★ Top sights 10
Blaca Hermitage on the southern coast of Brac was founded in 1551 by two Glagolitic monks seeking refuge from Ottoman raids. The monastery operated continuously until 1963, when the last resident monk died. The preserved interior holds objects accumulated over four centuries, including a piano, telescope, gramophone, printing press, and handwritten manuscripts. The hermitage has been on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List since January 2007. Access requires a walk on foot through a dry canyon with no vehicle access.
Skrip is the oldest settlement on Brac island, with a population of 157 in 2021 and an area of 5.8 square kilometers. The Island of Brac Museum is housed here in a 16th-century Radojkovic tower built during the Venetian-Turkish wars, standing above a Roman mausoleum. The collection includes Roman stone monuments, a carved Hercules figure, a copy of the Povlja lintel, and ethnographic items from island history. Skrip lies in the island interior and forms part of the administrative City of Supetar.
Mlini is a bay within the Pakleni Islands, the archipelago of sixteen islands and islets off the southwestern coast of Hvar covering 7.165 square kilometers. Enclosed by pine forest and limestone terrain, Mlini is described as one of the most scenic and secluded anchorages in the entire Pakleni group, offering calm water and a tranquil setting away from the busier Hvar waterfront. Like all destinations within the archipelago, Mlini is accessible only by boat from Hvar harbour, with no overland route available.
Jagodna is a pebble beach on the southern coast of Hvar, situated between the villages of Sveta Nedjelja and Ivan Dolac. The beach is fringed by pine forest that extends down to the water's edge, providing shade along the shoreline. The water here is noted for exceptional clarity, and Jagodna is listed among the few beaches on this stretch of the southern coast that offer a mix of pebble and sandy substrate. The location away from the main tourist infrastructure contributes to the beach's relatively secluded character.
Tvrdalj Castle in Stari Grad is a Renaissance fortified summer residence built by poet Petar Hektorovic. Initial construction permission was granted in 1448, but work halted due to a Turkish attack and resumed in 1541. The complex encloses a seawater fish pond, a walled garden, and a dovecote tower. Inscriptions in Latin, Croatian, and Italian are carved across the walls, reflecting the owner's humanist ideals. The castle is considered the best-preserved example of Renaissance secular architecture on Hvar island.
Jelsa sits on the northern coast of Hvar island with a municipal population of 3,501 as of 2021. The town was established in the 14th century as the coastal port for the inland village of Pitve. It is the only settlement on Hvar island with a reliable natural supply of fresh water, a distinction that shaped its growth as the island's central port. Jelsa is mentioned in the Statute of Hvar of 1331, placing it among the earliest documented settlements on the island. The harbour remains the main ferry and excursion hub for the central part of Hvar.
Hvar Town occupies the southern coast of Hvar island in Split-Dalmatia County, covering an administrative area of 75.7 square kilometers with a recorded population of 3,979 as of 2021. The settlement came under Venetian protection in 1278, and the centuries of Venetian rule shaped the stone architecture of the historic core. A public theater built here in 1612 is one of the oldest in Europe. The entire historic center is designated a Cultural Heritage protected area, preserving its Venetian loggia, arsenal, and Renaissance cathedral.
Jerolim is the easternmost island of the Pakleni archipelago, the group of sixteen islands lying off the southwestern coast of Hvar. The archipelago covers a total area of 7.165 square kilometers of limestone terrain with pine forest cover. Jerolim is one of the smaller islands in the group and is known for its numerous sheltered coves, which offer calm, clear water suitable for swimming and snorkeling. Access is exclusively by boat from Hvar harbour, with regular water taxi connections operating throughout the summer.
Pokonji Dol is a small islet lying 500 meters south of Hvar Town, measuring approximately 170 by 140 meters with a maximum elevation of 11 meters and a total area of 0.017 square kilometers. A lighthouse was constructed on the islet in 1872, its square tower rising from the roof of the keeper's building. The light reaches 10 nautical miles and is maintained by the Croatian lighthouse authority Plovput. The islet functions primarily as a navigational marker for vessels approaching Hvar harbour from the south.
Zarace comprises two pebble coves on the southern coast of Hvar, approximately 6 kilometers from Hvar Town. The two coves sit side by side but face in opposite directions: Velo Zarace opens to the east while Malo Zarace faces west. Both are enclosed by impressive rocky cliffs that rise sharply from the water's edge. The underwater terrain mirrors the dramatic surface topography, making the area notable for snorkeling. The differing orientations mean that one cove or the other receives favorable light and shelter at different times of day.
Activities & local 11
Zlatni Rat and the surrounding area of Bol are world famous for kitesurfing and windsurfing - excellent schools, equipment rentals and regular international competitions.
