Now you’re on the lovely island of Hvar – one of Croatia’s most charming and beautiful islands – you’ll find there’s absolutely plenty to occupy your time. From enjoying the main towns of Hvar Town and Stari Grad to seeing the sights of Hvar, eating and drinking in its many fine restaurants and entertainment establishments to lazing (and posing) on the local beaches…there’s lots to do! But once you’ve exhausted all of that – or perhaps if you want a slight change of pace – consider some of the best Hvar day trips that you can enjoy. Below, we’ve separated the two types of day trips into those you can enjoy on the island itself, and those on nearby islands or on the mainland.
Hvar Day Trips on the island
Stari Grad Plain
A UNESCO World Heritage site, Stari Grad Plain was established by Greek settlers on the island over 2,400 years ago. The land was cultivated for agricultural purposes and divided into plots by stone walls which have been preserved over the centuries and can still be seen today. Parts of the plain also contained gutters for rainwater collection, which was then stored in cisterns, to be used for the crops.
This ancient agricultural method was highly successful, establishing farming practices so long ago to successfully grow a number of different crops. But the astonishing fact about the Plain is that it is still in use today. By and large, you will see olive trees
The Plain is located a few kilometres to the east of Stari Grad, so would require a relatively lengthy walk if you feel up to the challenge. A better idea would be to rent a bike in Stari Grad to reach the site more easily.
Lavender Fields
You may have heard that Hvar is famous for its lavender, with fields of this pretty, fragrant plant grown in particular places on the island. Most of these fields centre around the western part of Hvar, around Velo Grablje, Brusje and Zastrazisce and you will want to visit in summer (June onwards) to see the purple flowers in full bloom.
In fact, if you’re particularly interested in lavender, make sure you visit Hvar during the month of July when the Lavender Festival takes place in and around the inland village of Velo Grablje. The festival includes workshops and talks during which you can learn more about lavender and how it is grown and cultivated. You can also sample lavender products and of course – as always in these kinds of festivals – enjoy lively and fun live music.
Having a hire car would really be the easiest way of seeing the lavender fields yourself, although you could also ask a taxi to take you to them. Alternatively, join an organised tour to make things easier for you. Ask at a local agency, or take a look at the 3-Hour Lavender Tour from Hvar.
Do note that even if you don’t embark on a lavender tour, you should see plenty of lavender products (small fragrant sachets, lavender beauty products) for sale throughout Hvar!
Wine Tour
Hey, you’re in Dalmatia – why not sample the truly excellent local wine? Really, having beautiful Hvar island as a background to a wine tour is ideal and possibly one of the best ways of enjoying the island. You will get to visit a few wineries, sample their best productions, and also experience some of the very pretty inland parts of the island. And when you’re driving from place to place, all you have to do is…drink!
Take a look at some Hvar wine tour examples below:
Explore the other towns
It’s certainly worth giving one of the other towns on the island a try. If you’re based in Stari Grad, Jelsa or Vrboska, head down to Hvar Town for a livelier way of life. Alternatively, if you’re in Hvar Town, we would recommend paying Stari Grad a visit to see a pretty little harbour town that has a quieter and more laid-back pace.
There are bus connections on the island, see the bus timetable from Hvar Tourist Office. Just make sure you keep in mind the time of your return bus!
You can otherwise make the journey between these towns by taxi or Uber.
Hvar Day Trips by boat trip
Pakleni Islands
The Pakleni Islands are honestly such a “must do”, I’d recommend you visit them even if you’re dead set on not doing any Hvar day trips! The archipelago of entirely car-free small islands are a short taxi boat ride away from the harbour in Hvar Town. (Head down there to see the taxi boats offering trips.) There are a few islands you can visit, the largest being Sveti Klement which has a number of cute eateries and lovely beaches. By and large, you visit the Pakleni islands for tranquility and to have a relaxing day in beautiful nature.
If you want to do a fair amount of exploring of the Pakleni islands, perhaps visiting more than just one of the islands, consider something like the Pakleni Islands Self-Guided Kayaking Tour. You can kayak over to them (easier than it sounds) and explore at your own pace.
The Blue Cave and Vis
One of the most popular boat trips from Hvar – or possibly from anywhere in this part of Dalmatia – is visiting the natural phenomenon that is the Blue Cave. Located on the small island of Bisevo that’s close to wonderful Vis, this cave becomes lit up by striking blue light at certain times of day, as the light entering the cave reflects off the water to give a shimmering blue effect. It’s an unbelievable experience, although is also incredibly popular and can be rather crowded at peak summer times. If the Blue Cave is of particular interest to you, consider trying to visit in the shoulder season (June or September would be ideal) although do be aware that sea conditions may then be less favourable. (Meaning tours cannot run.)
Really, visiting the Blue Cave is best done by an organised tour. Take a look at some options below.
Normally, tours also include a stop on Vis. Which is just as well, as Vis is such a lovely island!
Drvenik on the mainland
Drve-what? If you’re based in eastern Hvar for your holiday, you might consider a trip to the mainland using one of the frequent Jadrolinija ferries from Sucuraj. Drvenik on the mainland is at the tail end of the Makarska Riviera and is a cute little seaside village. Enjoy the local beaches and the lovely promenade (and see Hvar staring back at you!) and enjoy a bit of mainland time.
- Useful info: See what there is to see and do on the Drvenik Tourist Board website
Split
You will have likely “been” to Split – or Split Airport, at least – in your journey to Hvar, what with the numerous flights, buses and even trains arriving here. You’ve promptly hopped on a boat or some kind to speed over to Hvar to start your holiday. But what about returning back to Split to enjoy its many sights and friendly atmosphere for a half day? It’s easy enough to do yourself, no organised tour is required here! Simply hop on one of the Jadrolinija, Kapetan Luka or TP Line catamarans – which have a journey time of just one hour – to be transported back to the mainland.
Once you’re there, the port is a short (5 to 10 minute) walk away from the central Diocletian’s Palace area. Enjoy strolling through this part of the city taking in the very impressive sights such as the Palace walls, the Peristyle, the Cathedral and Belltower, the central squares and the markets. Make sure you walk down the main seaside promenade, the Riva, to really get a feel for the city and its people. Stop for a leisurely lunch – take a look at our Eating and Drinking in Split guide for ideas – and make sure to factor in some time for ice cream!
If you have more time, consider taking a walk up to the lovely forested Marjan Park on the hill to the west of the city, or head for a seaside walk out to Bacvice Beach, to the east, and beyond.
- Useful info: Check out our full guide to Split or take some tips from Two Days in Split