Where to stay in Hvar
Hvar town is small and handsome, and nearly everything you will want is within a twenty-minute walk of its main square, so the choice is mostly about noise, stairs and how far you want to be from the harbor. Stay in the old town for lanes and evenings on foot, along the coast path for quiet and swimming steps, or in Stari Grad or Jelsa, on the other side of the island, if you want a calmer base and do not mind a bus. The thing to think twice about is a room near the square or the harbor on a July or August night: the bars run late and the stone lanes carry every voice.
The short answer
- First trip
- In the old town around the main square or on the Groda slope above it: five minutes to the harbor and every sight, and a quieter night if you choose a lane away from the bars.
- Couples
- The Groda slope for stone lanes and views, or the west shore for a calm walk into town.
- Families
- The east shore or Podstine, with swimming steps and a pebble beach close by.
- Tight budget
- The Dolac and bus station area, or Stari Grad on the other side of the island.
- Quiet
- Podstine or the west shore, with a twenty-minute walk home.
How we judge an area of Hvar: walking time to the sights, noise at night, transport, and price. Nothing on this page is paid for, and the hotels we choose will say who chose them and when they last stayed.
Hvar town's neighborhoods, side by side
| Area | Best for | At night | The main square | Spanjola fortress | Catamaran quay | Getting around | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The old town around the main square | Sights and evenings on foot | Lively, loud in summer | 5 min | 5 min | 5 min | On foot; no cars | €€€€ |
| Groda, the slope below the fortress | Old lanes and views | Quiet; livelier lower down | 5 min | 5 min | 5 min | On foot; steep steps | €€€ |
| Dolac and the bus station | Budget, bus and market | Quiet; some road noise by day | 5 min | 5 min | 5 min | Island buses; on foot | €€ |
| The west shore and Majerovica | Swimming and quiet | Quiet; check for beach bars | 10 min | 10 min | 10 min | On foot along the water | €€€ |
| The east shore and the Franciscan monastery | Families, swimming | Quiet; busy path at sunset | 10 min | 15 min | 10 min | On foot along the water | €€€ |
| Podstine | Peace and swimming | Very quiet | 20 min | 20 min | 20 min | On foot along the water; taxi at night | €€€ |
Walking times are the straight line between two points plus a third for real streets, at an easy pace, rounded to five minutes. They are measured from the middle of each area, so a hotel at its edge will be a few minutes either way. The town is on a slope: the old town is flat near the harbor and climbs toward the fortress, and the times do not include the steps. Price is our read of a standard double in the same week, from € (cheapest) to €€€€ (dearest), until booking-site prices replace it. Stari Grad and Jelsa are on the island's far side and are not on this map or in these times.
Where the neighborhoods are
Around the main square, for everything on foot
The stone lanes between the main square, the harbor and the cathedral: every sight and most restaurants are five minutes away.
The square is one of the largest on the Dalmatian coast, with the cathedral of St Stephen at its far end and the harbor at the other. Narrow lanes lead off it to konobas, wine bars, small shops and guesthouses, and the catamaran quay, the market and the Arsenal are all within a few minutes. In the morning and late evening the town is calm and pleasant to walk.
In July and August it is also the loudest part of the island. Bars around the square and the harbor stay open late, the stone carries sound, and many rooms are up steps with no lift. No cars go into the center, so you walk your luggage in from the quay. Ask the hotel which way the window faces and what is underneath it.
Good for
- Sights, restaurants and the boats within a few minutes
- Walking the lanes after the day crowds leave
- A short stay of two or three nights
Think twice if
- You sleep lightly in summer: bars and voices carry
- Stairs and luggage are a problem
- You want a swim on your doorstep
Staying in The old town around the main square: nearby sights, food and getting around
Groda, for lanes and a view over the roofs
The old quarter climbing the hill under the Spanjola fortress: stone steps, small houses and views, five to ten minutes from the square.
Groda is the part of the old town that rises behind the square toward the fortress. Stepped lanes, stone houses with shutters and small guesthouses, and from the upper streets a view across the roofs to the harbor and the islands. It is a few minutes from the main square and the walk to the fortress starts at the top.
