Solo travel · Hvar · Croatia
Solo travel in Hvar
How to enjoy Hvar at your own pace.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Carsten Steger, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Hvar Town is very social in summer, with hostels, boat parties and bars that make it easy to meet people. Solo travellers who want calm can base themselves in Stari Grad or Jelsa. Many solo travellers base themselves in Stari Grad.
Key facts
- Base
- Stari Grad
- Getting around
- Walking
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Language
- Croatian
Solo travel tips
- Hostels in Hvar Town organise boat trips and nights out.
- Join a group speedboat tour to the Blue Cave and Vis.
- Taxi boats make solo trips to the Pakleni Islands easy.
- Book accommodation early in July and August, when singles rooms sell out.
- Take care with alcohol and swimming at night, particularly after boat parties.
Where to stay
$$ · Best for families, culture, quiet stays and budget
Stari Grad
Stari Grad lies at the end of a long, narrow bay on the north coast, with stone lanes, Tvrdalj castle and a waterfront of cafés. It is calmer and cheaper than Hvar Town, close to the car-ferry port from Split and to the UNESCO-listed Stari Grad Plain, and about 20 minutes by road from Hvar Town.
- Good
- Historic and calm; Close to the car ferry; Better value than Hvar Town
- Watch out
- Fewer beaches in town; Quieter nightlife
- Nearby
- Tvrdalj, Stari Grad Plain, Stari Grad ferry port
Great on your own
Landmark · Hvar Town
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.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
Castle · Hvar Town
Fortica (Spanish Fortress)
Walk up at sunset, when the light over the Pakleni Islands is at its best.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Iconic
- Photo spot
- History
- Kids
Historic site · Hvar Town
Arsenal and Hvar Theatre
Combine it with the cathedral and square; it makes a good stop during the midday heat.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Religious site · Hvar Town
Franciscan Monastery
Swim at the small pebble beach next to the monastery after your visit.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Off the beaten path
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Historic site · Stari Grad
Stari Grad Plain
Cycle the farm tracks in the morning; the visitor centre in Stari Grad has maps of the ancient grid.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Outdoors
- Active
Castle · Stari Grad
Tvrdalj Castle
Read the translated inscriptions; Hektorović carved his thoughts on life and hospitality into the stone.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
Meeting people
- Winery tasting on the south coast — Family wineries around Sveta Nedjelja, Ivan Dolac and Jelsa pour Plavac Mali and Bogdanuša with pršut and cheese; book ahead and arrange a driver.
- Peka dinner in an inland konoba — Order a peka a day in advance at a village konoba and spend a long evening over lamb or octopus from under the bell.
- Hvar Town harbour — Bars along the waterfront, including the long-running Carpe Diem, fill from late evening in July and August.
- 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.
Sensible precautions
Hvar is generally relaxed. Take care with summer heat, strong sun and dehydration, and with sea urchins on rocky beaches. Roads are narrow and winding, so drive or ride scooters carefully. In Hvar Town, drink sensibly at night and respect local rules on public drinking.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Staying connected
- Mobile coverage is good in towns but patchy in some coves; EU roaming applies to European SIMs.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Hvar good for solo travellers?
Hvar Town is very social in summer, with hostels, boat parties and bars that make it easy to meet people. Solo travellers who want calm can base themselves in Stari Grad or Jelsa.
+Where should solo travellers stay in Hvar?
Stari Grad: Ancient harbour town at the end of a deep bay, by the main car ferry.