Stone village of Škrip on Brač island. Family olive groves with ancient trees. Cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil. Direct sale at local cooperative.
Famous white Brač limestone (used for Diocletian's Palace and the White House). Workshop tours, stonecutting demonstrations, stone souvenirs.
Brac offers over 200 km of marked hiking and biking trails connecting the inner villages, vineyards and beaches - from easy family trails to challenging mountain hikes.
Hvar offers dozens of routes for rock climbing and mountain biking in a rugged landscape - views of the Adriatic from the limestone cliffs and passes through lavender.
Water sports centre in Hvar harbour - kayak, paddleboard, scooter rentals and organized boat trips to the Pakleni islands and remote beaches.
Abandoned village turned lavender paradise. The Hvar lavender festival in June draws visitors to fields of purple. Lavender oil, soap, honey and sachets direct from farmers.
Organized kayak and paddleboard trips around the Pakleni Islands and hidden coves of Hvar - the perfect activity for all ages in clear water.
Dozens of kilometres of hiking and cycling trails through the ancient Greek countryside lead across the Stari Grad Plain - ideal for active outdoor excursions.
Bota Windsurfing Center has operated in Vrboska on the northern coast of Hvar island since 2004. In 2020 the center opened a second location in Stari Grad. Equipment available for hire includes windsurfers, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, wingfoils, electric bicycles, and mountain bikes, making it one of the more comprehensive water and land activity centers on the island. Vrboska's sheltered bay and consistent summer winds make it a suitable base for both beginner and intermediate windsurfing instruction.
The world centre of windsurfing at Zlatni Ratu - the strait between Brac and Hvar creates ideal conditions for windsurfing with regular afternoon Maestral winds.
Beaches & coast 18
The main beach of Supetar is protected from the wind with calm sea and pebble bottom - ideal for families with children, right in the centre of the town.
A secluded pebble beach under an olive grove with crystal clear water - underwater meadows of posidonia.
One of Hvar's most photographed beaches 8 km from town - a pebbly cove with clear water and an iconic old stone house by the sea.
Gromin Dolac is a pebble and rocky beach east of Zavala village on the southern coast of Hvar, reached via an old road from Zavala. Dense pine forest borders the beach, providing shade over the foreshore. Stone houses in the area include some dating to the 17th century, built by local inhabitants as defensible refuges during the era of Adriatic piracy. The beach remains one of the less-visited spots on the southern coast, accessible without a boat but requiring a short drive and walk from Zavala.
A secluded beach in a small fishing village in the south of Hvar, famous for its excellent Plavac Mali red wine and clear waters.
A quiet beach near Vrboska with a panoramic view of the Adriatic bay - small bays with clear water and an authentic fishermen's village as a backdrop.
Mekicicevica Beach sits 2.5 kilometers east of Hvar Town along the island's southern coastline. It is a pebble beach accessible via the coastal road running east from the town center. The beach is listed on the official Hvar tourism portal alongside neighboring coastal beaches including Pokonji Dol, which lies 1.5 kilometers from the town center, and several others spread along the southeastern shore. The surrounding landscape of limestone rock and Mediterranean scrub is characteristic of this part of the Dalmatian coast.
A quiet bay on the south side of the island of Hvar with rich underwater meadows and schools of colourful fish.
A magical pebble beach 4 km from Hvar surrounded by pine forests with an authentic Mediterranean atmosphere - great for snorkelling.
Beautiful pebble beach 5 km from Bol with views of Hvar and the vineyards around - a surprisingly authentic atmosphere away from the tourists.
A remote wild beach on the westernmost Pakleni Islands - absolute tranquility, clear water and a picturesque pine coastline far from the tourist fleet.
A protected bay on the Pakleni Islands with a pine forest and turquoise water full of marine life.
One of the few sandy beaches in Brac between Postira and Pucisci - a shallow and quiet bay ideal for children with the remains of an ancient Christian basilica from the 6th century.
Stiniva on the northern coast of Hvar lies below the village of Brusje, approximately 6 kilometers from Hvar Town and accessible by car via the Brusje road. The bay forms part of a cluster of sheltered coves in this area, including Jagodna, Zastupac, Sviracina, and Lozna. Pine forest covers the slopes above the water, providing shade, and the bay catches the afternoon mistral wind. The combination of pine shade and consistent sea breeze makes this stretch a popular alternative to the busier beaches near Hvar Town.
A legendary narrow bay accessible only by foot or boat - clear water with underwater rocks and abundant life.
