Palmizana

Rooms

Palmizana offers various individually designed stone bungalows and villas, with interiors that are either whitewashed or painted in vibrant colours. Some have exposed stonework and cool tile floors; all are furnished in a Mediterranean style and accented with Croatian art. There are also 3 Double Rooms and a 2-bedroom Suite in Villa Giorgia , each with their own small terrace and a private entrance.

The bungalows (sleeps 2-4) are mostly 2-room buildings with 1 bedroom and a living room with a sofabed (making an additional bedroom). Our favourite, the Green Bungalow, is a studio space with steps leading up to a mezzanine level with a small porthole window. We stayed in the Violet Bungalow, which felt very private. All rooms are air conditioned and have small fridges. There are also the Romina Bungalows, which can be rented as one unit to large families or groups of friends.

The villas (sleeps 4-6) all have basic kitchenettes for coffee and snacks: fridges, kettles and basic crockery. The 2-bedroom White Villa quickly established itself as one of our favourites: lying directly on the beach with a private path leading down to the shore, it has an enormous terrace overlooking the bay.

The most luxurious is probably Villa Palmizana, which has an octagonal living room and an outdoor terrace decorated with colourful mosaics inspired by Austrian architect Hundertwasser. We also liked the slightly more modern Turquoise Villa: it’s glass doors that open onto a stone terrace overlooking the ocean. Each building is set amid the pinewoods and exotic planting, and has a secluded terrace for sitting out and dining.

Features include:

• Air conditioning

Eating

Dagmar Meneghello personally oversees the 2 restaurants in the resort: Menghello and Toto's. Both have huge terraces overlooking the ocean and serve a variety of seafood, grilled meat and fresh vegetables from the island’s garden. Much of it is cooked over an outdoor open-fire oven.

Breakfast is served on Menghello's romantic terrace from 8:00 until 10:30 am (or later on request). Expect fresh fruit, croissants, bread and jams, plus eggs and pancakes cooked to order. Lunch, which tends to be peaceful, is served at both restaurants. We picked Toto’s as it lies directly on the beach on the south side of the island (just outside the resort), and serves fresh fish and seafood. We chose bruschetta and octopus salad; other specialities included monkfish in white wine sauce, bulgur with shrimps, and tuna sashimi.

In the evening, both restaurants start buzzing as visitors with yachts (who keep their boats at the nearby ACI marina, or anchor in the bay) begin arriving for dinner. This time Menghello is the main attraction. Its deep fuchsia walls are hung with playful modern art, and fresh colour is added by enormous terracotta pots of blue and pink hydrangeas. We enjoyed a dinner of tomato and basil bruschetta, prosciutto, cheese and figs to start. Mains were seafood Buzara (local seafood stew) and a grilled seafood platter.

All guests have tables reserved at the main restaurant, but if you're staying for a full week you may wish to try some of the other restaurants and beach bars on this tiny island. Many people may choose to take a 10-minute water taxi over to Hvar Town, where our favourite spots were Fig Cafe and Black Pepper. Remember to let the hotel know if you decide to eat elsewhere so that they can cancel your reservation.

Features include:

• Children's meals
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• The Palmizana beaches are lovely, but be sure to check out alternative bathing venues on the other Pakleni islets. For those who want an all-over tan, Jerolim or Stipanska are devoted to nudism
  
  
• Dalmatia is a sailor’s paradise. Charter a sailing boat or a motorboat for a day exploring the coast and islands - skippers are available for those with no sailing experience. The islands are surrounded by numerous coves that act as safe harbours for boats
  
  
• The water is ideal for snorkelling or diving, with excellent visibility, a stunning variety of fish, coral reefs and shipwrecks. Palmizana can recommend agencies offering diving trips
  
  
• Hvar Town (approximately 10 minutes by water taxi) includes a 16th-century cathedral overlooking a magnificent piazza (the largest in Dalmatia), an arsenal, a 17th-century municipal theatre (the oldest public theatre in Europe), 2 monasteries and a hilltop castle
  
  
• Be sure to stroll around the gardens, taking in the sheer variety of flora
  
  
• Dagmar is a keen patron of the arts, and hosts exhibitions of up-and-coming Croatian painters and sculptors.
  
  
• Explore the small gallery, which displays locally found amphorae, and don't miss Tarin's Palm, a funky pop-up shop selling souvenirs in the middle of the botanical garden.
  
  
• Attend a Hvar Summer Festival open-air performance - we recommend the classical music concerts in the cloisters of the Franciscan monastery

  Activities on site or nearby include:

  • Hiking
  • Kayaking
  • Sailing
  • Scuba diving
  • Shopping / markets
  • Snorkelling

Kids

Children are welcome and it's a great place for them: the shallow pebbly beach on the doorstep is ideal for youngsters and they will love the tortoises and peacocks on land. As the island is car-free, they can run around and explore freely. It's great for extended family breaks, too.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

If you're travelling on a group family break opt for the bungalows or villas located next to each other. Villas have basic kitchenettes and sleep 4-6, and Bungalows sleep a maximum of 4 (that's with children on an extra bed in the lounge). White Villa is not suitable for children under 12 since it's a split-level villa with an open staircase. We recommend Yellow Bungalow, Pink Bungalow and Violet Bungalow for families with toddlers.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 1 hour+, depending on ferry schedules
• Emergency room: 15 minutes by boat (Hvar)
• Hospital: 45 minutes-2 hours, depending on ferry schedules

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Palmizana is on the tiny island of Sveti Klement, one of the Pakleni otoci (Resin islands) that make up the Hvar archipelago. The island is only reachable by water taxi or yacht. Staff at the hotel can help you organise transfers and also buy tickets for you in Hvar if necessary.

By Air:
It is easiest to fly into Split (40km), situated on the mainland.

From the Airport
Take the airport bus to the city centre, then catch a boat to the island of Hvar Town; from here the resort will collect you and take you to the island (Sveti Klement). Alternatively, there is a small port 500m from the airport, where you can be picked up by an exclusive (and hugely expensive) taxi boat service that brings you directly to Palmizana.

By Sea:
The most convenient port of arrival is Hvar Town, served by both a Jadrolinija ferry and a catamaran from Split each afternoon through summer. Palmizana will collect you by speedboat from Hvar Town.

By Car:
Cars are not pemitted on the island but if you need one to explore other parts of Croatia, see our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions will be sent to you once your booking is confirmed through i-escape.com.