Hvar Island tours and excursions – 2026 GUIDE TO THE ISLAND’S OUTDOORS

Hvar’s outdoor experiences reveal the island’s wilder, quieter side, far from the crowded beaches. They can turn a trip to the tourist traps into something deeper and far more memorable, leaving you with stories that linger long after the tan fades.

For a complete rundown of all the best ways to spend time on Hvar, from beaches and attractions to hidden villages and boat trips, see our full guide to things to do on Hvar Island. If you’re not the type to strap on hiking boots every day, the guide highlights plenty of gentle ways to discover the island’s best corners, whether that’s a relaxed winery visit, a boat tour, or simply wandering the quiet lanes of an ancient town.

As a guest at Hvar Away villas, you enjoy exclusive access to our Take Your Breath Away collection of Experiences. These curated adventures are designed to deliver unforgettable, heart-racing thrills.

One of the best ways to uncover the stories and details of each town on the island is by joining a walking tour. Tours typically last one to two hours and can be arranged privately or as part of a group, though many visitors opt for private tours for the chance to explore topics that interest them most with a professional guide.

These tours often reveal layers of history and local life that are easy to miss when exploring on your own, from hidden courtyards to small details woven into everyday island routines. Walking tours in Hvar Town are available in Croatian, English, German, Italian, Dutch, Afrikaans, Spanish, French and Russian. The Hvar Town Tourist Bureau has created a useful page listing all licensed Hvar guides along with their contact details.

Croatia has an incredible network of hiking trails and cabins, maintained by a broad and active community of local mountaineering societies. Hvar is no exception. So if exploring the island’s towns on foot is not quite enough, choose a route and make your way across the well-marked paths that criss-cross Hvar’s wilder side.

You can hike the mountainous ridge line from one end to the other. You can traipse through fields of lavender from Stari Grad to Hvar Town. One of the most popular and safest hiking routes runs between Milna and Velo Grablje, following a narrow asphalt road that links abandoned villages and skirts dramatic cliffs.

All the while, you’ll probably be walking in the footsteps of millennia of soldiers, shepherds, tradesmen, and other local inhabitants who needed to travel across the island in the pre-car era, which covers almost the entire span of human settlement here.

Hiking on Hvar can be done independently or with a local guide. Either way, always carry plenty of water, wear clothing suited to the weather, and opt for sturdy closed shoes. The island is home to the nose-horned viper (Vipera ammodytes), Europe's most venomous snake, which is active between spring and autumn.

Many visitors choose a guided hike on Hvar for the insights provided by trained local guides, who know the island intimately and share its history, ecology, and everyday life in a way that independent walking cannot match. The convenience is another draw: the operator handles all planning, routes and logistics, allowing you to travel light and focus on the experience. For those short on time, a guided tour can pack in far more sights, stories, and stops than you might manage alone.

Local guides bring a deep understanding of the terrain, weather patterns, and island ecology, shaped by growing up in Hvar’s natural landscape. One such example is the Matković family behind Natural Hvar Tours, who run tailored hiking experiences suited to various ages and fitness levels. They are often out exploring the same trails themselves in the quieter months.

Beyond longer, more structured routes, Hvar also lends itself naturally to spontaneous, self-guided hiking. From almost anywhere on the island, a footpath or old track will lead you quickly into a quiet, open landscape. One of the most accessible areas for this kind of exploration is the Stari Grad Plain, a UNESCO-listed heritage site that is particularly well suited to families and beginner hikers.

The heart of the Plain is largely flat and easy to walk, yet rich in detail. Vineyards, olive groves, dry-stone walls dating back to Greek times, and landmarks such as the Dračevica pond give each walk a sense of discovery without physical strain. From the Plain, it is also easy to continue on foot towards the northern coast, where a number of quiet beaches offer a peaceful place to rest and swim before making the return walk back towards town and civilization.

The idyllic village of Pitve is another perfect starting point for hikes. Confident hikers who prefer to explore independently often choose the route known as “Over the Top 703”, a 24km trail that officially starts in Jelsa. In practice, the route is flexible and can be joined from several points along the way, including Pitve, which makes it a convenient option if you are staying nearby. From Pitve, the trail climbs above the Pitve-Zavala tunnel, crosses the ridge, and continues east towards the abandoned village of Humac. From there, it loops back towards Jelsa, following sections of the main road before finishing with a scenic coastal walk.