Sveta Nedjelja sits on the southern coast of Hvar, reached through the Pitve-Zavala tunnel of approximately 1.5 kilometers. The village is wedged between the sea and the slopes of Sveti Nikola, the island's highest peak at 626 meters. An Augustinian monastery dating from the 15th to 18th century is built into a natural cave in the cliff above the village. Around ten beaches and coves are accessible from the settlement. The surrounding south-facing slopes are planted with Plavac Mali vines, one of Croatia's principal red wine grape varieties.
The famous sandy cape on Brač - interesting rock formations underwater and schools of fish along both sides of the cape.
Croatia's most famous beach and a symbol of the Adriatic - a 600 m long pebbly promontory with a triangular shape that changes position depending on the sea currents.
Culture & history 19
Picturesque harbour town in the south of Brac at the foot of Vidova Gora - lively promenade, historic centre, excellent restaurants and the best access to Zlatni Rat.
Dominican monastery from 1475 on the beautiful Glavica peninsula - a museum with prehistoric finds, Glagolitic missals and underwater archaeology.
A massive 16th century Renaissance fortress towering over Hvar - the panoramic views of the Pakleni Islands and the old town are fascinating.
A 15th-century monastery with a 500-year-old cypress tree in the courtyard, a collection of rare art and a famous replica of Martinis' Last Supper.
One of the oldest surviving theatres in Europe (1612), located in the historic Arsenale right on the main square - a unique cultural gem.
A small coastal village 5 km from Bol with a starting point for the ascent to the Dragon's Cave - surrounded by vineyards, with beautiful views of Hvar.
The largest square in Dalmatia (4,500 m²) with a 16th century cathedral and a well from 1520 - the central artery of Hvar's social life.
A remote village in the northeast of Brač with rare remains of a Byzantine basilica and baptistery from the 5th-6th centuries - the site where the Povlje Charter was found.
An authentic inner village in the heart of Brac with the Church of St. Nicholas and the statue of George the Dalmatian - traditional stone buildings and the tranquility of the Central Dalmatian hinterland.
A village in the northeast of Brac, famous for its tradition of stone production and the spectacular view of the surrounding countryside - the annual stone festival attracts thousands of visitors.
A small fishing village on the northern coast of Brac where the Brac stone was quarried for Diocletian's Palace in Split - historic stone houses by the quiet harbour.
One of the oldest towns in Europe (384 BC) on the northern coast of Hvar - authentic Croatian atmosphere, Venetian palaces and a quiet harbour.
The most beautiful village in Croatia with a traditional stone school - limestone houses in a sheltered bay and a 500-year tradition of Brač stone mining.
A small fishing village at the eastern end of Brac connected by ferry to Makarska - authentic, unpretentious seaside atmosphere and interesting excursions to the surroundings.
Neolithic cave at Humac with 7,000-year-old finds - the birthplace of the Hvar-Lisici culture and one of the oldest sites on the Mediterranean.
A picturesque village in the northwest of Brac with ancient foundations from the time of Diocletian - early Christian churches, white limestone houses and a peaceful atmosphere.
An authentic fishing village at the very eastern end of the island with a small fortress and a ferry to the mainland - a gateway for tourists arriving from Dubrovnik.
Regional museum in the historic tower fortress of Castel Radojković - 3,000 years of Brac history, Roman tombstones, Illyrian finds and traditional crafts in one place.
A charming fishing village nicknamed 'Croatian Venice' with a canal winding between houses, bridges and the fortress church of St. Mary.
Getting there 5
Půjčení auta a letenky · Porovnej ceny od ověřených půjčoven · Vyhledej nejlevnější lety na Hvar Brac
Půjčení auta a letenky · Porovnej ceny od ověřených půjčoven · Vyhledej nejlevnější lety na Hvar Brac
Trajektový přístav · Katamarán do Split
Trajektový přístav · Autotrajekt do Split
Trajektový přístav · Autotrajekt do Split
Nature 7
Inner south-western part of Brac covered with old olive groves and vineyards - olive oil museum, tasting of local products and traditional rural life.
Hvar is world famous for its lavender - in June, thousands of hectares of purple lavender bloom, whose scent and colours attract photographers from all over the world.
A secluded ridge in the central part of Brac with stunning views of Zlatni Rat, Hvar and Vis - ideal for hikers and solitary trips in unspoilt nature.
A picturesque village in the centre of Brac, surrounded by thousand-year-old olive trees and Mediterranean maquis - authentic island life and tranquillity away from the tourists.
The highest mountain of all the Adriatic islands (780 m above sea level) with a legendary view of Zlatni Rat, Hvar and Vis - the climb takes about 2 hours from Bol.
Iconic natural cave on the islet of Biševo - inside, the sea appears in magical blue light when there is no wind; a popular day trip from Hvar by boat.
The highest point of the island of Hvar (628 m above sea level) with a stunning panoramic view of the surrounding islands - a popular hiking route for nature lovers.