Hvar Island

The island of Hvar is extraordinarily green and lush, filled with lavender, heather and pines and the coastline is heavily indented with an abundance of rocky coves. See a map of Hvar Island or see Hvar Island on a map.

Geography

Hvar is the longest island in the Adriatic--about 68km. Its western third is about 10 kilometres while the reminder, towards the east is very narrow--2.4km. The total area is 300 square kilometres. Stretching along the entire island, close to the south coast,is the island's crest which reaches its highest point at the peak of St Nikola (626m). North of this mountain is the widest part of the island--Velo Polje, a fertile plain. Here is the major production area for grapes, olives, figs, carob, lemons, oranges. On the slopes of the hills, on innumerable terraced plots, lavender is grown, used in the production of oil for the perfume industry. Also in quantity are rosemary and aromatic plants which give Hvar honey its flavour. Once, the entire island was wooded, but now there are only small forests and groves of fir and holm oak with uncultivated land left to sprout shrubs and macchia.

What to See & Do on Hvar Island

Hvar Town makes an excellent base for exploring the island but there's also Stari Grad, the tiny port of Jelsa, the picturesque village of Vrboska or the even more minuscule port of Milna on the southern coast. Most wonderful are the day trips offered to the offshore Pakleni Islands, which also offer excellent scuba diving.

Getting to Hvar Island

There are three ports of entry for ferries to Hvar Island: Stari Grad, Sucuraj and Hvar Town which receives passenger boats. Find out more about getting to Hvar Island.

Accommodation on Hvar Island

Accommodation is extremely tight in the summer; an advance reservation is highly recommended. Most people stay in Hvar Town as it is the most beautiful but Stari Grad and Jelsa make good alternative places to stay on Hvar Island. Both are cheaper and somewhat quieter than Hvar Town with its busy nightlife. See Hvar Island accommodation.

Hvar Travel Planner

 Tourist Information on Hvar Island

There is no central source of official information about the island. Each town maintains its own tourist office.

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