In 60 seconds
Hvar is the sunniest island in the Adriatic, celebrated for its Renaissance Venetian piazza, hilltop Spanish Fortress and pine-fringed archipelago of the Pakleni Islands. While Hvar Town glitters with superyachts and glamorous harbour cocktail lounges in high summer, the island's interior reveals quiet stone hamlets, terraced vineyards of indigenous Plavac Mali and the 2,400-year-old agricultural grid of the UNESCO Stari Grad Plain.
Best for
Known for
Skip if
You want budget island isolation in midsummer; Hvar Town is one of the Mediterranean's most sought-after party and yacht destinations in July and August.
Your match
Choose a few travel interests and we will show how well Hvar & Pakleni Islands fits them. Choose interests
See
The things that would make the trip incomplete without them.
16th-century fortress on a 100-metre hill above Hvar Town
Climb through fragrant pine and cactus gardens from the town piazza for the supreme panoramic view of Hvar harbour and the Pakleni chain.
Dalmatia's largest historic piazza · Baroque bell tower & Renaissance theatre
Stroll across the marble flagstones of this sweeping 4,500-square-metre square and visit Europe's oldest municipal theatre built in 1612.
15th-century seaside cloister · Historic Last Supper painting & ancient cypress
An oasis of quiet on a rocky promontory south of the harbour housing rare maritime maps and Venetian Renaissance paintings.
Emerald pine archipelago · Secluded pebble coves & beach clubs
Take a taxi boat from Hvar harbour to Palmižana on Sveti Klement for crystal-clear turquoise waters and lush botanical gardens.
UNESCO-listed ancient Greek agricultural parcel system from the 4th century BC
Rent a bicycle to ride through olive groves and dry-stone boundary walls that have preserved their original Greek survey lines for 2,400 years.
Renaissance fortified manor with saltwater fishpond in Stari Grad
Built by the Croatian Renaissance poet as an enclosed haven for travellers and poets, featuring seawater pools stocked with grey mullet.
Eat
A short list, kept short on purpose. Each entry answers one question: when is this the right choice?
Where to eat the food this city is actually known for.
Generous modern Dalmatian cooking in a lantern-lit stone alley
Famous for exuberant hospitality, black gnocchi with scampi and steak in truffle sauce tucked into a bustling historic alleyway.
Quirky bohemian stone tavern with vintage decor in historic Stari Grad
An intimate, soulful restaurant serving homemade pasta with goat cheese and slow-braised Dalmatian meats in an antique-laden house.
Worth planning the evening around.
Prestigious harbourfront seafood institution with glass aquarium floor
The premier celebrity dining table on Hvar's main promenade, presenting wild Adriatic John Dory, sea bass and scorpion fish caught that morning.
Art-filled open-air terrace immersed in Palmižana's exotic botanical garden
Dine on freshly grilled dentex and octopus salad surrounded by contemporary art, cacti and aromatic pines overlooking Vinogradišće bay.
Too few picks yet for their own heading, so they share this list.
Legendary narrow-alley stone pub & nightspot near the harbour
A long-running Hvar institution where evening drinks spill into the cobblestone steps with friendly international crowds.
Beyond the obvious
Less obvious, rarely queued for, and usually the part people remember.
Precipitous south-facing slopes plunging into the open Adriatic
Drive through the single-lane Pitve tunnel to taste deep, velvety Zlatan Otok Plavac Mali wines where vines cling to 45-degree sea slopes.
After dark
Luxury beach club with wooden treehouse perches above turquoise Palmižana waters
Recline on shaded daybeds in pine trees above the crystal bay while enjoying bespoke cocktails and sashimi.
Iconic waterfront lounge terrace on the Riva with sunset DJs
The focal point of Hvar's aperitivo scene where boaters and revellers gather for sundowners right on the yacht harbour quay.
Orientation
How the city is actually divided, and what each part is for.
The glamorous Venetian harbour citadel and nightlife epicentre
Bustling, sun-drenched and sophisticated with elegant stone palazzi, fine dining and boat departures to the islands.
Quiet ancient Greek harbour town on the northern bay
Atmospheric and unhurried with leafy stone squares, craft workshops and easy access to the fertile agricultural plains.
Picturesque fishing ports dubbed 'Little Venice' for stone canal bridges
Idyllic coastal settlements famous for wine cellars, olive oil mills and sheltered pine-flanked swimming bays.
Stay
Areas rather than hotels — pick the right one and the rest follows.
Luxury harbourfront boutique hotels and stone alley rooms
Steps from yachts, restaurants and water taxis, though best suited for travellers who enjoy evening energy.
Historic stone villas and tranquil boutique waterfront stays
The ideal peaceful base for exploring island wineries and quiet coves, connected to Split via the main car ferry terminal.
Secluded art villas tucked inside botanical gardens on Sveti Klement
Ultimate island tranquility immersed in pine forests and turquoise water, just a short private boat ride from Hvar Town.
Practical
Plan this trip — useful links
Context
Enough to make what you are looking at legible.
Greek colonists from Paros establish the settlement of Pharos (modern Stari Grad), laying out the still-intact land division grid of the plain.
Venetian Republic develops Hvar Town as its primary naval base in the central Adriatic, building the fortress, arsenal and city walls.
The Hvar Hygienic Society is founded, establishing the island as the pioneer of organized climatic health tourism in the Mediterranean.
Further out
Worth a day if you have one to spare.
Speedboat tour to the luminous sea cave on Biševo and Stiniva Cove
Depart early from Hvar harbour on an open-ocean speedboat excursion to see the cobalt glow of the Blue Cave.
Direct passenger catamaran to the famous Golden Horn pebble beach
Spend an easy day across the Hvar Channel exploring Bol harbour and swimming along the shifting white pebble spit of Zlatni Rat.
