Best Beaches on the Pakleni Islands (2026): Which Bay to Choose

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The best beaches on the Pakleni Islands are Palmižana and Vlaka on Sveti Klement, Ždrilca and Mlini on Marinkovac, and Jerolim’s naturist beach. Palmižana has the most facilities, Vlaka and Taršće are the quieter picks, Stipanska is the party bay with the Carpe Diem beach club, and Jerolim is the closest to Hvar Town. Almost all of them are pebble or rock rather than sand, with very clear water.

Which one suits you depends on how you arrive (taxi boats only serve some bays), whether you want loungers and lunch or an empty cove, and whether you mind nudity. Here is each beach, island by island, with an honest note on who it’s for.

Pakleni Islands beaches at a glance

Beach	Island	Access	Vibe	Best for
Palmižana	Sveti Klement	Taxi boat, short walk	Busy, loungers, bars	First-timers, lunch and swim
Vinogradišće	Sveti Klement	Walk from Palmižana or boat	Lively bay, restaurants	Long lunches, anchored boats
Vlaka	Sveti Klement	Boat, or a longer walk	Quiet	Escaping the crowds
Taršće	Sveti Klement	Boat	Quiet, rocky	Snorkelling, a relaxed lunch
Stipanska (Carpe Diem)	Marinkovac	Taxi boat	Beach club, music	Groups and party-goers
Ždrilca	Marinkovac	Taxi boat	Sheltered, popular	Families, easy swimming
Mlini	Marinkovac	Taxi boat	Small, scenic cove	Couples, a swim and a drink
Jerolim	Jerolim	Taxi boat or kayak	Naturist, laid-back	Short trips, naturists

Not sure how to reach a particular bay? Our guide to getting to the Pakleni Islands explains which taxi boat goes where.

Sveti Klement: the biggest island, the most choice

Sveti Klement is the largest of the Pakleni Islands and the one most people mean when they say “Palmižana”. Footpaths through pine woods and maquis link its bays, so you can combine two or three beaches on foot in a day. For restaurants, accommodation and walks on the island, see our Palmižana guide.

Palmižana

The main beach near the Palmižana jetty is the most famous on the islands: a smallish bay with fine pebbles, shallow entry and water that turns pale turquoise over the light seabed. It has loungers and umbrellas for hire, beach bars and restaurants a few minutes away, and taxi boats from Hvar Town land nearby. The downside is that in July and August it fills quickly. Arrive on one of the first boats, or walk on to a quieter bay once you’ve had your first swim.

Vinogradišće

A short walk across the island from Palmižana, Vinogradišće is a deep, sheltered bay lined with restaurants and beach bars, and in summer it’s a favourite anchorage for yachts. It’s a better lunch stop than a quiet beach – but the swimming is good, and it stays livelier into the afternoon than Palmižana.

Vlaka

Vlaka is the classic “quiet beach” on Sveti Klement: a calmer bay with a small family-run restaurant and rooms, reached mostly by boat. If you have a rental boat or a private skipper, this is one of the best places to anchor for a long, unhurried swim.

Taršće and the smaller coves

Taršće is a rocky bay on the main island, reached by boat, with clear, deep water that’s good for snorkelling. Sveti Klement also has smaller coves such as Perna and Okorija that are mostly reached by boat. They have few or no facilities, which is exactly their appeal.

For the quietest day of all, look to the smaller islands and coves on the far side of the chain, away from Hvar Town. A private boat or rental boat makes them easy to reach.

Marinkovac: beach club and family coves

Marinkovac sits between Jerolim and Sveti Klement. It’s smaller than Sveti Klement but has three of the best-known beaches on the archipelago.

Stipanska and Carpe Diem Beach

Stipanska bay is home to the Carpe Diem beach club, which runs as a daytime lounge with loungers, food and music, and is famous for night-time parties in high season. If you want a quiet swim this is not your beach; if you are travelling in a group and want a social day, it’s the obvious choice. Check the club’s own channels for current opening days and entry policy, as these change from season to season.

Ždrilca

Ždrilca is a sheltered bay with easy entry into the water and a couple of places to eat. It’s one of the most popular choices for families, because the water is calm and you can spread out on the rocks and pebbles around the bay. It shares a taxi boat route with Mlini.

