Hvar, a peaceful quiet island located just off the coast of Split in Croatia, is one of the best places to visit if you are looking to escape the typical touristy places like Split and Dubrovnik and enjoy a nice quiet time by the Adriatic Sea without breaking the bank.
Within this guide, you will find all the information you need to plan an epic trip to Hvar, taking you to all kinds of sceneries and a variety of things to do, from swimming in the crystal clear waters and picturesque beaches to walking around the quaint town and quiet streets of Hvar. Without further ado, here are the 8 best things to do in Hvar for solo travelers.
Hvar Itinerary Map
8 Best Things to Do in Hvar
1. Climb Up to Fortica Fortress
Hvar is known for its small charming old town and beautiful coastline and there is no better way to appreciate it than to climb up to the top of Fortica Fortress and admire the view of the city, the Adriatic Sea, and the surrounding islands from up there.
Fortica Fortress or Spanish Fortress is a historic fortress built by the Venetians in the 16th Century as a way to fortify and defend the island from intruders. The fortress is situated on top of a hill behind Hvar's old town, which offers a great vantage point over the entire area.
To get up there, you are going to have to hike up the hill, which is not particularly hard as you stroll along the cobblestone street up through the staircase of the old town onto the foothill before it zigzags its way up to the fortress which you should be able to complete in under 20 minutes.
- Guesthouse Bracanoviฤ (Budget)
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The views up there are pretty amazing, and it was definitely worth every sweat you shed along the trail. You can spend a few hours exploring the rampart, relaxing, and enjoying the view from the park benches in the fortress, or stroll around the museum inside.
The museum mostly consisted of archeological artifacts, and not much history is explained, but outside of the small museum, you have quite a bit of a big spacious open-air area to cover with several viewpoints where you can see the beautiful brown roofs of old houses in Hvar as well as Pakleni Islands and beyond.
I highly recommend you visit the fort early in the morning so that you can avoid hiking up on a mostly exposed trail during the hottest time of the day, which can be pretty brutal in the summer.
The fortress is open from 9 AM to 6 PM every day, and the entrance fee is around 10 EUR. You can pay with credit cards here, or you can explore the outside of the fortress for free.
The view from the outside is pretty nice already, but if you really want the best view of Hvar from above without obstruction, I highly recommend you pay the entrance fee and check out the view from the top of its walls. I think it was definitely worth the price for the view you get.
Where to Stay in Hvar?
2. Admire the Beauty of St. Stephen's Cathedral
Next up, we visit St. Stephen's Cathedral, a historic landmark located in the heart of Hvar, and it is one of the most prominent structures you should check out while you explore the old town. Constructed during the 16th century, St. Stephen's Cathedral was built on the location of a previous church that was destroyed by the Venetians.
The cathedral boasts a unique combination of Renaissance and Baroque architectural designs and is most notable for its towering bell tower, which reaches a height of 54 meters. In order to get in, you will have to pay around 2 EUR for the entrance fee. Inside, you will find a pretty bland-looking church with some really old sculptures and stone carvings inside.
If you are interested in Christian art, you might find the interior interesting. For me, it wasn't worth going inside as you can't even climb the bell tower with the ticket. Personally, I would suggest you admire the beauty of the cathedral from the outside before we continue on our journey in Hvar.
3. Hang Out at St. Stephen's Square
Surrounding St. Stephen's Cathedral, you will find St. Stephen's Square, a spacious cobblestone square bustling with both locals and tourists, while being surrounded by some of the most beautiful medieval houses you will find in Hvar.
Walking around the square feels almost as if you were transported back to medieval times. Within these old houses, you will find all sorts of restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops you can indulge yourself in.
It is a great place to escape the heat during the hottest time of the day, as well as a place to relax and enjoy a nice cup of coffee before we continue our exploration.
Tours & Tickets You Might Like
Looking to save some costs on your travel? Why not join a shared group tour from Hvar? Here are some activities you might be interested in:
4. Explore the Port of Hvar
Right out of the bat, the moment you arrive in Hvar, you will find yourself in the Port of Hvar surrounded by a promenade lined with palm trees and elegant Venetian-style buildings.
The port is considered to be the gateway to the island, and it is bustling with people and all kinds of shops and restaurants along the promenade where you can indulge yourself. That said, the best part about the port for me was not the promenade area but the narrow streets between these Venetian-style houses that you can stroll in.
While most people hang out at the promenade, you won't find as many people exploring the quaint streets of Hvar, which is a shame because the streets are extremely pretty with beautiful old houses, cobblestone streets, and small shops and cafes, always lurking somewhere in the corners.
It is these narrow hidden streets, away from all the tourists, that make Hvar one of my favorite island excursions to make in Croatia. It's definitely one of the best things to do in Hvar, so if you are not sure what to do here, be sure to spend some time and explore or get lost in Hvar's beautiful crisscrossing streets.
5. Check Out Franciscan Monastery
As you continue to walk along the seaside promenade, you will soon stumble upon Franciscan Monastery, Hvar's most treasured landmark that dated back to the 15th century boasting a breathtaking Gothic-Renaissance architectural style, unlike any other structures you find in Hvar.
One of the highlights of the monastery is the stunning cloister, a peaceful courtyard surrounded by palm trees and lush greenery that I highly recommend you check out as you explore the monastery.
