Hvar Activities

Central Dalmatia · Hvar Island, Split-Dalmatia County

Lavender Fields, Greek Farmland and Venetian Towns on Hvar

Where to stay, the best tours and realistic itineraries — everything you need to book Hvar with confidence.

⭐ Recommended
HvarPale stone bell tower of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Hvar Town against blue sky
  • 58 guides

Hvar is an Adriatic island off Split, the usual gateway. Catamarans carry foot passengers to Hvar Town in about an hour; the Jadrolinija car ferry docks outside Stari Grad, a 20-minute drive away. Hvar Town has the most restaurants, bars and boat trips; Stari Grad, Jelsa and Vrboska are calmer and better value. Buses run along the main road, but a car or scooter is the easiest way to reach inland villages, wineries and south-coast beaches.

Good to know

  • Catamaran from Split to Hvar Town
  • Car ferry from Split to Stari Grad
  • Hvar Town centre closed to cars
  • Fortica a 20-minute walk above town

Why visit Hvar

  1. Greek fields from the 4th century BC

    Stari Grad Plain, UNESCO-listed since 2008, keeps the plots and dry-stone walls laid out by settlers from Paros. Cycling is the popular way to see it.

  2. Venetian Hvar Town

    The Pjaca, Dalmatia's largest square, the 1612 theatre in the Arsenal, and the Fortica fortress with views over the Pakleni Islands.

  3. Pakleni Islands by taxi boat

    A chain of islets just off Hvar Town. Palmižana bay and Jerolim islet are the best-known stops.

  4. Lavender around Velo Grablje

    The lavender route near Velo Grablje is a classic drive or hike, with fields at their best in June and July.

  5. Wine, olive oil and konobas

    Inland vineyards, wineries and traditional taverns sit among abandoned hillside villages.

Where to stay

Where to stay on Hvar

Hvar Town

First visits and nightlife

Most restaurants, bars, boat trips and catamaran links, but the busiest and priciest. Rooms back from the Riva or west of the centre are quieter. Steep, pedestrian-only lanes.

Which area suits you?

Stari Grad

Families and drivers

The island's oldest town, with a flatter, calmer centre next to the Stari Grad Plain. Generally cheaper than Hvar Town and close to the car ferry.

Which area suits you?

Jelsa

Value

A relaxed harbour town on the north coast with better-value stays and shallow swimming nearby.

Which area suits you?

Vrboska

Quiet and cycling

A small village between Stari Grad and Jelsa, called Little Venice for its sea canal and bridges. Easiest with a car.

Which area suits you?

Milna, Zavala and Sveta Nedjelja

Beach stays

Smaller south-coast villages, including Ivan Dolac, built around beaches rather than sights.

Which area suits you?

Sućuraj

Drivers from the south

The remote eastern tip, linked by car ferry to Drvenik on the mainland. Far from the main towns, with few buses.

Which area suits you?

Start here

Things to do in Hvar

When to go

  1. April–May

    Mild weather for walking and sightseeing, fewer crowds. Sea cool in April, swimmable by late May. Boat trips start and the Za Križen procession is held at Easter.

  2. June and September

    Warm sea, gentler heat, fewer people and lower prices than peak season. June brings the lavender bloom.

  3. July–August

    Hottest weather and warmest sea, but the busiest and most expensive time. Book restaurants and tours; the Hvar Summer Festival runs klapa and classical concerts.

  4. October–March

    Quieter as the season winds down, then winter with rain, strong winds and far fewer ferries, buses and services.

Weather

Weather in Hvar

Weather by month →

Hvar weather by month

Hvar weather by month
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSeptOctNovDec
High / Low (°C)
12°
10°
12°
10°
14°
11°
16°
14°
20°
17°
24°
21°
26°
24°
27°
24°
23°
21°
20°
18°
17°
15°
14°
11°
Rain (mm)
85
81
74
58
48
42
24
33
80
80
114
109

Average daily high and low (°C) and monthly rainfall (mm) · Forecast: MET Norway (yr.no) · Climate averages: NASA POWER

Practical tips

  • The car ferry from Split docks about 2 km outside Stari Grad, not in Hvar Town, so plan for a 20-minute drive or the connecting bus.
  • Book car spaces on the Split–Stari Grad ferry ahead in summer, as they can sell out.
  • Cover up before walking into Hvar Town, which issues large on-the-spot fines for swimwear or going shirtless.
  • Leave the car outside Hvar Town, where the centre is closed to traffic and parking is difficult.
  • Outside summer, check timetables before you travel, as catamarans and island buses run far less often.

Just published

Latest guides