Mail Drvenik and Veli Drvenik

There's little in the way of decent beaches around Trogir, and it's well worth considering a ferry trip to Mali Drvenik or Veli Drvenik if a lazy day by the sea is what you're after. Lying some 12km west of town, these small, sparsely populated islands are increasingly popular with yachtspeople, but are little visited by other travellers, making them perfect for a quiet getaway. Passenger-only boats sail from Trogir twice a day on at least five days of the week ensuring that you can spend a day on one of the islands and be back in town by nightfall. There are precious few roads on the islands (wheelbarrows and mini-tractors provide the only forms of transport), but they're crisscrossed by farm tracks, making them perfect for relaxed rambling.You'll find accommodation, food and drink on Veli Drvenik should you wish to stay.

Mali
Although Mali Drvenik is slightly further away from Trogir than Veli Drvenik, it's Mali that the ferry visits first, calling in at the island's only real settlement, the aptly named MALI DRVENIK. A grubby little place with few amenities, this is no more than a staging post on the way to Vela Rina, a broad bay twenty-minute's walk away on the other side of the island. There's not much here apart from bare rocks and a view of the open sea, but it's an undeniably beautiful spot – you could easily while away several hours here if you come well prepared (there's precious little shade here and certainly no cafes).

Veli Drvenik
Twenty minutes' sailing time from Mali Drvenik, VELI DRVENIK is a much more lively island, with its eponymous main village sprawling attractively on either side of a deep bay. The village itself is popular with second-home owners from the mainland, while its harbour frequently fills with touring yachts – all of which helps to keep the village shop and a couple of cafes in business. The water in the bay is clean enough to swim in, and there are several attractive coves elsewhere on the island – Krknjagi bay, a forty-five-minute walk to the east, has a partly pebbly beach and views southeast towards the island of Solta. The interior of the island, covered in prickly bushes, abandoned olive plantations and fig trees, is a great place for walks – there's little real tree cover, however, so bring a hat.
There's no tourist office on the island, but private rooms can be arranged in advance through the tourist office in Trogir. There's also an excellent family-run pension in the shape of Mia, overlooking the harbour at Bobovisće, which offers a range of cosy rooms and apartments, and scrumptious home cooking if you pay a few extra kuna for half board. The owner will drive you round the island on his tractor buggy for a small extra fee. There area couple of harbour-side restaurants serving up fresh fish, although they tend to only open up when yachts appear in the bay. The coolest place to hang out in the village is Atelje (evenings only), an art gallery just below the Mia pension run by a Finnish-Croatian couple, which also serves wine in the garden courtyard.

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