Bol

The is the island we have chosen for our wedding. We love its laid back atmosphere, great wine and glorious blue sea! Bol has it all from it's relaxed marina side cafe's to it's busy beach side bars. It is a small town with a Mediterranean feel and cobbled sloping streets. Its greatest attraction however is its famous Zlatni Rat beach. Bol also has the highest peak on the Adriatic islands, Vidova Gora for those who want to adventure out into the wild! There are many places for those who want to explore land and sea with bike rentals and windsurfing lessons all found along the beach front. For those who like to party a little harder Bol has its own club, Club 585, each summer hosting some big DJ names. Enjoy!

Zlatni Rat Beach

This is Croatia's number 1 beach. The picture speaks for itself, although it is covered with pebbles and not pure white sand. It is 500m of v-shaped beach sticking out into the Adriatic surrounded by deep blue and turquoise water! The beach has water sports and trendy beach bars on offer serving up cold beers and cocktails throughout the day and into the wee hours! Definitely worth a visit whilst on Bol!

Bijela Kuca Beach

This is our favourite beach in Bol and it's how we discovered our wedding venue. The Dominican Monastery can be seen rising up along the beach side. This beach is much less busy than Zlatni Rat for those who want a more relaxed afternoon in the sun!

Stina Winery

Wine is a big deal in Croatia and you'd be hard pushed to find a better place to sample it than Stina Winery. It can be found on the main promenade, where you can pull up a pew on the sea front and sample their finest tipples. Drop in at 5pm for a tour of the winery.

Inflatable Aquapark

If you want to entertain the kids whilst on Bol there looks like no place better than this floating inflatable aquapark. Kids can bounce around the inflatable slides and walls until they have no energy left whilst the adults catch the rays on the beach! Deffo looks like fun! 

Vidova Gora

If you want to up your Insta likes as well as get a bit of a workout then Vidova Gora is for you. This is the highest point on all of the Adriatic islands and gives outstanding panoramas across the Adriatic overlooking its most famous beach - Zlatni Rat. A round trip is around 7 miles in distance and takes between 3-5 hours depending on how casually you take it up and down the trail. Its not the most challenging of hikes but I wouldn't be heading up in my Birkenstocks. For those who like the Instagram worthy pictures but without the hard work there is also a very easily accessible road and many a taxi to help you summit the clifftop!

Find some instructions for the hike here: https://bbqboy.net/hiking-vidova-gora-from-bol-brac-island-croatia/ 

Rent a Boat
If you want to jet through the Adriatic in style there are many rent a boat options in Bol for groups of up to 12 per boat. Rent a boat with a captain or be your own captain and explore the coast of the island of Bol. Stock the cooler box up with cold beers and some snacks and catch the rays on the waves! There’s loads of options it just depends how VIP you want the boat to look. Prices go from boat and fuel from 9am-7pm for £70 to bigger skippered boats at around £50-£70pp for the day.
Split
To get to Brac you will more than likely fly into Split but please don't make this the only time you spend here! Until a few years ago this was the only reason people where in Split but now that's all changed. Split is a BEAUTIFUL city with its UNESCO world heritage site of Diocletian's Palace being the major draw. Split is fast attracting an eclectic mix of foodies and the options are endless with every nook and cranny turning into the newest trendiest bar or restaurant. This place deffo needs some of your time when you're in this part of the world!
Please go here to book your ferry - www.jadrolinija.hr/en/ferry-croatia
Dicoletians Palace

Diocletians Palace is an amazing place that you must dedicate some time to. Take a wander around the old palace ruins and with every turn you'll find a new narrow lane filled with restaurants and bars. There's plenty of live singers taking their stand in archways and doorways around the old palace where you can enjoy a beer or glass of wine whilst sitting on the steps and taking in the locals dancing. Don't just ramble the palace of a night though, go back in the day and take a walk up the bell tower and have a look around the Cathedral and Mausoleum whilst you're at it. 

