Palmižana – Vinogradišće beachPakleni Islands

Palmižana is the best-known corner of the Pakleni Islands and the easiest island day out from Hvar Town: about 15 minutes by boat across the channel to Sveti Klement (St Clement), the largest island of the chain. It has been a resort in the gentlest sense since 1906, when the Meneghello family planted a garden of palms, agaves, prickly pears and Mediterranean pines around their house, and the family still runs the estate today.

The beach most people mean when they say Palmižana is Vinogradišće, a horseshoe bay on the south side of the island with a shallow, sandy bottom that turns the water pale turquoise. It is one of the few genuinely sandy beaches near Hvar, which makes it popular with families and with anyone who prefers wading in to jumping off rocks. Sunbeds and umbrellas are available in season, and the smaller coves on either side of the bay are quieter if you want your own patch of water.

Palmižana is also where the Pakleni Islands eat. Bacchus is our favourite for fish; Zori, Toto's and the Meneghello restaurant are all within a few minutes' walk, and the beach bar Laganini on the point serves good food with the best view of the bay. Book a table in July and August. Behind the beach, a short walk through the botanical garden leads over the ridge to the ACI marina on the north side of the island, about ten minutes on foot.

By boat from Hvar the approach is simple: our skippers anchor in Vinogradišće or drop you at the restaurant jetties, and small self-drive boats can pick up a buoy in the bay. Most guests spend a whole day here, but Palmižana also works as the lunch stop on a longer Pakleni Islands loop that takes in Jerolim, Ždrilca, Mlini and the sandy cove at Perna, which is only minutes away and much calmer.

Because it is so close to Hvar Town, Palmižana is where we send first-time boat renters: a short crossing, sheltered water, restaurants, shade and a garden to walk in when you have had enough sun.