Day Trip To Hvar From Split

The island of Hvar, with its diverse beauty and rich history, is about an hour ferry ride from Split, making it an ideal day trip in Croatia (although staying two or three is even better). Hvar has several great cities to visit, but its main town, its capital, and one of its most popular cities, is Hvar Town.

This coastal city has a picturesque bay, sandy beaches tucked along the coast, luxury accommodation, a 16th century Venetian hilltop Fortress, beautiful historical buildings, and an enchanting, playful chain of islands to explore. It’s also known to have a lively nightlife. With all this, it’s not unusual to see yachts in the bay area, sometimes with celebrities. Yet this charming town still retains its laid-back charm.

If you want to explore more, and move to less touristy parts of the island, there’s also Stari Grad, Jelsa, and Sucuraj, but this post mainly covers what to do in Hvar Town on a day trip.

Hvar Island and Hvar Town

The island of Hvar, one of the larger of 79 islands and 500 islets that are scattered along the Dalmatian coast, is 33 miles (53 km) southeast of Split. Hvar Town, its capital, is the largest and liveliest on the island. It’s on its southeastern coast.

This was part of the Venetian Empire in the 13th and 14th centuries, and again from the 15th to 18th centuries, until Napoleon took control of Venice.

In Hvar Town, a 13th century Venetian fortress, with a stunning view of the bay, sits atop the hill by the harbor, adding to the islands charm, along with beaches, historical buildings, and the Pakleni islands, which are fun to explore.

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Top Things To Do On A Day Trip To Hvar

Hvar Harbor Promenade

The first thing you see when you arrive, is the harbor’s palm-tree-lined promenade. It’s full of restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. The perfect place to start your day, soaking up the chill harbor atmosphere, and people watching over a cup of coffee, lunch, or a cocktail.

Venetian Loggia and Clock Tower

Just past the harbor, you’ll see the Venetian Loggia, all that remains of the magnificent 16th century Governor’s Palace. It was destroyed later that century by the Ottomans and rebuilt in classic Renaissance style. The clock tower beside it was built in the 19th century.

Together, the Loggia and the clock tower now make up part of the luxurious Palace Elizabeth Hotel.

Saint Stephen’s Square

East of the Loggia is Saint Stephen’s Square, the largest square in Dalmatian. It’s also known as Hvarska Pjaca.

Once part of the bay, in the 18th century it was leveled and paved. Today it’s lined with historical buildings, many charming cafes, and an ice cream shop (which gets a lot of business).

St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the Arsenal theater (below) are also in this square. It’s a great place to have a meal and people watch. At the center of the square, make sure to look for the old communal well, built in 1520.

Cathedral of Saint Stephen

The Cathedral of Saint Stephen is dedicated Saint Stephen, the pope, martyr, and patron saint of Hvar. It’s on the east end of the St. Stephen’s Square. The architecture has elements of Gothic, Romanesque, and Renaissance architecture. There is a small fee for entry.

Venetian Fortress, Tvrdava Fortica

Tvrdava Fortica, the 16th century Venetian fortress on the hilltop, is the perfect place to get a panoramic view of the bay and the lovely Pakleni islands.

It’s a 20 to 30-minute walk to the top, where you can either sit and enjoy the view, or tour the fortress itself, which locals call Spanjola. The fortress offers various viewpoints, as well as a prison, and artifacts from antiquity and the Middle Ages. There is a small fee for entry.

In the 16th century, this fortress protected the town’s citizens during an Ottoman invasion, while the town was plundered and burned. Tragically, the fortress itself was later destroyed after lightning struck, igniting the gunpowder stored there. It was later rebuilt.

How To Get To Tvrdava Fortica: In Saint Stephen’s Square, look for the steps on the left after a series of cafes (below right). Climb to the road, then look for more steps, working your way towards the top. If you prefer, you can also drive or take a taxi.

Hvar Beaches

Although the best beaches of Hvar are on the Pakleni islands and farther east on Hvar’s southern coast, there are several walkable beaches you can easily visit on a day trip. Note that the hotels associated with these beaches below would be ideal accomodation if you chose to stay longer on Hvar.

• Beach Lucica: This beach sits in front of the Franciscan Monastery, just a short walk south of the harbor.
• Amfora Beach Resort: This is the biggest beach, in front of Amfora Hotel, a 10-minute walk north of the Hvar Harbor.
• Sirena Beach: This beach is in front of Sirena Hotel, about a 25-minute walk north of Hvar Harbor.

