Srebrna Beach

Srebrna — meaning "silver" in Croatian — takes its name from the distinctive silver-grey limestone pebbles that give the beach its luminous, unusual appearance. The beach lies near Komiža, the fishing village that anchors the western end of Vis island, and represents the quieter, less-photographed side of an island that already attracts a more discerning, relaxed type of visitor than the beaches of Brač or Hvar. Vis itself remains one of the least-overdeveloped islands in Dalmatia, and Srebrna embodies the island's quality of considered, unhurried beauty.

The water here has the remarkable clarity characteristic of the deep Adriatic surrounding Vis — the island sits further from the mainland than any other inhabited Dalmatian island, receiving cleaner ocean water with less mainland influence on water temperature and clarity. The clear sea turns from bright turquoise in the shallows to a deep, saturated navy blue within metres of the shore as the depth increases rapidly. For those seeking a swim in pristine, unpolluted water simply for the pure pleasure of it, Srebrna delivers completely.

The beach sits within easy reach of Komiža town, making it a simple combination with lunch at one of Komiža's excellent seafood restaurants, a visit to the 16th-century Venetian fishing museum, or an afternoon excursion to the famous Blue Grotto sea cave on nearby Biševo island — one of the Adriatic's most magical experiences that can be booked from Komiža harbour.