Split Beaches

Split has various beaches to choose from depending on what you're after from your beach days. There are beaches you can walk to such as Bacvice or Ovcice beach or jump in an Uber for 15mins and travel a little further out to find some more secluded space at Znjan, Kasjuni or Bene Beaches.

Marjan forest

The Marjan forest is a huge area to the West of Split which can be explored on foot or by bike. Offering shady paths for a stroll or steep climbs if you really want to work up a sweat. Whilst exploring you will find plenty of viewpoints over the city. Hidden in the pine forest you will find Jewish cemeteries, medieval chapels and cave dwellings. Well worth a visit if you want to get out of the city life!

Kasjuni Beach
This is by FAR the best beach in Split. It’s a bit of a trek from the centre of the city, about 50min walk but it’s long the promenade so not a bad walk at all. However the journey is made a lot easier in a £6 (around 46kuna) taxi for those who want to speed the journey up. It’s worth it though because you will be greeted by a palm laden beach accompanied by 2 beach bars serving up chilled pints of Ozujsko and chilled beachside tunes!
With the Marjan hills in the background and calm waters lapping up the pebble beach it’s definitely the best holiday feeling beach we’ve been to in Split and we will deffo be heading back!
Hvar
Hvar has to be on your to do list when you come to this part of Croatia! Hvar has the night life, the restaurants, the polished marble streets and attracts some serious yacht action! Hvar was the first place in Croatia we visited and so began our love for this country. Hvar has been the holiday destination of a host of celebrities including Jay-Z and Beyonce and Prince William! All of this is just a 40min catamaran away from Bol!
Please go here to book your travel and remember there is only 1 or 2 catamarans each day to Hvar - www.jadrolinija.hr/en/ferry-croatia
Hvar Cathedral Square
The polished floors of this square are the centre of the town. The square is filled with restaurants and bars and is always a busy place day and night! Head down for food, sit in the square and take in the atmosphere. There's loads of little streets leading out from the square where you can find wine bars, restaurants and places to dance the night away.
Hvar Harbour
Again when you come to Hvar you will not be able to miss the harbour. The harbour is what Hvar is built upon and walking down the main palm tree strewn promenade you will usually find some of the biggest and most expensive super-yachts parked up along your side. Along the main promenade you will find some rather trendy and upmarket bars and restaurants which you have to stop off in at least once!  
Hvar Fort
If you want to get the best views across Hvar take a walk up to the fort where you get to take in the panorama of Hvar in all its glory. It doesn't take too long to get to the top but there's a fair amount of stairs involved. If you fancy learning a bit more about the importance of Hvar and why they even have a fort there's also a museum to have a look around up there.
Carpe Diem Nightclub
This is one for the night owls and party goers. Hvar can be whatever you want it to be, it can be as calm and relaxing or as wild and loud as you want to. This place is on the latter part of the scale. Carpe Diem has a trendy harbour side bar on the main promenade serving cocktails and champagne like its going out of fashion. The pre-party starts in here and as the crowds swell the club opens. The club however is a boat trip away on its own island! You'll find plenty of well known DJ's play here throughout the summer and if you want a rave this is deffo the place to do it!
Vis

Vis is another island not too far from Bol or the Split mainland. Although smaller than its counterparts of Brac and Hvar what Vis has that the others doesn't is that it was the star of the film Mamma Mia 2. Vis was the real life set of the fictitious Kalokairi Greek resort in the infamous film. The harbour of Kut is the main area to stay in and is filled with restaurants embedded in old Mediterranean style ruins. If your'e looking for the least tourist-like, most natural island destination this is your pick - plus you can dance like Meryl Streep through the streets -  whats not to love!

You can book your ferry direct from a port on the island of Brac (not Bol) but we would suggest travelling to Hvar from Bol for at least 1 night and then continuing your journey through to Vis.

