Vis Swimming Marathon – Across the Bay to Vis Town

Swimming from Host to the Heart of Vis Town

An annual open-water race from the islet of Host to the waterfront in the heart of Vis Town.

Every August, swimmers gather on Vis for one of the island’s established summer sporting traditions. The Vis Swimming Marathon (Viški plivački maraton) takes participants approximately 2.2 kilometres across Vis Bay, starting at the small islet of Host near the entrance to the harbour and finishing at Carinski Gat on the Vis waterfront.

Swimming Across Vis Bay

The setting is a large part of what makes the race special. From Host, swimmers head across the broad natural harbour with Vis Town stretching along the shoreline ahead of them, its stone houses and waterfront gradually coming closer with every stroke.

The distance provides a genuine open-water challenge while remaining accessible to experienced recreational swimmers as well as those taking part competitively. For some, the aim is a fast finishing time; for others, simply completing the crossing between Host and Vis Town is achievement enough.

The finish at Carinski Gat also makes the marathon easy to enjoy from land. Spectators can gather along the waterfront and watch the swimmers approach the centre of town, giving the race the atmosphere of both a sporting competition and a local summer gathering.

The Vis Swimming Marathon is organised by the Vis Tourist Board and has been part of the island’s August calendar for more than two decades. In 2025, the event celebrated its 25th edition, marking a quarter-century of swimmers making the crossing across Vis Bay.

Over the years, the marathon has become another expression of Vis’s close relationship with the Adriatic. On an island shaped by fishing, sailing and life at sea, an annual swimming race across the harbour feels entirely at home.

Take Part

The Vis Swimming Marathon is held every year in August. Register here: Vis Tourist Board – Vis Swimming Marathon