Beautiful islands near Dubrovnik

The largest of the six Elafiti Islands, Sipan is just 80 minutes by catamaran from Dubrovnik. Less than 500 people call Sipan home, so if you visit outside of the peak season, it's easy to feel like you have the place to yourself. The two main villages are located on either end of the island - east and west - and connected by a 5km trail that you can either hike or cycle, and rarely encounter a car. Don't expect all-night parties, clubs and raves, Sipan is a quiet island. It's perfect for families looking for a quiet getaway.

Frequently dubbed as an 'island paradise', much of Mjlet is covered by a thickly-forested national park. Characterised by rolling hills and abundantly covered with pine and oak, beneath the trees lie two, deep blue saltwater lakes. Mjlet is one of the most verdant islands in Southern Europe. In keeping with its reputation for tranquility, accommodation on the island is in pleasingly short supply (there is only one hotel), which is why many visitors just come for the day. However, those lucky enough to secure a bed for a few nights will find it hard to leave this truly enchanting island. You can get to Mljet from Dubrovnik in 1 hour and 20 minutes.

The whole island of Lastovo is a protected natural park. It is one of the most remote and undeveloped islands in the whole Adriatic. Light pollution on Lastovo is incredibly low, making it one of the best places in Southern Europe to view the night sky. Just like Mjlet, accommodation options are purposefully restricted, so visitors need to book well in advance. Rugged and mountainous, Lastovo is better suited to those looking for challenging hikes rather than a week sunbathing on a sandy beach. That being said there are a handful of natural pebble beaches that are perfect for swimming from. As a stopping point for migratory birds, it's a great place to spot rare species.

The most glamourous of all the Croatian islands and arguably the Jewel of the Adriatic Crown, Hvar has long had a reputation for playing party host to the rich and famous. The Greeks founded the ancient town of Stari Grad, but today the island is popular with the international yachting crowd. The waterfront features a number of high-end bars, restaurants and boutique shops, but beyond this lies a fertile natural landscape that is well worth exploring. Ferries travel from Dubrovnik to Hvar in just over 3 hours.

Dubrovnik's 'mini-me', the island of Korcula boasts a perfectly preserved medieval old town that occupies a small peninsula. You can easily spend a few pleasant afternoons exploring this 13th-century fortress, with its charming orange roofs and bell-towers, but don't leave Korcula without catching a traditional moreska (sword dance) display. Rumoured to be the birthplace of Marco Polo, it's been ruled by the Greeks and the Venetians who both left their mark. Today the island is well-known for its world-class wine production, home as it is to the best vineyards in Croatia which produce award-winning Plavac Mali red and Posip white. A ferry from Dubrovnik to Korcula takes just under two hours.

Perfect for a day trip, the ferry from Dubrovnik to Lokrum takes just 15 minutes. Despite its proximity to the mainland, there's only a smattering of buildings on Lokrum Island, including the ruins of a 11th-century Benedictine Monastery, which has now been partially reclaimed by nature. Be sure to fit in a walk around the meticulous Botanical Gardens of the Maximilian Palace, complete with its own flock of peacocks. If it feels like the perfect place to take shelter from the world, you'd be in good company, Richard the Lionheart sought solace here on his way back from the Crusades.