Everything people ask before they book — and a few things worth knowing even if you haven’t thought to ask yet. If something isn’t covered here, get in touch. We reply personally, usually the same day.
Who runs VIScovery?
VIScovery is run by Viktorija and Dario Metton. Viktorija has been spending her summers on Vis since she was born — her father first visited the island the year she arrived into the world, fell in love with it, and she followed in his footsteps. She has been guiding guests on Vis for over 17 years. The company, Costiera d.o.o., is based in Rukavac on the island of Vis and has been operating since 2005. More than 450 guests join them every season.
Is VIScovery right for us?
VIScovery is built for people who want to move, explore, and experience Vis properly — not spend a week on a sun lounger in a resort. If you want an active holiday with great food, a small group, and someone who knows every corner of the island taking care of everything, this is for you. If you’re looking for nightlife, beach clubs, or a large hotel with lots of amenities, Vis isn’t the right island — and Hvar is probably a better fit.
How many people will be staying at the same time?
A maximum of 12 guests per week, across four rooms. Two double rooms and two family rooms (or double rooms, who books before). It’s a deliberately small, intimate group — large enough to feel like a group, small enough that you’ll know everyone’s name by day two.
Can we book the whole property for a private group?
Yes. Full house buyout is available for groups of 8–12 guests. Same programme, same island, entirely yours. Contact us directly to discuss dates — there’s a 15% premium for exclusive use.
When does the week start and end?
Weeks run from Saturday to Saturday. You arrive on the first Saturday and depart on the following Saturday morning, in time for the ferry back to Split. We’ll send you full arrival instructions after you book.
How do we get to Vis?
Fly into Split (or Zadar or Dubrovnik and then come to Split), then take the Jadrolinija ferry or Kapetan Luka fast boat or private boat to Vis Town. The ferry takes around 2 hours and 20 minutes; the fast catamaran takes just over an hour. During peak season there are three ferries and one speedboat per day. We’ll send you detailed arrival instructions — including the best ferry to take — with your booking confirmation. We arrange all transport on the island from the moment you arrive.
What does a typical day look like?
Every day starts gently — herb tea, a morning swim, a proper breakfast with homemade bread and local produce around 9–10am. The main activity runs through the morning or early afternoon. Lunch is at home or packed to take out, served around 2pm. Afternoons are yours: the nearby beaches are all walkable. Dinner is either at home or at one of the local restaurants we know well.
Why is dinner only included three times a week?
Vis has two towns — Vis and Komiža — and some of the best restaurants in Croatia. We’ve found over the years that guests genuinely want to explore them. On the evenings without a set dinner, we personally recommend where to eat — including the restaurant featured in Mamma Mia 2, and the outdoor cinema where the film screens once a week. We also eat a lot during the day. A full breakfast, a mid-morning snack, a large lunch at 2:30pm, and afternoon cake means nobody arrives at dinner very hungry. Most of the times ice-cream is enough.
What if the weather is bad?
Vis has excellent summer weather, but if it rains we adapt the program. In 16 years of running holidays on the island, it has never rained for more than an hour at a time during summer. In the unlikely event of a full day of bad weather, we prepare an alternative program. You will not be bored.
How fit do we need to be?
Reasonably active — what we’d call ‘office fit’. The kayaking sessions last around one hour (more if you want), hiking routes are usually an hour in stages, and the cycling involves less than 250 metres of ascent over the whole route, which means essentially flat terrain. Nothing is compulsory. If you’d rather not do a particular activity on a given day, you don’t have to. We’ve run weeks where the group split in two — half doing the full route, half taking an easier version. We always find a way.
Do we need experience in kayaking, hiking or cycling?
No experience needed for anything. All activities are guided and suitable for beginners. We brief you properly before each one. First-timers and people who kayak regularly both get something from it — the routes and locations do most of the work.
Is cliff jumping mandatory?
Nothing is mandatory. Cliff jumping is optional, and there’s no pressure either way. That said — most people jump. The guides always jump first.
Can children join all the activities?
Yes. All activities are designed to be family-friendly. For kayaking, younger children can ride with a parent. For cycling, we have a child bike. The minimum age we recommend for independent participation in water activities is 8 years — younger children are welcome with parents alongside them.
What should we pack for activities?
