Where to look
Beach & Sun Seekers
Beach lovers · Swimmers · Pebble cove explorers · Photography fans The Pakleni Islands archipelago, a 10-minute water-taxi ride from Hvar Town harbour, contains the finest beach scenery in this part of the Adriatic. A series of small islands create dozens of sheltered coves with brilliantly clear turquoise water — some with restaurants and sun loungers (Palmižana, Stipanska), others completely wild. The water is some of the clearest in the Mediterranean. On Brač, Zlatni Rat (Golden Horn) near Bol is Croatia's most photographed beach — a distinctive white pebble spit that extends 500m into the sea and changes direction with currents and wind. The water on both sides is turquoise and clean. For something less iconic but more secluded, Brač's southern coast has a string of small coves accessible by boat or hiking track, including Murvica and Blaca.
Families with Children
Families · Young children · Parents wanting calm bays and easy logistics Stari Grad, on the north coast of Hvar, is the island's oldest town (founded by Greeks in 385 BC) and its best family base. The bay is long and sheltered, the water calm and gradually deepening, and the old town — a UNESCO World Heritage Site with its ancient agricultural plain behind it — is genuinely interesting for older children. The pace is noticeably slower than Hvar Town, restaurants are good value, and accommodation is more affordable. On Brač, Supetar is the natural family choice — the main ferry port from Split has excellent transport connections, a long beach with shallow water, and a full range of shops and restaurants. Milna, in the southwest of Brač, is a beautiful natural harbour with a quieter atmosphere and a small pebble beach suitable for children. The ferry ride from Split to Supetar (50 minutes) is an event in itself for young travellers.
Nature & Culture Lovers
History enthusiasts · Lavender lovers · Wine tourists · Hikers Hvar's interior is one of the most beautiful and least visited landscapes in the Adriatic. The Stari Grad Plain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an ancient Greek agricultural landscape that has been cultivated continuously for 2,400 years — the same stone-wall field divisions laid out by Greek colonists in 385 BC are still visible from the air. In June, the whole plain is covered in lavender and rosemary, and distilleries in villages like Velo Grablje produce the island's famous lavender oil. Brač's interior has a different character — the island's stone (Brač limestone, so white it was used for Diocletian's Palace in Split and the White House in Washington) creates a lunar landscape of abandoned quarries, hilltop fortresses and stone-wall villages. The Dragon's Cave (Zmajeva špilja) near Murvica has extraordinary 15th-century reliefs carved directly into rock. Supetar has a beautiful cemetery with ornate 19th-century stone sculpture.
Party & Nightlife
20s–30s crowd · Yacht party lovers · Club fans · Festival seekers Hvar Town is Croatia's premier party destination and one of the liveliest summer nightlife spots in the entire Mediterranean. The main square (Trg Sv. Stjepana) is the pre-party gathering point; Hula Hula beach bar on the coastal path west of town is famous for its sunset aperitivo hour when the whole Adriatic turns gold; and Carpe Diem Beach Club on the tiny island of Stipanska (water taxi from the harbour) is the headline late-night venue with international DJs and all-night parties. The yacht crowd that descends on Hvar from June to September gives the nightlife a uniquely cosmopolitan quality — a mix of nationalities, ages (within the 20–35 range) and budgets, united by the beauty of the setting. The whole old town feels like a continuous party on summer nights, with every terrace and bar spilling onto the marble-paved streets.
Romantic Couples
Couples · Honeymoons · Special occasions · Adriatic sunset lovers Hvar Town at dusk is one of the most romantic settings in the Adriatic. The 16th-century Venetian loggia, the Renaissance cathedral, the fortress on the hill above, and the harbour full of sailing boats — all caught in the golden light of a Croatian sunset — create a scene of extraordinary beauty. The UNESCO-listed architecture and the warm Adriatic night air make Hvar a genuinely special destination for couples. For more seclusion, the coves of the Pakleni Islands are perfect for a private day on the water. Charter a small boat from Hvar Town harbour (easily and cheaply done) and find your own cove for the day. Milna on Brač and the village of Bol have a quieter romanticism — Zlatni Rat at dawn before the day-trippers arrive is one of the finest sights in the Adriatic.
