Pakleni Islands, Hvar (2026): The Complete Visitor Guide

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The Pakleni Islands are a chain of roughly 16–20 small, car-free, pine-covered islands lying just off Hvar Town, 5–20 minutes away by boat. Most visitors arrive on a taxi boat from Hvar Town harbour, spend the day swimming in coves on Sveti Klement (Palmižana), Marinkovac or Jerolim, eat lunch at a waterfront konoba and catch a boat back before sunset. If you only have one day on Hvar, this is the trip to take. The rest of this guide covers the islands one by one, how to get there, what it costs in 2026 and how to plan the day.

Pakleni Islands at a glance

• Where: directly south-west of Hvar Town, on the island of Hvar in Central Dalmatia, Croatia. You can see the whole chain from the Fortica fortress above town.
• How many islands: sources count between 16 islands and about 20 islands and islets, depending on whether you include the smallest rocks.
• Main islands: Sveti Klement (the largest, about 5.3 km², home to Palmižana), Marinkovac (Stipanska, Ždrilca and Mlini bays) and Jerolim (the closest, famous for its naturist beach).
• Cars: none. You walk on gravel paths through pine and maquis.
• Getting there: taxi boat from Hvar Town harbour, a group boat tour, a private boat, a rented self-drive boat or a kayak.
• Season: taxi boats and restaurants work from roughly May to early October, busiest in July and August.
• Beaches: mostly pebble or flat rock, with a few small shingle coves. Bring water shoes.

Where the name comes from

Many visitors translate “Pakleni” as “hellish”, and you will see the “Hell’s Islands” nickname on souvenir T-shirts. The more common local explanation is that the name comes from paklina, the pine resin once collected on the islands and used to waterproof wooden boats. Either way, there is nothing hellish about a quiet cove of clear water backed by Aleppo pines.

The islands one by one

Sveti Klement and Palmižana

Sveti Klement is the biggest island in the chain and the one with the most facilities. Its main bay, Palmižana, has the ACI marina (open April to October, about 2.5 nautical miles from Hvar Town), several restaurants including the long-running Meneghello family estate with its exotic garden, and a sandy-pebble beach on the south side of the island. Marked footpaths lead west to Vlaka bay and the small inland field of Momić polje, and east to quieter coves. If you want restaurants, shade and a choice of beaches within a 15-minute walk, start here. Our Palmižana guide covers the bay in detail.

Marinkovac

Marinkovac sits between Jerolim and Sveti Klement. Its best-known bay, Stipanska, is home to the Carpe Diem beach club, which runs daytime lounging and night events with its own transfers. On the other side of the island, Ždrilca and Mlini are calmer bays with shallow water, a few restaurants and loungers for rent; Mlini is the usual pick for families with small children.

Jerolim

Jerolim is the closest island to Hvar Town, only a few minutes by taxi boat. It has long been known as a naturist island, although clothing is optional rather than banned, and you will see swimmers in both. A small bar-restaurant rents loungers. Because the ride is short, Jerolim is the easy choice for a half-day swim.

The smaller islands

Further west, islets such as Borovac, Planikovac, Galešnik (right at the entrance to Hvar harbour), Vodnjak and the outer rocks have no regular taxi-boat service. You reach them on a private boat, a rented boat or a sailing tour. They are the place to look for an empty cove in August.

How to get to the Pakleni Islands

The quick answer: walk to Hvar Town harbour and take a taxi boat. In high season the boats leave every few minutes from the waterfront; there is no fixed timetable, and the skipper confirms the drop-off point (usually Jerolim, Stipanska or Palmižana). 2026 travel guides quote roughly €10–15 return per person to Jerolim and about €15–25 return to Palmižana or Stipanska, with higher prices at night and in peak weeks. Check the last return time before you set off. Full details, including the walk to the departure point and off-season options, are in how to get to the Pakleni Islands.

Option	Typical cost	Best for	Trade-off
Taxi boat from Hvar Town	About €10–25 return per person (2026 guides)	Independent beach days	One island per trip, queues at return time
Group boat tour from Hvar	From about $76 per person (Oct 2026)	Several coves in one day without planning	Fixed schedule, shared boat
Private sailing or speedboat	From about $560 per group of up to 6 (Oct 2026)	Families, groups, special occasions	Price
Self-guided kayak	From about $57 per person (Oct 2026)	Active travellers in calm weather	Paddling effort, weather-dependent
Day cruise from Split	From about $94 per person (Oct 2026)	Visitors based in Split	Short time on the islands

Boat tours to the Pakleni Islands

A tour is worth it if you want to see more than one island, reach coves the taxi boats skip, or combine the archipelago with the Red Rocks on Hvar’s south coast. From Hvar Town, the best-reviewed group option in our October 2026 data is the Boat Tour to Pakleni Islands on a Comfort Yacht, from about $76 per person (Oct 2026), rated 4.8 from 671 reviews. The Hvar Boat Tour: Red Rocks & Pakleni Islands adds the striking red cliffs south of town, from about $106 per person (Oct 2026), 4.8 from 51 reviews.

For something slower, the Pakleni Islands Sailing Tour with Brunch costs from about $224 per person (Oct 2026) and holds a 5.0 rating from 25 reviews. Groups who want the boat to themselves can look at the Private Sailing Boat Trip with Swimming and Snorkeling, from about $560 per group of up to six (Oct 2026), rated 4.9 from 84 reviews. Paddlers have the Pakleni Islands Self-Guided Kayaking Tour, from about $57 (Oct 2026), rated 4.8 from 220 reviews.

