Hvar - Tourist guide

Hvar is a town and port on the south-western coast of the island of Hvar. It lies in the cove protected by the Pakleni Islands in the south and a low crest in the north. The town of Hvar is the largest settlement on the island of Hvar. It is the town of a unique cultural and historical heritage but also an important tourist resort with a centuries-old tradition in tourism.

Hvar is frequented both in the summer and winter months, and its very special typically Mediterranean climate favoured the development of health tourism. The so-called Hygiene Society was established in Hvar as early as 1868; the major task of the society was to take good care of the visitors from abroad. This marked the beginning of tourist development. The first hotel, Empress Elisabeth, was opened in 1903.

Hvar is famous for its very specific climate with a lot of sunshine, very few rainy days and almost no snow at all. As a rule, hotel guests pay only half a price if it is raining for the whole day and nothing at all if it is snowing (which occurs almost never). Hvar is very much appreciated by those who are keen on bathing in the sea, although there are indoor swimming pools with heated seawater.

The seven century old walls with fortifications towering above Hvar, facinating Resin Islands, healthful climate, beaches, restaurants and many more make Hvar what it is From the sea, we get the sight of a waterfront promenade strip bordered with a row of palm trees. Using the road from the ferry harbour we arrive at the magnificent Piazza, a square generally considered the most beautiful of the kind in Dalmatia, dominated by St. Stephen's Cathedral and bordered by the palaces of Groda and by the cascading stone-built houses of Burag. Hvar displays with pride the oldest municipal theatre in Europe. The town has been built throught time by notable domestic and foreign architects.

Main attractions are pleasant climate, a lot of sunshine, natural beauties, various accommodation facilities, gastronomic offer, sports and recreational opportunities, etc. The vegetation is subtropical and very luxuriant (palm trees, myrtle, agaves, laurel, rosemary, pine trees, stone pines, etc.).

Accommodation facilities include hotels, apartments, boarding houses and campsites. Restaurants and taverns in the town of Hvar offer excellent fish specialities, with exquisite local wines. Sports and recreational opportunities are excellent - tennis, table tennis, basketball, boccia, bowling, water sports (equipment rented).

Traditional cultural events play an important role in the visitor opportunities of Hvar. These are the Summer of Hvar(July-August-September), folk music and entertainment programs and fishermen's fiestas. The patron saint of the diocese of Hvar is Saint Stephen, pope and martyr. The patron saint of the town of Hvar is Saint Prosperus, martyr. The town feast day is on August the 2nd (the feast day of Saint Stephen, with a large procession, which is also the Municipal Day), then the feast day of Saint Prosper (10th of May), the Holy Cross (14th of September), the procession on Good Friday and other.

Tourists are much attracted by a visit to the Pakleni Islands, a small archipelago in front of the Hvar port, where one may enjoy the sun and the sea in one of the solitary, wooded coves. Palmizana ACI Marina is located on the island of Sveti Klement (St. Clement), within the Infernal Islands, in front of the port of Hvar. It has 190 berths; regular connections with Hvar are provided by taxi boats. In the vicinity of the Marina are nice beaches.