For more experienced hikers, the ridge above the Pitve-Zavala tunnel also offers an alternative route south towards the Sveta Nedjelja, where you can pass by a striking cave with ruins of an abandoned monastery hidden inside. This route is demanding and requires a good level of fitness and careful planning, as it involves a long, exposed climb over some sections of steep terrain. While challenging, it is one of the most atmospheric hikes on the island and rewards the effort with dramatic views and a powerful sense of wonder.

If you’re more of an up-and-down than side-to-side kind of mountaineer, Hvar has that too. You couldn’t ask for a nicer introduction to the island’s vertical ascents than its Via Ferrata, a series of steel bridges across Hvar’s southern cliffs that dangle you over some truly heart-stopping drops. Constructed by experienced climber Miroslav Stec, he and his team spent countless hours making an unforgettable experience both pleasant and safe.

There are two via ferratas located very close to each other, but with very different difficulty levels, and they are often mistaken for one another.

Via Ferrata Mirko climbs a near-vertical wall. While it is technically graded B, the exposure is extreme, as the ascent is almost entirely vertical, which makes it feel closer to a D-level climb. Any mistake leaves you hanging in the open air. This route should not be attempted without prior climbing or via ferrata experience and is not suitable for children, except for confident teenagers already comfortable on climbing walls and significant exposure. Attempting this section without a professional guide is strongly discouraged.

Via Ferrata Avalon, which starts around 200 metres higher up, is considerably easier, graded A/B, and is suitable for beginners. It provides a far more approachable introduction to via ferrata climbing without the intense exposure found on Mirko.

Both routes merge near a steel suspension bridge and continue uphill via an easy rock scramble with sections of steel cable. Crossing the bridge is optional on both ferratas. Allow 2-3 hours for the round trip, including photo stops. Continuing on to the summit of Sveti Nikola adds roughly one additional hour.

Equipment can be rented in Sveta Nedjelja by the mini market and includes a helmet, climbing harness, and via ferrata lanyard. It is essential to contact the organiser in advance, usually Mr. Miro, to confirm where exactly and how to collect the equipment since he is so easygoing that he often allows self-service. Alongside proper footwear and rented gear, carrying sufficient water is vital, as there is very little shade along the route.

At the end of your journey, you can calm your nerves at the Cliffbase winery, built into a chasm next to the sea. Seriously. And the wine is delicious. These are the kinds of places that, for better or worse, very few tourists ever see.

Experienced climbers tend not to want to leave the island’s south side, which is basically one giant limestone cliff, never more than a few metres from the beach and a laidback cabana. Check out Climbing Hvar for some great inspiration and routes.

The south coast also features excellent deep water soloing opportunities, particularly around Sveta Nedjelja and the Cliffbase area. Skilled climbers can tackle ropeless routes over the water, yet those with more desire than experience are strongly advised to join a guided session with professionals for safety.

When planning your Hvar adventures, choosing the right accommodation can significantly enhance your experience. Hvar Away offers several exceptional luxury villas ideally positioned for access to hiking and climbing routes whilst providing the comfort and authenticity of a Dalmatian retreat.

Pitve is an excellent base for hikers who like to build walking routes into their holiday. Although the village conveniently sits just a couple of minutes from the town of Jelsa by car, many of Hvar’s most rewarding trails begin right at your doorstep.

Set on the northern slope of the ridge that separates Hvar’s south coast from the rest of the island, Pitve allows you to hike in both directions. You can climb towards the highest points of the ridge and descend all the way to the sea on the southern side, or stay on the gentler northern slopes and follow easier routes with wide, open views over Pitve, Jelsa, Brač Island, and the Biokovo mountains of the mainland beyond. One of the most convenient access points for these northern trails is just to the right as you exit the Pitve–Zavala tunnel, making it simple to set off straight into the landscape.

Sveta Nedjelja attracts more climbers than any spot on the island, thanks to its sheer cliffs that rise directly above the village. These limestone walls have drawn adrenaline seekers for decades, with the renowned Cliffbase area offering a wide range of routes right by the water.