Inside the monastery, you will also find a fascinating collection of artifacts, including religious art, rare books, and historic documents. The monastery also houses a small museum, which offers insight into the lives of the Franciscan monks who once called this place home.
In front of the monastery, you will also find a 300 years old leaning Cypress that creates a nice shaded area where you can relax as you look out to the Adriatic Sea, stretching out as far as the eyes can see.
The monastery is open from 9 AM to 3 PM and again from 5 PM to 7 PM every day except on Sundays. The entrance fee to the cloister area is free, but you will have to pay around 3 EUR to enter the museum inside.
6. Swim in the Crystal Clear Water of Hvar
One of the best things you will notice when you arrive in Hvar is just how crystal clear the water is, thanks to its remote location, and it would be a shame to travel all the way here and not go for a swim in the beautiful Adriatic Sea.
There are several beaches you can find around Hvar where you can visit and spend a relaxing day there. One of the closest beaches to Hvar port is Kriลพa Beach located just in front of Franciscan Monastery.
It is a little pebble beach where you can set out your towel and go sunbathing and freshening up and go for a swim in the incredibly clear water of Hvar.
There are also other beaches like Bonj Beach and Hvar Ranta that are a little further away but still worth a visit if you are looking for larger beaches. If you want to spend a day relaxing in Hvar, be sure to explore its coast and visit some of the beaches I recommend here and enjoy a little relaxing time before we continue on.
7. Visit the Blue Cave
If you are looking for a day trip to make from Hvar, you can go on an organized boat tour that will take you to the Blue Cave where the sun rays create a glowing blue light inside the cave, as well as other places around the islands of Dalmatia.
The tour will pick you up from the port of Hvar with a speed boat and you will be taken to the Green Cave on the Islet of Ravni for a swim before heading to the famous Blue Cave, one of the wonders of the Adriatic coast.
After the Blue Cave, you will then be taken to other picturesque spots around neighboring islands of Hvar, like the hidden beach of Stiniva Cove, a beautiful cove surrounded by magnificent rocks where you can swim in, and more.
The whole tour should take about 7 hours and cost around 90 EUR per person. You can check out the tour itinerary here. The tour also includes visiting Pakleni Islands, which is a place that we will discuss next.
8. Sail Around Pakleni Islands
Pakleni Islands is a stunning archipelago located just off the coast of Hvar and it is home to a total of 16 islands, each with its own unique features and attractions that you can explore.
With the same organized tour I mentioned above, they will also take you around Pakleni Islands and visit the beautiful bay area of Vinogradiลกce in Palmiลพana to have lunch so you will be able to get a glimpse of what it is like on the island.
It is a beautiful area to sail around, and if you have a day to spare in Hvar and are not sure what to do, be sure to go on an organized tour and explore Pakleni Islands as well as other islands in the area. You can browse for more organized day trips here.
How to Get to Hvar?
To travel to Hvar, you are going to have to get to Split first, and from there, you can catch a boat from Split Pier. At the pier, you will find the TP Line ticket booth, where the boat will depart from. There are around 4 boats per day from 9:15 AM to 7:15 PM. You can buy the boat ticket here.
The journey should take about 1 hour and 15 minutes, and it will cost you around 20 EUR per trip. The boat will drop you off at Hvar Port where you can catch the boat back to Split or other day trips you might plan to do here.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Croatia
I hope you found this Croatia travel guide useful. If you want to read more about Croatia, here is a selection of articles you might like:
- Want to plan a trip to the Balkans, but not sure where to go? Here is the 31 Most Beautiful Places to Visit in the Balkans.
- For a complete itinerary to the Balkans, check out: 2 Months Backpacking Balkans Itinerary.
- For a comprehensive Croatia backpacking itinerary, check out: 2 Weeks Backpacking Croatia Itinerary.
- Zagreb may not be on everyone's radar, but the city does have its charm, and it is a great place to see what life is really like in Croatia outside of touristy towns. Here are the 14 Best Things to Do in Zagreb.
- If you want to hike around Plitvice Lakes National Park, one of the best national parks in Croatia, be sure to check out: A Complete Hiking Guide to Plitvice Lakes National Park.
- Pula is a charming city in the beautiful region of Istria, home to some of the most well-preserved Roman ruins outside of Italy. If you are planning to visit Pula, be sure to check out: 10 Best Things to Do in Pula.
- One of the most charming coastal towns that doesn't get as many tourists as other places in Croatia, Rovinj is one of the best places to visit in Croatia. Here are the 10 best things to do in Rovinj.
- Krka National Park is home to some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Croatia. If you want to visit the park, make sure to check out: A Complete Travel Guide to Krka National Park
- Home to the stunning Diocletian's Palace, Split is one of the best places to visit in Croatia. For those who are planning to visit the town, here are the 12 Best Things to Do in Split.
- You can't come to Croatia without visiting Dubrovnik, one of the most famous travel destinations in Europe, home to so many cool things to do and places to see. If you are planning to visit the town, here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Dubrovnik.
- Not convinced by my words? Here are 125 photos that will inspire you to visit Europe.
- To see all the articles about Croatia, visit the Croatia Travel Guide page.
- Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 Cheap European Countries to Visit.
- Looking for more travel guides for Europe? You can find more on my Europe Travel Guide page.
- Or, if you want something more specific to the region, visit our Balkans Travel Guide, Eastern Europe Travel Guide, Western Europe Travel Guide, Southern Europe Travel Guide, or Central Europe Travel Guide pages.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.
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