Pakleni Islands | TravelDojo

The Pakleni Islands are a low-lying archipelago off the southwest coast of the island of Hvar in Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia. The group comprises roughly 16 wooded isles and rocky islets scattered close to Hvar town and its harbour.

A network of small bays, pebble beaches and sheltered channels defines the islands’ appeal. Popular stops include the sheltered marina and restaurants at Palmižana, nudist-friendly coves on Jerolim, and the sandy-shingle bay at Stipanska; many visitors explore the archipelago by rented boat, organised boat tour, or water taxi. The clear Adriatic water and shallow coves make the archipelago a frequent day-trip destination for swimming, snorkeling and anchoring.

The islands are natural features rather than built monuments; they developed as leisure destinations in the 20th century with small tourist facilities concentrated on a few islets. There is no single historic construction event that created the group.

Geographically the archipelago lies immediately offshore from Hvar town on the southern side of Hvar island, within the Adriatic Sea. The islands form a natural barrier between Hvar’s main harbour and open sea and are accessible by short boat trips from Hvar and other nearby ports.

Access time: A typical boat transfer from Hvar town to the islands takes around 10 to 20 minutes, making day trips easy to combine with Hvar visits.
Boating note: Anchorages and small marinas concentrate around Palmižana; many other bays are unserviced and exposed to northerly winds.

What to See #

Palmižana: A sheltered bay and small marina on the island of Sveti Klement that hosts restaurants, a hotel and a popular anchorage for visiting yachts.
Jerolim: A small, rocky islet known for its clothing-optional beaches and shallow swimming coves reached by water taxi from Hvar.
Stipanska: A sandy-shingle bay favoured for day-trippers and short swim stops, accessible by regular boat taxis from Hvar.

How to Get to Pakleni Islands #

The Pakleni Islands (Pakleni otoci) lie off the west coast of Hvar island near Hvar Town. From Split take a catamaran or ferry to Hvar Town (Stari Grad or Hvar port, services vary by season; catamaran ~1-1.5 hours), then take a water taxi or local boat from Hvar harbour to the Pakleni Islands - the water-taxi ride is commonly 5-20 minutes depending on the island. Private boats and organized day tours also run from Hvar.

Tips for Visiting Pakleni Islands #

Catch an early water taxi from Hvar town to secure mooring or a good anchoring spot-many day visitors only arrive mid-morning and the best coves fill up quickly.
Skip the busiest bay on Palmizana and explore the smaller western coves and beaches by tender or kayak to find quieter swimming and snorkeling spots.
If you plan to eat ashore on Pakleni, make reservations for the popular beach restaurants in high season or bring provisions-on‑island dining spots fill up fast during July-August.