Things to Do in Hvar 2026: Fortress, Beaches & Island Day Trips

Hvar has more to offer than its reputation as a party island suggests — the fortress views, the UNESCO landscape at Stari Grad Plain, the Pakleni Islands, and the south coast beaches all reward proper time. All prices in euros (€).

Hvar Town

Climb Hvar Fortress (Fortica)

The most rewarding single activity in Hvar Town. The fortress — Venetian-built in the 16th century, substantially reinforced after an Ottoman attack in 1571 — sits 100m above the harbour. The walk up through the Old Town takes 15–20 minutes; the panorama from the top covers the harbour, the Pakleni archipelago, and the Dalmatian mainland.

• Admission: €8
• Open: Daily; until approximately 10pm in summer

Walk the Old Town

Hvar Town’s Old Town is small and walkable in an hour. The main square (Trg Sv. Stjepana) is the second-largest piazza on the Dalmatian coast. The cathedral bell tower, the Arsenal waterfront building, and the narrow lanes behind the harbourfront are all worth exploring.

Hvar Arsenal and Theatre

The 16th-century arsenal building on the waterfront housed Venetian warships. The upper floor became what is said to be the first public theatre in Europe opened to all social classes (1612). Currently used as a gallery and exhibition space.

• Entry: Typically free or minimal charge for exhibitions

Benedictine Convent and lace museum

Above the Old Town — a working convent where nuns maintain a centuries-old tradition of lacemaking using agave plant threads. The lace is on UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list. A small museum shows the process and the finished work.

• Admission: €2

Beaches and swimming

Pakleni Islands (Paklinski otoci)

The chain of uninhabited and semi-inhabited islands directly west of Hvar Town are the most popular beach destination on the island. Taxi boats run from the Riva every 20–30 minutes in season.

• Palmižana (Sv. Klement): The most popular — a cove with a restaurant, bar, and very clear water. 15 minutes by taxi boat.
• Stipanska: Quieter alternative, 10 minutes by boat.
• Marinkovac: Several coves and a more peaceful feel than Palmižana.
• Taxi boat cost: €5–10 per person one way, depending on island

Dubovica cove

On the south coast, accessible by car or scooter (20 minutes from Hvar Town) then a 10-minute walk down a path. A sheltered cove with an old stone fisherman’s cottage and remarkable water clarity. One of the most beautiful spots on the island.

• Cost: Free; bring water and food

Zaraće / Gdinj area

Further east on the south coast — several coves near the village of Gdinj, including Zaraće with its famous cave bar. Quieter and less visited than the Pakleni Islands.

Stari Grad and the UNESCO Plain

Stari Grad (20 minutes by bus from Hvar Town; bus €3) is the older and quieter of the island’s main settlements.

Stari Grad Plain

The flat agricultural plain east of Stari Grad preserves Greek land divisions from the 4th century BC essentially unchanged — paths, field boundaries, and dry-stone walls laid out by colonists from Paros are still visible. UNESCO listed it in 2008. Walking or cycling the plain is free; there are orientation panels at the entrance road.

Tvrdalj Palace

A fortified Renaissance summer palace built by Petar Hektorović, a 16th-century Croatian poet, as a self-sufficient retreat. The fish pond he built (stocked with fish he could eat if besieged) is still functioning, and the Latin inscriptions on the walls are his own poetry. Entry approximately €3.

Lavender fields and interior

The Hvar interior between Stari Grad and Jelsa has lavender fields best seen from late June to mid-July. Organised lavender tours depart from Hvar Town in season; alternatively, rent a scooter or car and drive the island road across the ridge.

• Organised lavender tour: approx. €30–50 per person

Boat tours from Hvar

Various speedboat and group tours depart from Hvar Town and can also be joined from Split.

• Blue Cave (Biševo Island): 3–4 hours; €60–90 per person including entry
• 5 Islands tour: Covers Vis, Hvar, Biševo Blue Cave, and Pakleni; popular full-day excursion from Split; typically €85–100
• Sunset boat tour: 2 hours around the Pakleni Islands; €35–50

Practical activity guide

Activity	Cost	Time needed
Hvar Fortress	€8	1.5 hours
Old Town walk	Free	1 hour
Pakleni Islands (taxi boat)	€10–20 return	Half day
Dubovica cove	Free (transport extra)	Half day
Stari Grad Plain	Free	2 hours
Tvrdalj Palace	€3	45 mins
Lavender tour	€30–50	3 hours
Blue Cave tour	€60–90	4 hours

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Plan your trip: Browse guided tours and boat excursions from Hvar — the 5 Islands speedboat tour is one of the most popular on the Adriatic. Pick up a Balkans eSIM for data on the water, and protect your trip with travel insurance.