In history, Vir is mentioned for the first time in distant 1069 in the charter of king Petar Kresimir IV, which is known as the „Mare nostrum Dalmaticum“. In the charter, Vir is mentioned as Ueru, i.e. Veru, which translates to pasture. The oldest archeological sites on the island of Vir are the remains of fortified towns on the hills of Sveti Juraj (Bandira, 112 m) and Gradina in the northern part of the island. The oldest Croatian monuments are the churches of Sveti Juraj (Saint George) and Sveti Nikola (Saint Nicholas), which date back to the 12th and 13th centuries.
Vir is surrounded by a multitude of islands: Pag, Maun, Planik, Olib, Ist, Molat, Sestrunj, Rivanj and Ugljan. It is a typical example of a karstic island of the Zadar archipelago, which includes some 300 islands and islets. The coast is particularly indented, and the climate is Mediterranean and pleasant with around 300 sunny days annually, and a median temperature of 15°C. The summer mistral alleviates the summer heat and provides very good conditions for surfing and windsurfing. The indented coastline of Vir provides many sand and pebble beaches, located next to pine forests and a crystal clear sea. The multitude of bays and inlets offers yachtmen the possibility to dock on their way to a chain of 300 islands and islets, among which there is also the Kornati national park. The rocky coast in the northwestern part of the island, rich in marine flora and fauna, is an attractive diving area for those in love with the depths of the sea. In Gaz, in the eastern part of the island, there is the islet of Školjić, covered with pine and offering a long sandy beach. Many guests visit the Sapavac bay, known for its balmy therapeutic mud.