Digbydog

Our family will be visiting Croatia next June. Our boys will be 11, 17, and 20. I have read lots on Hvar and Korcula and can't decide between the two. We like exploring charming towns, hiking, and swimming, although we don't want to hang out at the beach all day. We are not looking for nightlife.

I understand Korcula is referred to as a "mini Dubrovnik." We will be visiting Dubrovnik; so does that mean Hvar might be a better choice? Will the lavender be in bloom in mid-June?

If you only had time to visit one island in Croatia, which would it be?

yorkshire

Really you can't go wrong with either, though I profess a fondness for Korcula. They are similar, in that both have a main historic town and beautiful nature the rest of the island. Hvar has the lavender fields though--and yes they should be blooming in June.
The mini-Dubrovnik moniker refers to the Venetian style architecture (though little of Korcula's wall remains, unlike Dubrovnik). Passing the honey stone of Korcula by sea in the right sunlight is truly a sight to behold.
In off-season, Hvar is a delight, but is is more expensive.
Both offer boat excursions. You may want to rent a car while on either to explore.
Hope that helps!

thursdaysd

I haven't been to Korcula, but I thought that Hvar was overloaded with floating penthouses and their upmarket passengers.

travel2live2

If I had only time to visit one island in Croatia I would pick Mljet. Or Vis. Both are far less touristy than more developed Hvar and Korcula. Simply gobsmackingly stunning. Mljet is the place to be for tranquility. Very unspoilt. But admittedly they have less activities to offer than Hvar and Korcula.

Like other places, both Hvar and Korcula can be extremely crowded in summer. But they are so pretty and charming and full of character. It is a toss up!

Korcula Town is beautiful but the only place on the island worth visiting. It almost emphasizes how short on character the rest of the island is. The Moreska is a traditional sword dance that is really neat to see, held every Thursday evening between May and September.

Hvar Town is probably one of the most bewitching towns in Croatia. I find there is more to do on the rest of the island like exploring Stari Grad and Vrboska which both have stone beaches and unhurried village feel. The only thing I do not love about Hvar is that it seems too luxuriously fashionable to me - almost presumptuous in a way. And too resort-like.

Digbydog

Thanks for your responses. The divergent opinions explain why I am having such a hard time. I should probably mention that we will only have 2 nights on whichever we pick. Mljet and Vis sound wonderful, but it seems they are a little harder to reach with our limited time. Travel2live2-- what do you mean Hvar is "resort-like"? Will both be jammed in mid-June or not too busy yet?

walkinaround

korcula is beautiful and relaxing (i visited in early-mid oct, i think). never been to vis but i have heard very good things about it.

not sure about 'mini dub'...i enjoyed korcula but i do not like dub as it is a museum rather than a city with real life. in oct, the feel of the two places was very different. korcula's harbour does not accomodate cruise ships while dub is always loaded with day-stop cruise passengers. i think korcula did have a couple of bigger boats on different days but if i remember correctly, passengers have to get to shore on a launch. this limits volume. in korcula, most people are on longer holidays relaxing. the exceptions are the day excursion boats (not overpowering when i was there) and the few larger ships as described above.

Digbydog

The more I read, the more I think we might like Vis. We don't particularly like crowds. Croatian Travel Lady tells me it is too far from Split for 2 nights/1 day. It looks like the ferry only takes 2 hours 20 mins. Do you think this is too far with our limited time? Should we stick with Hvar or Korcula? Hvar is only 1 hour 45 mins. Will Hvar be packed in mid-June?

travel2live2

Vis may be pushing it for a short trip - we've stayed a few days so unfortunately cannot give firsthand experience for a day. It is lovely, though - tranquil and lush. However, since your time is limited, maybe stick with Korcula - although it is touristy (many places are!) it will certainly be quieter in mid June. And it makes the most sense logistically.

Wherever you go in Croatia is startlingly stunning so you cannot go wrong!

julia1

bookmarking

Digbydog

Travel2live2--There will be a cruise ship with 2000 people in Korcula the day we will be there. Would that make you go to Hvar instead?

travel2live2

Hmmmm....that may make me go to Mljet instead! You can get there from Dubrovnik - it, too, is very peaceful and beautiful (without the towns to wander, though). Fabulous day trip.

