The exceptionally lovely Vis Town on the island of Vis is a highly recommended place to visit – but don’t all rush there at once, I still want to keep it a “secret”!
Avid Visit Croatia readers will know that the island of Vis is the furthest away from the Croatian mainland (being around 60 kilometres away from Split) and also one of the islands in Croatia that has an unusual history. (The island was used as a military base when the country was part of the former Yugoslavia. This meant that Vis was completely closed to foreigners until 1989.) For this reason, it’s one of the quieter and lesser-visited islands.
But is Vis worth it? Absolutely yes! Head to Vis Town and you will be rewarded with a peaceful yet very comfortable stay.
And let’s just get this out of the way. Yes, parts of the legendary Mamma Mia 2 WERE filmed in different locations on the island of Vis. Have a wander through Vis Town and see what you can recognise!
Getting to Vis Town
There are two ways of getting to Vis Town and Vis from the mainland, with both options being run by the main ferry company in Croatia, Jadrolinija.
There is a daily, year-round Split-Vis catamaran that sails from Split to Vis Town which takes 1 hour and 25 minutes. On Tuesdays, this catamaran makes a stop at Hvar Town along the way (in both directions) and on Wednesdays, the catamaran makes a stop at Milna on the island of Brac. (These stops of course add slightly to the journey time.) You can therefore use this catamaran to travel between Hvar or Brac and Vis – or vice versa – but only once a week…so make sure you plan accordingly!
Jadrolinija also has a slower Split-Vis car ferry that sails twice daily, year-round. (In the summer months, most days will see three sailings a day on this route.) The car ferry takes 2 hours and 20 minutes to reach Vis. It is of course what you need to take if you have a car that you want to take onto the island of Vis. However, this slower-paced, larger ferry offers comfortable sailing, and it’s a wonderful experience sitting up on the deck and watching the Adriatic as you go by the other islands and islets. Recommended!
Getting Around
Vis Town itself is obviously very small so certainly easily walkable on foot.
There are local buses that connect Vis Town with Komiza on the other side of the island, with a handful of buses running each day. Some buses are timed to leave (or arrive in) Vis Town to coincide with the arrival of the ferry from the mainland.
What to See and Do in Vis Town
Fort George is an unusual place, located around a 10-minute walk from Vis Town. Why is it so unusual? Well, it was built by the Brits! After victory in the Battle of Vis in 1811, the British built a number of fortifications on the island, one of them being Fort George. During the daytime, take a walk to here and explore the fortress – it won’t take long (it’s not the largest of forts!) but there are some excellent views in all directions including to the tiny island of Host.
Batarija Fortress is another fort, this one in a prime position in the centre of the town. Built in 1830, the fortress proved its worth in the 1866 Battle of Vis when its eight cannons entirely damaged or destroyed the Italian enemy fleet. Today it houses the Archaeological Museum which is closed at the present time.
Hrvatski Dom (Croatian Hall) is a fairly grand-looking building on the waterfront that was built in the early 20th century as a kind of town hall. Today it still hosts a number of important cultural events, whilst its ground floor is home to a restaurant.
Perast Tower is an early 17th-century construction that was erected to provide protection for Vis and its inhabitants against possible Ottoman attacks. On the tower, you will see spaces for cannons to be placed. Unusually, the only way to enter the tower is through a door on the first floor. The tower used to be connected by a wooden bridge to the original owner’s house; all equipment needed to be brought through the house and over the bridge into the tower!
Beaches
The closest beach to Vis Town is Prirovo Beach out to the west of town. It’s a small pebble beach with no beach furniture rental or much chance of shade, so come early or late in the day to have a swim.
Excursions and Day Trips
One of the most popular day trips from the island of Vis is to Bisevo and the Blue Cave. The Blue Cave is so called because it houses a natural phenomenon – the interior of the cave glows blue at certain points of the day because light hits the water inside the cave in a particular way.
Another popular day trip is a boat tour around Vis island. You will take in the fascinating long-disused submarine tunnels on the north of the island as well as caves and some of Vis’s most famous beaches.
Explore Vis
The island of Vis is relatively small, so it’s easy to explore a reasonable portion of it using Vis Town as a base. Head to a local agency to hire bikes, a moped (if you’re experienced with riding a moped) or a car for a few hours to explore the rest of the island. You can visit some of the famous beaches of Vis – such as Stiniva and Stoncica – as well as Tito’s cave (where the leader was supposed to have hidden during WWII), the highest point on the island, Hum, and the lovely town of Komiza om the other side of the island.
Eating and Drinking in Vis Town
Lola Konoba & Bar is a wonderful place set in a pretty, gorgeously decorated courtyard. Owned by a Spanish-Croatian couple, they offer a fantastic menu featuring typically Mediterranean and Dalmatian dishes with a twist. The place to come for a romantic or special meal when in town.
Pizza Bar Dionis is a must if you’re after some top-quality pizzas, but they also serve all sorts of other dishes from breakfast through to dinner. Set in a small square just off the main harbourfront, there’s always a good atmosphere here. Whilst you sit wolfing down your pizza, consider if your surroundings look like something you’ve seen in a famous film…?! Maybe you’ll even start singing the music of a famous Swedish band!
Kantun, on the eastern side of the seaside promenade, is a wonderful restaurant where you can try some typically Croatian/Dalmatian fare. The grilled fish here is something else! If fish isn’t your thing, opt for the pasticada, a Dalmatian beef stew dish that is served with gnocchi. Excellent wine choices here as well, ask for recommendations!
The Hrvatski Dom restaurant is an excellent place for sushi. Not perhaps your first thought for a cuisine to try when in Croatia, but it’s nevertheless very good quality here, presented with excellent service!
The aforementioned Fort George is home to an excellent restaurant as well as a bar and club – all are only open during the summer months. It’s definitely the best place to come for some evening refreshments with a view.
If you have a hankering for ice cream when on holiday in Croatia (although, quite frankly, who doesn’t?!) you must head to Pa Ti Odoli for the best cold treats.
Caffe Bar Bejbi is a fun yet relaxed place to come day or night (its opening hours are an astonishing 6am to 2am!) whether you’re looking for a morning coffee, a daytime snack, beers after dinner or a late-night cocktail.
Events in Vis Town
Vis hosts the Vis Summer Festival every July and August, mostly featuring live music in open-air settings.
Vis hosts a Swimming Marathon each mid-August, around the Assumption of Mary holiday. The marathon consists of a race from the tiny islet of Host off the coast of Vis to the main promenade in town. It is open to everyone who wants to participate!
The 35mm Vis Film Festival is an open-air film festival taking place each early September. All films – largely foreign ones – that are shown are on 35mm print that have been carefully preserved by film archive groups in Croatia and neighbouring countries.
Vis Regatta is a long-standing sailing event (in its 80th year in 2024) that takes place in mid-October. The regatta involves a race from Split to Vis and back to Split.
Accommodation in Vis Town
There is only one hotel in Vis Town but that’s no matter as it’s a complete charm! The Hotel San Giorgio is located right by the main seaside promenade, a few minutes walk from where the public boats to Vis Town dock. The small hotel offers modern yet cosy rooms and has its own private walled garden as well as a restaurant serving excellent food.
A slightly larger hotel a short walk about of town is the Hotel Issa which has its own beach.
There is also a good selection of private apartments for rent in the town, so if hotel accommodation isn’t your thing you will still have plenty of choice. Villas for larger groups are also available on the outskirts of Vis Town.
Search for hotels and apartment and villa rentals in Vis Town using the search box/map below:
More Info
You can find out more about this lovely place on the Vis Tourist Board website.