Things to do on Hvar in Croatia - our top 12 tips

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What to do on Hvar in Croatia? Hvar is a beautiful island in the Croatian archipelago, offering everything from historical sights to a relaxed holiday atmosphere. We stopped here on our recent cruise, and we've been here before too. Here are our top tips for things to see and do on Hvar.

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Hvar in Croatia

Hvar is sometimes called 'Lavender Island' because of the abundance of lavender produced here and because, if you visit the island in June, you can see the beautiful lavender fields in bloom. The island of Hvar is also home to the beautiful town of Hvar, as well as the town of Stari Grad, which is the oldest town in Croatia.

We have visited Hvar again, as we made a stop here during our Cruise in Croatia, with Katarina Line. In addition, we visited the island with our motorhome ten years ago.

Hvar is located in the Adriatic Sea, just south of the city of Split and the island of Brač.

What can you do on the Hvar?

So what can you see and do on Hvar? This island is perfect for those who like historical settings and a great holiday feeling. We've put together a list of our top tips.

1. strolling in the town of Hvar

When you visit the island of Hvar, you won't want to miss the town of the same name, which is also where we last docked with the Katarina Line ship. Hvar is the main town on the island and the largest community.

The town has a long history and is filled with narrow winding alleys, which take you on a dizzying journey through time. Today, the town of Hvar is a popular destination for tourists, so during the tourist season you can also count on a relatively large selection of restaurants, cafés and shops.

2. take a guided walking tour of the city of Hvar

If you want to learn more about the history of the city of Hvar, it is nice to join a guided city walk. This way, the historic town comes to life and you get an insight into a lot of exciting details that are difficult to discover on your own.

3. See St Stephen's Square and St Stephen's Cathedral

Whether you walk around the town of Hvar on your own, or you go with a guide, you will end up at St Stephen's Square and St Stephen's Cathedral. This Roman Catholic cathedral was built in the 16th to 18th centuries and is dedicated to the patron saint of the city of Hvar, Stephen 1.

4. Check out Hvar's theatre

The square is also home to Hvar's theatreThe theatre is considered a monument of the highest national importance in the country, partly because Hvar's theatre was the first in Europe to welcome both the aristocracy and the commoners, which was unique in Europe at the time.

The theatre is an extension of the Arsenals - a building that originally served as a dry dock for Venetian warships. Now there is an art gallery here: Galerija Arsenal.

5. Head up to Fortica - the fort in Hvar

Fortica, also known locally as Španjola, is a fortress and a former defence structure located at the top of a hill in the town of Hvar. The fortress was built during the Venetian rule in 1551 and has since been rebuilt several times.

To get to the fort, follow signs from the centre of Hvar, and a long staircase will lead you all the way. For a fee, you can take a look around the fort. What's more, you'll have a great view from here, over the sea and surrounding islands.

6. Enjoy Hvar's restaurants and cafés

In the harbour of Hvar town, as well as elsewhere on the island, you can relax in restaurants, bars and cafes. For us, it was an ice cream in the harbour of Hvar town. Not bad at all!

7. shopping for souvenirs

As mentioned above, Hvar is a popular tourist destination and thus, during the tourist season, there are many shops selling souvenirs. Here you can find things like holiday clothes, hats and jewellery. You can also buy art, delicacies, lace and lavender bags.

8. Discover the town of Stari Grad

The town of Stari Grad, located on the north-west side of the island of Hvar, can boast of being the oldest town in Croatia. This historic town was founded by Greeks in 384 BC and was then called Pharos. Today it is a charming town with historic squares, narrow streets and a pleasant harbour.

During the summer months, this is a popular tourist resort, so you can also count on restaurants, cafés and shops. Our photos are from our last visit to the island.

9. Wine tasting at the Hora winery

The name of the winery may be a bit funny to Swedes, but nonetheless, the Hora winery is a fantastic place. Located in the countryside, not far from the town of Stari Grad, it offers a lovely setting with greenery, animals (including a donkey and a wonderful dog!) and a clear ecological focus.

The farm produces white, rosé and red wines, as well as the spirit "rakija", olive oil and lavender products. There is a small museum and a shop where you can buy wine and other products.

If you come as a group, and have booked in advance, you can also experience a lovely meal here. We were served a three-course dinner that started with cold cuts, continued with traditional pickle (meat or fish cooked in a wood-fired oven) and ended with fry (the small pastries in the small picture). Very good and very nice!

10. Sunbathing and swimming

Another thing to do on Hvar is of course to sunbathe and swim. The Croatian waters are crystal clear and a fantastic shimmering green colour. There are many different beaches on the island, such as:

• Borče, near Milna
• Dubovica, 8 km east of the town of Hvar
• Mala Milna, in Milna
• Mekićevica, near the town of Hvar
• Pokonji dol, near the town of Hvar

11. see lavender fields

Hvar is famous for its lavender fields. If you visit the island at the right time of the year, around June, you can see the blooming beautiful fields. In addition, lavender festival and other activities related to this plant are organised.

12. Discover Hvar's Unesco World Heritage Site

Given that Hvar is a reasonably small island in a reasonably small country, there are a fascinating number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites that can be linked to the island in one way or another.

• Stari Grad Plain has remained largely untouched since 384 BC, when the island was colonised by the ancient Greeks (World Heritage Site)
• Za Krizen is a nocturnal Roman Catholic procession that takes place every year on Maundy Thursday (Intangible World Heritage Site)
• lace made from agave (Intangible World Heritage)
• Clapperboard singing is a traditional a cappella song performed in a group (Intangible World Heritage)
• Mediterranean diets is recognised throughout the Mediterranean region (Intangible World Heritage)
• KallmurarDry Stone Walling, or Dry Stone Walling in English, is a tradition used to separate properties (Intangible World Heritage)

More to see and do on Hvar in Croatia

There is of course even more to see and do on Hvar, in addition to our tips. Here are some more suggestions.

• Hanibal Lucić's summer residence showcases Renaissance architecture.
• Monastery there are two on Hvar: the Franciscan Monastery and the Benedictine Monastery. The latter is famous for its production of lace.
• Ivan Vučetić Museum of Mystery tells the story of the first person to use fingerprints to solve mysteries.
• Napoleonic Fortress in Hvar was built in 1812 and is located at the top of the 230 metre high hill in the town of Hvar.
• Pakleni Islands is an archipelago located just south of the town of Hvar, consisting of 16 limestone islands.
• Sv. Nedjelja Cave is a large and impressive cave.

Where to stay in Hvar?

There are many different hotels around the island of Hvar, such as Pharos Hvar Bayhill Hotel, Amfora Grand Beach Resort and Heritage Hotel Park Hvar. There are also apartments, rooms and several campsites.

More to see and do near Hvar

So what can you see and do near Hvar? There are other beautiful islands nearby, such as Korčula, Vis and Brač. Other great places worth a visit include Split, Omiš and Dubrovnik. You can get around by catamaran or car ferry, or why not embark on a lovely cruise in Croatia?

Even more to see and do on Hvar?

Have you visited Hvar? If so, what are your top tips on what to see and do on Hvar?

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