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Vis Gay Travel

wolfyy’s Vis gay travel guide to hotels & where to stay, things to do, nightlife, & local LGBT safety. 

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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!

Vis Gay Travel

Depending on the area, the general vibe in Vis is between that of a party island like Hvar and a serene port town like Maslinica. No matter where you stay on the island, there’s a wonderful ambiance and lots to experience.

Vis Gay Travel
Vis Gay Travel
Vis Gay Travel

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.

gay traveler in Vis
gay travel group in Vis
gay traveler in Vis

I visited Vis while taking a sailing trip with a group of some old and new gay friends! We arranged a private boat that set sail in Dubrovnik and made its way around different islands for a week, ending in Split.

gay travel group in Vis

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.

areas to stay in Vis

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.

Vis port area
areas to stay in Vis

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 port area

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 Hotel San Giorgio

Hotel San Giorgio (Vis Town)

Vis island villa rental

Vila Rosa (Vis Town)

Vis apartment rental

Apartments Villa Anka (Komiža)

Villa near Kut Harbor Vis

Apartman Domina (Kut Harbor)

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!

vis gay sailing trip

Book dates now for this coming summer sailing season! Learn all about the gay sailing experience.

gay sailing Croatia
vis gay sailing trip

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!

gay sailing Croatia

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.

Vis cave tours

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.

gay travelers on cave tour
Vis cave tours
gay travelers on cave tour

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.

restaurant on water

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!

Vis gay travelers
restaurant on water
Vis gay travelers

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.

sailboats

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.

moon behind palm trees
sailboats
moon behind palm trees

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.

gay sailing

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.

gay experience Croatia
gay sailing

In my opinion, this information should not deter you from visiting Croatia. Firstly, isolated incidents like these could have happened anywhere.

gay sailing Croatia

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!

cocktail bar

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.

Bejbi Bar
cocktail bar
Bejbi Bar

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.

where to stay in Vis
gay sailing Croatia
local neighborhood Vis Croatia

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.

local neighborhood Vis Croatia

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.

sailing gay islands croatia

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.

Vis gay travel tours

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.

Vis gay travel tours
Croatian locals

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.

Croatia LGBT safety

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.

where to stay in Vis
Croatia LGBT safety

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.

Croatian locals

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.

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Want to party in Croatia? Check out wolfyy’s Hvar gay travel guide to get in on the nightlife.

Don’t miss wolfyy’s Dubrovnik and Split gay travel guides either!

For more inspiration, explore wolfyy’s full collection of gay travel guides.


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