The village also serves as an excellent base for hiking, with trails starting nearby that include gentle coastal walks suitable for families as well as steeper, more challenging ascents up to viewpoints and the island's higher ridges.

Sveta Nedjelja is one of the island’s finest spots for sunsets, which are particularly rewarding after a long day on the trails. Not every property in the village sits on the edge of a cliff, but Villa M certainly does. It is the kind of place that may well convince you to skip a hike altogether and spend the day unwinding by the pool instead.

It is hard to imagine a place better suited to cyclists than Hvar. Because the island has been intensively cultivated for so long, there are well-maintained farm paths going pretty much everywhere the asphalt roads do, and many places they don’t.

Guided cycling tours are an excellent way to see more of Hvar’s varied landscape while still moving at a relaxed pace. Several local operators run regular rides that explore quiet village roads, vineyard-lined hills, coastal viewpoints and historic sites, with options to suit a range of fitness levels.

Triathlete and ultra-cyclist Riccardo Kuhar founded Hvar Life to promote the island as a destination for active, healthy holidays. Based in Stari Grad, the company offers guided cycling tours suited to different abilities, from relaxed routes through the surrounding countryside with stops at wineries and lunch included, to tougher e-mountain bike trips ascending to Sveti Nikola, the island's highest peak at 626 metres.

Most bike tour operators on the island will provide e-bikes, making it easy to enjoy longer routes and steeper climbs without needing to be an experienced cyclist.

Start out with an easy ride from Stari Grad to Vrboska on a path through the legendary Stari Grad Plain, where you’ll see wildlife, farm animals, and locals tending their vineyards and fields. Then try a route to the tip of the Kabal Peninsula that ends with a secret naval cave dating back to the Yugoslav era. In fact, you can extend your ride in several directions depending on time and energy levels. From Vrboska, continue on towards Jelsa along the quiet coastal road, then loop back inland through vineyards and olive groves for a gentle circular route.

Another popular option from Stari Grad heads towards the villages of Dol and Vrbanj, introducing rolling terrain and village streets that give a deeper sense of everyday island life.

If you will be based closer to Hvar Town during your stay, you can cycle northwards towards the island’s interior from the town towards the villages of Malo and Velo Grablje. From there, continue on to Selca for lunch and wine tasting at the Lacman Family Winery. This ancient road passes through classic Hvar scenery, with extensive lavender fields in season and distinctive dry-stone walls. These walls were built by hand when locals cleared rocks from the soil to create arable land, while also using the stones to mark boundaries and enclose small plots. The higher sections offer excellent panoramic views across the Adriatic to the neighbouring islands.

The most strenuous cycling route on Hvar, and the one guaranteed to leave you properly drenched, is the climb to the top of Sveti Nikola. This is the island’s highest point at 626 metres, with views to Italy and a sparse but rugged forest of primordial black pine. Reaching Sveti Nikola is a serious undertaking and best suited to experienced cyclists. The route involves long, sustained climbs on a mix of asphalt and rough gravel tracks, so a mountain bike or gravel bike with low gearing is essential. For most riders, an e-mountain bike is the most practical and enjoyable option, allowing you to tackle the steep gradients and uneven surfaces while still saving energy for the descent and the views at the top.

These routes can easily be combined into half-day or full-day loops, particularly with e-bikes, which make longer distances and steeper climbs far more accessible while still offering a genuine sense of exploration. Pretty much wherever you go, there are haciendas, cabanas, or konobas to reward your efforts and refuel you for the next adventure with delicious fresh fish, energy-dense pasta, and refreshing white wines.

Bicycles can be rented in most towns on the island. In Stari Grad, Hvar Life offers an extremely wide range of bikes for rent, from lightweight carbon e-mountain bikes to gravel bikes to full suspicion mountain bikes to bikes for children. In Hvar Town, Antonio Rent offers e-bike hire along with practical local advice on routes and conditions, to make it easier to plan your DIY tour.

Quad biking is one of the most exciting ways to explore Hvar’s interior, taking you well beyond the coastal roads and into rugged landscapes that are otherwise hard to reach. These tours typically combine dirt tracks, old village roads, vineyards, and panoramic viewpoints, offering a fast-paced introduction to the island’s wild side.

