Where to stay · Hvar · Croatia
Where to stay in Hvar
6 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Rplevak, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Hvar Town. Renaissance square, fortress and yacht-filled harbour at the island's western tip. Best alternatives — families: Stari Grad; budget: Stari Grad.
Key facts
- First visit
- Hvar Town
- Families
- Stari Grad
- Budget
- Stari Grad
- Nightlife
- Hvar Town
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Hvar Town | Renaissance square, fortress and yacht-filled harbour at the island's western tip |
| Families | Stari Grad | Ancient harbour town at the end of a deep bay, by the main car ferry |
| Couples | Hvar Town | Renaissance square, fortress and yacht-filled harbour at the island's western tip |
| Budget | Stari Grad | Ancient harbour town at the end of a deep bay, by the main car ferry |
| Luxury | Hvar Town | Renaissance square, fortress and yacht-filled harbour at the island's western tip |
| Nightlife | Hvar Town | Renaissance square, fortress and yacht-filled harbour at the island's western tip |
| Food lovers | Jelsa | Harbour town with pine woods, beaches and a central square of cafés |
| Quiet stays | Stari Grad | Ancient harbour town at the end of a deep bay, by the main car ferry |
| Beach | Jelsa | Harbour town with pine woods, beaches and a central square of cafés |
Hvar neighbourhoods in detail
$$$$ · Best for nightlife, first-timers, luxury and couples
Hvar Town
Hvar Town wraps around a harbour beneath the Fortica fortress, with St Stephen's Square, the cathedral and the Arsenal at its centre. It has the island's widest choice of hotels, restaurants and bars and the taxi boats to the Pakleni Islands, but it is expensive and very busy and loud in July and August.
- Good
- Most restaurants and bars; Taxi boats to the Pakleni Islands; Catamaran to Split
- Watch out
- High summer prices; Noise and crowds in peak season; Car-free centre means carrying luggage
- Nearby
- St Stephen's Square, Fortica, Pakleni Islands, Franciscan Monastery
$$ · 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
$$ · Best for families, quiet stays, beach and food lovers
Jelsa
Jelsa, in the middle of the north coast, is a relaxed small town around a harbour and a square of plane trees and cafés, with pine-shaded beaches within walking distance and wineries nearby. It is a good base for exploring the whole island and for the tunnel to the south-coast beaches.
- Good
- Relaxed atmosphere; Beaches within walking distance; Central for touring the island
- Watch out
- Fewer ferry connections; Limited nightlife
- Nearby
- Vrboska, Pitve, Jelsa harbour
$$ · Best for quiet stays, couples and families
Vrboska
Vrboska is a small village strung along a narrow sea inlet crossed by little stone bridges, sometimes nicknamed 'little Venice'. It has a fortified 16th-century church, a fishing museum and a few konobas, and it is a 4-km walk or ride from Jelsa.
- Good
- Very peaceful; Picturesque waterfront; Close to beaches and Jelsa
- Watch out
- Very few shops and restaurants; Needs transport for most trips
- Nearby
- Jelsa, St Mary's fortified church, Vrboska fishing museum
$$$ · Best for beach, couples and families
Milna
Milna, about 5 km east of Hvar Town, is a strip of holiday houses and seafood restaurants around a series of small pebble coves. It offers a quieter beach base within a short drive, bus or water taxi of Hvar Town's restaurants and nightlife.
- Good
- Beaches on the doorstep; Quieter than Hvar Town; Close enough for evenings in town
- Watch out
- Few services; A car or taxi is useful
- Nearby
- Hvar Town, Mala Milna beach, Pokonji Dol
$$ · Best for quiet stays, food lovers, couples and beach
Zavala and the south coast
The south coast is reached through the narrow Pitve tunnel or by winding roads, and its villages, including Zavala, Ivan Dolac and Sveta Nedjelja, sit below some of Croatia's steepest vineyards. Pebble coves, wineries and fish restaurants make it a peaceful base for those with a car.
- Good
- Very quiet with clear water; Wineries nearby; Good value
- Watch out
- A car is essential; The single-lane tunnel can mean waits in summer
- Nearby
- Pitve tunnel, Ivan Dolac, Sveta Nedjelja, Jelsa
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Hvar Town | $$$$ | St Stephen's Square, Fortica, Pakleni Islands, Franciscan Monastery |
| Stari Grad | $$ | Tvrdalj, Stari Grad Plain, Stari Grad ferry port |
| Jelsa | $$ | Vrboska, Pitve, Jelsa harbour |
| Vrboska | $$ | Jelsa, St Mary's fortified church, Vrboska fishing museum |
| Milna | $$$ | Hvar Town, Mala Milna beach, Pokonji Dol |
| Zavala and the south coast | $$ | Pitve tunnel, Ivan Dolac, Sveta Nedjelja, Jelsa |
Getting to your hotel
The nearest major airport is Split, about 25 km from Split's ferry port. Allow about 30–45 minutes by bus or taxi to the harbour, then about 1 hour by catamaran to Hvar Town or about 2 hours by car ferry to Stari Grad.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Hvar for first-time visitors?
Hvar Town. Hvar Town wraps around a harbour beneath the Fortica fortress, with St Stephen's Square, the cathedral and the Arsenal at its centre.
+Where should families stay in Hvar?
Stari Grad: Historic and calm.
+Which area of Hvar is best for a budget stay?
Stari Grad ($$): Ancient harbour town at the end of a deep bay, by the main car ferry.