The fortress above Hvar town

Island guide · Hvar

Hvar: Our Favourites

The sunniest and most glamorous of the Dalmatian islands: Hvar Town and its fortress, the Arsenal theatre, the Stari Grad Plain, the Pakleni islands, where to eat and stay, and how to get there.

Island feature

Hvar: glamour and history

Yachts in the harbour, a Venetian fortress above the town, fields laid out by the ancient Greeks and islands just offshore: Hvar has it all.

The fortress above Hvar town
The fortress above Hvar town
The Stari Grad Plain on Hvar
The Stari Grad Plain on Hvar
The Pakleni islands off Hvar
The Pakleni islands off Hvar
Read the full storyClose the story

Climb to the fortress, take a water taxi to the Pakleni islands, and visit Stari Grad for the older, quieter Hvar.

Read the full back story below, then explore our favourite places.

The back story

  1. The back story

    Hvar: the back story

    Hvar Town·In depth: history

    Greek fields, a Venetian theatre, lavender and the most glamorous harbour on the Adriatic.

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Things to see

  1. The fortress above the harbour

    Hvar Town & the Fortress

    Hvar Town·Town & fortress·Ticket

    The glamorous harbour town, with the Venetian fortress on the hill above.

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  2. A theatre from 1612

    The Arsenal & theatre

    Hvar Town·Historic building·Ticket

    The Venetian arsenal on the main square, with one of Europe’s oldest public theatres above it, opened in 1612.

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  3. Greek fields

    Stari Grad Plain

    Stari Grad·UNESCO landscape

    Fields laid out by Greek settlers in the 4th century BC, still farmed and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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  4. Coves and beaches

    Pakleni Islands

    Pakleni Islands·Islands

    A chain of green islands just off Hvar Town, with coves, beaches and restaurants.

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Where to eat

  1. In a Venetian palace

    Giaxa

    Hvar Town·Restaurant·€€€

    A restaurant in a Venetian palace in Hvar Town.

    Petra Hektorovića 11Explore View on map

  2. Mediterranean

    Passarola

    Hvar Town·Restaurant·€€€

    A Mediterranean restaurant in Hvar Town.

    Dr. Mate Miličića 10Explore View on map

Where to stay

  1. A design resort

    Maslina Resort

    Stari Grad·Resort hotel·€€€€

    A design-led resort hotel in a bay near Stari Grad.

    Uvala Maslinica 11Explore View on map

Getting there

  1. Catamaran or ferry from Split

    Getting to Hvar

    Hvar Town·Travel options

    Catamarans run from Split to Hvar Town; car ferries run from Split to Stari Grad.

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Share your Hvar experience

Been to Hvar? Share your favourite places and tips with other visitors.

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