Hvar Island

The enchanting island of Hvar is located in the Adriatic Sea directly off the Dalmatian coast. The 297.37 sq km island has an average of 2,718 hours of sunshine per year - perfect for a relaxing holiday. Visitors especially find the beaches on Hvar to be comparable to those of the French Riviera as they still exude the typical welcoming Mediterranean flair. In the air the tantalizing scent of blossoming lavender can be experienced in its heyday between mid to late June and early July when the whole island will be covered in a sea of flowers. This wonderful sight specifically attracts many visitors who want to see the delightful blossoms. The island has idyllic swimming coves, pebbly beaches and the wonderful blue sea- perfect for swimming as well as water sports. Hvar has its original preserved idyll that offers guests everything they are looking for on holiday: recreation, enough sunshine, beautiful beaches and a variety of cultural events.

The Beaches on Hvar - Mysterious Coves with Crystal Clear Water

A typical characteristic of the Croatian island of Hvar are its many hidden, secluded coves that are almost all perfectly suitable for sunbathing and swimming. The crystal clear, warm waters of the Adriatic provides the maximum bathing pleasure, just as it should be on vacation. Many beaches can be reached within a short time by car. Hikers enjoy exploring the island by foot or bicycle, strolling through the sparse pine forests and discovering the typical Mediterranean landscape. Right near the town of Hvar, small beautiful bays lure you to stay for a relaxing day at sea. Families with young children feel especially well at Pokonji Dol Beach, located on the eastern outskirts of the town and can be reached in an half an hour's walk from the center. Besides the well known and popular major beaches to be discovered are yet numerous other lonely and therefore hardly frequented bays. A tip by the way is to visit the wonderful beaches and coves of the Hell Islands that lie directly upstream of Hvar city and are regularly offer guides including small excursions and taxi boats. The largest of the Hell Islands, Sveti Klement, is also attractive with its Palmizana Marina, the oldest and most popular destination.

The Rich Cultural Heritage of Hvar

The island has been inhabited since early human history. At the time of the Greek/Roman antiquity, life flourished in Hvar, which still bear witness to numerous architectural buildings. Today's Stari Grad is the result of the early Ionian settlement of Pharos. Its cultural heritage is maintained and preserved by the island to this day. In the two main cities of Stari Grad and Hvar visitors can, in particular, admire numerous historical buildings. North of the town of Hvar is the former Venetian Fortress Fortica (Spanjola), located on a hill and lending to stunning views over the harbor and of the offshore islands in the sea. Additional points of interest include the small church of Sveti Marko, which now houses an archaeological museum, or the impressive Sveti Stjepan Cathedral (St. Stefan). Also worth a visit is the Franciscan monastery (Franjevački Samostan) in the southern old town, which hosts many concerts, especially in summer.

The Lavender Island Offers More than just an Idyll

Besides holiday activities such as swimming, hiking or water sports Hvar's two main cities have a lively nightlife - ideal for young and young at heart and all who know how to appreciate a good party. Finally, a good deal of fun is also part of recuperating- and what could be more fun than a great party? Hvar city in particular has a variety of restaurants, pubs, taverns, discos or clubs for extensive celebrations in the balmy Mediterranean nights.

How to get there

Hvar island in Croatia probably has the most ferry connections from its four ferry ports: Hvar (city), Jelsa, Stari Grad and Sucuraj are connected through the Jadrolinija ship company to some of the most important port cities on the mainland and to the numerous surrounding islands. The most important connections are the two car ferries routes: route 635 connects Stari Grad on Hvar with the port city of Split in 120 minutes and the crossing from Drvenik up to Sucuraj on Hvar lasts only 35 minutes. Although the ferry from Split travels for a much longer time- and, due to the longer travel time, it is more expensive and travels "only" seven times per day- it is the first choice for most visitors to the island. It is first choice because there is a disadvantage to the ferry service from Drvenik running eleven times a day. Although it is quick and inexpensive, the ferry port on Drvenik can only be reached after about 2 hours of driving (from Split) on well-developed coastal roads.

Split is also connected to Hvar by catamarans, setting sail once per day. At the same time, these routes offer the opportunity to visit other islands. The route number 9603 connects Jelsa (Hvar) with Bol (Brac) and Split, the route number 9604 runs from Ubli over Vela Luka and Hvar to Split and the number 9608 route connects Korčula with Prigradica (Korcula), Hvar and Split. By the way: It is also possible to visit the island by ferry from Rijeka. The comparatively expensive crossing from Istria to Dalmatia is always run from June to September on Mondays and Fridays and has an overnight crossing with a duration of almost 24 hours. Parallel to the Jadrolinija company, many ferry crossings are operated to the surrounding islands and to Split by the Kapetan Luka ship company. For example, they run routes once a week from Split to Hvar (city), twice a week from Dubrovnik to Hvar (city) and once a week from Vis to Hvar (city).