Hvar island is the longest island on the Adriatic Sea. If you open the Split island map page, you'll see that island Hvar stands in the second row, in front of the Split town.
Today, Hvar's island, Hvar, and other towns on the island are some of the most developed and well-known seaside resorts in Croatia. Read more about Hvar island on Wikipedia!
The island of Hvar is the king of the middle Dalmatian islands. The longest and sunniest island. Island of the sun, crystal clear sea, scents of lavender and good wine, and olive oil.
What makes Hvar island so special?
Mild climate
If you decide to visit this island, Hvar will be a must-visit destination on your travel plan. Discover why this island has been voted for years among the world’s 10 top island destinations.
One of the main reasons it has been nominated for years among the world’s 10 top attractive islands is its mild climate and hospitable people. With more than 2800 hours of sunshine during the year, it has been named Adriatic Madeira.
The island is characterized by its mild winters, warm summers, and great insulation, allowing bathing from May to October, sometimes, even more.
The island boasts mild and wet winters (in January approx. 8.4°C – 46,8°F). The summer temperature doesn't cross the critical temperature tolerance (the absolute maximum of 37 °C – 104°F in 1935). The average annual temperature is about 16.5 °C (63°F). Not bad at all.
Island beaches
Hvar island beaches are mostly rocky and pebble scattered in numerous bays, inlets, and smaller islands along the northern and southern island's coastal line.
Most beaches are bounded by pine trees and low Mediterranean bushes, giving protection during the high summer heat. The finer gravel beaches are located on the southwest side of the island facing the open sea, near Ivan Dolac, Zavala, and Milna.
There are also some natural sandy beaches, mostly on the northern side of the island, because the north winds and waves on the north side are stronger than those in the south.
Families with small children can enjoy some shallow sandy beach in deep bays near Jelsa and near Sucuraj. But one thing is for sure, wherever you go for swimming on Hvar island, you’ll find the crystal clear, clean and unpolluted sea!
Besides beautiful beaches, Hvar island has numerous small coves providing anchorages suitable for yachting tourists. These coves are accessible only from the sea.
Hvar has a great number of nudist beaches. Nudist tourism has a very long tradition. Near all-island settlements, there are many official and unauthorized naturist beaches. There is also a naturist island, Zvecevo, near Jelsa town. The only naturists are permitted to use small beaches and natural shelters on this island. It's open during the summer season and can be reached by boat from Jelsa and Stari Grad.
Stari Grad town has a naturist beach west of the Helios Hotel, while Hvar town also offers beautiful naturist beaches, mainly located on Paklina archipelago. The most popular is a nudist beach on the island of Jerolim, southeast of Hvar town. Another one is a naturist beach on the island of Marinkovac.
Things to do on Hvar island
Besides being the sunniest island with crystal clear sea, beautiful beaches, good food and wine, and an unspoiled environment with lavender scents everywhere, I am sure Hvar will satisfy the most demanding travelers.
This island offers many things to do, particularly in the summer season from May to late September. It all depends on how long you are planning to stay on the island. If you are staying in Split, tourists can choose one of the many trips to Hvar island highlights.
If you are curious to know what type of trips are the most popular among tourists, water tours are number one. Pakleni archipelago (Pakleni Otoci in Croatian) consists of 17 islands is the must-visit Hvar town highlight. You can go there by boat or taking a kayaking tour.
After sailing and swimming, perhaps it would be interesting to know more about Hvar island history. The city of Hvar is famous for its cultural heritage. The biggest main square in Dalmatia with the Cathedral of St Stephen and many renaissances and baroque palaces dominates the city under the 16th-century Hvar Fortress.
Stari Grad, the second large town on the island, is famous for its castle Tvrdalj, the poet Petar Hektorovic’s 16th century fortified castle with a fish pond. It's worth visiting the local museum housed in the former Bianchini Palace. The special exhibition shows a reconstruction of an ancient Greek shipwreck, the archaeological collection from the UNESCO Plain, and a 19th-century Captain’s room.