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Officially the sunniest place in Croatia, the breathtaking island of Hvar has become one of Europe’s holiday hotspots. Venetian architecture, elegant restaurants and deluxe hotels await your arrival.
Hvar Town, the island's capital is the place to stay. Medieval walls surround the beautifully ornamented gothic palaces on the winding stone streets, while in the bay, luxury yachts dock near the stylish bars and cafes. The island is famed for its wealth of rocky coves, breath-taking beaches, extraordinary purple fields of lavender and heather, and shady pines that dot the island. Hvar Island is the perfect setting for a perfect escape.
Fly from London and all main regional airports from the UK to Split Airport (SPU). Flight time is typically 2hrs 15 mins to 3 hrs. Transfer to Hvar takes around 30 minutes to Split Port then a 1 hour catamaran to Hvar Town
Hvar offers a warm climate and enjoyed throughout the summer period. The shoulder months of April, May, early June, late September and October offer cheaper accommodation and lesser crowds.
Wherever you are staying in Hvar Town the hotels are all within walking distance to the main sights and nearby restaurants. To visit other towns on the island, such as Starigrad, there is an excellent local bus network.
The months of June, July and August are hot and usually hit 30 degrees. Early April and October is generally around 20 degrees.
Looking for a holiday that mixes Hvar and the best of Croatia? A multi-centre holiday is the answer. You'll combine life chic island life on Hvar with other stunning destinations Croatia has to offer, such as Dubrovnik, Split and Korcula. All our holidays are tailor-made so you can tailor it to your needs, such as duration, hotel and board. If you can't find the right holiday, feel free to contact us and one of our travel consultants will be in touch.
Background to Hvar Island: Located off the Split Dalmatian coast, between its neighbours Brac, Vis and Korcula, the stunning island of Hvar is a fusion of gently rolling hills adorned with lavender, lush vineyards nestling at the foot of jagged mountains, magnificent beaches, secluded coves, delightful restaurants and a vibrant nightlife amidst the medieval streets. Hvar Town is the island’s hub and offers a perfect beach life balance during the day, before dressing up to mingle with moored-up yachties in the bars and restaurants by night.
Explore Hvar Town: The atmospheric town is steeped in history and sites of interest include the ancient fortress, a Franciscan monastery and St. Stephen’s square, the largest and most beautiful Venetian piazza in Croatia. The bell of St. Stephen’s cathedral rises to four levels, each one more intricate than the last. North-west of the square, lies a labyrinth of charming streets with small palaces, churches and old Dalmatian houses. For superb views of the Adriatic and the Pakleni Islands, climb up to Hvar Fortress. A small fee is payable on entrance.
Hit the beach: If you're looking for a quiet beach close to Hvar Town, we’d recommend visiting Milna. It’s around 3 miles away and you can easily get there by local bus, taxi or a hire bike. An even better beach is at Dubovica, which is past Milna and about 1 km past the village of Zarace. In the summer there is a boat service from Hvar Town to here. On arrival you’ll find the clearest jade blue sea set in front of a beautiful rocky and pebble beach. There’s also a great seafood shack/cafe selling delicious local cuisine.
Visit the Pakleni Islands: The islands opposite Hvar are the Pakleni islands, a stunning archipelago of tiny emerald isles, set in the glistening Adriatic. They’re a popular destination for beach goers with some of the best beaches in the area. There's numerous ferries to and from each day, most of which go to Palmizana Bay, where pine forests and heather fields provide the perfect backdrop to pristine waves licking the sandy cove.
Split: The bustling city of Split is only an hour away and makes for a great day out from Hvar Explore the UNESCO Protected Diocletian Roman Palace, one of the best-preserved Roman buildings in existence. It is a maze of delightful restaurants, bars, museums, galleries and ancient churches. To get to Split from Hvar, there are a number of fast catamarans (1 hour) or you can visit on an organised excursion. Find more information about Split here.
Explore the Island: Hvar island has a number of towns and villages that are well worth exploring. Stari Grad is famous for being the oldest town in Croatia, dating back to 384 B.C, while Jelsa is a picturesque town of equal size that’s great for relaxing. It’s easy to get to both these towns by public bus with a number of departures from Hvar Bus Station every day. If you’d like to see Hvar’s more natural side, Hvar Adventure offer an excellent one day or half a day hiking tour.
Vis Island and the Blue & Green Caves: This full day excursion takes in three fascinating and incredibly unique parts of Croatia. The Blue Cave, where sunlight is reflected through the water, bathing the cave in aquamarine light, while objects in the water appear to be silver. The picturesque village of Komiza on the nearby Island of Vis is where you’ll stop for lunch and known for its rich cultural, historical and fishing traditions. You’ll also visit the Green Cave and have time for swimming at the pretty Stiniva Cove, which is only accessible for boat. Full details of the tour can be found here.
Korcula: Renowned for being the reputed birthplace of Marco Polo, Korcula offers a rich history and excellent beaches. Its fascinating Old Town is of course a little smaller than Dubrovnik’s but is still a wonderful place to explore. You can easily get to Korcula from Hvar Town by fast catamaran. Every day between May and September it departs early morning and returns in the evening making a full day trip perfectly feasible. Find more information about Korcula here.