It is calmer than the square, because the bars are lower down, but it is steep. Expect steps, uneven stone and no vehicle access, so a heavy suitcase is hard work. The reward is the view and a quieter night, and the walk back down in the evening is easy.
Good for
- Stone lanes, views and a quieter night than the square
- The fortress walk from your door
- Couples and short stays
Think twice if
- Steps and slopes are hard for you, especially with luggage
- You want a flat walk to the harbor
- You want a wide choice of large hotels
Staying in Groda, the slope below the fortress: nearby sights, food and getting around
Dolac and the bus station, for prices near the center
The edge of the old town behind the market: a plainer street with rooms and apartments, about five minutes from the square.
Dolac is the area around the bus station and the green market on the western edge of the old town. It is more local than the square: a supermarket, a few apartments and small guesthouses, and the buses to Stari Grad and the island's other villages. The main square is about five minutes away and the harbor a few more.
It is not pretty and has a little road traffic, but it is the practical choice. Rooms cost less than in the lanes, you can walk everywhere in town, and you catch the island bus from your door. It suits people who want to save money and are happy with a plainer street.
Good for
- Lower prices within five minutes of the square
- The island buses and the market on your doorstep
- Quiet nights on side streets
Think twice if
- You want charm outside your window
- You dislike a little traffic noise by day
Staying in Dolac and the bus station: nearby sights, food and getting around
The west shore, for a calm walk along the water
Pine trees, small beaches and a few hotels along the water west of the harbor, ten to fifteen minutes on foot from the square.
West of the harbor the town turns to pines and small pebble beaches, with a few hotels and guesthouses along the coast path. The walk into the old town runs along the water and takes about ten to fifteen minutes, flat and easy, and swimming from the rocks is near. Bonj beach is at the far end.
It is calmer at night than the square, though some beach bars play music late in summer, so check what is next door. You eat in the old town and walk back in the dark along the path, which is lit but quiet.
Good for
- Swimming from the rocks and a flat walk into town
- Calmer nights than the square
- A longer stay with a pool or a sea view
Think twice if
- You want to step out into the lanes
- A beach bar next door would bother you
Staying in The west shore and Majerovica: nearby sights, food and getting around
The east shore, for the coast path and the sea
Hotels and apartments along the waterfront path east of the harbor, past the Franciscan monastery, ten to fifteen minutes on foot.
East of the harbor a path follows the water past the Franciscan monastery to a series of hotels, apartments and swimming platforms. The old town is about ten to fifteen minutes on foot, flat the whole way, and the water taxis to the Pakleni islands run from the harbor end.
It is calmer than the center and a good base for children who want to swim. Several large hotels sit here, with pools and terraces, and the walk home is easy at night. You pay for the sea view, and in summer the path itself is busy at sunset.
Good for
- Families and swimmers
- A flat walk to the harbor and the boats
- Hotels with pools and sea views
Think twice if
- You want to be inside the old lanes
- You want cheap rooms: this side of town costs more
Staying in The east shore and the Franciscan monastery: nearby sights, food and getting around
Podstine, for quiet by the water
A wooded bay west of Hvar town, beyond the west shore, with a few hotels and a pebble beach, about twenty minutes on foot from the square.
Podstine is a quiet bay about 1.5 km west of the town, past Majerovica, with pine trees, a pebble beach and a few hotels and villas facing the sea. It is about twenty minutes on foot from the main square along a path beside the water, and you swim from the rocks or the beach in front of your hotel.
It is a place to rest, not to go out in the evening: there are few restaurants, and you walk or take a taxi back from the old town. In July and August it is busier with sunbathers during the day, and still calm at night.
Good for
- Peace, swimming and a seaside walk
- A longer stay with a sea view
- Escaping the noise of the old town
Think twice if
- You plan evenings in the old town on foot
- You want restaurants and bars on your street
Where not to stay in Hvar, and what to do instead
Every booking site lists these places to stay in Hvar. We would skip them, or at least choose with care. Nobody pays a commission on a warning.
- A room on or just off the main square or the harbor on summer nights, if you sleep lightly
The bars run late in July and August and the stone lanes carry every voice. Ask for a room on a side lane or at the back, away from the bars.
- A room up a long flight of steps, with luggage
Listings say 'in the old town' and leave out the stairs. Ask how many steps from the nearest lane, and whether the host helps with luggage.
