Photo: Carsten Steger · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Hvar
A sunny island town with a hilltop fortress and boat-hop beaches.
A long, sunny island south of Split. Hvar town has a harbour of white stone, a grand square and a hilltop fortress, with taxi boats to the pine-covered Pakleni Islands for swimming. It has a big party reputation in July and August, with loud nights round the harbour; quieter Stari Grad, across the island, keeps an ancient Greek field plain. Many places close from November to March.
Places to see
- Hvar town harbour and RivaWalk · A horseshoe harbour of pale stone houses, palm trees and yachts, with the fortress on the…Free
St Stephen's Square and the cathedralChurch · A long stone square running up from the harbour, one of the largest in Dalmatia, ending…Free
Fortica (Spanish Fortress)Sight · A fortress on the hill above town, reached by a zigzag path through pines and agave, with…≈ A$18
When to go
- Jan12° / 6°Often wetQuiet
- Feb12° / 6°Some rainQuiet
- Mar15° / 8°Some rainQuiet
- Apr18° / 11°Some rainQuiet
- May22° / 15°Mostly dryBusy
- Jun27° / 19°Mostly dryBusy
- Jul30° / 22°Mostly dryVery busy
- Aug30° / 22°Mostly dryVery busy
- Sep
Staying and getting around
Good areas to stay
Hvar town. The harbour, square and fortress; hostels and rooms on the slopes. Lively and loud in July and August, dear all summer.
Stari Grad. The quieter old town on the north side, where the car ferry lands; cheaper rooms and the ancient field plain, 25 minutes by bus from Hvar town.
Flying in
Split Airport (SPU): Airport bus to Split port, then the catamaran to Hvar town, about 2 h 30 min, ≈ A$44. Catamarans are few outside summer: check the times before you fly (check).
Flewaway's estimate for the usual budget way into Hvar town; check times and fares before you fly.
By ferry
Hvar is reached by ferry from Split ferry port. Catamarans from Split to Hvar town take about 1 h; car ferries go to Stari Grad, with a bus over to Hvar town. Buy ahead in summer (check).
Getting around
Mostly on foot. A single ticket is ≈ A$7. Hvar town is small and on foot. Car ferries land near Stari Grad, and island buses timed to them cross to Hvar town (about €3–5); taxi boats leave the harbour for the Pakleni Islands (check).
Tourist tax
Hvar's tourist tax: usually about €1.50–2.50 a person a night, by season; under-12s don't pay and teenagers pay less. Often added at check-in (check).
