Get to Know Glamorous Hvar Island

The stunning Hvar Island is a world’s famous place and the sunniest island in Croatia with almost 3000 hours of sunshine per year. The main towns on the island are Hvar, Stari Grad, Jelsa, Vrbovska and Sućuraj. The island is located in group of Southern Dalmatian Islands and it’s easy to reach from Split by ferry or catamaran.

The ancient town Hvar is a one of the most popular destination for many reasons. It offers a blend of an authentic Mediterranean ambience, rich culture and history. You can enjoy outstanding nature and vegetation, premium accommodation and fabulous places for relaxing or entertainment.

Besides super popular town Hvar, the island offers many other places for everyone who prefer more relaxed and intimate holiday, especially during the July and August when it gets pretty crowded.

The island is also renowned by lavender fields, rosemary, marjoram and thyme. Together with the excellent sorts of wine and olive oil these are the main island’s exports.

The Breathtaking Pakleni Islands

The great gift on nature to Hvar are Pakleni Islands, a group of eleven islets located just opposite town Hvar. This small archipelago is rich in beautiful beaches and vegatation, excellent restaurants, bars and yacht marina. You can easily get there by taxi boat. Pakleni Islands are one of the most popular sailing destinations in Croatia.

When is The Best Time to Visit Hvar Island?

Hvar Island is not just a summer destination. If visiting Hvar Island in spring and autumn you can explore its towns and surroundings when island is less crowded and the weather is warm and cosy. The ferries operate from Split to Hvar year-round and you can enjoy incredible beauty of the island in easier way out of the main summer season. Moreover, the accommodation prices are lower and you will save a lot of money because Hvar Island is everything but cheap destination.

Things to Do on Hvar Island

The list of things to do on Hvar Island is pretty long and you will fall in love with this exciting island very easy. So let’s get started.

Sightseeing The Old Town od Hvar

St. Stephan Square and Cathedral, Town’s Loggia and the clock tower, Franciscan Museum and Monastery, The heater and arsenal, spectacular fortress Fortica just above the town, Hektorović Palace. Take a walk along the harbor of Hvar and watch exhibiton of small boats and luxury yachts, while cooling with an ice-cream.

Get to know the old town Hvar and learn about the history of the island from your guide while strolling through the streets of the old town. You can book your private Hvar Town Walking Tour HERE.

Archipelago of Pakleni Islands – A Peace of Heaven

A place from another planet, super popular Pakleni Islands (St. Klement, Jerolim, Marinkovac) is a group of stunning islands located just opposite town of Hvar. You can easily reach them by frequent taxi boats departing from the harbor, just outside the Arsenal.
The most famous of all islands is St. Klement and Palmižana bay with beautiful beaches, restaurants and coctail bars, surrounded by wonderful vegetation and yacht marina.

For an outstanding experience of Pakleni Islands you can join one of fantastic tours to explore this gem of nature:

Guided Kayaking Tour to Pakleni Islands

Sailing on a Comfort Yacht around Hvar and Pakleni Islands – Small Group

Blue Cave and Pakleni Islands Group Tour from Hvar

Private Half-Day Kayak Experience in Hvar and Pakleni Islands

You can also explore the north side of St. Klement all the way to the settlement Vlaka with ruins of Roman villa and a bath mud (!). Here you’ll also discover the vineyards by the sea from eminent wine producer Andro Tomić.

Carpe Diem

Carpe Diem Bar and Carpe Diem Beach Club are places to be on Hvar Island.Carpe Diem Bar, located in the harbor of Hvar, is a cosy place for your long coffee drinking in the morning and cocktail warming up at the sunset.

Carpe Diem Beach Club, located at Stipanska bay on Marinkovac Island, is the best place for day and night entertainment – beach partying and fun, swimming and sunbathing, beach volleyball, diving, and all night clubbing run by famous world’s DJs.

Carpe Diem Beach Club is easy to reach by taxi boats frequently departing from the harbor. You may like to party or not, but Carpe Diem Hvar attract the visitors from all around the world.