- A cheap room far along the coast with no plan for evenings
Podstine and the far ends of the path are quiet and a long walk home at night. Choose them for swimming, not for dinners in town.
- Staying on the island's far side if you plan to base yourself in Hvar town
Stari Grad and Jelsa are pleasant and quiet, but the buses are infrequent and run out early. Choose them for calm, and check the last bus before a dinner in town.
- Hvar town in July or August if you want a quiet week
It is hot, crowded and loud. Try June or September, or choose Stari Grad.
Which neighborhood suits you
Couples
Groda for lanes and views, or the west shore for a quiet walk in.
Families with children
The east shore or Podstine, close to swimming steps.
A tight budget
Swimming and the sea
The west shore, the east shore or Podstine.
Nightlife
The old town, near the square and harbor bars.
Peace and quiet
Podstine or the west shore.
Island buses
Steps and mobility
The east shore and the west shore are flat; Groda and parts of the old town climb.
Before you book a room in Hvar
The practical things that decide whether a good hotel in Hvar makes a good stay.
- Stari Grad and JelsaStari Grad is a Greek-founded port on the north coast, about 20 minutes from Hvar town by bus or car, and the arrival point for the car ferry from Split. Jelsa is a small harbor town further east. Both are quieter and cheaper than Hvar town and good for a calm base or a family stay, but you need a bus or a car for Hvar town, and the buses are infrequent. Check the timetable, and the last bus back, before you rely on them.
- Getting here from SplitHvar has no airport that visitors use, so you fly to Split. Catamarans run from Split's port to Hvar town in about 50 to 65 minutes, and the car ferry takes about two hours to Stari Grad. Services thin out outside summer, so check the timetable the day before and book in July and August. The bus from Split airport goes to the main bus station beside the ferry port: allow 30 to 45 minutes and see our Split guide for the options.
- The tourist taxHvar charges a tourist tax per person per night, collected by your host and set by the town, with a lower rate in winter. Children under 12 are exempt under Croatian law. We could not confirm the current rate on an official page, so we leave it out: ask your host for the figure, and for whether it is in the price shown online.
- Cars and parkingCars cannot enter the old town and parking near the harbor is scarce and expensive. If you are driving, choose a hotel with its own space and ask what it costs, or leave the car in Split.
- Stairs and luggageIn the old town and on Groda, many rooms are up flights of stone steps with no lift. If stairs are hard for you, ask the exact number before you book.
- Summer heat, noise and the off seasonJuly and August are hot, busy and loud, and rooms cost the most. Many hotels and restaurants close from late October to April, so check opening dates if you travel then.
Where to stay in Hvar: questions people ask
What is the best area to stay in Hvar for a first visit?
The old town around the main square, or Groda on the slope above it: five to ten minutes on foot to the harbor and every sight. Choose a room on a side lane, because the square and harbor are loud on summer nights.
Is it better to stay in Hvar town or Stari Grad?
Hvar town for sights, boats and evenings on foot. Stari Grad for a quieter, cheaper base and the plain. It is about 20 minutes away by bus or car, and buses are infrequent.
Is Hvar town noisy at night?
In July and August, near the main square and the harbor, yes. The bars stay open late and stone carries sound. The west shore, the east shore, Podstine and Groda are quieter.
Is Jelsa a good place to stay?
Yes for a calm family base with pine-backed beaches and a small harbor. It is on the island's north coast, well east of Hvar town, so you need a bus or a car to go there.
How do I get to Hvar from Split?
Take a catamaran from Split's port to Hvar town in about 50 to 65 minutes, or the car ferry to Stari Grad in about two hours. Book in July and August and check the timetable the day before.
Do I need a car in Hvar?
Not if you stay in Hvar town: it is walkable and cars cannot enter the old town. For Stari Grad, the plain and beaches over the hill, buses are infrequent, so a car, scooter or taxi helps.
Is there a tourist tax in Hvar?
Yes, per person per night, collected by your host, with a lower rate in winter. Children under 12 are exempt. Ask your host for the current figure.
Can I walk everywhere in Hvar town?
Around the old town, Groda, Dolac and the harbor, yes. The west and east shores are 10 to 15 minutes and Podstine about 20. Groda has steps and slopes.
