Welcome to Hvar island

Hvar island, a pearl in the long necklace of islands of Croatia, has been shinning for some time, attracting more and more tourists every year. Hvar island is the fourth, in size, in the Adriatic Sea and is most likely among the first 10 island destinations in the world. Just like a phoenix bird, Hvar island has risen from its ashes, amazingly recovering after the tragic civil war, 1991-1995, which almost entirely destroyed Croatia and its cities and islands.

Hvar island is situated on the Dalmatian coast of the Adriatic. Its weather and landscape are worthy of Heaven itself, just like an old local lyric said “I know paradise now, I know Hvar”. Thus, it is no surprise that Hvar island continues to be a muse for different artists, such as painters and poets who find their peace and inspiration in the island’s beautiful landscapes. Hvar Island has a typical Mediterranean climate with gentle winds and an average temperature between 26 to 30°C in summer, while the average annual temperature doesn’t go below 16°C. It’s no wonder that the island gets more than 2800 hours of sunshine per year! This climate is favorable for the growing of aromatic plants such as lavender and rosemary which spread their smell in the air making Hvar island resemble a delicate flower delighting its visitors.

Hvar town is the centre of Hvar island, a town that combines the old with the new. A huge 16th century fortress dominates the old centre of the town while representative pieces of Mediterranean and Dalmatian architecture – Hvar Town Hall and the Cathedral – delight the eyes of the tourists. Besides Hvar town, on the eastern and south part of Hvar island, there is a number of old and small villages and towns such as Gornja Prapratna, Zagradace, Humac, Maslinovik, Jurkov Dolac, and Malo Grablj which were build, at first, to serve as cottages for the shepherds. These small settlements have the main role in preserving local traditions. One of these customs is the procession which takes place in the Holy Week, called "za Križem" (behind the Cross), and which implies the carrying of the cross, barefooted and dressed in white tunics just like Jesus did. Another old custom is “Queen’s wash” which is the pure distillation of rosemary oil – well known for its benefits. Hvar island’s inhabitants are also well-known for their Hvar cakes, especially the Stari Grad pepper cakes which are made of saffron, honey and coriander – an important component of love potions.

All these combined characteristics make Hvar island an excellent tourist attraction. The number of visitors rises every year and it goes around 8 million tourists per year according to Croatian Central Bureau of Statistics. If you decide to go see Hvar island don’t get intimidated by the big number of tourists, compared to the size of the island, because tourists have many options regarding the places to stay and visit in Hvar. There are more than 10 hotels such as, Adriatic Hotel, Hotel Palace or Hotel Sirena, as well as many more villas and apartments, such as Villa Sandra Hvar, Borko Barbic Hvar, Bulic Hvar and many others.
The variety of hotels on the Hvar island will make even the most fastidious visitor find a place to stay. Let’s take for example, the fallowing hotels:
-The Podstine Hotel is recommended for couples and romantics, the inconvenient being the small private beach which tends to get crowded, but the rooms with wonderful sea view compensate;
- Slavija Hotel, in Hvar island, is great if you are the adventurous, restless type. It is located in the centre of the town, so you’re right in the middle of fun, and all this doesn’t cost much at all.
- If you want a piece of what Hvar island used to be, you definitely have to stay at Amfora Hotel, a hotel that preserves that communist look of the Hvar island that was once a part of Yugoslavia.
- Azalea Hotel is another wonderful place in Hvar island. It was built in the 60’s and it offers great views from all rooms. It’s not very far from the sea and the pine smell makes the staying worthy.
- For those adventurous backpackers, Guesthouse Huljic in Hvar island is the place to go. It has a great garden and terrace and it is located in the centre of Jelsa.

These accommodations from Hvar island are not very expensive as they are meant for ordinary people in search of a place to spend some quality time. Lately, Hvar island has also become the perfect destination for those celebrities who are searching for a quiet place, away from those annoying paparazzi. Among these celebrities are Steven Spielberg, Andre Agassi, Gwyneth Paltrow, Pierce Brosnan and Sean Connery and if you don’t believe it, you should just check the hotel’s visitor books. So, who knows into what superstar you might run into?

Hvar island is the perfect place to visit and to spend the vacation. It has everything from historical sites to wonderful natural views and from adventure to relaxation. It is for all persons to enjoy and appreciate.

If Hvar island has captured your attention and interest and you want to find out more about this exotic location on the Dalmatian coast, then don’t hesitate to visit this site for a closer look at your ideal vacation.