Hvar, a Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea, is best known as a summer resort. Highlights of the port town Hvar include its 13th-century walls, a hilltop fortress and a main square anchored by the Renaissance-era Hvar Cathedral. The island also features beaches like Dubovica and inland lavender fields. Boat excursions serve the nearby Pakleni Islands, which have secluded beaches and coves. Wikipedia
"Hvar (pronounced [xv̞âːr]; local Chakavian dialect: Hvor or For, Greek: Pharos, Φάρος, Latin: Pharia, Italian: Lesina) is a Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea, located off the Dalmatian coast, lying between the islands of Brač, Vis and Korčula. Approximately 68 km (42.25 mi) long, with a high east-west ridge of Mesozoic limestone and dolomite, the island of Hvar is unusual in the area for having a large fertile coastal plain, and fresh water springs. Its hillsides are covered in pine forests, with vineyards, olive groves, fruit orchards and lavender fields in the agricultural areas. The climate is characterized by mild winters, and warm summers with many hours of sunshine. The island has 11,103 residents, making it the 4th most populated of the Croatian islands.
Hvar's location at the center of the Adriatic sailing routes has long made this island an important base for commanding trade up and down the Adriatic, across to Italy and throughout the wider Mediterranean. It has been inhabited since pre-historic times, originally by a Neolithic people whose distinctive pottery gave rise to the term Hvar culture, and later by the Illyrians. The ancient Greeks founded the colony of Pharos in 384 BC on the site of today's Stari Grad, making it one of the oldest towns in Europe. They were also responsible for setting out the agricultural field divisions of the Stari Grad Plain, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In medieval times, the City of Hvar rose to importance within the Venetian Empire as a major naval base. Prosperity brought culture and the arts, with one of the first public theatres in Europe, nobles’ palaces and many fine communal buildings.
The 16th century was an unsettled time, with the Hvar Rebellion, coastal raids by pirates and the Ottoman army from the mainland, resulting in some unusual fortified buildings on the northern shore to protect the local population. After a brief time under Napoleonic rule, the island became part of the Austrian Empire, a more peaceful and prosperous time. On the coast, harbours were expanded, quays built, fishing and boat building businesses grew. At the same time, the island's wine exports increased, along with lavender and rosemary production for the French perfume industry. However, this prosperity did not continue into the 20th century as wooden sailing boats went out of fashion, and the phylloxera blight hit wine production. Many islanders left to make a new life elsewhere.
One industry, tourism, has however continued to grow and is now a significant contributor to the island's economy. The formation of The Hygienic Association of Hvar in 1868 for the assistance of visitors to the island has been instrumental in developing an infrastructure of hotels, apartments, restaurants, marinas, museums, galleries and cafés. Today, the island of Hvar is a popular destination, consistently listed in the top 10 islands by Conde Nast Traveler magazine." Wikipedia
Latest Reviews
Vinogradisce Bay
2.4
English translation: "For 41 feet on the buoy 50 euros that is highway robbery. Without electricity water breakfast. There are many charter yachts in Croatia without a sewage tank. So what happens in this bay every morning? I guess 50 - 100 people do their business in the promised bay every morning, mind you." Original review: "Für 41 Fuss an der Boje 50 Euro das ist Wegelagerei. Ohne Strom Wasser Frühstück. In Kroatien gibt es sehr viel Charter Yachten ohne Abwasser Tank. Was passiert also jeden Morgen in dieser Bucht? Ich schätze mal so 50 - 100 Leute verrichten ihr Geschäft in die gelobte Bucht wohl gemerkt jeden Morgen."
Hvar
5.0
We struggled and failed to find space to moor in Hvar so chugged on round to the next bay (Milan) and took a red restaurant buoy and had the most amazing dinner during sunset. A lucky find. We headed back to Hvar the next day to stroll around and grab some groceries. An interesting hustling busy city.
Milna
5.0
We struggled to find a space at Hvar town so we pottered round to the next bay... Milna (not to be confused with the town Milna with same name but on Brac Island). It started getting a little late and we looked for a buoy to moor up but a non-english speaking man on a rib told us all the black and white buoys had been reserved.... The place is beautiful so we started to head out and saw a red buoy. Again a man on a rib came out and asked us if we wanted to stay the night and if so we would need to eat at his restaurant. A little risky, but OMG the food and service was amazing! The sunset incredible.
Parja Cove
5.0
We stayed here one starry night, firmly attached to one of the two buoys in the cove, with another yacht on the other. It was the most amazing experience, so peaceful... well until the local fisherman from the house came past at 5am is his noisy fishing boat, putt putt putt, LOL.
Stari Grad Marina
3.8
We liked Stari Grad, but it was al little smelly on the other side of the marina, and some of the buildings looked a little run down. We ventured off and found some really nice off-beat places to eat in the back streets.
Stari Grad Marina
3.8
We liked Stari Grad, lots of history, but a little run down and smelly in places.
Dubovica Cove
3.8
We took the family here to get away from the busyness of Hvar. Our children loved the paddling.
Forecast
Open Windy
Top Marinas, Harbours and Anchorages
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1 . Parja Cove |
2 . Stari Grad Marina |
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4 . Stari Grad Marina |
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6 . Zukova Cove |
7 . Vlaska Cove |
8 . Saint Glavna Cove |
9 . Tiha Cove West |
10 . Tiha Cove East |
11 . Tiha Cove Central |
12 . Zavala Cove Stari Grad |
13 . ACI Vrboska Marina |
14 . Vrboska Harbour |
15 . Jelsa Harbour |
16 . Jelsa Riva |
17 . Gracisce Cove |
18 . Maslinica Cove |
19 . Prapratna Cove |
20 . Stiniva Cove |
21 . Vela Stiniva Hvar |
22 . Pokrivenik Cove |
23 . Mala Garska Cove |
24 . Vela Garska |
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26 . Pribinja Cove |
27 . ACI Hvar Marina |
28 . Podstine Harbour |
29 . Saint Jerolim Island |
30 . Stipanska Island |
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Top Towns
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1 . Milna
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2 . Hvar
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4 . Stari Grad
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6 . Sveta Nedelja
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7 . Ivan Dolac
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8 . Sucuraj
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9 . Jelsa
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10 . Vrboska
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