Vis Island House

Family Idyll

An ideal island escape for a family or couple, this vacation home for rent in Croatia packs a lot into its compact space. There are modern kitchens both indoors and out, a pool with unobstructed views to the sea, comfortable, breezy bedrooms with postcard vistas from the windows, plus a private hillside location that’s just the right distance off the beaten path. 

The house benefits from the modern conveniences of new construction, yet it’s styling is old-school Croatian coastal—built exclusively of wood and stone.

Set into a gentle hillside of wild herbs and wide views, this vacation home for rent in Croatia offers unobstructed vistas to the sea and a peaceful, landscaped perch away from the village bustle. Ideal for quiet rejuvenation en famille, it provides all the modern amenities of new construction with the charm of old stone. Bask in the Croatian sunshine poolside or on one of the generous shaded decks, and enjoy dinner with a view from the outdoor dining area outfitted with a stout stone oven for alfresco meal prep. There’s even an outdoor shower.

Set slightly off the beaten path outside the town of Vis, the island’s crystalline waters are within view, just a quick 5-minute drive away, as are several award-winning beaches. Vis’s beaches are varied, some with trademark rocky backdrops dropping to shoals underfoot, visible through the clear, lapping waves, others shallow bays or sandy inlets ideal for children. Marketplaces and taverns fill Vis’s lively streets, and the island itself retains all the allure of an idyllic, under-the-radar destination. It’s known to be an active family’s dream destination, with kayaking and hiking routes all over the isle, SUP and bike rentals available, and sailing and boating tours easy to come by.

Beyond its enviable outdoor living set up, this home is comfortable and convenient, a no-fuss holiday haven. Its two bedrooms share a modern bathroom, with white pebble and tile detailing and a rain showerhead. Each of the bedrooms and the neat, open-plan living/dining room area combine European décor touches like chandeliers and antique mirrors with practical modern styling such as stainless steel appliances and crisp, simple linens. The home feels private and secluded but is a quick drive or brisk walk into town or the nearest beach cove.

AROUND

Vis is the Dalmatian coast’s oldest island town, dating from 397 BC, and because it was an exclusive Yugoslav army base for 30 years, tourism came to the island late, in the early 1990s. For this reason, Vis is wilder than other Croatian islands, and isn’t marred by resort development or seaside construction. In fact, Hollywood loved the island’s authentically unspoiled charm so much, it set the second Mamma Mia movie on Vis, not actually in Greece!

Deep green hillsides at Vis island’s center give way to adorable, red tile-roofed fishing villages and aquamarine bays. The buildings here are stone-built and sturdy, and the island’s ports and harbors are undeniably picturesque, with colorful sailboats more frequently docked than outsized yachts. Stoncica beach’s shallow waters make it a favorite of families, and the idyllic Srebrna beach is known as “silver beach” for its unique shimmery pebbles. Other nearby beaches include the award-winning Stiniva Beach, low-key Milna beach, and Zaglav beach with its rosemary-lined pathway along the cliffs from Milna.

LOCATION

Vis Island, Croatia. Nearest airport: Split (54 miles)

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Months of May or September