One day 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), Arsenal and Hvar Theatre and Franciscan Monastery, then Hvar Town harbour in the evening.

   1. Morning

      St Stephen's Square and Hvar Cathedral

      See it early in the morning before the crowds, when the stone glows and the cafés are setting up. Allow 30 minutes.

   2. Late morning

      Fortica (Spanish Fortress)

      Walk up at sunset, when the light over the Pakleni Islands is at its best. Allow 1–1.5 hours.

   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

      Combine it with the cathedral and square; it makes a good stop during the midday heat. Allow 45 minutes.

   5. Late afternoon

      Franciscan Monastery

      Swim at the small pebble beach next to the monastery after your visit. Allow 45 minutes.

   6. Evening

      Hvar Town harbour

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

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

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 3–4 hours of visiting over one day, 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.

Getting between stops: Walking. Hvar Town, Stari Grad and Jelsa are compact and easy to explore on foot, though the climb to the fortress is steep.

More or fewer days

• 2 days in Hvar
• 3 days in Hvar
• 5 days in Hvar

Questions travellers ask