Authentic Adriatic Experience
Culture seekers · Foodies · UNESCO site visitors · Wine lovers Vrboska, a small village on Hvar's north coast, is nicknamed 'Little Venice' for its canal-like harbour — entirely charming and almost unknown to international visitors. The village church was fortified in the 16th century against Ottoman raids and still has its battlements intact. The local konoba (taverna) serves fresh fish caught that morning. Brač's wine and olive oil are outstanding — the island's stony soil produces grapes of intense concentration, and the olive groves that cover the slopes between the coast and the quarries produce some of Croatia's finest olive oil. Several family estates near Bol and Milna welcome visitors for tastings. The Branč indigenous grape variety found only on this island produces wines unlike anything from mainland Croatia.
Budget Travellers
Backpackers · Students · Cost-conscious visitors · Off-season travellers Brač is significantly cheaper than Hvar — ferry connections are better (frequent Split–Supetar service), accommodation is more affordable, and the island lacks Hvar's yacht-crowd premium pricing. Supetar has the widest range of budget options: basic studios, rooms in family houses, and small guesthouses at genuine Croatian prices. On Hvar, Jelsa and Stari Grad are 30–40% cheaper than Hvar Town for accommodation and restaurants. May and September are the best months island-wide for value — you can find apartments in Hvar Town itself at prices that would be impossible in July. The islands are connected by a public ferry service and a local bus, so not having a car is manageable if you stay in a main town.
🎉 Hvar Town
Croatia's most glamorous resort. Venetian architecture, fortress, harbour nightlife (Hula Hula, Carpe Diem). Most expensive, most lively. Party · Romance · Couples · Luxury
🏛️ Stari Grad (Hvar)
Oldest town in Croatia (founded 385 BC). UNESCO plain behind it. Calm bay. Best family and culture base on Hvar. History · Families · Authentic
🌊 Pakleni Islands
Archipelago west of Hvar Town. Crystal clear coves, Palmižana restaurant, Carpe Diem Beach. Water taxi only — no accommodation on most. Beach · Romance · Scenery
🏖️ Bol / Zlatni Rat (Brač)
Croatia's most famous beach. Long pebble spit shifting with currents. Windsurfing school. More touristy than rest of Brač. Beach · Active · Wind sports
⛵ Supetar (Brač)
Main Brač ferry port from Split. Long beach, shallow water, affordable. Best family and budget base on Brač. Families · Budget · Transit
🏡 Milna (Brač)
Small natural harbour on Brač's southwest coast. Quiet, authentic, beautiful bay. Popular with sailors. Very limited nightlife. Romance · Authentic · Sailing
🌿 Jelsa (Hvar)
Mid-island town on Hvar's north coast. Quieter than Hvar Town, cheaper, still charming. Good base for lavender country. Families · Budget · Authentic
Tips for booking
- Water taxis from Hvar Town to the Pakleni Islands run all day in summer. A return ticket is around €5–8. The islands are best visited early morning (before 11am) or late afternoon — midday in July and August they attract large day-trip boats and become crowded.
- Stari Grad's bay is calmer than anything near Hvar Town. The sheltered north coast of Hvar is much calmer than the exposed south coast where bora winds can make swimming uncomfortable. For families with young children, Stari Grad offers peace, safety and genuine Croatian atmosphere.
- Visit Hvar's lavender in mid-June. The peak bloom is short — roughly 10–15 days — and the entire plain between Stari Grad and Jelsa turns purple. It is one of the most beautiful agricultural landscapes in Croatia. Distilleries in Velo Grablje welcome visitors and sell excellent lavender products.
- Stay in the old town or within walking distance of the harbour. Taxis and water taxis become expensive and unreliable at 3am. The old town is compact enough to walk everywhere — being within 10 minutes on foot of the harbour makes the whole night much easier to manage.
- Charter a small boat for a day in the Pakleni Islands. Basic motorboats can be rented without a licence from the harbour for €60–100 per day. Having your own boat to explore the coves at your own pace — swimming, snorkelling, stopping for lunch at Palmižana — is the most romantic day possible on these islands.
- Eat at a konoba away from Hvar Town harbour. The harbour restaurants are tourist-priced. Walk 10 minutes inland or take a taxi to Brusje or Vrisnik villages for home-cooking at a fraction of the harbour prices. The food will be better too.
- Stay in Split and day-trip to Hvar. If budget is tight, Split has far cheaper accommodation and the catamaran to Hvar Town takes 1 hour. You get the experience of Hvar Town in the evening without paying Hvar Town hotel prices. Many budget travellers use this approach successfully.
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