Hvar
★ 4.7🇭🇷 HvarSuggested visit 2-3 daysBest season May to June and September to October, comfortable and quieter
Island escapeHistoric siteBeach
The sunniest island in the Adriatic, a stone harbour town beneath a hilltop fortress and lavender fields.
Overview
About 68 kilometres long, Hvar is one of the best-known resort islands in the Adriatic. Its harbour town is ringed by Venetian stone buildings and the church of Saint Stephen, with a Spanish fortress above looking out to the Pakleni Islands. Lavender and olives have been grown here for centuries, and the island also holds the World Heritage plain of Stari Grad and several quiet coves.
History
Settled since Greek antiquity and ruled by Venice for centuries in the Middle Ages, it was an important Adriatic shipping and trading base.
Highlights
- •The Spanish fortress over the harbour
- •Saint Stephen's Square and church
- •Island hopping to the Pakleni Islands
- •The Stari Grad plain
Practical tips
- •July and August are busy and expensive — book months ahead
- •The stone surfaces glare; bring sun protection
Practical information
- Best time
- May-June, September-October
- Tickets
- Fortress about EUR 5
- Opening hours
- Town open all day; fortress 9:00-21:00
- Local food
- Dalmatian seafood, lavender honey, local wine
- Getting around
- About one to two hours by ferry from Split.
- Visa
- A Schengen visa is required (Croatia is now in the Schengen area); apply about a month ahead.
Traveller reviews
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