Hvar Island, Croatia

Hvar is an island in central Dalmatia, southern Croatia, about 40 km south of Split in the Adriatic Sea, between the islands of Brač and Korčula. Hvar Town sits on the south-western coast, Stari Grad and Jelsa on the northern side. See all 28 places on Hvar.

Fly to Split, then take the catamaran from the city port to Hvar Town (about an hour) or the car ferry to Stari Grad (two hours). From the mainland to the south, the Drvenik to Sućuraj ferry takes 35 minutes, and in summer a catamaran links Dubrovnik and Hvar Town in about three hours. A water taxi from Split Airport brings you to your door in 90 minutes. See the ferry and catamaran timetables and our guide on how to get to Hvar.

Three to four days cover Hvar Town, the Pakleni islands and one day across the island to Stari Grad and Jelsa. A week lets you add the south coast beaches, a wine tasting in Sveta Nedjelja and a boat day to the Blue Cave or Vis. Our list of things to do on Hvar helps you plan the days.

Hvar Town in July and August is among the priciest places on the Croatian coast, with dinner for two on the Riva easily over 100 euros. Stari Grad, Jelsa, Vrboska and the villages cost noticeably less, and May, June and September are 30 to 40 percent cheaper than peak summer across the whole island.

Split is a city base with day trips; Hvar is the island stay. If you want the sea every day, quiet evenings and beaches you can walk to, stay on Hvar and visit Split on the way in or out. Our guide to where to stay on Hvar compares the towns and the types of accommodation.

Late May to June and September: the sea is 22 to 25 °C, everything is open and prices are lower. July and August are the hottest and busiest weeks. Early October is still swimmable and very quiet, and from November to April many restaurants close and ferries run less often.

Dubovica, Pokonji Dol and Mekićevica near Hvar Town, Palmižana and Stipanska on the Pakleni islands, Grebišće and Mina by Jelsa, and Zavala and Ivan Dolac on the south coast. Almost all Hvar beaches are pebble or smooth rock with very clear water; sandy beaches are rare. Our guide to 38 beaches ranks them all.

Not if you stay in Hvar Town: the old town, the harbour and the nearby beaches are on foot, and taxi boats cover the Pakleni islands. For the south coast, the east and the inland villages a car or scooter helps, and the ferries to Stari Grad and Sućuraj carry cars.

Hvar Town has the famous bar scene, from Hula Hula at sunset to Carpe Diem Beach on the Pakleni islands, but it stays within a few streets. The rest of the island is quiet: Stari Grad, Jelsa and Vrboska are family towns, and the south coast villages are as calm as the Adriatic gets.

Sunshine, lavender and wine: the island counts more than 2,700 sunny hours a year, its lavender fields bloom in June, and Plavac Mali and Bogdanuša are grown on the southern slopes. Stari Grad Plain is a UNESCO World Heritage site, Hvar Town has the oldest public theatre in Europe (1612), and the Pakleni islands are a short boat ride away.