The Ultimate Guide to Hvar, Croatia

Originally published September 2019. Updated September 2024.

After spending four days on this incredible island, I wanted to share my ultimate guide to Hvar, Croatia. It was a whirlwind of a time, and I couldn’t help but fall in love with Hvar. There’s something about the stone town that sits up on the Adriatic Sea, reflecting back over the glassy waters.

Hvar Town, the largest town on the island, is breathtaking, especially as you make the approach by the many catamarans available from Split. The Fortica Spanjola towers over the town, and tiny, intertwining paths work their way up to one of the best views over town. It’s easy to see why many head there for sunset. Along the way, little boutiques and restaurants spill out onto the cobblestone streets, filling the air with a buzzing excitement. There’s no shortage of energy on this island.

Hvar, Croatia, is one of the top islands to visit and is an accessible stopping point from Dubrovnik or Split. Clear turquoise waters, matched only by equally beautiful villages like Hvar, Stari Grad, Jelsa, and Velo Grablje make it one of those places you can’t miss while visiting Croatia.

Short on Time? Here Are My Top Picks for the Best Hotels on Hvar:

Best Hotels in Hvar Town

1. Hotel Adriana, for the best contemporary hotel
2. Riva Marina, for the best classic hotel
3. Amorfa Hvar Grand Beach Resort, for the best resort hotel

Best Hotels in Stari Grad

1. Heritage Villa Apolon, for the best B&B stay

Best Hotels in Jelsa

1. Labranda Senses Resort, for the best luxury hotel
2. Croatia, for the best B&B stay

Where We Stayed:

1. Little Green Bay, for the best secluded hotel

For more hotel recommendations, check out my guide to the best boutique hotels in Hvar. If you’re planning to explore more of Croatia, be sure to browse all of my guides on Croatia!

Travel Tip: The best way to explore the island of Hvar is by driving yourself. We use Discover Cars for our rental cars in Europe, choose full coverage insurance, and opt for trusted companies like Alamo, Hertz, or Sixt. Renting a car and driving in France is quite easy. Book your car with Discover Cars here.

The Ultimate Hvar Travel Guide

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Helpful Travel Tips for Hvar, Croatia

Getting to Hvar from Split

If you’re looking to visit the islands from Split, the ferries from Split to Hvar run roughly every hour from 8am to 7:15pm. Be sure to book your ferry tickets online in advance via Jadrolinija.

Do You Need a Car to Visit Hvar?

Hvar Town is walkable in itself, though a rental car would be good to see more of the island.

Rental Car Tip: I use Discover Cars for our rental cars in Europe, choose full coverage insurance, and opt for trusted companies like Alamo, Hertz, or Sixt.

How Much Time Is Needed to Visit Hvar?

You could easily spend a week here. I’d plan to visit a minimum of 3 nights to enjoy it.

What is the Best Time of Year for Weather On Hvar?

My favorite time of year to visit is early Autumn (September to October). The weather and water is warm and there are notably less tourists compared to the summer season (June to August).

Have Some Cash on Hand

Though most places take credit cards, some are cash only. I always recommend having some cash on hand in case. There are plenty of ATM’s in Hvar Town.

Make Sure Seafood is Fresh

Be sure to double check if the seafood is fresh when ordering.

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Where to Stay in Hvar, Croatia

There are a few options for hotels in Hvar and depends entirely on the experience you want. We opted to stay in Hvar Town for one night so we could easily access the town and some spots we had bookmarked. Afterward, we headed out to a corner of the island for a few days of relaxation at a luxury boutique hotel called Little Green Bay. For my full list of recommendations, read my guide to the best boutique hotels in Hvar.

Best Hotels in Hvar Town

1. Hotel Adriana, for the best contemporary hotel
2. Riva Marina, for the best classic hotel
3. Amorfa Hvar Grand Beach Resort, for the best resort hotel

Best Hotels in Stari Grad

1. Heritage Villa Apolon, for the best B&B stay

Best Hotels in Jelsa

1. Labranda Senses Resort, for the best luxury hotel
2. Croatia, for the best B&B stay

Where We Stayed: Little Green Bay

Little Green Bay was our one splurge during the trip to Croatia, and we loved the privacy of the hotel. It sits out over its own Bay. I think it’s a little pricey for what it is; however, the rooms are beautiful, and it was one of the few boutique luxury hotels I could find. There are only a dozen or so rooms, which makes it feel intimate.

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Where to Eat in Hvar, Croatia

Fig Cafe

One of the most popular spots, we stopped in for lunch and their flatbread. Really yummy food and worth the wait.

Kava37

Kava37 is one of the newer craft coffee shops opened in Hvar and it’s a dream. This place is tucked up a street, and combined with a pretty interior, I had one of the best coffees there. They also do fresh pastries in the morning.

Macondo

One of the more popular seafood restaurants and incredibly tasty food. Unfortunately I had one bad mussel (not at all the restaurants fault!) here and it sent me over the edge. I would still recommend this restaurant as it was so lovely and would definitely return on my next trip there.

Lungo Mare

This was one of the top restaurants recommend to us by a local, and mentioned their seafood to be the best. Unfortunately couldn’t make it here.

Dalmatino

A solid choice for an array of dishes from seafood to pasta.

Konoba Maestro

Head here for the classics.

Kantun

Come here for fresh juices and smoothies.

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Things to Do in Hvar, Croatia

Explore Old Town

You could spend a good afternoon walking around the alleyways here.

Make the Hike up to the Fortress

I would head early in the morning or for sunset from Fortica Spanjola and soak in the views.

Rent a Boat

You’ll see plenty of vendors offering boat rentals and with the Paklinski Islands right there, you could make a day of it and venture down the coastline towards the village of Sveta Nedilja.

Beach Hop

You’ll find plenty of beaches to choose from across the island, and one of our favorites was Pokonji dol Beach which has a restaurant of the same name a couple-minute walk away that overlooks the bay. A few other notable beaches on the island include Robinson Beach, Strand Mekicevica, Plaža Dubovica, and Plaža Malo Zaraće.

Explore the Island

One option is to rent a car for the time and explore the many towns across the island. I wish we’d done this during our time there.

Rental Car Tip: I use Discover Cars for our rental cars in Europe, choose full coverage insurance, and opt for trusted companies like Alamo, Hertz, or Sixt.

Spend a Day in Stari Grad

Known as the “Little Venice,” this small town is picturesque and stunning to explore — making it one of the best day trips if you’re based in Hvar Town.

Go Olive Oil Tasting

The island is known for its olive oil, and a great option if you don’t feel like renting a car is to consider a private island and olive oil tasting tour. This tour takes you through a number of villages and lavender fields across the island before visiting one of the island’s best local olive oil producers. This wine and olive oil tasting experience in Jelsa is another good option.

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