Best Things to Do in Hvar Beyond the Bars (2026 Guide)

Hvar Is More Than Its Reputation

Hvar Town has become synonymous with expensive cocktails, yacht parties, and summer excess. That reputation is not entirely undeserved — but it describes maybe 500 metres of one town on an island that is 68km long.

The rest of Hvar is lavender fields, ancient olive groves, abandoned villages, hidden bays, and some of the best food in Croatia. Here's what to do in Hvar if you want more than a bar crawl.

1. Drive the Lavender Fields

Hvar is one of the world's largest producers of lavender — the island's interior is covered in it. In June, when it blooms, the hills turn purple and the air smells extraordinary. Even outside bloom season, the fields and the landscape of the interior are completely different from the coastal towns.

Rent a scooter in Hvar Town and drive inland toward Velo Grablje — an almost-abandoned village that was once the centre of the lavender trade. The views from the mountain road are some of the best on the island.

2. Visit the Spanish Fortress (Fortica)

The fortress above Hvar Town was built by the Venetians in the 16th century and expanded by the Spanish. The 20-minute walk up from the town is steep but the views — Hvar Town below, the Pakleni islands scattered across the sea, the Dalmatian mountains in the distance — are the best on the island.

Entry around €10. Go at sunset for the light. Allow 1.5-2 hours including the walk up and down.

3. Explore Stari Grad and the Stari Grad Plain

Stari Grad (Old Town) is Hvar's oldest settlement — founded by the Greeks in 384 BC, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited towns in Europe. The town is quieter and more authentic than Hvar Town, with a beautiful harbour, a Dominican monastery, and a medieval old town worth exploring.

The Stari Grad Plain behind the town is a UNESCO World Heritage landscape — an ancient agricultural system laid out by Greek settlers that has been continuously farmed for 2,400 years. The dry-stone walls, olive trees, and vineyard plots look today as they did when the Greeks established them. Walk or cycle through it for a completely different perspective on the island.

4. Find Hidden Beaches on the South Coast

The south coast of Hvar faces the open Adriatic and has a series of hidden bays accessible only by boat or on foot. Dubovica, Zaraće, Mekićevica — small pebble beaches with crystal-clear water and, outside peak season, very few people.

Rent a small boat from Hvar Town (€80-120 for half a day, no licence required for small boats) and explore. This is how the island is meant to be experienced.

5. Eat at a Konoba Away from the Main Square

The restaurants on Hvar Town's main square are among the most expensive in Croatia. Walk 10 minutes in any direction and the quality goes up and the price goes down.

Konoba Menego, up the steps behind Hvar Town, serves traditional Dalmatian food — cold meats, cheeses, vegetables preserved in oil — that hasn't changed in decades. The Gastro Hvar experience takes you through the island's food culture with a local guide. With Adriatic Pass, discounts available. See Hvar experiences →

6. Take the Ferry to the Pakleni Islands

The Pakleni islands — a scattered archipelago of pine-covered islands just off Hvar Town — have the best beaches and clearest water in the immediate area. Water taxis run from Hvar Town harbour every 20-30 minutes in summer (€5-10 each way).

Palmižana on Sveti Klement has a beautiful beach and one of Dalmatia's finest restaurants. Stipanska has a quieter beach with a small beach bar. Jerolim is the clothing-optional beach. Each island has a different character.

Practical Information

Getting around: Hvar Town is walkable. For the rest of the island, rent a scooter (€30-50/day) or car (€60-80/day).

Best base: Hvar Town for atmosphere; Stari Grad for authenticity and lower prices.

With Adriatic Pass: Discounts on food experiences, boat tours, and activities across Hvar. Get your pass →