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Voykit pocket guide · Croatia
Hvar
Give Hvar Town 2–3 nights, arrive by fast ferry from Split (about 1 h), and book beds 4–6 weeks ahead for July–August.
Hvar is an island, not a town: the fast ferry lands at Hvar Town, the car ferry at Stari Grad 20 km away. Most travellers want Hvar Town for the square, the fortress walk and the Pakleni Islands boat day, then a bus or scooter run to Stari Grad, Jelsa or the lavender interior. Two nights covers the town; three adds a boat day and an inland half-day. July and August are the busiest and priciest weeks of the Croatian coast.
- Country
- Croatia
- Best months
- Jun, Sep
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (crowds, peak prices), Nov–Mar (many places shut)
- Stay
- 2–3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR) since 2023. Cards work almost everywhere; carry small cash for markets, beach bars and some island taxis.
- Daily spend
- Budget €55–85 excl. bed · Mid €90–150 excl. bed · High €180+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Hrvatski Telekom, A1 and Telemach sell prepaid SIMs at kiosks (Tisak) and shops; ID required.
- Emergency
- All emergencies 112 · Police 192 · Fire 193 · Ambulance 194 · Sea rescue 195
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · European round two-pin; UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Café or bar: Round up.; Restaurant: About 10% for good service, in cash.; Taxi: Round up.; Boat trip crew or guide: €5–10 per person for a day trip.; Apartment cleaning: Not expected.
- Water
- Tap water is safe and good everywhere, including islands (some small islands rely on piped or tanked water — ask).
- Toilets
- Free in cafés for customers; public toilets in old towns cost €0.50–1.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | €1.50–3 |
| Grilled squid or fish main | €15–28 |
| Beer on a terrace / at a bar | €3.50–6 |
| Scooter rental, one day | €33.50 |
| Car rental, one day | €47 |
| Water taxi to the Pakleni Islands | €2–10 |
| Fast ferry Split → Hvar Town | €10–20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SPU · Split Airport
- Bus or taxi to Split ferry port, then fast ferry to Hvar Town (about 1 h) or car ferry to Stari Grad (about 2 h).
- DBV · Dubrovnik Airport
- Seasonal fast ferries link Dubrovnik and Hvar Town; otherwise bus to Split first.
Typical fares
- Fast ferry Split → Hvar Town
- about 1 h, €10–20 (check)
- Car ferry Split → Stari Grad
- about 2 h, car plus driver about €60 (check)
- Bus Stari Grad → Hvar Town
- €3.50, about 30 min (check)
- Water taxi to the Pakleni Islands
- €2–10 (check)
Get around
Hvar Town is walkable. Buses meet the Stari Grad car ferry and run to Hvar Town, Jelsa and Stari Grad; buy from the driver in cash and check the seasonal timetable. Car rental is about €47 a day and scooters about €33.50 a day, one-day minimum. Water taxis cross to the Pakleni Islands. There are only two petrol stations, at Hvar Town and near Jelsa.
See and do
Known for
- Hvar Town square and St Stephen's Cathedral
- Španjola fortress above the harbour
- Pakleni Islands boat days
- Lavender and the Stari Grad Plain (UNESCO)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Pakleni Islands | Water taxi from Hvar Town harbour, or rent a small boat | 15–30 min |
| Stari Grad | Bus from Hvar Town, or the car ferry if you have a vehicle | 30–45 min |
| Jelsa and the lavender villages | Bus or scooter via the D116 across the island | 30–50 min |
| Vis | Seasonal fast ferry from Hvar Town | About 1 h |
| Split | Fast ferry to Split, or car ferry from Stari Grad | 1–2 h |
Sleep
- Hvar Town
- Square, riva and fortress on foot; loudest and priciest in July–August, book early.
- Stari Grad
- Car-ferry port, calmer, cheaper beds; 20–30 min by bus to Hvar Town.
- Jelsa
- Mid-island base near the lavender villages; good for a car or scooter.
- Pakleni Islands
- A few guesthouses and beach restaurants; boat-only, quiet at night.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Dobar danDOH-bar dahn |
| Thank you | HvalaHVAH-lah |
| Please | MolimMOH-leem |
| How much is it? | Koliko košta?KOH-lee-koh KOHSH-tah |
| The bill, please | Račun, molimRAH-choon MOH-leem |
| Where is the ferry? | Gdje je trajekt?gdyeh yeh TRAH-yekt |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and eye contact; 'dobar dan' in shops; avoid: Walking into a small shop without a greeting
- Café culture: Sit as long as you like over one coffee; avoid: Expecting the bill without asking
- Churches: Covered shoulders, quiet voices; avoid: Beachwear, flash photos during mass
- Conversation: Ask about food, sport, the islands; avoid: Comparing Croatia to Serbia or calling it 'Eastern Europe'
- Toasting: 'Živjeli' with eye contact; avoid: Looking away when glasses clink
Scams and watch-outs
- Skip taxis at the ferry port; buses are far cheaper.
- Roads are steep and winding with few guard rails — ride a scooter carefully.
- August brings the biggest crowds and the highest room rates.
- Many hotels, restaurants and ferries close from November to March.
Hvar is a safe, low-crime island; the real risks are scooter crashes on steep roads, sun and sea, and August crowds. Keep an eye on your bag in packed bars and use 112 for anything urgent.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Hvar yet. Suggested stay: 2–3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Hvar Town square and St Stephen's Cathedral
- Španjola fortress above the harbour
- Pakleni Islands boat days
- Lavender and the Stari Grad Plain (UNESCO)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Jadrolinija ferries: www.jadrolinija.hr/en
- Krilo fast ferries: www.krilo.hr/en/
- Croatia tourism: croatia.hr/en-GB
- Wikivoyage: Hvar, revision 5340186 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5340186
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Hvar
Na ovu adresu, molim
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Croatia has no foreign embassies on Hvar; most are in Zagreb, with consulates in Split. US, UK and other travellers should register with their embassy in Zagreb before island travel.
112 works from any phone, including mobiles without a local SIM.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/hvar). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.