With kids · Hvar · Croatia
Hvar with kids
Family-tested sights, a calm base and the practical details that make travelling with children easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: F.G., CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Hvar is good for families who stay outside Hvar Town's party zone, with calm coves, boat trips and safe swimming. Stari Grad and Jelsa have shallow, pine-shaded beaches and relaxed restaurants. Top picks: Pakleni Islands, Vrboska and Jelsa and Fortica (Spanish Fortress). Families usually base themselves in Jelsa.
Key facts
- Family picks
- 5
- Best area for families
- Jelsa
- Rainy-day options
- 0
- Busiest months
- July–August
Best things to do with kids
Island · Pakleni Islands
1.Pakleni Islands
A chain of pine-covered islets just off Hvar Town, reached by taxi boats from the harbour in 10–20 minutes. Palmižana on Sveti Klement has sandy coves, a botanical garden and restaurants; Jerolim is partly a naturist island; Stipanska has a beach club; and quieter coves such as Ždrilca reward a longer walk.
Catch an early boat, find a cove and book lunch at a beach restaurant in Palmižana before it fills.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Kids
- Nature
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Neighbourhood · Jelsa
2.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. Vrboska's fortified Church of St Mary was built in the 16th century to shelter villagers from raids.
Walk or cycle the coast path between the two in the late afternoon and stop for a swim on the way.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Photo spot
Castle · Hvar Town
3.Fortica (Spanish Fortress)
The 16th-century fortress on the hill above Hvar Town gives the classic view over the harbour's red roofs, the Pakleni Islands and, on clear days, Vis. A shaded path through pine woods and agave climbs from the town in about 20 minutes.
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
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Historic site · Stari Grad
4.Stari Grad Plain
Greek settlers from Paros divided this fertile plain into rectangular plots bounded by dry-stone walls in the 4th century BC, and many of the boundaries and roads are still used for vines and olives. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2008.
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
Landmark · Hvar Town
5.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. A 16th-century well stands in the middle, and the Arsenal and theatre close the harbour end.
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
Where families should stay
$$ · 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
Family travel tips
- Stay in Jelsa or Stari Grad for quieter nights and family-friendly beaches.
- Bring water shoes, as most beaches are pebbly or rocky.
- Taxi boats to the Pakleni Islands are an adventure for children; take hats and water.
- Avoid midday sun in July and August and use the shaded pine beaches.
- Book family accommodation with a kitchen to keep costs down.
Day trips for families
- Blue Cave and Vis (About 1–1.5 hours by speedboat) — Full-day speedboat tours visit the Blue Cave on the islet of Biševo, where sunlight through an underwater opening turns the water bright blue, and usually stop at coves and towns on the island of Vis.
- Bol and Zlatni Rat, Brač (About 30–45 minutes by boat) — Zlatni Rat is a long spit of fine pebbles that changes shape with the wind and current, near the town of Bol on Brač.
When to go with children
The best months overall are May–June and September. July–August are the busiest, so book the big sights early. Weather by month.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Hvar good for kids?
Hvar is good for families who stay outside Hvar Town's party zone, with calm coves, boat trips and safe swimming. Stari Grad and Jelsa have shallow, pine-shaded beaches and relaxed restaurants.
+What can kids do in Hvar?
Pakleni Islands, Vrboska and Jelsa, Fortica (Spanish Fortress), Stari Grad Plain and St Stephen's Square and Hvar Cathedral.
+Where should families stay in Hvar?
Jelsa: Harbour town with pine woods, beaches and a central square of cafés.