Take a Wine Tour of The Island

The vineyards are all over the Hvar and one of the best quality wines in Croatia are produced just here on the island. If you would like to get an insight into Hvar’s rich winemaking heritage, do not hesitate to join a wine-tasting tour. You will visit a local winemaker in the coastal town of Jelsa and learn how local families cultivate popular grape sort Plavac Mali. This wine tasting experience begins with a drive to the other side of the island to the island’s most important wine region. This tour will introduces you to some of the natural beauty and culture of the island of Hvar. Once you are picked up from Hvar, you’ll pass by villages and lavender fields on the way to Jelsa or Vrboska to visit a winery, where you’ll learn about winemaking and enjoy a wine tasting.

Read more this amazing tour and book it HERE:  Hvar Wine Tasting Small Group Experience

Another amazing wine tasting tour with four to five wine tastings, including Prošek (the original Dalmatian wine) plus an authentic Dalmatian 3-course dinner in a rustic and charming setting included you can BOOK HERE: Hvar Small Group Wine Tour and Authentic Dalmatian Dinner

Towns of Stari Grad and Jelsa

Town of Stari Grad (literally Old Town) is a beautiful old town located on island’s north coast, offering you much quiet and relaxed atmosphere than in town Hvar. Sightseeing in town of Stari Grad – Petar Hektorović Tvrdalj, Stari Grad Plain UNESCO Heritage, Dominican monastery of St. Peter the Martyr, Stari Grad Museum, St. Jerolim Church, St. Stephen’s Church. Stari Grad Plain UNESCO Protected World Heritage Site is the most ancient part of Stari Grad. Actually, it is a cultivated landscape between Stari Grad and Jelsa, where grapes and olives have been grown for 24 centuries.

Town of Jelsa is hidden treasure of Hvar Island, a small town rich in cultural heritage, offering best of beaches, restaurants and activities.

One of the most beautiful beaches on Hvar – Grebišće Beach – is located near Jelsa, below the camp. This sandy beach is ideal for families with children, where pine tree forest keeps you in the shade during the summer heat.

Blooming at Hvar Lavender Festival

Lavender is a gift of nature and a symbol of Hvar Island. Traditionally, every year at the end of June, the Lavender Festival takes place in village Velo Grablje and a journey through tradition, fragrance and colors starts. You can take home a little bottle of lavender oil and unforgettable experience.

You can discover the island’s Mediterranean landscape on a hiking tour to Milna that includes lavender fields, traditional villages, and scenic views of the region. Stop off along the way for a light local snack and taste of traditional wine included in the price

Read more and BOOK HERE: Hvar Lavender Tour

Cooling Down in Grapčeva Cave

Get some mystical refreshment from Grapčeva cave, one of the oldest Mediterranean archeological sites dating back to the early Stone Age (Neolithic). Visiting this typical cave in rock with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites is allowed with guide only, starting from Humac village.

Cycling Tour of Hvar Island

Make the most of your time on Hvar with a bike tour of the island’s scenic villages and countryside, and cover more distance in less time than possible by foot. Discover regional highlights including the UNESCO-listed Stari Grad Plain and a traditional wine cellar, and visit rural villages for a taste of authentic Croatia, with light refreshments included in the price

Read more and BOOK HERE: Cycle Hvar Tour

Enjoy Panorama at St. Nicholas Peak

Climbing to the top of St. Nicholas, the highest peak on Hvar (628 m above sea level) to enjoy fantastic panorama to the Adriatic and mainland. To get there, you should take the signed biking path before Selca village on the old road from Hvar to Starigrad.

Eco-Ethno Village at Humac

Visiting an abandoned but attractively restored shepherd’s village at Humac near Jelsa is an exciting and unique way to experience Dalmatian tradition and history. Besides walking through history you can taste local food in an excellent restaurant and visit nearby Grapčeva cave.

Paintball in Jelsa

Considering an adventure for friends and family in Adventure Park in Jelsa? Your paintball field is a forest with lot of shade and many stone shelters – just choose from many different paintballs games. All reservations are private, so no other players with you on field. Park personnel will be on field for help or information all the time. Find out more on their website.

