Hvar Islands

Transportation and Accommodations

Getting There

The only way to get to Hvar is by boat with the main ferry companies being Jadrolrolinija and Krilo. It is possible to book Jadrolrolinija in advance. It is a bit difficult to figure out the ferry schedule, but would highly recommend purchasing your tickets ahead of time as they can sell out, especially in high season. It is also helpful to know exactly when you are going. The route you will likely be looking for is the ferry that runs from Split to Dubrovnik with stops at Brac, Hvar, Korcula and maybe a few smaller ones. When you go to the website and look at timetables, it will give you options for your starting and ending destination.

I took the ferry from Korcula and traveled to Hvar. We departed on the first ferry in the morning and came back on the last ferry at night. The ferry took about 1.5 hours between these two islands. Make sure to get to the ferry departure point early! There will be lines to board the ferry and our ferry left 15 minutes early.


Getting Around

The main areas of Hvar town can be accessed on foot. if you decide to venture out of the main town area, then you will need a vehicle or can look to rent bikes.


Getting Around

Stay in Hvar Town to be in a central location. Compared to Korcula, Hvar Town is much larger and turning into a more touristy destination. It used to be a location for the rich and elite to travel to with yachts, but now is becoming a party island, similar to Mykonos.


Things to do and see

Stephen’s Square

The main square in Hvar Town

Hvar Port

Pretty area with stands where locals are selling jewelry and other products

Franciscan Monastery

Located a short walk from the town center and along the water

Hvar Fortress

The fortress overlooks the town center of Hvar and yields beautiful views. To get to the fortress from sea level, start in the Old Town center.

From Old Town, walk up about 100 stairs on a street called Groda until you hit a main road. Across the street you’ll see a gate that has a picture of the fort on it. Enter this gate and continue your walk up. Here there are switchback trails that take you to the top. The whole trip only takes about 15-20 minutes. Note: do not leave the main trail (the side paths that seem like short cuts are actually dead ends).

At the top, there’s a great view of the town. You can pay a small fee (about $6) to go into the fortress and walk around. You do not need much time here, but there are some beautiful views over the town and the water.

Swimming and Sunbathing on the Beaches

West of Old Town

Heading west (left when you face the water) takes you many beaches with a lot going on. You follow a sidewalk path that roams around the edge of the island along the water. This is a nice path to just walk along. You’ll see people laying on their towels on rocks and you’ll pass one of the big hotels (Hotel Amfora). Near Hotel Amfora there is a beach club you can pay about 35 euros to lay out at. It looks very nice, but I would recommend walking further.

After you pass the hotel and round the next corner, you will see chairs bolted in on the rocks next to the water. For a relaxing day on the water, this is a nice place to spend the day. You are right on the water, the beds are comfortable and it is just breathtaking. The chairs cost 100 kuna each (about $15) and you can sit wherever you want. Someone will come around while you are sitting there to collect the payment.

If you continue to walk past these, you find some beach bars and other locations, but these chairs are on the rocks for a while so just pick your view and scene. As you walk further, the beaches get more desolate and less busy.

East of Old Town

Heading east (right when you face the water), first you will go by the Franciscan Monastery. After walking for about 20 minutes, you will reach Pokonji Dol (town’s main beach).


Food and Drinks

BB Club

Easy spot for a quick bite to eat and open earlier in the morning. Located in Hvar port near the ferry terminal, it has outdoor seating. The food was tasty and the restaurant had good service.

Beach Bars

Hvar has a reputation for a party scene. Be sure to check out some of the beach bars just outside of the main city center and grab a drink.


Other Notes

Korcula or Hvar?

Korcula town is tiny and can be seen in an hour, but is surrounded by mountains. The views are stunning with the mountains hovering over the the crystal clear, green and blue water. The island itself is relaxed, quieter, and quaint. Hvar is much larger and more developed, but also feels more touristy. It has more nightlife and lots of beach bars. Hvar has some great views too, but different, as the views are on smaller islands with more vegetation.

Unfortunately, you cannot day-trip from Hvar to Korcula (unless by private trip) using the ferries because the ferry times do not support a day trip this direction. You can do a day-trip to Hvar from Korcula. If you have more than 4 full days, I’d recommend 2 nights on each.


Navigation

Transportation and Accommodations

Things to do and see

Food and Drinks

The owner of this website has made a committment to accessibility and inclusion, please report any problems that you encounter using the contact form on this website. This site uses the WP ADA Compliance Check plugin to enhance accessibility.