crystal clear seas, and your nights with a cocktail at one of the island’s notorious beach parties. You can stay on Hvar itself with Euroventure, so it’s an ideal place to come for a few days chilling out in between city travels.
Filled with quaint villages and typical Croatian coastal scenery, Kortula is an easy day trip to do from Dubrovnik. You can take a bus around the island to get a better impression of the whole place, with it’s rugged countryside and red rooved towns, or just chill out on one of the quiet rocky beaches. This is the place to go to get a view of Dalmation culture as it once would have been – fewer tourists and a large local population mean that Kortula gives a great insight into traditional Croatian life.
Famous as the filming location for Game of Thrones and preserved as a botanical garden, this tiny island 10 minutes from Dubrovnik is uninhabited (apart from a huge family of peacocks). Walking around the gardens feels like a tropical paradise, helped by the exotic plants, green lagoons and natural swimming pools. It’s also home to an ancient monastry and several cafes and restaurants, making it the perfect escape from the hot Dalmation heat.
Euroventure has partner hotels and hostels in Dubrovnik, Split, Hvar and Zadar, making any of these coastal days trips easily accessible along the way. Why not include some of these day trips in your Euroventure this summer? We offer a range of pre-made routes hitting Croatia’s hottest destinations, for example the Balkan Trail, Croatia trip and Islandbound. If none of these take your fancy, why not create your own route? Book now for summer and get the best deals.
Fancy a trip to these Croatian Islands where you don’t have to lift a finger? Check out or Islandbound trips or get in touch for a custom quote
