Hvar

Hvar Island — which insists it's both the sunniest and greenest in Dalmatia — is known for its excellent wines (grapes love the island's perfect combination of wind and sunshine), stony terraces, and smattering of fragrant lavender fields. Meanwhile the island's main town, also called Hvar, has gained a hip cachet and upscale-ritzy “Croatian Riviera” buzz that's turned this tidy Dalmatian fishing village into one of the most popular destinations in Croatia. While some may find Hvar's high prices and glitzy party scene off-putting, the setting is undeniably gorgeous, and the island provides a cosmopolitan contrast to its humbler rival, Korčula.