Top five holiday islands of Croatia

Stunningly beautiful islands of Croatia tend to overshoot in the high season, but late August and September are the perfect time for hot water, old towns and great food to enjoy

Fish is an ideal romantic hideaway. Apart from the fold yourself away in one of the many spectacular beaches and secluded coves, you can tour the island, exploring its extensive vineyards, palms, pines, olive trees, oleander, fig, carob trees and mulberry trees, and over 300 herbs (ideal for self-catering), the local fish and wine. My favorite "home" restaurant (as places that only local eco-products are known or used) is Stoncica Bay. Run by the brothers Lincir, overlooking an idyllic bay. Kantun be good by the end of Fish Cunt city, and for a romantic meal, palm-filled restaurant and bar Arboretum Villa Kaliopa (V Nazora 32, 385 21 711 755) makes a magical setting.

For food, try You Maje i Tonke, just meters from the harbor entrance to the old town. His "Dalmatian tapas", all made from local products (cheese, ham, fish paste, eggplants), costs from 30kN (€ 3) and has great local wines. For the traditional Dalmatian outdoor grill fish or Cevapcici (tasty pork sausage of minced stubs, lamb or beef), try Planjak on the edge of the old town near the ferry terminal, from € 5.
• More information korculainfo.com

Best for relaxation: Mali Losinj

Located in the Kvarner region of the northern Adriatic Sea, and reached by ferry from Zadar, Mali Losinj is an island in an archipelago of more than 30 small islands. The color of the sea is an amazing deep green as the island is heavily forested. Because of this, it is known as the island of vitality, ideal for those needing a rejuvenating break.

Pag is famous for its stunning lunar landscape, the secluded coves, and cheese, lamb, lace, and salt. For peaceful, rocky coves, you should seek Proboj, but best of all, Lun on the northernmost tip of the island. The city (with an Illyrian and Roman history) also has vineyards and olive groves, and salt grass (strong breeze), the sheep meat and cheese its characteristic flavor. Visit a family-run cheese factory, Siran Gligora (sirena.hr), in the village Kolan, Pag and the city has a salt museum and a gallery of the traditional side. Again, the small, friendly Dalmatian style Konoba Gal (Jurija Inca Dalmatians 35, 385 23 611 127, meaning tavern taverns), serves local pršut (double Dalmatian smoked ham), sardines, the famous cheese, local wines and brandy. You can also hear the locals sing traditional songs.

As in the rest of Dalmatia, large hotels are best avoided, it is much more interesting (and cheaper) to stay in a family-run pensions, such as Pension Gea (+ 385 23 6002 72 geajurkopag.com, doubles from € 32) , which has spacious rooms and is 10 minutes walk from the old town.

The ferry arrives in the old town, Stari Grad, which lies at the bottom of a beautiful five-mile long bay, sheltered by forested hills. The city was founded in the year of the birth of Aristotle (384BC), and is a stone maze of alleys along which Edward VIII and Mrs. Simpson once lost themselves. They dined at the restaurant Podrum Jurin (Donja Kola 24, 385 21 765 448, founded 1917), which now serves nouvelle cuisine dishes of local seafood (shrimp to octopus stew with homemade bread olive grouper), followed by lavender flowers deserts.

In the center of town is Tvrdalj Castle, home of 16th-century poet, Petar Hektorovic. It has a tower, a baroque portal, a pond full of red mullet and a beautiful garden. Stay in the old city, close to the tower of the majestic St. Stephen's, San Nikola Apartments (Bartola Kasica 3, 385 91 915 2705, studios for two from € 40 per night).

Want the designer party crowd in beautiful Venetian and Austrian architecture to connect, take a 20-minute bus ride to Hvar town. In high season, the city is heaving with Italians, non-stop party posers, and lately, posh English sailors. Never Better (+385 91 4636120, never better.net, one-bed apartments from € 30 per night) is just a stone's throw from the harbor.

If you are tired of Hvar bars and boutiques, visit the 17th-century theater, and the 13th-century Arsenal (once used for repairing war galleys), where you can find great art gallery, Hvaroom (hvaroom.com) and a café with terrace. Most of the nightlife is pretty in-your-face, but down an alley from the bar port indie club Kiva has recently installed an old oak floor and is suitable for a cooler clientele, with good music and cocktails. Or watch the yachts (and celebrities) in the port of the relaxing view of Caffe Gromit (yes, named after the Plasticine mutt!)

• More information and hvarinfo.com croatia.hr. Bmibaby (bmibaby.com) has flights from East Midlands Airport to Dubrovnik from £ 138 return

• James Hopkin's new trilogy of short stories set in Dalmatia will be broadcast on Radio 4 March 2012

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Submited at Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011 at 7:00 am on Hotel by jessica
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