Vis Gay Travel
wolfyy’s Vis gay travel guide to hotels & where to stay, things to do, nightlife, & local LGBT safety.
The Gay Travel Experience: Vis, Croatia
Vis is famous not only for its stunning local caves and incredible serenity, but gay travelers love this Croatian island for being one of the filming locations of Mamma Mia!
While the Croatian islands are not necessarily flooded with gay men, there are usually a handful of gay travelers out and about in Vis.
Some travel solo and others visit on gay sailing boat trips. One of my friends even found himself an adorable Australian man to pair up with for a couple of nights who was visiting by himself.
Vis is truly stunning. The landscapes here will absolutely take your breath away. Check out some of the scenes in this video by Shoot Me Films.
Vis Hotels & Where to Stay
There are three main town areas on the island of Vis. The majority of travelers will stay on the island’s north side. Vis Town is the most popular area, offering lots of restaurants, cocktail bars, and shops.
Some travelers stay to the east of Vis Town in the area near the Kut Harbor Marina. This part of the island is a little calmer and is still an easy walk from Vis Town.
Komiža is the municipality on the west side of Vis. Komiża doesn’t have as much charm as Vis Town in my opinion, but there’s still plenty to do here.
Vis Hotels & Villa Rentals
Below are some of my top recommendations for Vis hotels and villas in all three popular areas of the island. Vis only has a handful of hotels, so the majority of places are apartments and villa rentals.
Vis Gay Sailing Trips
Sailing the Croatian Islands with a group of gay friends was one of the most memorable trips of my entire life! Are you interested in doing the same? I can help you organize your first trip for gay sailing in Croatia, Greece or Italy!
Book dates now for this coming summer sailing season! Learn all about the gay sailing experience.
To see what the trip was like, go to my Instagram @laffaloui and see the first story highlight section. There’s a ton of shots from my prior sailing trips!
Vis Gay Travel Experiences
Vis is famous for local cave tours, which are actually among the most popular Croatia island tours. These caves are known for their iconic illuminating water, which happens when direct sunlight reflects through underwater cracks in the rock.
You can also arrange a tour with one of the local agencies to see the Green Cave and/or the Blue Cave. Entrance to the Blue Cave is only possible if the sea is not too rough, but the other sites are accessible all the time.
Observing local life is quite easy in Vis. Take a stroll through the residential areas which are not too far from the port. You’ll find some picturesque narrow pathways.
I walked through these streets both during the day and night. The apartment entrances look like something out of a magazine! Closer to the waterfront there are many small shops selling high-end gifts and art as well.
Karijola Pizzeria has a lovely small terrace overlooking the Vis port. Restaurants can be expensive in Croatia, but you can definitely find a bargain here!
Stiniva Beach is a must-see, one of the beautiful rock formations for cliff diving around the island. The water is clear here in this scenic, secluded spot.
Connect with other gay travelers! → Join wolfyy’s Gay Travel Talk Facebook group.
Gay Travel Safety in Croatia
Gay travelers in Croatia should exercise caution while touring the country for a number of reasons. Although Croatia is part of the European Union and is a popular gay travel destination, there is still a formidable anti-LGBT sentiment among some local Croatians.
Even though the Croatian islands are filled with tourists, locals still live and work on these bits of paradise. The Croatians are not used to seeing overt gay public displays of affection. So, two men kissing in a bar in Vis may warrant some unwanted attention.
I encountered a few homophobic scenarios while sailing Croatia’s islands with a group of gay friends. A few gay couples joined our trip. After showing some affection in a couple of restaurants and bars, there were some uncomfortable situations.
In short, one restaurant told our friends that two men could not kiss each other while sitting and having dinner. One other instance involved a group of young local men throwing a lighter at a group of us while in a local bar. Both situations were handled, but it was very disheartening to experience.
In my opinion, this information should not deter you from visiting Croatia. Firstly, isolated incidents like these could have happened anywhere.
Many locals do support homosexuality and equal rights for LGBT individuals. Homophobic comments can be made in any country, but gay travelers in Croatia should still make sure they are in a safe environment before displaying any affection.
Vis Bars & The Gay Nightlife Experience
Lambik Bar & Bistro is my top recommendation for cocktails. Lambik has an incredible ambiance. It feels like a little castle!
Beautiful original stonework and inviting lighting make this bar stand out in my mind as one of the cutest spots in Vis. They have an indoor-outdoor seating area and the prices are more than reasonable.
Visit Bejbi Bar for evening cocktails or late-night drinks. They’re conveniently located along the waterfront. I spent a few hours after dinner here at Bejbi Bar with friends and stayed until closing. It isn’t really a dance club but they have a fun, upbeat vibe.
There are no official Vis gay bars or gay clubs, although it is possible you may come across some gay travelers while exploring the island!
Vis Gay Travel Tips
Local Ferries
Croatia operates a robust fleet of official ferries, some of which route to the island of Vis. You can use these ferries for transport to Vis from mainland towns or for local day trips to nearby Croatian islands.
See the Jadrolinija Ferry official site for schedules and timetables.
Don't Get Seasick!
If you’re taking part in a gay sailing trip as I did, make sure to bring a couple of packs of anti-nausea medicine! The water in the port was quite rough the day and night I stayed in Vis; I got a little seasick!
Luckily there are several pharmacies nearby if you forget. Note that not every island has a pharmacy, so if you’re going to a smaller island, prepare yourself!
How Expensive is Croatia?
Croatia is so popular with European, Australian, and American tourists, that prices are no longer considered “cheap.” Prices at most restaurants throughout the Croatian islands rival those of the most expensive world cities.
So yes, Croatia is expensive in relative terms. Cheap food is hard to come by, but there are still some pizzerias where you can get a medium-sized personal pizza for the equivalent of ten Euros.
Book a Vis Gay Sailing Trip!
A fully-staffed boat with a small group of fun gay guys sailing the Croatian islands will be an unforgettable experience, guaranteed. With a reasonable price, amazing food, clear water, and friendly gay skippers, what more could you ask for?
Learn about Croatia gay sailing trips available each summer.
Vis Gay Life & Croatia LGBT Rights
Croatia provides a wealth of protections to the LGBT community, however gay life in Croatia for locals is not exactly easy. Most local Croatians keep their sexuality hidden from the public eye out of fear of discrimination.
They do not usually express their identity openly. Hate speech has been on the rise against LGBT individuals and Serbs prior to 2017, according to reports compiled that year on the issue.
Croatia does defend all citizens against discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. The country allows gays, lesbians, and bisexual individuals to serve in the military. Changing legal gender is also legal.
A major downfall is that the Croatian constitution bans same-sex marriage. The country revised the constitution to define marriage as a union solely between a man and woman. A 2017 Pew Research Study found that more than 60% of Croatians oppose same-sex marriage.
Gay rights gained more of a foothold in 2014 when Croatia passed the Life Partnership Act. The Life Partnership Act allows gay couples to receive the same legal benefits as heterosexual couples for just about everything except adoption rights.
On the positive end of the spectrum, a 2016 ILGA poll found that 75% of Croatians would have no issue with an LGBT neighbor. 10% of people responded they would be very uncomfortable with an LGBT neighbor.
Most anti-LGBT sentiment can be found in the northwest portion of Croatia. The rest of the country is not so fiercely opposed.
Large centers like Dubrovnik and Zagreb advertise themselves as gay-friendly tourist destinations, however, this does not exactly mean discrimination by locals does not occur.
Want to party in Croatia? Check out wolfyy’s Hvar gay travel guide to get in on the nightlife.
For more inspiration, explore wolfyy’s full collection of gay travel guides.
