Hvar is the longest and sunniest island on the Adriatic: the sun shines here for 2718 hours a year! Small medieval towns, numerous bays and lavender that you can smell everywhere, lush subtropical vegetation and a mild climate make this island one of the most beautiful holiday destinations in Croatia. Life on Hvar, the island's capital, is vibrant day and night.

The best time to visit the island is June, when the soft purple lavender and pink oleander bloom, making the island fantastically beautiful and fragrant. The weather is nice and the prices are not too expensive and the crowds are not too large.

How to get there

To get to the island is possible only by water. There are three ferry lines which connect Hvar with the mainland: Jelsa - Bol - Split, Sučuraj - Drvenik and Stari Grad - Split. You can also take a catamaran from Split.

From the harbour, travellers can admire the rich island life: bushes of oleander, olive trees and grapes hide picturesque houses with red-tiled roofs and provide shade to the streets.

A little history

The island was inhabited in antiquity — the archaeological finds refer to 3-4 thousand years BC.. The Slavic tribes came to the island in the 8th century and before that the island was inhabited by the Greeks and then the Romans. In 1147, the Venetians occupied the island and it changed hands a number of times, as did many other places and islands in the region. The island became a part of the independent Croatia in 1990.

Hotels and restaurants

Finding accommodation on the island (as well as everywhere else in Croatia) is not a problem: numerous hotels, private villas and apartments welcome tourists. The main thing is not to make a wrong choice, but the choice is a purely personal matter. Restaurants on the island offer a variety of seafood dishes, as is common to all the islands in the area. The seafood is fresh, tasty and prepared in the local tradition. But for those who can't stomach the cuisine, international dishes are always on the menu. No matter which cuisine one chooses, one should wash down with one of the local wines.

There are many great Hvar Island Hotels, each with its own unique charm and appeal. Some of the most popular hotels on the island include the Little Green Bay Hvar, the Beach Bay Hvar Hotel, and the Hvar Island Hotel. The Adriana Hvar Spa Hotel is a luxurious and elegant hotel that features stunning views of the Adriatic Sea. It offers a variety of amenities and services, including a spa, a fitness center, and a pool. The Hotel Palace Hvar is a beautiful and historic hotel that is located in the heart of the city of Hvar. It offers guests a variety of rooms and suites, all of which are elegantly furnished and feature stunning views of the town or the sea. The Hvar Island Hotel is a popular hotel that is located on a hill overlooking the town of Hvar. It offers guests a variety of rooms and suites, all of which are spacious and feature beautiful views.

Transport

It must be noted that public transport on the island is almost non-existent, so there are two ways to ensure yourself the freedom to move around the island: the first is to rent a car (the more usual way), the second is to rent a moped (more authentic).

Hvar's main resorts

Jelsa, a port town on the northern coast of the island of Hvar, is one of Croatia's first nudist centres. There are beautiful sandy beaches here, east of the town centre is the sandy bay of Milna, and on the small peninsula of Glavica is the Soline thermal spa.

Shopping and souvenirs

The most popular souvenir from Hvar is lavender, which grows in abundance and during its blooming season it makes the island look magical. On the island, lavender comes in all shapes and forms, from sachets of dried flowers exuding a delicate aroma to lavender beauty products and perfumes that have remarkable properties, to simple lavender panels.

Hvar's attractions and sights

Highlights on the island include the oldest public theatre in Europe, dating back to 1612, and the Renaissance cathedral with its original bell tower, a rich sacristy and paintings by old masters. There is also the Franciscan monastery in Chvara, Hectorović's residence in Stari Grad, the church in Jels and the Venetian castle in Sucurai.

The capital and largest town on the island is Hvar. It is a beautiful old town of great importance in European culture: it is included in the UN list of Historic Mediterranean Cities. The main attraction and focal point of the town is the Cathedral of St. Stephen, built in the 16th century. In the 17th century, a bell tower was added to it, which offers a wonderful view of not only the city and the island on which it stands, but also the surrounding islands. Inside the cathedral you can admire a collection of ancient paintings and objects of worship. An interesting point of interest: on the square in front of the cathedral is the City Well.

Due to the island's natural characteristics, it is difficult to find fresh water and for this reason, wells are treated with respect. On the picturesque hill of Sveti Nikola stands a fortress from the Napoleonic times. It has long since lost its strategic importance, but it offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding countryside. One wonders if it was built for military purposes. Perhaps just for the love of beautiful panoramas? The third point, from which one can catch a glimpse of a large space, is the clock tower. The monumental arsenal building, built in the 16th and 17th centuries, although it looks heavy, is an ornament to the city. Incidentally, one of Europe's first community theatres was opened on its first floor in 1612. Not far from the town of Hvar there is a Franciscan monastery in the bay of Kriza. Its vaults harbour a rich collection of antiquities: beautiful and expensive books, coins from different periods, pictures of old masters, among which are many works of the Venetian Palma del Vecchio. It is interesting to stroll through the cloister's Renaissance roofed gallery.

Life sometimes surprises. For example, not far from Hvar, there are the Hell Islands. They got their name in ancient times because tar was boiled here to impregnate ships. Today, the place by such a chilling name is a world-famous nudist resort with wonderful pebble-sand beaches.