43.15° N · 16.75° E
A long, very sunny Dalmatian island, with a Venetian harbour town, lavender fields inland, plavac mali vineyards and the Stari Grad plain, divided into plots by Greek settlers in the 4th century BC and a World Heritage site.
Part of Dalmatian CoastEastern Adriatic Coast
What to do
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
A Venetian fortress above Hvar town, with the harbour and the Pakleni at your feet. You climb on foot from the square; entry €12.
Pine-covered islets 10–15 minutes by water taxi from Hvar harbour: Palmižana with sand and shingle, Marinkovac and the naturist Jerolim.
Four hours and 8.5 km of paddling with a guide from Križna Luka to Jerolim and Marinkovac, with snorkelling stops. From €60 per person.
Plan the trip
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
In June and September: warm sea, lavender in June and prices below August. July and August fill Hvar town with boats and partying. From November to March there are fewer boats and many hotels and restaurants closed.
How you travel
Choose how you're travelling and we'll tell you where to stay, how to get around, where to eat and which services you'll need. We only show the ways of travelling that make sense here.
The Split catamaran drops you at the town quay, and everything you do from there, the Fortica, the Pakleni, kayaking, speedboats to the Blue Cave, starts on foot from the harbour. For Stari Grad and Jelsa there is a bus.
The car goes on the Split to Stari Grad ferry, or via Drvenik – Sućuraj if you come from the south. It is useful for the plain, Jelsa, Vrboska and the eastern coves. In Hvar town the centre is pedestrian: leave it outside and do not move it.
Hvar town has luxury hotels at the foot of the quay, tables with views over the square and private speedboats for the islands. You arrive by boat from Split airport without setting foot on the road.
Hvar has hostels in the town and good transport, but in July and August everything goes up. A lot is free: the Stari Grad plain, the walk from Velo Grablje to Milna and the beaches of the east coast.
On the island you cannot camp outside campsites. Vira is near Hvar town; Grebišće, next to Jelsa, in the centre of the island. Both need a car or motorbike to get around.
Hvar Tourism numbers thirteen bike routes, from 700 to 712; the Lesina crosses the whole island, 174 km from Hvar to Sućuraj. The centre of the island, between Stari Grad and Jelsa, is flat; the west climbs towards the lavender villages.
Hvar has no airport with flights from Spain: you fly to Split, with direct flights in season from Madrid and Barcelona, and cross by boat. From the airport to the port of Split it is about 25 km, with a shuttle. There, the passenger catamaran drops you at the quay of Hvar town and the car ferry arrives at Stari Grad, in about two hours.
Who you're with
A trip with a toddler is not the same as one with a teenager. Pick yours to see what works and what to bear in mind.
Hvar town at night is a party; by day, with children, getting out on the water works. The Pakleni by water taxi and kayaking cover two days, and the coves in the east and centre of the island are quieter than the harbour.
Hvar gives a teenager a speedboat day to the Vis caves, a kayak morning with snorkelling and bike routes with some climbing. What bores them: the wineries and the town at midday.
Where to stay
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
Why we like it: A historic palace on St Stephen's Square, a step from the catamaran quay. Rooms with harbour views, a spa and the San Marco restaurant above the Loggia. Open from May to October.
Why we like it: A resort on its own bay west of the centre, facing the Pakleni, and a walk along the shore from the square. Cots on request. Open from mid-April to the end of October.
Why we like it: Dormitories of 6 to 14 beds with enclosed bunks, light, socket and locker, and eight private rooms. Bodul beach is 100 m away and the centre 500 m. Note: the dormitories only admit under-35s.
Why we like it: A small hostel on a quiet street above the sea, a seven-minute walk from the square. A travellers' atmosphere and the bus station nearby.