Get your tickets here: www.jadrolinija.hr/en/schedule/LineSearchResults/Index/2331746/2331806/07082019 

Stiniva Cove

Stiniva Cove is a small beach cove which is circled almost entirely by large steep cliffs apart from a 10m opening to the sea beyond. There is a steep trail which you can hike to with your beach bag or much easier is a quick boat transfer from Vis town. This is consistently voted 2nd best beach in Croatia just behind Zlatni Rat in Bol!

Blue Cave

The Blue Cave is the location of a strange natural phenomenon where the pools of the cave are brightly lit by the suns rays through an underwater opening during the middle of the day. The light delivers an unearthly blue light to the cave and a 16m depth of crystal clear water.  Again the Blue Cave is best reached via an organised excursion in Vis town.

Mamma Mia 2 Locations

Why not retrace the steps of the Mamma Mia 2 cast in a tour of the whole island taking in the locations most used in the film. This can be done as part of an organised tour or on your own in a rented car. Use this link to learn more and direct yourselves around the sets! - http://tour-of-croatia.com/mamma-mia-filming-locations/ 

Other Places
If you want your onward journey from the wedding to be a little more further a field than the nearest island and the mainland then we've put together a few tips for you here. We haven't necessarily visited them all 'just yet' but you can beat us to it if you fancy it!  Some of the places are either driveable or coachable and some are a little further and you may need to take a small flight.
Krka National Park
Krka National Park is a world famous waterfall location found around 1 hour outside of Split. Many organised trips run from Split and you can join them on a daily basis very easily. It’s an amazing place of waterfalls and gorges with the river gushing through a canyon 200m deep. If swimming in the waterfalls isn't enough for you the area is also littered with many Buddhist temples and monasteries for you to visit along the way.
Find more info and one booking option here - www.buscroatia.com/split-krka/
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is probably Croatia’s most famous destination. It is definitely one of our favourites and somewhere we would deffo venture back to. If you've never been to Croatia we think this place might be worth the effort. Its polished floors, multitude of bars and restaurants as well as some of the major locations used in Game of Thrones make it a stand out stop over.
You can get a coach from Split mainland to Dubrovnik which takes 4-5hours and leave throughout the day. There is also a ferry option which takes 4hours and leaves twice a day from Split.
We think this should be near the top of your list to visit when in this part of the world!
For coach- getbybus.com/en/bus-split-to-dubrovnik
Rovinj
Rovinj is found in north Croatia around a 5 hour drive, 8-10hour coach (overnight option deffo your best one here) or perhaps a little easier, a 1 hour flight from Split. Rovinj is the star attraction of northern Croatia and has a clear Italian influence. The old town is webbed with steep cobbled streets and small squares with a standout tall church tower rising from the highest point. Originally an island, it was only connected to the mainland in 1763.
Find more info and coach booking here - www.buscroatia.com/split-rovinj/
Pula
Pula is again located in the far north of Croatia just 40mins drive away from Rovinj. This makes it around a 5 hour drive, around 8 hour coach or 1hour flight from Split. Pula is Croatia's answer to Rome and even comes with its own Roman Amphitheatre. It is known as the 'hidden gem of the Adriatic' and may well be worth the long journey or extra flight!
Flight booking info can be found here - www.jetcost.co.uk/flight-split-pula.html
Montenegro
This is definitely on our radar and somewhere we'd love to visit either this trip or in the not too distant future. Montengro is much less travelled by tourists than Croatia but just as beautiful and certainly worth the efforts in getting there. Its around 6-7hours travel from Split but this can be broken up by a stop off in Dubrovnik. Places to be heading in Montenegro are Kotor, Budvha and Sveti Stefan which i'll leave to you to research.
Find coach tickets to Kotor here or search for other destinations - getbybus.com/en/bus-split-to-kotor
Italy
It may not seem like the easiest place to venture to after the wedding but Italy isn’t actually that far away.
You can get a direct ferry from split straight to Italy believe it or not. Some very short flights are also available from Split airport.
The ferry has a duration of 9 hours but will be an adventure at least!
For those intrepid explorers see this link for ferry info - www.directferries.co.uk/split_ancona_ferry.htm