Things to do in Hvar at a glance
Hvar rewards a mix of slow town walking and time on the water. Allow a half day for Hvar Town, a full day for the Pakleni Islands or a longer boat trip, and another day for the inland villages and the Stari Grad Plain. If you want to book a boat day first, see our guide to Hvar boat trips.
Ticket prices below are for 2026 and can change. Opening hours depend on the season, so check them before a long walk up the hill.
Our pick: an e-bike ride on the island
If you want to see the island away from the harbour, this four-hour ride includes a winery stop; you follow the route on your phone.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Things to do on Hvar: tours and tickets
Boat days, Blue Cave trips, wine tastings and guided island tours, with live prices and availability.
Hvar Town
The old centre is small and easy to cover on foot.
Fortica (Španjola) fortress
Reach it on foot by stairs from Pjaca, or by road to the north-western entrance. Inside there are steps, uneven floors and narrow spots. Swimwear, climbing on the outer walls and your own food and drink are not allowed. Dogs on a lead are fine. Building work can affect a visit, so check the current state before you climb.
Pjaca and the cathedral
St. Stephen's Square is the central square. The cathedral is dedicated to Pope St. Stephen I, was built mostly between the 16th and 18th centuries, and opens 09:00 to 12:30 and 17:00 to 19:30 for €2.
The theatre
The theatre above the Arsenal was founded in 1612. Visit it for €10. The Arsenal and the Franciscan monastery with its museum are closed to visitors, with no reopening date to plan around. A combined ticket does not mean every listed building is open.
More detail is on the Hvar Old Town page.
Islands and beaches
The sea is the other half of Hvar.
The Pakleni Islands sit just off Hvar Town. In summer, water taxis leave the harbour in the morning and the crossing takes about 10 to 20 minutes depending on the destination. Sveti Klement carries Palmižana, and Jerolim is known as a naturist spot, which does not mean nudity is expected everywhere. Read our Pakleni Islands guide before you go.
Beaches near town include Pokonji Dol, the largest town beach about 1.5 km from the centre, and Križa and Bonj closer in. Dubovica is a pebble bay about 8 km east. Not every Hvar beach is sand: Palmižana has a shallow sandy and pebbly shore, but most others are pebble or rock. The beaches page lists more.
Beyond Hvar Town
Four ideas for a second or third day.
Plain and Tvrdalj
A UNESCO farmed landscape and a Renaissance poet's fortified house.
Jelsa and Vrboska
Harbour towns, and stone villages such as Humac and Pitve.
Lavender
Velo Grablje and Brusje, best in late June to early July.
Blue Cave
A boat day to Biševo, with no swimming in the cave.
Wine fits into a day inland. Plavac Mali is the red grape and Bogdanjuša a white one, and tastings depend on the producer. See wine tours. For islands further away, day trips from Hvar compares Vis, Korčula, Brač and Split.
Rules that affect a visit
Hvar Town has local rules for visitors.
- In signed zones of the old town, walking in swimwear or without a top is not allowed. Shorts or a skirt and a shirt are the minimum.
- Drinking alcohol in the pedestrian zone is not allowed, except on terraces of cafés and bars.
- From 21:00 to 06:00, shops across the town may not sell alcohol.
Things to do in Hvar: frequently asked questions
How many days do I need on Hvar?
Two days cover Hvar Town and one boat trip. Three or four let you add Stari Grad, the inland villages and a beach day.
Is the Fortica worth the climb?
It gives a view over the roofs, the harbour and the Pakleni Islands. Go in the morning or late afternoon in summer, bring water and wear sturdy shoes. The ticket is €12 for adults.
Can I visit the Arsenal?
In 2026 it is closed to visitors, as is the Franciscan monastery. The theatre has separate visiting hours.
What can I do for free?
Walking the old town and the harbour promenade costs nothing, and so do the town beaches. Some beaches have paid sunbeds.
What is there to do in bad weather?
The cathedral and the theatre are indoors, and wine tastings run inland. Boat trips and the Blue Cave can be changed or cancelled when the sea is rough.