Why we like it: A campsite in a cove on the north coast, 4 km from the town, with pitches for tents and motorhomes. It is 20 km from the Stari Grad ferry. Without a car or motorbike, the centre…
Why we like it: A campsite in a sheltered cove next to Jelsa, with two sand beaches with gentle entry to the water, good for children. Open from April to mid-October (in 2026, from 20 April to 16 October). It…
Why we like it: A family resort in the Helios development of Stari Grad, near the old town. It has a water park with slides, a play area and parking: the comfortable base if you bring a car.
Services for this trip
Areas, for any way of travelling
| Area | Who it's for | Average night |
|---|---|---|
| Hvar town | Without a car, luxury, backpackers, nightlife | €150 |
| Stari Grad | Car, families, the UNESCO plain | €95 |
| Jelsa and Vrboska | Camping, cycling, wineries, calm | €85 |
Where to eat
From set lunch menus to Michelin stars. We mark the price level and what to order at each place.
What to order: Mediterranean cooking with local produce; the menu changes with the time of day.
What to order: gregada, the fish stew over potato cooked on the fire, and Hvar wine.
What to order: produce from the island and Dalmatia, with the house wine.
Takeaway and markets
Map
The places to stay and services on the map are the ones for the way you travel. Turn on the layers you want and tap a point to see its details.
Nearby
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
Tips
It opens at 9:00. At that hour the path has shade and the harbour is still empty.
In June and September the last return from the Pakleni leaves earlier than in August.
With a heavy swell it cannot be entered and the excursion is changed or postponed.
Hvar town is noisy in summer. Stari Grad and Jelsa are quieter and a better base with a car.
The centre is pedestrian and parking in August costs time and money. If you are going to spend the days in town, arrive by catamaran and hire a boat or a bike the day you need it.
It depends on whether you have a car. The Jadrolinija car ferry goes from Split to Stari Grad in about two hours, several times a day; the ticket reserves a space and a time, so buy it at jadrolinija.hr before going to the port in July and August. If you come from the south, the short Drvenik – Sućuraj ferry crosses in half an hour, but Sućuraj is at the eastern tip and you have more than 70 km of road to the town.
Without a car, the passenger catamaran of Jadrolinija or Krilo drops you at the quay of Hvar town itself; Krilo publishes fares from €8.50. There is also a daily catamaran to Jelsa. From Spain the usual thing is to fly to Split; from the airport to the port it is about 25 km.
Only if you are going to move around the island. Hvar town is toured on foot, its centre is pedestrian and everything you do from it leaves from the harbour: water taxis to the Pakleni islands, kayaking, speedboats to the Blue Cave. A car is worthwhile for the Stari Grad plain, Jelsa, Vrboska, the interior villages and the eastern coves. Between Stari Grad, Hvar and Jelsa there is a bus that connects with the ferry. If you drive from Spain, the Croatian A1 motorway to Split is tolled.
Croatia has used the euro since 1 January 2023, so there is no need to change money. In July and August prices in Hvar town soar: book accommodation months ahead and expect eating at the harbour to cost more than inland. Out of season everything is cheaper and quieter, but there are fewer boats and many businesses close from November to March.
Questions
By car ferry to Stari Grad (about 2 h, Jadrolinija) or by passenger catamaran to Hvar town (Jadrolinija and Krilo). Buy the car-ferry ticket in advance in summer.
The euro, since 1 January 2023. Carry some cash for the island bus, entry to the Green Cave and water taxis.
€12 per adult. The €15 combined ticket also includes the Hvar Theatre, the Loggia, the clock tower and the church of St John.
Yes, by speedboat in a day, departing around 10:30 and returning in the afternoon, from about €80. Cave entry is paid separately: €24 in high season and €18 from April to 20 June and from 11 September to October; free up to age 6.
Late June and early July, when the Velo Grablje Lavender Festival is held. The 2025 edition was from 3 to 5 July.
Yes, at campsites: Camp Vira, 4 km from the town, and Kamp Grebišće, in Jelsa. Wild camping is not allowed in Croatia.
No. Croatia has been in the Schengen area since 2023: a valid ID card is enough.
Geocaliahttps://www.geocalia.com/en/croacia/dalmatia/hvar
