Travel Journals

Hvar Town stands as the beating heart of Croatia’s sunniest island, a fortified harbour settlement where Renaissance palaces and marble-paved squares rise straight from the water’s edge. Perched on the island’s southwestern tip, this compact town holds more history, culture, and waterfront glamour per metre than almost anywhere else in the Adriatic.

Stari Grad, which in Croatian just means “Old Town”, is indeed the oldest town on the island and one of the oldest in Europe. The entire town, with buildings and streets hewn from local stone, is an archaeological site, dating back thousands of years. With its deep harbour meeting an immortal landscape of olives, vineyards, and forested hills, Stari Grad feels a world away from glitzy Hvar Town.

A seaside town with a dazzling view across sea and mountains, Jelsa is a quietly elegant summer destination ideal for families. Cafe bars, al fresco dining, an open-air cinema, farmer's markets, a vast kids’ park, jogging paths, and a zillion gelato bars line Jelsa’s beautifully maintained waterfront.

We’ve all heard of Venice, the gorgeous Italian city that uses waterways as roads and gondolas gliding like cars. But far fewer have heard of Vrboska, the quaint former fishing village on the northern coast of the island of Hvar, endearingly referred to as “Little Venice”.

Ivan Dolac is a peaceful, family-oriented seaside village located on Hvar, a Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea known for its stunning natural beauty, crystal-clear waters, and rich history. Read on to discover what makes Ivan Dolac such a rewarding escape, well beyond its outstanding beaches.

Sandwiched between sheer cliffs of the island’s highest point and the crystal-clear sea into which they rapidly descend, the village of Sveta Nedjelja has a geography quite unlike any other. This sharp collision of mountain and sea has formed some of the world’s most spectacular beaches.

Zastražišće is a small village situated in Hvar’s rural eastern half, which has been home to agriculture and shepherding for centuries. For those who like to get off the beaten path, the village is well worth the effort, and boasts some of the most stunning beaches on the island.

Basina is a cove on the northern side of Hvar, midway between the towns of Stari Grad and Jelsa, which offers its visitors a more serene getaway destination than either town. The surrounding landscape is one of old pines, olive trees, grapevines, and lavender fields. The deep bay is sheltered from the summer winds, and the water therefore remains calm and crystal clear, making it ideal for families with young swimmers.

We adore Pitve. It is one of the oldest hamlets on the island, established to watch over the settlements and fields below from its incredible vantage point. Shaded by the rim of the island’s ridgeline, Pitve stays much greener than the rest of Hvar and enjoys a breath of cool mountain air, even in the peak of summer.

Svirče is one of a series of delightfully picturesque villages situated in the lowlands at the foot of Hvar’s highest point. Life here revolves around the sprawling agricultural fields and vineyards, offering a refreshing glimpse into the rural Mediterranean of the past.

Just a few kilometres inland from the coastal summer bustle of Hvar, the abandoned village of Malo Grablje tells the story of a bygone Mediterranean era. Wander the village’s hauntingly beautiful ruins in which time seems to have stood still.

Vrbanj is one of a series of extremely charming little villages nestled into the northern side of the Hvar’s mountainous ridge. Life here is all about the agricultural fields and vineyards below, and offers a feeling of refreshment and a peek at the rural Mediterranean as it once was.

Once a bustling pastoral village, the abandoned hamlet of Humac now stands as a pristine preservation of agricultural life as it once was. Whether for a half-day trip or as your chosen location for the ultimate peaceful vacation, Humac is a truly enchanting place not to be missed when you’re on Hvar.