Mlini

Mlini is a small, picturesque cove a short walk from Ždrilca, with restaurants and a beach bar. It feels more intimate than Palmižana, and in the evening the light over the channel to Hvar is lovely. Combine Mlini and Ždrilca for an easy beach-hopping afternoon without needing a second boat.

Jerolim: closest island, naturist beach

Jerolim is the island nearest to Hvar Town and has long been known as a naturist beach. You don’t have to undress, but expect others to. There’s a bar/restaurant with shade and loungers for hire. On a calm day Jerolim is also within reach of a sea kayak – the Pakleni Islands Self-Guided Kayaking Tour starts from about $57 (Oct 2026) and is rated 4.8 from 220 reviews. On the far side of the island, Kordovan is a quieter stretch of shore.

Which beach is right for you?

If you want…	Go to	Why
Facilities and easy logistics	Palmižana	Direct taxi boat, loungers, restaurants
Calm water for children	Ždrilca	Sheltered bay, easy entry
Peace and quiet	Vlaka or Taršće	Fewer people, mostly boat access
A party	Stipanska	Carpe Diem beach club
A quick half day	Jerolim or Mlini	Shortest crossings from Hvar Town
Snorkelling	Taršće and the southern coves	Rocky, clear, deeper water

Seeing several beaches in one day

Taxi boats run one route each, so a DIY day usually means one island. To swim at three or four bays on different islands, a boat tour is the practical answer. The Boat Tour to Pakleni Islands on a Comfort Yacht costs from about $76 per person (Oct 2026) and is rated 4.8 from 671 reviews, while the Hvar Boat Tour: Red Rocks & Pakleni Islands (from about $106, 4.8 from 51 reviews) adds the striking Red Rocks on Hvar’s south coast. Groups who want to choose their own bays should look at a private boat – see private boat vs group tour – and if you’re short on time, our one-day plan shows how to fit it together.

Beach tips for the Pakleni Islands

• Wear water shoes. Beaches are pebble and rock, and sea urchins are common on rocky entries.
• Bring shade. Pine trees give some cover at the back of many beaches, but loungers with umbrellas sell out early in August.
• Bring supplies to remote coves. The popular bays have restaurants and bars in season, but remote coves have nothing at all, so bring your own water and shade.
• Carry cash. Lounger hire and some small bars may not take cards.
• Watch the wind. Exposed southern coves get choppy in a southerly wind; sheltered bays such as Vinogradišće and Ždrilca are better on breezy days.
• Respect the islands. There are no bins on remote beaches – take your rubbish back to Hvar Town.
• Go early or late. The first boats of the morning and the last hours before the final return are when beaches are calmest.

When is the best time to swim?

The sea is warmest from July to September, and many island restaurants and beach bars run roughly from late spring to early autumn. June and September are the sweet spot: warm water, fewer boats and an easier time finding a lounger. In May and October the water is cooler and some facilities may be closed, but the bays are at their most peaceful. For the wider picture, from walking trails to where to eat, read our complete Pakleni Islands guide.

See Pakleni Islands tours and boats

Frequently asked questions

Are there sandy beaches on the Pakleni Islands?

Not really. The beaches are fine pebble, gravel or flat rock. Palmižana has the softest, smallest pebbles and the easiest entry, which is why it’s the most popular.

Which Pakleni beach is best for families?

Ždrilca on Marinkovac and the main beach at Palmižana are the easiest with children: sheltered water, gentle entry and food nearby. Avoid Stipanska if you want a quiet day, as it’s the beach-club bay.

Is Jerolim only for nudists?

Jerolim is a traditional naturist beach, so expect nudity, but clothed visitors aren’t turned away. If you’d rather avoid it, Marinkovac and Sveti Klement have plenty of alternatives.

Do I need to rent a sun lounger?

No – you can lay a towel on the pebbles or rocks for free. Loungers and umbrellas are available to rent at the busier beaches such as Palmižana and the beach clubs, and they go early in high season.

Can I walk between beaches?

Yes, on the same island. Footpaths link Palmižana, Vinogradišće and other bays on Sveti Klement, and Ždrilca and Mlini are close together on Marinkovac. To move between islands you need a boat.