Digbydog

Travel2live2: we can change our itinerary around so that we have 2 full days/nights on Vis. I know that is probably not enough, but do you think it is workable? Also, where did you stay there, and do we need to take a car?

coldplay

We have just returned from a trip to Bol on the Island of Brac. Its only 45 minutes by ferry from Split. It was not as busy as Hvar or quite as 'touristy' it was absolutley beautiful, unhurried meals sat by the sea. Wonderful walks to secluded beaches, but windsurfing and boating is available for the 'younger ones'.

Digbydog

Thanks Coldplay. I thought that you went to Brac mainly for Zlatni Rat (sp?). It sounds nice; I'll look into it.

croatiantravelady

Dobro Jutro digbydog:

If I had the chance to visit Hvar, Korcula or Vis there is only one good choice ~ Vis. However you must spend a night or two rather than try to make it just a day trip. I only said no because I didn't think you wanted to spend any time there, since you're moving so quickly.

Dobrodosli
Carol

Noppy

I think Hvar or Vis would be the best islands for your family to visit for 2 days. Hvar is close to the mainland, and has several lovely small towns/villages to visit -- Stari Grad, Vrboska, Jelsa. And of course there's Hvar town. If you enjoy hiking, you'll enjoy the trek up to the fortress! If you do go to Hvar, try to get to the village of Sv. Nedjelja. Zlatan Otok wines are made here and they have a stone restaurant in the shape of two large wine vats right on the water. It's splendid.

Vis is also lovely, but it will take longest to get there. There's a blue cave on the island of Bisevo which is very close to Vis, and there are excursions to the cave from the town of Komiza. The excursion to the blue cave only takes about an hour, and is made weather permitting. If there's too much wind, they won't go. But it's definitely worth seeing if you decide on Vis. Komiza's public beach would be a nice place to go for a swim.

I think Mljet would be too quiet for 2 days, especially since you enjoy exploring small towns. Korcula town is pretty, but IMO it's the nicest place on the island by far. But if you stay in Korcula, you could always take a day trip to Mljet.

It's all spectacular, and you're going to be happy with whatever you decide. Enjoy.

andabanda

We visited Hvar in the end of June. It is an absolutely charming town. There were a lot of people there but to avoid the crowd you can rent a small motor boat and cruise the surrounding Pakleni Islands and the main island's shores. It is magical.You can find secluded beaches and bays. Have lunch at Zori or Robinson. (You can hike too to Robinson's on main land).Arrive back at the harbour with the boat at sunset; beautiful.
Have dinner around but not on the main square.
You will not regret it.

Nigello

Why not think of Lopud, which is very easy to reach from Dubrovnik. It has no cars, is small and would be wonderful for a couple of days of solitude. You can walk (not with sandals or flip-flops!) to the top of a hill to see an old fortress, have lunch on the seafront and just relax. There are no bars like in Dubrovnik, but there are quiet cafes. You can go to Sunj beach, which is said to be sandy and not rocky, as most 'beaches' are in Croatia. There are no 'charming towns', though. It is a small island.
Hvar was busy and warm in early September when I was there. I found it a bit too chocolate-box for me. They are going after the higher-end tourist, which is no bad thing, but I preferred the little town of Jelsa (and another whose name slips my memory!) to Hvar town itself. Hvar town is small. You can walk around it in a couple of hours, so I felt a little bit 'trapped'. There's no doubt it is beautiful. Also, if you are going there from Dubrovnik and have a hire car, just drive to the ferry at Dvernik (sp) halfway between D'nik and Split. It takes about 45 mins to get to Hvar island, stopping at at a town connected to Hvar town by a road. It'll take about an hour to drive to Hvar town. The ferry line is Juljiana (sp?).

Digbydog

Thanks so much for all the help! I think we have decided to visit Vis. If anyone has any suggestions for lodging, they would be much appreciated.

ReddVelvet

Hvar is to die for..... atmosphere, charming , great food, yes lots of sizeable yachts, but it is a party town too in the summer... Croatia's St.Tropez....but not worth missing.
my husband and I are in our 50's and we aren't party people but we just loved it and can't wait to go back. but if you want quiet more relaxing the go to Brac.... the beaches in Bol are amazing and since it is so close you can always hop over to Hvar for a day trip.