After spending four days on this incredible island, I wanted to share with you my ultimate guide to Hvar, Croatia. It was a whirlwind of a time and couldn’t help but fall in love with Hvar. There’s something about the stone town that sits up on the Adriatic, reflecting back over the glassy waters.
Hvar Town 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, makes it’s one of those places you can’t miss while visiting Croatia.
The Ultimate Guide to Hvar, Croatia
Helpful travel tips for Hvar, Croatia
- Be sure to book your ferry tickets online in advance via Jadrolinija.
- Hvar Town is walkable in itself, though a car would be good to see more of the island.
- You could easily spend a week here, I’d recommend a minimum of 3 nights to enjoy it.
- Most places will take credit card though some are cash only. There are plenty of ATM’s around.
- Be sure to double check if the seafood is fresh when ordering.
- Find more guides on Croatia here.
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.
Best Hotels in Hvar Town:
Staying at Little Green Bay:
This 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.
Search for Hvar hotels here:
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: The most recently craft coffee shop has 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.
- Konoboa Maestro: Head here for the classics.
- Green Goodness Hvar: Come here for fresh juices and smoothies.
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.
- Beach hop: You’ll find plenty of beaches to choose from across the island and one of our favorites was Hvar Beach with Pokonij Dol restaurant right there. ( A few other beaches include: Robinsons Bay, Mekicevica Beach, Dubovica, Zarace Beach.)
- Explore the island: One option is to rent a car for the time and explore the many towns across.
- Spend a day in Stari Grad: Known as the “little Venice,” this small town is picturesque and stunning to explore.
Save this post for later on Pinterest:
PS — Are You Booking a Trip Soon? Use My Booking Checklist!
These are the sites I use most to book my own trips. Using the links below is a great way to support Bon Traveler’s travel journalism at no extra cost to you. If you need help organizing your itinerary, get my free travel itinerary template here.
1. Book Your Flights
Use Skyscanner to find the best flights. It searches 100s of airlines and websites across the globe to ensure you’re not missing out on any route options or deals.
2. Book Your Accommodations
Use Booking.com for hotels and guest houses. They have the biggest inventory and consistently offer the best rates.
3. Book Your Tours & Experiences
Use Viator or Get Your Guide to find the best tours and experiences. They are my favorite tour search engines. I always check both as their inventory varies depending on the destination.
4. Book Your Car
Use Discover Cars or Rentalcars.com to find the best car rental deals. I recommend comparing rental agency reviews on Google to ensure you are booking with the best company in that destination, as the reviews are often more accurate than the car rental search engines.
5. Don’t Forget Airport Lounge Access
Get a Priority Pass membership to gain access to 1,400+ VIP lounges and airport experiences worldwide. The Priority Pass app is the first thing I check when I have a layover. I’ve been a member for over a decade, and having a comfortable place to relax before and between flights makes air travel so much more enjoyable.
6. Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
I never leave the country without travel insurance. It provides comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong (ie. illness, injury, theft, and cancelations, etc.). I use it frequently for my travels to stay protected.
My favorite companies that offer the best coverage and rates are:
- World Nomads (best for all-around)
- Safety Wing (best for frequent travelers)
Xx,
Jessica
2 Comments
What a wonderful post!! My parents live on Hvar and we often go there, back to our roots and heritage, it’s a beautiful part of the world!! Your photos are wonderful!! There are sooooo many hidden gems on Hvar, one must spend a whole summer there to just crack through the surface. X
Hvar town is beautiful, I can never get tired of it.