Comfortable, breathable clothing is the priority. A swimsuit and beach towel are the most important things you’ll bring. For cycling, shorts and a T-shirt work well — nothing too loose. A light wind jacket is worth having for cooler evenings or the occasional sea breeze. Comfortable trainers or light hiking shoes are the right footwear for most activities. Cycling gloves are worth bringing to avoid dust and sweat. Bring sun cream and insect repellent.
What’s the food like?
All meals are prepared by our private chef using local and seasonal ingredients — fresh fish, local vegetables, olive oil from the island, wine from Vis vineyards. Breakfasts include homemade bread and homemade marmalade, but not only. Lunches are mostly served at home. Dinners at the house are multi-course. On the evenings we recommend local restaurants, we send you to places we know personally — the kind you wouldn’t find without someone pointing you in the right direction.
We have dietary requirements. Is that a problem?
Not at all. Our chef has cooked for vegans, vegetarians, people with coeliac disease, lactose intolerance, guests who dislike fish, and children who refuse vegetables. With only 12 guests per week, every meal can be adapted. Just let us know when you book and we’ll take care of it.
How do I make a reservation?
Fill in the enquiry form on this site with your name, email, phone number, preferred dates, and number of guests. We’ll respond within 24 hours to confirm availability. If you prefer, call us directly on +385 91 905 8410 or email info@viscovery.hr. Once we confirm availability and you’d like to proceed, we’ll send you a booking contract and payment instructions by email.
What information do you need to confirm a booking?
Once you’ve decided to book, we’ll need the full names and dates of birth of all guests, exact travel dates, and the name of the lead booking contact. We’ll send you a contract and invoice by email once we have these.
How does payment work?
A 30% deposit secures your week. The remaining 70% is mostly paid on arrival at the property or up front. Payments can be made by bank transfer but cash is preferred for the remaining sum. Full payment instructions are included with your booking contract. If the remaining balance is not paid on arrival, the booking is considered cancelled.
What is the cancellation policy?
The 30% deposit is non-refundable. If you cancel after paying the deposit, no further amount is charged. If you cancel within 8 weeks of arrival, the full amount is due. We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers cancellation — see below.
What if something unexpected prevents us from travelling?
We offer cancellation insurance in partnership with Erste osiguranje. If you or a member of your group is unable to travel due to illness or unforeseen legal proceedings, you can be refunded the full amount on presentation of proof. The insurance premium is 10% of the total booking value and must be paid at the same time as the deposit — it cannot be added later. We also understand that life happens: if something genuinely unexpected prevents travel, the advance payment can be transferred to another week in the same holiday year.
Are there any additional costs once we arrive?
The week price covers everything on the island — accommodation, all meals and drinks, all included activities, all equipment, all transfers and guiding. The only additional costs would be optional extras you choose to add (such as maybe some extra dinners or a discovery scuba dive, a speedboat trip to the Blue Cave, or scooter hire), personal spending in town, and your flights to Split. There are no hidden charges.
What makes Vis different from other Croatian islands?
Vis is the furthest inhabited island in the Adriatic — 45 nautical miles from Split. It was a closed military zone from the 1950s until 1989, which preserved it in a way that the more accessible islands were not. There are no large hotels, no cruise ship crowds, and no beach clubs. What there is: some of the clearest water in the Mediterranean, a coastline that hasn’t been developed, extraordinary natural landmarks, and a way of life that hasn’t changed much in a generation. In 2019, UNESCO designated Vis a Global Geopark — a title reserved for the most significant natural and geological sites in the world.
Is Vis a party island?
No. If you’re looking for nightlife, live music venues, or a busy social scene, Vis is not the right island — Hvar is nearby and much better suited to that. Vis is quiet, genuine, and beautiful. That’s the point.
What is the history of Vis?
Vis is the oldest inhabited island in the Adriatic. It was founded as a Greek colony — Issa — around 2,500 years ago, making the town of Vis the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in Croatia. The Romans came after the Greeks, the Venetians after them, the British from 1811 (who built the Fortress of St. George and, notably, the first cricket pitch outside Great Britain), and finally the Yugoslavs, who closed the island to foreign visitors and used it as a military base until 1989. Each era left something behind — ruins in shallow water, a fortress on a hill, tunnels in the rock.
Was Mamma Mia 2 really filmed on Vis?
Yes. The island of Vis served as the main filming location for Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018). Several of the film’s most recognizable scenes were shot here, and the outdoor cinema in Vis Town screens the film once a week during summer — worth seeing in the place it was made.
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