1-Day Hvar Travel Guide Introduction
Hvar is both a city and an island. To make the difference the city is actually called Hvar Town and that’s where you want to get. They are many cities on the Hvar Island and most of them could be a cool destination if you have more time. But for a single day on the island, the Hvar town is most probably the best option.
The island is known as the most beautiful island in Croatia and Hvar town is just a marvellous piece of architecture with old white-stone Venetian renaissance buildings, coble streets and beautiful monuments to visit.
Table of Contents
Mapping the day
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Getting there
There are 2 easy ways to get to Hvar town:
- By Ferry: the closest one being from Split. Another option would be from Drvenik Sućuraj
- By plane: You can flight to from most of the main airport in Croatia (Split, Dubrovnik and Brac…)
For this day trip, we recommend and used the ferry from Split. You can check the timetable there: https://www.ferrycroatia.com/en/
You can purchase the tickets online directly for 110 Kunas and you will receive a e-ticket which is super easy to use. You can also go to the ticket office located in the middle peer of the port but strangely they told us that the ticket was 275 Kunas per person so we went online to get it from the website above.
Also be aware that the peer they display is not always right, we took the 8h30 ferry and it said peer 6 while it was 23. The ride is around 1h15 and is quite comfortable.
Moving Around
Once you are in Hvar town, everything is nearby and reachable on foot. The furthest point would be the beach that we visit. But it’s like 20-25min from the city center.
When to Visit
As all Croatia, the best time to visit Hvar is from April to October. Though it is good to know that July and August are the warmest month as well as the most crowded.
The best recommendation would be June or September when you get into the lower tourism season and out of the peak temperatures.
Where to Stay
If you want to stay longer than this 1-day guide, than we would recommend you those accommodations. Also, you could consider renting a car in advance and road trip around the island for a few days. That’s what we would have love to do.
Best Things to do in Hvar
Katedrala sv. Stjepana I.
Once out the ferry, start your day by walking along the port to reach St Stephan’s square and its cathedral. Built in the early 17th century on the site of an old 9th century church. Th building, and its square were once the most important place on the island.
Spanish Fortress
From there, it’s time to make small hike toward the Spanish fortress. There you can buy a combined ticket for the fortress and the clock tower in town for 80 Kunas. At first the Byzantines built a citadel here in the 6th century, and later in 1278 the Venetians improved it to the present fortress.
But the best thing is the view you get from there, as the fortress is looming high above the town.
Arsenal & Theater
Time to head back to the city center to visit the Hvar’s theatre. tts foundation in 1612 made it become the first civic theatre in Europe. Plus, an interesting fact is that the theatre was erected above the Arsenal.
Venetian Loggia and Clock Tower
From there, simply cross the square to get to the Clock tower for another beautiful view of the town.
Old tower and small streets
You now did most of the things to do in Hvar, so it is time to hang around the small street of Hvar, go up and down, avoid the crow and get lost in those beautiful streets.
Franciscan Monastery
At the end, you will find the Franciscan Monastery, a quiet building with museum, relics, cloisters & paintings.
Pokonji dol Beach
Now, it is time to walk for 20min along the road and the coastline to get to the final stop of the day, the beach where you will finish the day.
One disappointing thing is that there isn’t any toilet there, so you will have to either go nature or eat in the restaurant there. Also, it’s a rocky beach but the water is beautiful.
1-Day Hvar Itinerary
- 8h30: Ferry to Hvar
- 10h: St Stephan’s square and cathedral
- 10h30: Spanish Fortress
- 12h00 Lunch Break
- 13h00: Theatre and Clock tower
- 13h30: Old Streets & Franciscan Monastery
- 14h: Beach
Kititi se tuđim perjem ‘Dress yourself in borrowed feathers’: To take credit for someone else’s deeds.
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