Island Hvar Croatia – Why You Need To Visit Now!

If you have already visited Croatia, chances are you already heard of a stunning Croatian island named Hvar! Hvar Island is located in the south of Croatia, the region called Dalmatia. Being the sunniest Croatian island, with over 2726 hours of sunshine per year, Hvar is by far one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country! It is known for its rich cultural heritage, beautiful beaches on the Pakleni islands, crystal clear sea, incredible sunsets and party that doesn’t stop! With this being said no wonder it is visited by many young people, from backpackers to sailers and not to mention quite a number of yachts which make the harbour look stunning! This place is what Europe traveling is all about!

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Hvar is that kind of a place where you just want to take a picture of every old, narrow street, every corner and every palm tree! The charming old town makes you imagine what the city used to look like. Its rich history and beautiful architecture make it a place where every stone house has it’s own story and you are there to listen. The smell of pine trees as you walk next to the sea awakens the summer feeling in you and sets you in a proper relax mode. 

Island Hvar, Croatia

Island Hvar really does have it’s hidden secrets, and to explore them all you will need a few days. Next to Hvar there are three other smaller towns that can’t be overlooked, their names are Stari Grad, Jelsa and Vrboska. Each of these towns has its own story and is equaly beautiful.

Stari Grad (“Old Town”) is one of the oldest towns in Europe, but that wasn’t always its name! That is to say, when greeks came to the island they named it Pharos. From that time dates the Stari Grad Plan, a system of land use with dry wall boundaries dating back to 4th century BC. In the peak of summer Stari Grad is pretty opposite from Hvar. Therefore, the streets are calmer and more quiet. It makes it a good mix between the lively nights in Hvar and relaxed afternoons in Stari Grad.

Jelsa is a town situated on the north coast of the island, a perfect place for a true relaxed holiday.

Vrboska is a small town with a yachting marina. People like to call it little Venice because of its long fjord looking bay that separates the town into two parts connected with bridges.

Things to do in Hvar

Let’s talk about things to do in Hvar. Hvar is not a place you can discover and explore in just one day! However, if that is all you have, pick some that you prefer and have time to do! I will write a list of my favourite things to do in this beautiful town! 

Here we go:

Explore the old part of Hvar

The old charming streets are something you don’t want to miss while here! Walk trough them, explore every corner and soak everything in! Keep your head up and look at the stunning architecture of this place! Trust me you will have your phone gallery full of these cute narrow streets (at least I do!). 

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Walk to Fortress Španjola

This is the famous view spot and also an amazing spot to take a picture of the town (and yourself with it of course!) There are 2 ways to get to it. First way is walking from the city centre (near the Cathedral) and talking the stairs through the whole old part and then walking up hill trough a beautiful botanic garden where you can take a rest at one of the lounge chairs. Walking takes about 15-20min. The second way to get there is by road if you have a scooter or a car. But then you will miss out on the beautiful views of the town along the way! 

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Walk along the coast

Walking along the coast is the best way to explore the town! The whole promenade is about 5km long! Best part of it is that you will see the Pakleni Islands from wherever you stand! This is a great way to get to know the town better and you will be able to orientate much easier. Meanwhile, you will also find quite a number of tempting places to jump in the sea, so make sure you have your bathing suit with you!

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Explore the Pakleni Islands

This is something you want to have a whole day for! There are two ways to go there. First one is by taking a boat from the harbour that goes every half an hour starting from 9 am until 4/5/6pm. You pay the ticket while going there for both ways so that when you are going back you don’t have to pay again. The boat ride takes about 20/30 min. The second way is renting a boat for the whole day and exploring Pakleni islands as long as you want. This gives you more freedom and you can visit more places and hidden beaches which are not accessible by foot. My recommendation on boat renting.

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Rent Kayaks in Pakleni Islands

One of the stops with the boat to get to Pakleni Islands is Ždrilca bay. Here you can rent kayaks from Tomislav who ownes a restaurant there called Tri Grede. This is an amazing way to explore the coast and see it from the sea side while having fun and swimming wherever you want! 

Rent a scooter and drive around Island Hvar, Croatia

This is the best way to explore not just the town but the whole island! You can rent a scooter for 250kn for the whole day and drive wherever you want! From beaches like Dubovica & Milna, to towns like Stari Grad, Jelsa & Vrboska, to lavander fields and small villages all along the road! You can choose 2 ways to explore the island, one is the new road that goes trough a tunnel and the other that passes trough villages and is much more scenic! The second one is my recommendation! Click here for rental recommendation!

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Boat ride around Pakleni Islands

A great way to see all Pakleni Islands while sunbathing on the deck, swimming and visiting different places. These tours start around 11 am and end around 5 pm. You can visit places like Red Rocks where you stop for swimming and snorkeling, jumping off of cliffs or entering the caves! After that, you visit Palmižana where you can have lunch and relax even more after the adventures day! 

Try local cuisine at one of many restaurants

Local cuisine is something you want to try wherever you go, so Hvar is no exception! For example, some of the local dishes you have to try, especially if you are a fish lover are gregada and brudet! Konoba Menego and Restaurant Macondo are some of the best local restaurants with long tradition. 

Scuba diving

Ok, who wouldn’t want to try scuba diving in a place with crystal clear sea as Hvar? I know I would! The diving spots are mostly around the stunning archipelago of Pakleni Islands with rich underwater life! 

Skydiving above Hvar

As much as I want to do this I’m quite sure I’m not ready! For adrenaline junkies this is a dream come true! Flying over one of the most beautiful islands in the world? Yes please! 

Wine tasting

Try local wines while taking part in one of many different wine tours! From half day, full day, vineyard wine tasting and many more, you will be on a journey trough history of Hvar and its vineyards!

Where to stay?

Hvar town offers many different types of accommodation,  from apartments, rooms, hotels, hostels, villas, camp sites… You can find something for everyone! Click here to find best accommodation that suites you!

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How to get to Island Hvar, Croatia?

There are 2 main ways to get to the island. One is by catamaran and one by ferry. Another option is renting a private speedboat to take you to the Island! The catamaran takes about an hour and departs from the Split harbour and arrives to Hvar harbour. There are 2 ferries that go to the island, one is from Split harbour and takes around 2 hours and arrives to Stari Grad which is a 30 min drive from Hvar town. The other ferry departs from Drvenik, it takes 30min and arrives to Sućuraj which is 75km from Hvar town. 

Explore more!

I hope you will enjoy your visit to Hvar and try out some of these recommendations! If you want to keep up with all the new blog posts, subscribe to my mailing list and be sure not to miss any! You can check out some of my other blogs here! For now make sure to live, laugh, love, eat well, travel often and be kind! See you in the next blog post!

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