Murter island is one of those hidden gems in Croatia you should visit during your next holidays. It’s tiny but has surprisingly a lot to offer. Contrary to the party town of Tisno, which is located on both sides of a bridge leading to the island of Murter, Murter island is very calm. It is a great starting point for trips to the cities of Sibenik, Zadar, and the Krka national park. Nevertheless, we recommend staying a little bit longer. You would be surprised how many beautiful things there are to see and to do. This blog post is a display of all you need to know about Murter Island.
How to get to the Island of Murter
Even though Murter is an island, it is connected to the mainland by a small bridge located in the village of Tisno. Every morning and evening the bridge opens for around 30 minutes so boats can cross to the other side. The bridge itself is accessible by car and by bus. If you are coming from the direction south or north via highway, take exit 20-Pirovac toward Murter/Vodice and continue by a local road to the island. You can also use the coastal road but the trip will take a little longer. Furthermore, there is a regular bus line from Sibenik to Murter. Coming by plane you can choose between two nearby airports in Split or Zadar.
Best time to visit Murter Island
If you want to enjoy mostly good weather with a lot of sunshine and a little rain you should come to Murter Island in the time from May to September. The Mediterranean climate generally has dry and hot summers with mild and rainy winters. Hot days last at least 90 days a year with air temperatures of a minimum of 25 degrees Celsius. On average there are around 280 sunny days a year. Good to know – it is possible to predict whether it will rain by looking in the direction of the Kornati archipelago.
Where to stay on Murter
Murter island has a great variety of unique accommodations. Most places to stay are privately run apartments, and guesthouses, but there are also small hotels and remote campsites in nature. If you are looking for a place to stay during your next visit, feel free to look at the recommended list down below.
Unique accommodations
Golden Haven – For those of you who are looking for something luxurious and unique. Accommodation units in a remote location on the south coast of Murter island. The views are breathtaking and every unit has its own outside pool. Generally, a great place if you are traveling as a group of more than three people.
Apartments Antonio – A beautiful place to stay in the town of Tisno. Located centrally with great restaurants and bars nearby. It is only 50 meters away from the sea harbor where you can take a swim and enjoy some truly Mediterranean vibes. In either case, the rooms are well-equipped and the host Duda makes you feel very welcome.
Camping places
Camp Lasatka – Our favorite campsite on Murter Island by far. Just 50 meters away from the most beautiful beach on the island and 10 minutes walking distance from town. Beyond that, there are some nicely equipped sanitary facilities and great views. As a result of this great location, you should book your plot beforehand. Remember that it is a very small campsite basically next to Camp Slanica and it is quite easy to mistake them.
Camp Kosirina – Ideal place for nature lovers which has great scuba diving beaches and is far away from the nearest town. Furthermore, it is quiet and people love to walk around without any clothes on. Meaning it is not for everyone.
Kamp Stella Maris – A super intimate campsite. Each plot is terraced with a sea view which means that access could be difficult for some camper vans. But feel free to check it out by yourself. There is also a restaurant with great food and a rocky beach just below the campsite.
Camp Slanica – The biggest and the most popular campsite in this area. In fact, it gets hectic during the peak season, so a plot reservation is mandatory. Depending on your neighbors your stay can turn into roulette. Party animals love to stay on this particular campsite. There is a variety of restaurants and bars nearby.
Attractions on Murter Island
A vacation on Murter Island can be filled with a variety of fantastic attractions. For instance spending time in towns like Murter, Tisno, and Jezera with a history dating back to Roman times. Furthermore relaxing on some of Croatia’s most beautiful beaches. What’s more, there is plenty of hikes with stunning views of the Mediterranean surroundings. Down below you will find a list of our highlights.
Town of Murter
Murter town is the largest village on Murter Island and is located in the northeast of the vacation island. Beautiful and absolutely worth seeing is the picturesque old town with the stone alleys and the charming show harbor, where numerous traditional wooden boats rock in the sea. Although it is very much a rural village, throughout its history Murter has established and maintained the highest standards of culture, especially folk and spiritual traditions. Strolling through the alleys, you will also discover small stores and boutiques offering handmade souvenirs and regional delicacies.
Festival Town Tisno
The town of Tisno is located at the drawbridge, which connects Murter with the mainland. Incredibly beautiful in this coastal town is the panorama of colorful and partly historic townhouses, which is best enjoyed during a walk along the picturesque promenade. However, it is also home to some of the wildest music festivals in Europe. Keep in mind that during this time some of the stages play music 24 hours a day over a whole week. Two of the best know festivals are the Love International Festival and the Dimensions Festival.
Fishermen’s village Jezera
Jezera has been crowned with the Croatian Tourist Board’s Blue Flower for five years in a row, the best recognition for beauty and environment, making the place on the Croatian tourism map unmissable. The residents of Jezera have little fertile land at their disposal, so they prefer to orientate themselves towards the sea, historically they are seafarers and fishermen. To this day, the settlement of Jezera has retained the appearance of a typical Dalmatian fishing town.
Raduč hill panoramic viewpoint
The Murter island military base is located at the highest viewpoint of the island (125 m above sea level). It is a military complex from the times of Yugoslavia. However, in the 90s, it was used by the Croatian army during the civil war. Unfortunately, we were not sufficiently equipped to enter the tunnels. These are in complete darkness and whoever is planning to go needs to bring a flashlight or any other good source of light with them. However, the view from the top was beautiful enough to leave this place memorable.
Access to the military base is relatively easy. You can reach the summit on foot from almost any direction of the hill. All you need to do is to search for the right path on Google Maps. There is also road access for cyclists and mechanized vehicles. It can be entered at this point, by turning onto a gravel road.
Best beaches on Murter Island
On Murter Island, there are four incredibly beautiful beaches you should visit during your vacation. Each of them is unique in its own way; some are even sandy beaches, making them special in Croatia.
Čigrađa beach – A great place to relax. Surrounded by vegetation giving a lot of shade in the heat. The water is crystal clear which makes swimming a pleasure. There are also toilets and showers, and quite a few bars where you can have a drink or a snack.
Podvrške beach – Everyone will find something for themselves here. Families with children a sandy beach, with shallow water on the right side. Lovers of underwater life can admire many fishes, shells, and sea urchins on the left side of the beach. Like in every beautiful spot you can expect a lot of people.
Slanica beach – The most popular beach on Murter island. Its popularity comes from the fact that it is sandy and the water is not deep, ideal for small children. A fairly well-developed culinary infrastructure, a lot of bars, pizzerias, and restaurants. Parking is a problem in high season.
Kosirina beach – A fairytale place with beautiful pine trees, rocks, and at the same time a gentle entrance to the sea. In fact, there is sand in the water and it is very shallow for a long time. Meaning it is a fantastic beach for children. Moreover, there is a toilet, a bar with cheap beer, and maybe some naked people on from the nearby FKK beach.
Finally, if you want to learn more about our trips down the Croatian coast feel free to visit a dedicated category on our blog. There are also blog posts from other Balkan countries like Albania, Montenegro, or Bosnia and Herzegovina.