These are just a few of the places you could visit and things you could do once you get to Villa Philomena. Our guest information book in the villa also offers more ideas and contacts.

Local Activities

Within easy reach of Villa Philomena there are charming villages, picturesque islands, lovely swimming spots, and lots more besides.

Upon booking, and in our guestbook at Villa Philomena, we provide contacts and advice for: windsurfing, wakeboarding, kitesurfing, boat hire, scuba diving, mountain biking and climbing, rambling, tennis courts, local travel, restaurants, beaches. That should be more than enough to keep you busy!

Alternatively, of course, you could simply sit on the terrace and watch other people be active down at the seafront!

 



Windsurfers at Viganj
 
 
With its beautifully clear and calm seawater, channelled landscape and consistent maestral wind at sea, Viganj is hugely popular for its wide variety of watersports. The World and European windsurfing championships have each been held in Viganj in recent years, and the Croatian windsurfing championships are held here each August.
 
In our opinion, the Viganj area provides among the widest range of options for visitors to Croatia. There is easy road access to mainland destinations, including Dubrovnik, and only a short boat or ferry ride to the many idyllic islands, inlets and discoveries, including the islands of Korcula, Hvar, Brac, and Mljet National Park.

 


Boats by Korcula Town
 

For those seeking dryer pursuits, Mt.Illijah gently rising from the sea offers endless walking, rambling, mountain biking, climbing opportunities. The May Day gathering on the mountain top plains is supposed to be fun, and on a clear day you can see Italy from the top. There are also scooters and cars for hire locally, and local tennis courts.

For a real sense of Croatian culture, check out the local events, festivals and concerts. There is the Loviste August festival, and the Narkovan September festival (in an ancient, abandoned village between Loviste and Viganj) is a fantastic party - the locals are very sociable and welcoming!

 


Korcula Old Town and Mt.Illijah

 

Eating and Drinking

We believe the Viganj culinary scene is unrivalled in the area. Within walking distance, there is an array of Konoba (organic restaurants using homegrown produce), restaurants, bars and cafes.

Note: some of the restaurants do not accept credit cards, so we advise you to carry cash.

There are also many vineyards on the road from Dubrovnik and in the area. It is a little known fact that Croatia produces some wonderful wines. And fear not, there are some good producers around Viganj!

 

 

Gradina Restaurant, Loviste

Orebic

A small town four miles from Viganj, where the seafront promenade takes you to several seafront restaurants and bars, and Trestnica beach, with its lively summer beach bar.

It is well worth driving up to the 15th-century Franciscan monastery, with its stunning views, monastery museum and adjacent konoba restaurant "Jurkovic". Above the monastery are the ruins of the Trstenica duke's castle and a restored Gothic church. A walking track takes you along Mt.Illijah back to Viganj.

Hotel Indijan is a small boutique hotel opened in summer 2007. Located at the seafront, it has a pool with retractable glass roof, as well as jacuzzi, sauna and fitness room.

For more information see: www.orebic-tours.hr or www.peljesac.info.

 

 


Orebic marina


Korcula Island

A 15-minute ferry ride from Orebic, the ancient and beautiful Venetian-built Korcula Town is well worth a visit, as are the surrounding villages and countryside. You can roam the old alleyways and cafes, visit the museums and art galleries, and choose from several good dinner spots and bars near the marina.
 
Other attractions include the Moreska sword dancing with traditional singing and dancing, the 101 steps up to the beautiful church of St. Antun, and the open-air cinema.
 
Tour operators in the town centre organise ferry trips to Mljet, Hvar, Brac etc, and there are scooter/bicycle hire shops.
 
The island of Badija, just off Korcula Island, is also a lovely place to spend a quiet day, with very few people around.
 
For more information see: www.korcula.net  or  www.korculainfo.com.

 


Korcula sidestreet

 

Bays and Beaches near Viganj

Loviste is a fishing village set around a quiet bay. It's beach is good for small children, being free of kitesurfers and windsurfers. The 15-minute drive (10km) from Villa Philomena to Loviste winds over Mt.Illijah, offering beautiful views of both sides of the Peljesac Peninsula.

Punta restaurant and bar is a few minutes drive from Villa Philomena. This pebble beach reaches out on a point and is popular with kitesufers and windsurfers.

Podubuce is a small bay near Postup, on the road from Orebic to Dubrovnik; and Mokalo, just beyond Orebic, also has a lovely little bay.

Many of the little inlets, bays and beaches are best explored by boat - cars or bikes can get you so far, but some beautiful spots are deserted owing to lack of any road.

 


Orebic beach

 

Dubrovnik

The walled Old Town of Dubrovnik is stunningly beautiful and lovely to wander around by day or night. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site with good reason.

The two-hour coastal drive from Dubrovnik to Viganj is very pleasant - and at times spectacular. It leads you over great hills, past picturesque bays and through lush valleys of olive groves, vineyards and herb trees.

For more information see: www.dubrovnik-online.com or www.dubrovnikportal.com/eng.


Main street, Dubrovnik

 

Ston

Situated where the mainland meets the Peljesac Peninsula, Ston is en route from Dubrovnik to Villa Philomena. It boasts the second-largest enclosed fortress in Europe; you can wander around the fortress walls and lunch in lovely seafood restaurants in the centre. The Captain's House restaurant is particularly lovely.

The drive from Ston to Viganj winds through the villages of Dingac and Postup, which are famous for their superb wines. And near Trpanj, on the same road, is an old established winery called 'Bartolovic'. You could stop to sample homemade wines, cheeses and grappa on the way!

 


The fortress walls of Ston
 
 

Mljet National Park

Mljet is a picturesque island famous for its beautiful National Park and lakes. It's a 90-minute passenger ferry ride from Trstenik, which is itself a charming village (approx. 45-minute drive from Viganj). There is also a car ferry from Ston.

On Mljet, you can hire bikes or scooters, or take a car, and swim, canoe or kayak around the lake. There is a boat to the monastery and a café on the island within the larger lake.

For more information see: www.np-mljet.hr.




The waterfront at Viganj
 

Other Links

 
 
For any enquiries, please contact:
info@croatia-villa-rental.com or +44 (0)1420 588155 (UK)

For availability please visit:
www.ownersdirect.co.uk/croatia/CR70.htm