Europe’s Oldest Public Theater, Arsenal Theater

The upper floor of the Arsenal Building, originally constructed in the 13th century, was converted into the Arsenal Theater in the 17th century, making it the oldest surviving public theater in Europe. Performances are still held here!

Franciscan Monastery

Ths Franciscan Monastery is beachside monastery, reached by following the promenade south of the harbor. Its interior is full of Venetian paintings and other artifacts. Its most famous piece of art is The Last Supper by Venetian Matteo Ingoli. It’s also known for the beautiful old tree in its garden.

The rocky little beach beside the Franciscan Monastery is Kriza Beach.

Visit The Pakleni Islands, Or The Hvar Riviera

If you’re looking for something a little more adventurous, take a taxi boat to the Pakleni islands. This is a chain of wooded islands off Hvar‘s southwestern coast. Around 6 miles (10 km) long, there are 16 mostly uninhabited islands. You can swim, dance, dine, dive, and more at one of the many secluded beaches and coves.

The largest island is Sveti Klement, which has three settlements: Palmizana, Monica Polje, and Vlaka. Palmizana does have a few places to stay, along with art galleries, seaside restaurants and bars, hiking trails, and room for 200 boats.

Galesnik is the closest island and, although not as visited, is perfect foe those seeking tranquility. Jerolim is next, with showers, a restaurant and a naturalist (nudist) swimming area a bit away from the main jetty. Marinkovac has Stipanska, the site of lively, Carpe Diem Beach, where you can dance all night, and Zrdilca, which has several pebble beaches. All reasons why more than one day here is ideal!

How To Get To Pakleni Islands: There are several options to get to the Pakleni Islands.

• Hire a taxi boat in Hvar harbor. It’s approximately a 15-minute ride with a variety of drop points.
• Hire your own boat. The smaller 5 hp pasara boats do not require a license to operate and are relatively affordable.
• Take a tour. Some will also include nearby the Blue Cave and/or Green Cave, which are very popular.
• You can also take a kayak tour from Hvar to the islands.

The Blue Cave

Located on the Bay of Balun on Bisevo island, southwest of Hvar is a striking Blue Cave. This cerulean oasis was carved into the limestone by seawater. Sunlight sweeps into the cave, reflecting off the white bottom and creating vivid blue tones. The best time to see the Blue Cave is just before noon on a sunny day.

This attraction gets quite busy during peak season, known for long lines and only a very quick visit to the cave. Therefore, visiting off-season is best. There is no swimming in this cave.

How To Get To The Blue Cave: About an hour from Hvar, an organized tour is the best way to visit. And as there’s no tourist accommodation on Bisevo island, it must be done as a day trip.

The Green Cave

In contrast, the Green Cave on Ravnik Islet, looks green due to the light reflecting off the algae covered rocks under the water. You can both swim and snorkel in this cave.

How To Get To The Green Cave: As above, this is also best visited by tour.

Other Beaches On A Day Trip to Hvar

There are also other beautiful beaches along Hvar’s southern coast east of Hvar harbor. These beaches are mostly fine gravel, but some pebble, best reached by car or boat. Click the beach name below for the google map location and more details.

• Milna, 3 miles (5 km) away
• Zarace, 5 miles (8 km) away
• Sveta Nedelja (Saint Sunday Beach), 11 miles (17 km) away
• Ivan Dolac, 14 miles (22 km) away
• Zavala, 19 miles (32 km) away

Day Trip To Hvar From Split: How To Get There

In peak season, there are multiple ferries running daily between Split and Hvar, making a day trip from one to the other super easy. Plus, the ride itself is beautiful. See the full range of catamarans and ferries at the link here.

Other Towns To Explore on Hvar

These towns are a little smaller, and a little quieter, making them perfect for families or those just wanting a quieter escape.

Stari Grad

Stari Grad is an UNESCO World Heritage site on the northern side of Hvar. This city was a Greek colony in 385 BC.

This relaxed town has beautiful beaches, lovely restaurants, and a charming bay. Tvrdalj Castle, home of 16th the century Croatian poet Petar Hektorovic, is also a highlight.

Jelsa

Jelsa, also on Hvar’s northern coast, is a relaxing harbor, with beaches and historical churches.

Sucuraj

Sucuraj, the smallest town on Hvar, is a fishing village with sandy beaches. It sits on the eastern end of Hvar.