Hvar beaches at a glance
If you search for the best beach in Hvar, start with the shore itself. Most Hvar beach spots are pebble coves or flat limestone rock, with clear water and little sand. The shallow sandy-pebbly shore at Palmižana on the Pakleni Islands is the exception, so do not plan the whole trip around sand.
The easy beaches sit within a walk of Hvar Town. For the coves on the Pakleni Islands you take a water taxi or join one of the boat trips from Hvar. Dubovica, Milna and the south coast need a car, a scooter or a bus.
Beaches near Hvar Town
The ones you can reach without a boat.
Pokonji Dol
The largest town beach lies about 1.5 km from the centre, roughly a 25-minute walk from the main square. In season it has beach facilities, but there is no single public price for sunbeds, so ask before you sit down.
Križa and Bonj
Križa is close to the centre and Bonj lies along the western promenade. Both suit a short swim between sights. Swimwear is for the beach: in the signed zones of the old town you need to cover up, with shorts or a skirt and a shirt.
Mekićevica
About 2.5 km east of Hvar Town you find pebble coves. They sit a little further out than the town beaches, so a bike or a short drive helps in the heat.
Milna and Mala Milna
Both are pebble beaches around 4 km east of Hvar Town. This is Milna on Hvar, not the Milna on the island of Brač, so check the map before you set a route. Zaraće is another pebble cove, below a small village.
Our pick: swim stops by boat
Several of the quieter bays are easiest to reach from the water, and this group boat day includes snorkelling goggles and life vests.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Hvar boat trips and beach days
Boat trips to the Pakleni Islands and other bays from Hvar Town, with live prices and availability.
Pakleni coves by water taxi
The Pakleni Islands lie just off the harbour.
In summer, water taxis leave the harbour of Hvar Town from the morning and run through the day. The ride takes about 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the cove. There is no all-year timetable, so do not count on a taxi outside the warm months.
Palmižana, also called Vinogradišće, is on the island of Sveti Klement and has the shallow sandy-pebbly shore. Mlini and Ždrilca are named coves, and Ždrilca lies on Marinkovac. Kordovan is another named bay. Jerolim is a known naturist spot, but nobody has to undress on the rest of the island.
Fares differ by cove and by boat. Ask the price and, above all, the time of the last return before you board. The islands are a protected landscape, so take your rubbish with you. More on the archipelago is on the Pakleni Islands page.
Dubovica and the south coast
Further out, and worth a car.
Dubovica
A pebble bay about 8 km east of Hvar Town, popular as a swimming and day-trip spot. Do not assume easy parking or step-free access, and do not expect lifeguards.
Zavala side
The south-coast beaches near Zavala are reached through the Pitve tunnel from the main road at Jelsa (see the Jelsa and Vrboska page). The tunnel is about 1,400 m long and 2.3 m wide, with alternating one-way traffic. Bicycles, mopeds and motorbikes are not allowed in it. The other tunnel, between Selca and Dubovica, is lit and has no such rule.
Which beach for which day
A quick comparison by how you travel.
| Beach | Shore | Distance from Hvar Town | How to get there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pokonji Dol | Town beach | About 1.5 km | On foot, about 25 minutes |
| Mekićevica | Pebble coves | About 2.5 km east | Bike or short drive |
| Milna, Mala Milna | Pebble | About 4 km east | Car, scooter or bus |
| Dubovica | Pebble bay | About 8 km east | Car or scooter |
| Palmižana | Sand and pebbles, shallow | – | Water taxi, about 10 to 20 minutes |
| Mlini, Ždrilca | Coves | – | Water taxi |
For most visitors, Pokonji Dol and a water-taxi day to the Pakleni coves cover everything. Add Dubovica if you have a car.
Swimming safely
Conditions change from day to day.
No beach on Hvar comes with a promise of calm water or a lifeguard. Check the wind and swell before a boat trip, and ask locally if a shore is closed. Swimming, snorkelling and diving are not allowed in the Blue Cave on Biševo, which is a protected natural monument. Leave the seabed alone around the Pakleni Islands, where anchoring damages the seagrass.
Pick a month with warm sea in the weather and best time guide. Historic sea temperatures there run from about 20.7 °C in June to 23.2 °C in August, as a long-term average, not a forecast.
Hvar beaches: frequently asked questions
What is the best beach in Hvar?
It depends on what you want. Pokonji Dol is the easiest town beach, the Pakleni coves suit a boat day, and Dubovica is a pebble bay for those with a car. There is no single winner.
Are there sandy beaches on Hvar?
Very few. Palmižana on Sveti Klement has a shallow sandy-pebbly shore. Most other beaches are pebble or rock, so bring water shoes.
How do I get to the Pakleni Islands beaches?
In summer by water taxi from the harbour of Hvar Town, about 10 to 20 minutes depending on the cove. Check the last return time before you go.
Can I swim in the Blue Cave?
No. Swimming, snorkelling and diving are forbidden in the cave on Biševo. You enter by the cave operator's boat only.
Do sunbeds cost extra?
Where sunbeds and parasols are offered, they cost extra and prices vary, so ask first.