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Hvar Town harbour and its yachts

No. 9 25 Great Islands to Visit 2026

Hvar

Dalmatia, Croatia

A sunny Dalmatian island of lavender fields, a Venetian harbour town and clear coves.

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Photo: Alex Proimos from Sydney, Australia, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Hvar, off the Dalmatian coast of Croatia, is one of the sunniest places in the Adriatic. Hvar Town has a Renaissance square, a hilltop fortress and a busy harbour.

Away from the town are lavender fields, vineyards, quiet villages and the Pakleni Islands just offshore. The Stari Grad Plain, with ancient Greek field divisions, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Hvar panorama south
Hvar panorama south. Photo: Adbar, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Former St. Mark's Church, Hvar
Former St. Mark's Church, Hvar. Photo: Gampe, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
St. Stephen's Cathedral, Hvar
St. Stephen's Cathedral, Hvar. Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Best time to visit

May, June and September for warm weather without the peak crowds. July and August are busiest.

Highlights

  • 1

    Hvar Town

    The main square, cathedral and Spanish Fortress above the harbour.

  • 2

    Pakleni Islands

    Pine-covered islets with coves, reached by water taxi.

  • 3

    Stari Grad

    One of the oldest towns in Europe, with a UNESCO-listed plain.

  • 4

    Lavender fields

    Usually in bloom in June and early July.

  • 5

    Dubovica

    A cove beach on the south coast.

Getting there

Car ferries run from Split to Stari Grad in about 2 hours, and catamarans from Split to Hvar Town in about 1 hour. Split airport is the nearest.

Practical tips

Opening & tickets
Opening times, ticket rules and transport timetables change, so check official information before you go.
Time needed
Two to four days.

Official information: Hvar Tourist Board (official website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

Map

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