Stari Grad and the plain day trip from Hvar
Split this outing between the harbor town and the fields behind it. Visit the lanes and Tvrdalj first, have lunch while you are still near restaurants, then choose a walk or cycle ride on the plain. Your return transport should set the length of that route. A short out-and-back walk is easier to manage than an improvised loop when bus departures leave long gaps.
At a glance
- Getting there
- Bus, About 20 minutes between the towns
- Book ahead
- Guide or bicycle hire if wanted
- Tours
- Day trips on Viator
How to get to Stari Grad and the plain from Hvar
Bus, About 20 minutes between the towns
Check the current service from Hvar's bus station and the return departure before setting out. Confirm the stop for Stari Grad town, since the ferry port is a separate destination, and ask where you should wait for the journey back.
Car or taxi, About 20 minutes to Stari Grad, depending on traffic
Drive or arrange a taxi from Hvar town to Stari Grad. If using a taxi, agree the return arrangement before beginning your walk on the plain. If driving, find a permitted parking space and explore the old lanes on foot.
What to see in Stari Grad and the plain
The harbor and old lanes
Start along the waterfront, then turn into the lanes behind it. Keep the morning for the town so you can stop for refreshments before the less serviced walking portion of the day.
Tvrdalj
Visit Petar Hektorović's fortified house for its fish pond and garden if open. Check the official site for visiting arrangements, and avoid making an unverified opening time the fixed point of your trip.
The Stari Grad Plain
Follow mapped lanes between the dry-stone field boundaries, vines and olive trees. Choose a distance that leaves time to return to town, and stay on established routes around working farmland.
A quieter section of the waterfront
Leave a little time after your plain walk to sit beside the harbor. This makes a useful buffer before your return bus or taxi without adding another distant stop.
Go on your own, or take a tour?
Go independently if you are content with a town walk and a short route on the plain. A guide can help explain the agricultural landscape and select a suitable walking or cycling route. Choose that option if the field system is your main interest, checking the route length and transport arrangements beforehand.
Tips for the day
- Confirm that your bus stop serves Stari Grad town rather than assuming the ferry port is the same place.
- Eat and refill your water before heading onto the plain, where convenient stops are less certain.
- Use a map and turn back early enough to leave a buffer before your return departure.
Stari Grad and the plain day trip from Hvar
Can I visit the town and plain in one day?
Yes. Spend the morning in Stari Grad and choose a manageable afternoon route on the plain. Check your return transport first so the walk fits the time available.
Is cycling better than walking?
Cycling lets you cover more ground, while walking suits a shorter look at the field boundaries. Ask the hire provider about surfaces and choose a route appropriate to your experience.
Should I add Jelsa to this trip?
Keep Jelsa separate if you want time at Tvrdalj and on the plain. Combining them is easier by car, but means shortening the walking portion and spending more time traveling.