If you are based in Split, a full-day cruise such as Hvar, Pakleni, Brač & Šolta All-inclusive Tour (from about $94 per person, Oct 2026, 4.8 from 1,742 reviews) is the simplest way to see the islands without moving hotels. We compare every option in the best Pakleni Islands boat tours; the short version is that a private boat pays off once you have four or more people who want to set their own pace.

Best beaches on the Pakleni Islands

Most “beaches” here are pebble coves or flat limestone shelves rather than sand. The water is very clear and deepens quickly. These are the ones visitors ask about most:

• Palmižana beach (Sveti Klement): the closest thing to a sandy beach in the archipelago, a short walk from the marina, with restaurants behind it. Busy by midday.
• Vlaka (Sveti Klement): a sheltered bay on the north side with a small settlement, a restaurant and a jetty; reachable on foot from Palmižana.
• Stipanska (Marinkovac): the beach-club bay, with loungers, music and bar service.
• Ždrilca and Mlini (Marinkovac): calmer, shallower bays with restaurants; good for children.
• Jerolim: rocky shoreline, naturist-friendly, closest to Hvar Town.
• Taršće (Sveti Klement): a small bay on the south side, often recommended for snorkelling.

Our best beaches on the Pakleni Islands guide rates each beach for sand, shade, food and crowd levels.

How to plan your day

A simple, low-stress plan for a first visit:

1. 09:00–09:30: taxi boat from Hvar Town to Palmižana before the peak wave of day-trippers.
2. Morning: walk over the island to the south-facing beach or west to Vlaka; swim before the coves fill up.
3. 13:00–15:00: long lunch in the shade, fish or octopus with local wine.
4. Afternoon: a second swim, or a short hop to Marinkovac if your taxi-boat ticket allows it.
5. 17:00–18:30: boat back to Hvar Town, shower, then walk up to Fortica for the view over the islands at sunset.

A full hour-by-hour itinerary, with versions for families and for sailing days, is in our Pakleni Islands one-day plan.

Visiting from Split

It is possible to see the Pakleni Islands on a day trip from Split, either by catamaran to Hvar Town (2026 fares are listed at around €25 one way) and then a taxi boat, or on an organised cruise that includes the islands. The catamaran option gives you more swimming time but needs an early start and a careful eye on the last sailing back. Allow at least five hours on the islands to make the journey worth it.

What to bring

• Water shoes: the pebbles and rocks are hard on bare feet, and sea urchins are common on rocky entries.
• Cash in euros for the taxi boat and smaller bars, although most restaurants take cards.
• Sun protection and a hat; shade is limited to pine trees and paid umbrellas.
• Snorkel and mask; the water clarity is the main attraction.
• A light layer and a cover-up for the walk back through Hvar Town, where the town has fined visitors for wearing only swimwear in the streets.
• Drinking water: island bars sell it, but at restaurant prices.

When to go

Period	Sea and weather	Crowds	Services
May	Warm days, sea still cool	Light	Restaurants opening, fewer taxi boats
June	Warm, sea comfortable	Moderate	Full service
July–August	Hot, warmest sea	Heavy, especially at Palmižana and Stipanska	Full service, highest prices
September	Warm, sea at its warmest early in the month	Moderate	Full service, winding down late month
October	Mild, changeable	Light	Reduced boats, some restaurants closed

June and September are the sweet spot: the sea is warm, the boats run constantly and you can still find a free spot on the rocks at Palmižana.

Where to stay

Most visitors stay in Hvar Town, which puts the taxi boats a few minutes’ walk away. Stari Grad and Jelsa are cheaper and calmer but add a bus or drive. For a real island escape, there are a handful of villas, rooms and small hotels on Sveti Klement itself, at Palmižana and Vlaka. We compare the options, including when an overnight on the islands is worth the price, in where to stay in Hvar.

Combining the islands with the rest of Hvar

A Pakleni day fits neatly into a longer stay. Use other days for the old town and the fortress, a Blue Cave trip to Biševo and Vis, or the island interior by e-bike or quad. Some tours, such as Vis Island and Blue Cave Speedboat Tour (from about $132 per person, Oct 2026, 4.8 from 870 reviews), also pass the Pakleni Islands on the way back to Hvar Town, so you can see both in one long day.

See all Pakleni Islands tours

Frequently asked questions

How long do you need on the Pakleni Islands?

A full day is ideal: it gives you time for two beaches and a long lunch. A half-day trip to Jerolim or Palmižana works if you are short on time, because the taxi boat ride is only 5 to 20 minutes each way.

Can you visit the Pakleni Islands without a tour?

Yes. Taxi boats leave Hvar Town harbour throughout the day in season with no booking needed. You pay the skipper, usually around €10 to €25 return per person depending on the island, and choose your own beach.

Which Pakleni island is best for a first visit?

Sveti Klement, landing at Palmižana. It has the most restaurants, several beaches within walking distance and marked paths, so you can adjust the day as you go.

Are the Pakleni Islands good for families?

Yes, if you choose the right bay. Mlini and Ždrilca on Marinkovac and the beach at Palmižana have shallow entries and food nearby. Avoid Stipanska in the afternoon if you want a quiet day, and bring water shoes for the children.

Is there accommodation on the Pakleni Islands?

Yes, but not much. Sveti Klement has a few villas, rooms and small boutique hotels around Palmižana and Vlaka. Book early for July and August, and check how luggage transfers by boat work.

Is Jerolim a nudist island?

Jerolim is known as a naturist island, but clothing is optional rather than prohibited. You will see both naturist and clothed swimmers there.