For tours starting around Hvar Town, Hvar Quads typically takes riders on half-day off-road adventures inland towards Brusje, Velo Grablje, and Malo Grablje, climbing to viewpoints with wide-open panoramas over the Pakleni Islands and the southern coast.

Visitors based in Stari Grad can trust CroQuad tours, They offer three distinct quad tours, each showcasing a different side of the island. The first climbs all the way to Sveti Nikola, Hvar’s highest peak, and delivers wide views across the island and open sea. The second focuses on the Stari Grad Plain, riding through vineyards, olive groves and dry-stone walls within this UNESCO-protected landscape, offering a quieter, more rural perspective of the island. The tour includes a stop at a traditional Dalmatian konoba in the heart of the Plain, adding a gastronomic note to the experience. The third is a sunset tour, which also reaches Sveti Nikola at the ideal time to watch the sun drop over the horizon before descending back towards the Stari Grad Plain for dinner at Dionis, set right in the centre of the fields.

Hvar is an incredible place to sail. The history of boating is deep here, so deep in fact that the oldest known depiction of a boat in Europe was found on island Hvar, in Grapčeva Cave near Humac.

A crewed sailing tour offers one of the most relaxed ways to explore Hvar from the water. You can sit back and enjoy the sailing itself, without any of the work or responsibility that comes with handling the boat. These are ancient sea routes, plied for thousands of years by traders, fishermen and islanders long before package holidays arrived on the scene. There is a real sense of continuity as you follow the same paths under sail.

A Scottish couple, Lyn and John, fell in love with the Adriatic in 2005 and were inspired to share it with others. You can join them for a fully-catered day sail aboard their 42-ft yacht, Nera, and experience the Pakleni Islands and the waters around Hvar. Guests are transferred by taxi boat before setting off to explore quiet bays, with time to swim, snorkel, or simply unwind on deck as the islands slip by. Drinks and a leisurely multi-course lunch are served on board, creating an easy, comfortable escape from the bustle of Hvar Town and a well-balanced mix of activity and downtime.

Not only is the island surrounded by fairly calm waters and deep harbours, but it is home to a passionate community of sailors who maintain the old wooden sailboats that have mostly been displaced by fibreglass throughout the Adriatic. You can see these beautiful boats in action every summer during the Dance of the Sails in Vrboska and Jelsa. There is a similar event in Stari Grad in the early fall called Days in the Bay. All throughout the summer, there is a lively, mellow atmosphere of friends and families docked at the marinas and beaches throughout the island.

If you are learning to sail, getting lessons on the island is unfortunately a bit trickier, yet still possible. There is a sailing school for kids and adults in Stari Grad that operates during summer months. Another option is 45 Degrees Sailing, an outstanding tour operator that can take you on a week-long sailing tour, yet also provides off-peak boating education events for those who want to be more than guests on the boat.

The Blue Cave Tour is the most popular speedboat excursion in the Split archipelago. It centres on the Blue Cave on Biševo, a small island near Vis, where sunlight reflecting through an underwater opening fills the cave with an intense blue glow. Almost every agency in Split and Hvar offers some version of this trip, making it the island's most popular organised excursion, yet it remains a firm favourite with visitors for good reason.

Starting the tour from Hvar rather than Split has a clear advantage. You spend roughly an hour less in transit and more time swimming, relaxing, or enjoying stops along the way. It is worth noting that boats and service levels vary significantly between providers. Inflatable speedboats tend to be more affordable and energetic, while larger, more luxurious speedboats prioritise comfort and usually sell out first. That extra comfort can make a real difference, particularly if there is a long wait to enter the Blue Cave, which is one of the tour’s main drawbacks. For a clearer idea of what to expect and how to choose the right operator, see our complete 2026 Blue Cave tour guide.

Every year, Stari Grad hosts the Faros Marathon, one of the most challenging and prestigious open water swimming competitions in the world. The race covers a distance of 16 kilometres (10 miles) and takes swimmers from the town of Stari Grad to the Faros Lighthouse and back, along the beautiful coastline of the island of Hvar.

The competition is open to both amateur and professional swimmers, who must be able to complete the race within a certain time limit. Swimmers are supported by boats and kayaks throughout the race, and are provided with food and drinks at designated stations.