Day Trips From Hvar Island

On Hvar island you are surrounded with an exceptional beauty that is reachable to discover. You can leave the island for a day trip and explore some outstanding sites in Dalmatia, from Split and Dubrovnik to Brač and Vis islands. Here is our selection of organized and individual day trips from Hvar you can book online via global tour service company VIATOR.

Day Trip to The Blue Cave and Vis Island

The Blue Cave (Modra špilja in Croatian), or Blue Grotto, is an unique and remarkable geomorphological natural wonder located on the island of Biševo, located just five miles from Komiža on Vis Island, and 44 nautical miles from Split. Depending on the season, the ideal moment to visit the cave is between 9 and 13 o’clock (09:00AM – 01:00PM). In the morning, when the sun shines from the east onto the sandy bottom through the submerged entrance to the Blue Cave, a large quantity of light reflects from the sand and illuminates the interior of the cave. This special natural light phenomenon in the cave leaves no one indifferent.

The Blue Cave is a must-visit attraction in Croatia and don’t miss out to bring home the memories of a lifetime. You can take a day trip from Hvar to discover this magical wonder of nature. Join your incredible day trip to The Blue Cave HERE:

Blue Cave and Pakleni Islands Group Tour From Hvar

Blue Cave & 5 Islands Tour From Hvar

Blue Cave & Vis Island Speedboat Tour From Hvar

Blue Cave Group Tour With Swimming and Snorkelling From Hvar

Blue and Green Cave, Vis and Pakleni Islands – Private Boat Tour

A Perfect Beach Day on The Golden Horn

How about to spend a beach day on another island? The Golden Horn Beach (Zlatni Rat) in Bol on Brač Island is the most famous beach in Croatia, not just for swimming and sunbathing but for windsurfing and many other water activities. This sandy-pebble beach 500m long change the shape depending on the wind. Enjoy swimming in the clear blue water, wind surfing and water skiing while relaxing in the afternoon summer breeze. If you want to spend a perfect day on the beach, you can BOOK your private transfer HERE.

Explore Split for a Day

Split is the heart of Dalmatia, a hot place to visit in Croatia and the winner of many tourism awards. On your way to Hvar Island you boarded a ferry in Split but did you have time to discover this amazing ancient city? If you would like to explore a perfect blend of history and culture with great entertainment, shopping and numerous activities at the same time, board a ferry or catamaran from Hvar Island and spend an amazing day in Split.

Day Trip to Famous Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is a fascinating place with numerous incredible sights that will take you breath away. Feeling excitement within its historical scene of buildings, squares and places all around is a normal state of mind and soul in Dubrovnik. When you get to the Old Town, only a few seconds is enough to realize that this is one of the most incredible places you have ever visited. You can book your private boat transfer to Dubrovnik HERE.

Where is Hvar Island and How to Get There

Hvar Island is in the group of Southern Dalmatian Islands, reached by ferry or catamaran from Split – don’t worry, it’s not long distance from mainland at all.

To reach Hvar Island first you need to get to Split, and your options are by plane, car, bus or train. If you consider flying, you’ll find numerous direct flights from Europe to Split Airport – the most of European airlines fly during the summer only, and many of them from May to October. If you can’t find a direct flight to Split, you can always fly with Croatia Airlines via Zagreb Airport year-round.

If you or travelling by car or bus you’ll be driving on motorway A1 called Dalmatina on south to famous Split.  Read more useful information about getting to Split on our Travelling to Southern Dalmatia page.

Once you’ve reached Split you are almost there – board a ferry or catamaran for a pleasant sea journey and your holiday will start very soon! You can book your ferry tickets online:

Ferry tickets and online booking Jadrolinija

Catamaran tickets and online booking Kapetan Luka

For your best travel experience to Hvar Island read our Travelling to Southern Dalmatian Islands pages.

Accommodation in town Hvar

Although town Hvar has a reputation of glamourous and expensive destination, you’ll find all types of accommodation for all budgets and tastes – hotels, resorts, private apartments and villas– you can choose from luxurious to affordable holiday spending.

