The Kornati islands are the most densely arranged group of islands in the Mediterranean. There are a total of 152 islands, and because of the special beauty and natural value of 89 of them, they were in 1980 declared a National Park. The total surface area of the Kornati National Park is 220m2, of which only a quarter is land and the rest is sea. The region is divided into two parts: upper Kornati and lower Kornati.

The upper part is dominated by the island of Kornat (the largest uninhabited island in Croatia) and the islands of Žut and Sit are amongst the lower Kornati. Žut is famous for its excellent olives, ACI marina and beautiful coves that you can swim in.  The indented coastline, the numerous bays and ports, as well as the rich underwater world have made the Kornati islands a popular centre for sailors and lovers of marine life. Particularly popular is the so called Robinson Crusoe tourism – where it is up to visitors own abilities to survive in the ‘natural wilds’, and where they are also surrounded by the quiet and privacy that Kornati offers its guests. The islands are not permanently inhabited, but there are inns and good quality restaurants in about twenty locations. It is possible to stay the night in one of the old houses, which can be arranged through agreement with one of tourist agencies, and you can also sleep in your own boat in one of the ports or camps.  

The Kornati islands are famous for their ‘crowns’ – tall cliffs that reach heights of up to 100 metres, as well as for their straits that demand sailors to be especially careful when navigating. The rest of the islands are covered by pastures and healing plants, and with regards to animal life you can find rare sheep, gulls and butterflies. The island of Purara is particularly outstanding, and is under special protection as an ornithological reserve, which is why it is closed to visitors. 

You can get to the National Park either by boat, under your own steam or on an organised visit with a tourist agency. The Kornati islands are about 15 nautical miles from Šibenik and Zadar. 

As well as exploring the islands, any guide will recommend that you take a swim in one of the bays where the sea is clear up to a depth of 40 metres! Free diving or scuba diving are also a special experience because of the exceptionally rich underwater flora and fauna. A popular pursuit on the land is to climb up to one of the panoramic viewpoints’ where you will be able to see the magical beauty of Dalmatia.