The Faros Marathon in Stari Grad has been held annually since 1976, and has attracted swimmers from all over the world. The race is known for its stunning scenery, challenging conditions, and the strong sense of camaraderie and sportsmanship among the competitors.

As you might imagine, fishing is a way of life in Hvar’s coastal villages. In towns like Sućuraj or Stari Grad, nearly every family has a small boat that they use to fish for the table. The most unique and historic fishing style here is probably “pod sviću” or “under the light.” On still nights, two fishermen go out: one who rows and the other who spears octopus or fish that pass under the ship’s lamp.

More commonly, amateur anglers fish from the shore, spending much of the winter scouting out spots on the island’s remote reaches. This is a meditative hobby that requires hours of quiet patience and laganini.

Vrboska has a lovely small museum dedicated to the techniques of the trade as well as the significant economic and social role that fishing has played on island Hvar over the centuries. It is open mornings 10am to noon, and evenings 6pm to 8pm in the summer.

For those seeking a higher octane experience on the water, the seas around Hvar are home to bluefin tuna, amberjack, swordfish, dorado, snapper and grouper, making big game fishing a compelling option. Private big game fishing trips typically last up to eight hours and include everything you need: breakfast on the sea, water, wine, and all fishing gear. The appeal lies in heading out with an experienced local fisherman and, if luck is on your side, spotting dolphins at dawn and hauling in a proper trophy fish.

Mengo Fishing provides a rare glimpse into a traditional Adriatic fishing method that only a handful of fishermen still practise today. The Radonić family, who have passed this century-old technique down through generations, take guests out on board their authentic fishing boat. You will help handle the traditional nets and observe the full process from start to finish. Fabijan Radonić, an experienced skipper and fisherman, guides the trip and joins you in the water for swimming and snorkelling at depths of 3 to 8 metres among schools of fish.

You will learn about local species such as dentex, sea bream, grouper and salema. Afterwards, the boat heads to a quiet bay where your day's catch is grilled fresh at a seaside restaurant. You can then enjoy a relaxed fish picnic by the water, followed by time for swimming and sunbathing, giving a real taste of unhurried island life.

Mengo also runs a night tour in autumn, a shorter evening excursion that reveals the sea in an entirely different light. The speedboat takes you out to join the crew fishing in Stari Grad Bay, where lights attract dense schools of bluefish such as sardines, anchovies and mackerel.

Under the glow of lanterns and spotlights, you will watch the nets being cast and hauled in, with fish gathering in huge numbers around the boat. Afterwards, the boat returns to a quiet bay for a late fish picnic featuring the night's catch, freshly grilled and enjoyed by the sea.

Any of the seaside towns will offer plenty of opportunities to get in the water, but Vrboska is perhaps a surprise star for sport. This lovely little town consists of a canal lined by stone houses and an intriguing fortress church. In spite of its diminutive size, it has a dive centre, an excellent marina for sailboats, and a windsurfing school, as well as kayak, SUP, and jetski rentals. There are also tennis courts, volleyball, an elaborate water park, and even ping pong tables nearby.

As with any endeavour, use your good sense. Do not underestimate the summer heat. Start early and take note of which side of the ridge you will be on when the sun is at full force (usually between 10am and 4pm). Bring sun protection and water, and give yourself extra time in case you lose the trail. Especially with children, it is better to do too little than too much.

Most towns have a few stray dogs. A few far-flung homes have dogs that are free to roam. Don’t assume that they won’t bite.

Hvar is home to the most poisonous snake in Europe, the horned viper or poskok as it is known locally. This snake can be found anywhere on the island but particularly prefers to be on the rocks by the sea.

Hvar also has wild boar, which typically feed at dawn and twilight. They are huge (180kg), powerful animals. They are not particularly aggressive, but you should never approach them.

You are unlikely to encounter the pine processionary caterpillar, which migrates in the spring, but if you do, steer clear. Its fuzz is an irritant that can endanger children and pets.

Swimmers will likely encounter sea urchins, which are totally harmless unless you step on them (ouch!). More dangerous are spider fish (pauka) which occasionally sting snorkellers. Don’t try to touch them, and if you are stung, seek medical attention immediately.