If you are still not sure what accommodation is the best choice for you, maybe our TOWN HVAR ACCOMMODATION SELECTION will encourage you to make the final decision.

Amfora Hvar Grand Beach Resort 4 stars
Amfora Hvar Grand Beach Resort is absolutely great accommodation choice, one of the best luxury hotels in Croatia, located in a sheltered bay only 10-minute walk away from Hvar Town’s centre. It offers you a private beach and a multi-level pool. From your room you can enjoy a view to famous Paklensi Islands or well-groomed gardens. Nnearby exclusive Bonj les bains Beach, offers to guests to rent a private seaside cabin and enjoy a soothing massage.

Hotel Podstine 4 stars
Hotel Podstine is an elegant hotel in a beautiful bay with its own private beach for an unforgettable vacation… Hotel is located short walk from center and offers great views, private beach, and private parking.

Heritage Hotel Park 4 stars
Hotel Park is an amazing heritage hotel situated in the heart of the town, between Rector’s Palace and St. Mark church. The restaurant Park is on hotel’s terrace surrounded by flower gardens and jasmines where you’ll have 10% discount as a hotel guest. Nearby Central Park Club is very inviting in hot summer nights with sweet soul music, good old rock’n’roll, jump swing, blues and jazz… along with the selection of best Croatian and international wines or carefully prepared cocktails.

The Palace Hvar Hotel 3 stars
The Palace Hvar is the oldest hotel on the island, located in a beautiful setting surrounded by Gothic and Renaissance architecture. While staying at this historic hotel, located on the main square, you can enjoy a tasty dinner at the Palm Restaurant or sip cocktails and listen to soothing jazz music on the terrace of the Arsenal Bar that overlooks the Hvar Marina. All guest rooms have breathtaking views over Hvar Bay and the sunsets over the Paklinski Islands.

Hotel Pharos Hvar 3 star
This hotel is 2 minutes walk from the beach. Situated in a secluded pine grove and completely renovated in 2016, the modern Pharos Hvar Bayhill Hotel offers evrything you need for your holiday on famous Hvar island.

Hotel Croatia Hvar 3 stars
Hotel Croatia is a beautiful small family run hotel on the great location – few steps from the beach, surrounded by amazing Mediterranean vegetation, only 10 min walk by the sea to town’s center. It’s your perfect choice for more intimate holiday, away from crowd but also very close to all attractions in the town. Hotel Croatia is one of the smallest hotels in the town Hvar, very comfortable place for holiday throughout the year. This is a great choice for your stay in town Hvar.

Villa Nora Hvar 3 stars
Villa Nora is an exceptional small pension – hotel situated in the old town you can easily pass by, and that’s a big shame. The hotel is very charming, with excelelnt service and friendly host, offering spacious rooms and great home made food at in – house restaurant. Each evening, guests can enjoy in the comfortable lounge bar. All that just a short walk from all sites and attractions.

Villa Jagodna 3 stars
Villa Jagodna is absolutely fantastic accommodation for an easy holiday, only 5 km from town Hvar. It’s located in a peaceful bay just by the sea with private beach area offering showers, deckchairs and beach towels. Villa has on-site restaurant serving delicious local specialities, fish dishes, home grown fruits and vegetables, homemade wine and olive oil… A large shaded terrace with a sea view invites guests to relax. Each unit has either a balcony or terrace with seating furniture. This is an amazing accommodation on Hvar Island.

Hostel Marinero 
Hostel Marinero is located right on Hvar town waterfront, close to buzzing bars and restaurants. Marinero seafood restaurant is part of the hostel serving only organic vegetables from the family farm and fresh fish!. If you are looking for cheap accommodation in Hvar, don’t look further.

Hostel Vila Zorana
Hostel Villa Zorana is located a few minutes walk from town’s center offering guests rooms with a balcony. All rooms have bathroom, and some with kitchen and dinning room. Guest can enjoy in a beautiful garden and view from terrace. Great and cheap accommodation in town Hvar.

