Prvić

Beyond Šibenik Bay lie the splendidly scattered islands of the Šibenik archipelago, five of which—Zlarin, Prvi?, Kaprije, Obonjan, and Žirje—are accessible by ferry from Šibenik. For a quick taste of island life, the nearest, Zlarin and Prvi?, can be visited as day trips, but if you intend to stay overnight, Prvi? is the better equipped, with a lovely, small hotel, rooms to rent, and about half a dozen rustic eateries. Tiny, car-free Prvi? is just 3 km (2 miles) long and has a year-round population of around 540. Its two main villages, Prvi? Luka and Šepurine, are made up of centuries-old traditional stone cottages (built from the UNESCO-designated art of dry stone walling) and connected by a lovely footpath leading through a stand of pine trees that takes about 15 minutes to walk. Though some of the locals work in Šibenik, others still make a living on the island by cultivating figs, olives, and vines and by fishing. There are no large, overcrowded beaches, but plenty of small, secluded pebble coves with crystal-clean water that is perfect for swimming.