Maslinica and the Seven Islets of Šolta

A baroque-era harbour village on the western tip of Šolta Island, facing a small archipelago of seven islets known locally as Sedam Brda (Seven Hills). The view from the harbour across the constellation of islets is one of the most photographed scenes on the central Adriatic coast.

Maslinica was founded in 1703 around the Martinis Marchi manor — a fortified family residence built by a noble family to deter pirates. The village grew around it as a small fishing harbour and stayed that way for nearly three centuries.

The manor at the harbour entrance has been converted into a small luxury hotel and restaurant. The exterior is well-preserved baroque with defensive features — thick walls, narrow windows, a watchtower.

Even if you do not stay, the hotel restaurant is excellent and the terrace overlooking the harbour is one of the best lunch settings on Šolta.

The Sedam Brda archipelago is a chain of small uninhabited islets stretching westward from Maslinica. The largest is Stipanska. They are pine-covered, rocky, and surrounded by shallow turquoise water.

The view from the harbour at sunset, with the sun setting behind the islets, is the postcard image of Maslinica. The light through the gaps between the islets is dramatic.

The islets are also a snorkelling destination — sheltered water, decent fish life, and an old sunken cargo ship lying in 10 to 14 metres of water just offshore.

A small commercial vessel from the late 20th century, sunk in shallow water and slowly colonised by Adriatic marine life. The hull is visible from the surface on calm days, and free-divers can drop down to 8 to 12 metres for a closer look.

Around the wreck: schools of saddled sea bream, banded breams, sometimes octopus in the wheelhouse.

Safety note: do not enter the wreck. The hull is decades old with sharp metal edges. Snorkel above and around it instead.

A small, pretty harbour with a few restaurants, cafés, and the manor at the entrance. Stone houses around the inner basin, fishing boats moored at the quay.

The water in the harbour is unusually clear for a working port — fine for swimming from the harbour steps.

Quieter than Bol or Hvar, with a more authentic working-village feel.

Šišmiš — a popular restaurant on the harbour with good seafood and a reasonable price for the setting.

Martinis Marchi restaurant — more upscale, hotel-grade dining.

Several smaller konobas in the village. Look for the family-run places with the local specialities — lamb, fish, octopus salad.

By private boat from Split: about 60 minutes. Often included on a 3-island tour combining Šolta, the Blue Lagoon, and Trogir.

By car ferry: Split to Rogač on Šolta (about 60 minutes), then drive across the island to Maslinica (30 minutes).

There is no direct passenger ferry from Split to Maslinica.

May to September. The restaurants and Martinis Marchi operate full season.

Sunset is the most atmospheric time — the islets silhouetted against the western sky.

For snorkelling at the sunken ship, calm summer mornings give the best visibility.

Our 3 Island Private Tour stops at Maslinica for 60 minutes — enough for a swim, a coffee or quick meal, and the iconic photograph of the seven islets.

The day combines this with Gornja Krušica, Nečujam, Blue Lagoon, and Trogir — a full 8-hour day on the sheltered side of the channel.

Further reading: see also our Maslinica Solta sunken-ship snorkel piece, the Blue Lagoon Drvenik beach guide, the Trogir UNESCO day-trip walkthrough, and the Blue Lagoon vs Trogir comparison. The combined route is /tours/3-island-private-tour.