Hvar Island, one of Croatia’s largest islands, is located off the coast of the mainland between Split and Dubrovnik. Hvar has a population of around ten thousand residents spread over its nearly 300 square kilometre terrain. The largest and most well-known towns are Hvar Town and Stari Grad. Hvar is the self-proclaimed "sunniest spot in Europe", with over 2715 hours of sunlight in an average year. This sunny isle is a must-visit destination!
Overview
- Island Paradise: Exploring Hvar’s Natural Beauty
- Tapestry of History: Delving into Hvar’s Heritage
- Cultural Kaleidoscope: Experiencing Hvar’s Vibrant Culture
- Gastronomic Delights: Tasting Hvar’s Culinary Treasures
- How to see Hvar on a Bunnik Tour
Island Paradise: Exploring Hvar’s Natural Beauty
Like much of Croatia, Hvar is hilly and green with natural stone and fertile soils. Surrounded by stunning blue waters, the island is lined with many pebble beaches which are popular with locals and tourists alike during the summer months. Hvar is well-known for abundant and high-quality crops of lavender, olives, rosemary, grapes and fruit orchards. These are made into local wines such as Plavac Mali (a variety similar to a Zinfandel) and other edible delights such gelati, olive oil and chocolates. Lavender-based souvenirs are easy to find, including essential oils and soaps.
Interestingly, it is also easy to find capers growing in rocky terrain and out of cracks in old stone buildings, as they grow wildly here between April and September. During the Spring, you can also find asparagus growing wildly.
Photos by Rachel McMahon
Tapestry of History: Delving into Hvar’s Heritage
Hvar has a rich history beginning with the Neolithic people before the Greeks colonized the island in the 4th century BC. It then fell under Roman rule in 219BC, and the island’s name was changed from the Greek ‘Pharos’ to ‘Pharia’. Then followed a period marked by various occupations by the Byzantines, Slavic tribes and eventually, the Venetian Republic, who were responsible for bringing grape vines and starting the wine cultivation industry on the island. From there, Hvar’s history becomes even more complicated, bouncing around to different rulers, including the Austrian Empire, until after World War One, when Croatia joined the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Croatia declared independence in 1991 and became a member of the European Union in 2013.
There is a wealth of historic sights to see on Hvar Island, with many of them centred in or around Hvar Town. Starting in the bustling heart of Hvar, St. Stephen’s square, you can explore the charming, car-free old town on foot or grab a bite to eat at one of the many busy restaurants surrounding the square. After checking out St. Stephen’s cathedral on the eastern side of the central square, other nearby points of interest you may wish to view are the Arsenal & Historic Theatre – the arsenal was built between 1292 and 1331 and was used as a shipyard for galleys. Today, it houses the Gallery of Modern Art. The Historic Theatre above was the first public theatre in Europe. Adjacent to these historic buildings is the beautiful City Lodge of Hvar. Construction began in the 15th century, but it needed to be renovated after it burnt down during the Turkish invasion in 1571. The stunning façade of this building looks out over the harbour of Hvar.
Once you have eaten, photographed and shopped your way around the Hvar Old Town, head up to the hill behind the city to visit the Hvar Fortress, which offers both a fascinating history and some breathtaking views. Building began on this mammoth structure in the 13th century under Venetian rule to offer a defence system for the city’s people. Not without its tribulations, the fort has been rebuilt or repaired multiple times throughout history.
Photos by Karin Jones
Cultural Kaleidoscope: Experiencing Hvar’s Vibrant Culture
Sometimes called the ‘Queen of the Dalmatian Islands’, today, Hvar is probably best known for its produce, nightlife and sailing the island’s breathtaking coastline. In fact, Hvar was recently voted the 3rd best island in Europe (Travel + Leisure, 2024).
Hvar lace, made by nuns from the Benedictine monastery in Hvar Town, is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. These delicate creations are made from agave plant leaf threads and no two pieces are alike.
Gastronomic Delights: Tasting Hvar’s Culinary Treasures
As previously mentioned, Hvar is well known for its premium crops of citrus fruits and flowers which can be consumed in many forms. Being on the ocean, there is also an abundance of seafood; not to mention the wines!
Hvar Town presents a plethora of opportunities to try some locally made delicacies such as lavender gelati, truffle-infused olive oil, locally caught fish dishes or Paprenjak – a traditional sweet biscuit spiced with pepper, clove and cinnamon.
Hvar is also where a fish and potato stew called Gregada has its origins, but this simple and comforting dish is now popular throughout the Adriatic. It is said that a fish swims three times in Dalmatia. Once in the sea, then in local olive oil during preparation, and finally in white wine as it is consumed during the meal. Another popular seafood dish in Hvar (and Croatia at large) is Octopus salad – this is a great summer dish but is also popular with locals as part of Christmas Eve dinner.
Photos by Rachel McMahon
How to see Hvar on a Bunnik Tour
Both our Jewels of Dalmatia & Northern Italy, Slovenia & Croatia Classic Tours feature a stop in the sunny isle of Hvar. Whether staying the night or passing by, our tours ensure that you don't miss out on all the best parts, such as St. Stephen's Cathedral, Hvar Town and Hvar Fortress.
