3 days in Hvar

Day by day

1. Day 1: St Stephen's Square and Hvar Cathedral and Fortica (Spanish Fortress)

   St Stephen's Square and Hvar Cathedral, Fortica (Spanish Fortress) and Arsenal and Hvar Theatre, then Hvar Town harbour in the evening.

   1. Morning

      St Stephen's Square and Hvar Cathedral

      Hvar Town's main square, one of the largest in Dalmatia, runs from the harbour to the Renaissance-Baroque Cathedral of St Stephen and its four-storey bell tower.

   2. Late morning

      Fortica (Spanish Fortress)

      Walk up at sunset, when the light over the Pakleni Islands is at its best.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Hvar gregada

      Konobas in Hvar Town, Stari Grad and on the Pakleni Islands; ask the day before if it is not on the menu.

   4. Afternoon

      Arsenal and Hvar Theatre

      The Venetian Arsenal on the square once housed the galley of the Hvar commune.

   5. Evening

      Hvar Town harbour

      Bars along the waterfront, including the long-running Carpe Diem, fill from late evening in July and August.

2. Day 2: Pakleni Islands and Franciscan Monastery

   Pakleni Islands, Franciscan Monastery and Stari Grad Plain, then Sunset beach bars west of town in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Pakleni Islands

      Catch an early boat, find a cove and book lunch at a beach restaurant in Palmižana before it fills.

   2. Late morning

      Franciscan Monastery

      On a headland at the south end of the harbour, the 15th-century Franciscan monastery has a peaceful cloister, a garden with an old cypress and a museum whose highlight is a large Last Supper painting.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Peka

      Inland konobas and village restaurants; reserve in advance.

   4. Afternoon

      Stari Grad Plain

      Cycle the farm tracks in the morning; the visitor centre in Stari Grad has maps of the ancient grid.

   5. Evening

      Sunset beach bars west of town

      Bars on the rocks west of Hvar Town, such as Hula Hula, are popular for sunset drinks and music.

3. Day 3: Tvrdalj Castle and Stari Grad old town

   Tvrdalj Castle, Stari Grad old town and Vrboska and Jelsa, then Pakleni Islands beach clubs in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Tvrdalj Castle

      The fortified summer house of the 16th-century poet Petar Hektorović is built around a fish pond enclosed by arcades, with Latin and Croatian inscriptions carved into its walls.

   2. Late morning

      Stari Grad old town

      Spend an evening here: dinner in a konoba on one of the back lanes and a walk along the bay.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Hvar paprenjak

      Bakeries, souvenir shops and local producers across the island.

   4. Afternoon

      Vrboska and Jelsa

      Jelsa's harbour square of plane trees and cafés is linked by a coastal path and road to Vrboska, where little bridges cross a narrow inlet.

   5. Evening

      Pakleni Islands beach clubs

      Beach clubs on islands such as Stipanska run late parties, reached by taxi boat.

If it rains

• Swap in Benedictine Convent and agave lace (Hvar Town): Buy a small piece of lace from the convent itself if you want an authentic one.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Hvar Town keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Stari Grad ($$) suits families, culture, quiet stays and budget. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 17–21 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9 hours in December to 15.4 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Hvar
• 2 days in Hvar
• 5 days in Hvar

Questions travellers ask