Accommodation in Towns of Stari Grad and Jelsa

STARI GRAD ACCOMMODATION SELECTION:

B&B Heritage Villa Apolon 4 stars
This is one of the best accommodations on Hvar Island with just three rooms and four suites, all with wooden floors, oriental rugs, and chintz bedcovers and curtains – most unites have big windows overlooking the bay too. The villa’s has an aristocratic vibe, but in reality it is all about slowing down and chilling out while sitting on the stone terrace, in the shade of palm trees, and watching the boats sail in and out. It’s glamorous but unpretentious accommodation in town’s center, just at the seafront.

Jees Exclusive Apartments 4 stars
Jees Exclusive Apartments offer amazing setting while in Stari Grad. Apartments are very modern and comfortable. If you decide to stay at Jees Exclusive Apartments you can enjoy unique dining experience at the on-site restaurant, together with other dining options available in the surrounding area. This accommodation provides bicycle rental, a playground and luggage storage as well.

Madrugada Apartments 3 stars
Madrugada Apartments are luxurious accommodation overlooking the sea or surrounding forest in Stari Grad. The designer apartments feature a furnished terrace and contemporary furnishings. This property consists of 3 villas with 6 apartments each is located just 500 m from Petar Hektorovic Palace. It’s very inviting accommodation in Stari Grad.

TOWN OF JELSA has a small choice of hotel accommodation – Adriatiq Resort Fontana 4 stars or Hvar Hotel 3 stars. You can find very good private apartments.

Town Starigrad on Hvar Island

Beaches on Hvar Island

Hvar Island has mostly rocky and pebbled beaches scattered in numerous bays, inlets and islands along the coastline. For the best beaches you should get out of towns. Pakleni Islands are very inviting, offering you all kind of beaches easy to reach with short taxi boat drive. Natural sandy beaches you will mostly find on the northern side of the island. Magnificent pebbled beaches are on the southwest facing the open sea near villages Dolac, Zavala and Milna.

The Most Popular Beaches on Hvar Island

The choice of beaches on the island is great and to make it easier for you to decide, here is the selection of the most popular beaches on Hvar:

Palmižana Bay (St. Klement island, Pakleni island)
Carpe Diem Beach (Stipanska Bay, Markovac island)
Bonj les Bains Beach (below Hotel Amfora)
Dubovica Beach
Lučišće Beach
Grebišće Beach
Pokonji Dol Beach
Gdinj Bay
Zavala beaches
Ivan Dolac beaches
AMO Beach FKK (Jerolim Island)
Maslinica Beach

Sandy Beaches on Hvar Island

Grebišće Beach (near Jelsa)
Perna Beach (near Palmižana Bay, St. Klement island)
Mlaska Beach (near Sućuraj, on north)

Beaches on Hvar Island – a Full List

Beaches on Pakleni islands
Palmižana (St. Klement island)
Perna Beach, hidden sandy beach, next bay round from Palmižana (St. Klemet)
Vlaka Beach (St. Klement)
Carpe Diem Beach at Stipanska bay (Marinkovac island)
Ždrilica Beach (Marinkovac)
AMO naturist beach (St. Jerolim island)
Kordovon Beach (St. Jerolim)

Beaches near town of Hvar
Bonj les Bains Beach (below Hotel Amfora)
Pokonji Dol Beach
Mekičevica Beach
Hula Hula Beach Club

Beaches on south side of Hvar island
Zaraće Beach
Milna Beach
Dubovica Beach
Ivan Dolac Beaches
Zavala Beaches
Sveta Nedjelja Beaches
Šćedro Beach
Lučišće Beach

Beaches in town of Stari Grad
Hotel Arkada Beach
Maslinica Beach
Lanterna Beach

Beaches near town of Jelsa
Hotel Fontana Beach
Grebišće Beach
Beaches in Vitarnja
Mina Beach
Soline Beach near town of Vrboska
Mlaska Bay near Sućuraj

Beaches on south side of eastern Hvar
Pokrivenik Bay
Mala Stiniva Beach
Gdinj Bays
Vela Stiniva Beach