Discover Hvar
Activities & Experiences
Revered as the best island in Europe, Hvar is a haven for holidaymakers and explorers. It has it all: Dense pine forests, awe-inspiring landscapes, crystalline waters and a perfect climate. It is celebrated for its rich history, UNESCO heritage, booming party scene, and beautiful food. Its remote villages and ancient customs are a testament to its Mediterranean ancestry and lifestyle that continues to thrive today.
Timeout Magazine has a list of just a small fraction of some of the interesting things to do with your time - 20 great things to do on Hvar Island
Festivals & Events
Here are just a few of the popular Festivals & Events happening all year round on Hvar Island.
February
Days of Olive Oil (Jelsa)
Brings together olive oil producers on the island to uncover who is the best of the year.
March / April - Holy Week
Za Krizen, ‘Following the Cross’ (Holy Week, Jelsa, Pitve, Vrisnik, Svirce, Vrbanj, Vrboska)
Za Krizen is a night procession/pilgrimage that is held every Holy Thursday. The 500-year-old tradition is included as part of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
May
Feast of St. Prosper (Hvar Town, May 10)
Brings together the island’s producers; the highlight is a gourmet competition of the main Hvar restaurants.
Hvar Summer Festival (Hvar Town)
Attracts top names from the world of classical music, with daily events in exquisite locations, such as the Franciscan Monastery and Europe’s oldest public theatre in Hvar Town.
Bogdanusa Evening and Hvar Wine Association Tastings (Multiple Locations)
An event wine lovers won’t want to miss; of particular interest to wine experts are the indigenous grape varieties on Hvar.
June
Lavender Festival (Velo Grablje)
Known as Croatia's most aromatic festival and the most iconic event in Hvar's wellness tourism calendar
Bogdanusa Evening and Hvar Wine Association Tastings (Svirce)
An event wine lovers won’t want to miss; of particular interest to wine experts are the indigenous grape varieties on Hvar.
Hvar Summer Festival (Hvar Town)
Attracts top names from the world of classical music, with daily events in exquisite locations, such as the Franciscan Monastery and Europe’s oldest public theatre in Hvar Town.
July
Humac Eco-Ethno Festival (Humac)
Regarded as the premier eco-ethno village in Dalmatia, this festival offers hikers a tour of perfectly preserved residential rural architecture, the dry-walling construction technique, ethno-collections, the local St. Ivan and Paul Church, the telescope viewpoint, the famous Grapceva Cave and the distillery of essential herbs.
Ultra Beach - Ultra Europe Music Festival (Hvar Town)
Over 3,000 international festival-goers head to the Amphora Grand in Hvar Town for the biggest and most popular electronic music event on the Croatian coast.
Bogdanusa Evening and Hvar Wine Association Tastings (Multiple Locations)
An event wine lovers won’t want to miss; of particular interest to wine experts are the indigenous grape varieties on Hvar.
Hvar Summer Festival (Hvar Town)
Attracts top names from the world of classical music, with daily events in exquisite locations, such as the Franciscan Monastery and Europe’s oldest public theatre in Hvar Town.
August
Tam Tam Festival (Sucuraj)
This annual music festival in the most eastern town on the island is heaven for fans of independent regional music. Singer-songwriter performances are held in different authentic locations in the old Sucuraj center.
Escape (Basina)
Formed by the Escape Community, this festival was named Europe’s best boutique festival by Vogue UK.
Puhijada (Dol)
The annual Puhijada, or edible dormouse festival, is held in the village of Dol near the 2,400-year-old town of Stari Grad.
Faros Marathon (Stari Grad)
A 16 km open sea swim from Stari Grad Harbor to the top of the Kabal Peninsula, and back, which attracts some of the world's top swimmers, including Olympic gold medalists.
Jelsa Wine Festival (Jelsa)
The biggest wine festival in the Adriatic and Jelsa’s most popular event features donkey races, tug of war, climbing rope for prosciutto, and more.
Bogdanusa Evening and Hvar Wine Association Tastings (Multiple Locations)
An event wine lovers won’t want to miss; of particular interest to wine experts are the indigenous grape varieties on Hvar.
Hvar Summer Festival (Hvar Town)
Attracts top names from the world of classical music, with daily events in exquisite locations, such as the Franciscan Monastery and Europe’s oldest public theatre in Hvar Town.
Cycling through Heritage (Stari Grad)
Connecting sport, nature and heritage, this event takes cyclists through the cultural heritage of Hvar Island.
September
Days in the Bay (Stari Grad)
A celebration of wine, food, song and the long sailing tradition in Stari Grad, more than 100 traditional boats fill the Stari Grad Harbour for this September event.
Bogdanusa Evening and Hvar Wine Association Tastings (Multiple Locations)
An event wine lovers won’t want to miss; of particular interest to wine experts are the indigenous grape varieties on Hvar.
Hvar Summer Festival (Hvar Town)
Attracts top names from the world of classical music, with daily events in exquisite locations, such as the Franciscan Monastery and Europe’s oldest public theatre in Hvar Town.
October
Bogdanusa Evening and Hvar Wine Association Tastings (Multiple Locations)
An event wine lovers won’t want to miss; of particular interest to wine experts are the indigenous grape varieties on Hvar.
Hvar Summer Festival (Hvar Town)
Attracts top names from the world of classical music, with daily events in exquisite locations, such as the Franciscan Monastery and Europe’s oldest public theatre in Hvar Town.
November
Otillo Swimrun (Hvar Town)
This active event combines trail running with open-water swimming and is a tribute to the cultural heritage of the Mediterranean.
December
Hvar New Year Regatta (Hvar Town, December 31)
Known as the most important winter competition for sailors in small classes in Europe for over 40 years, the Hvar New Year Regatta is organized by the Zvir Sailing Club.
Trekking
The region is ideal for trekkers and walkers, with many hiking paths connecting the southern and northern parts of the island taking us through olive trees, lavender fields, and vineyards.
A popular climb is to the 16th-century Hvar Fortress, which offers stunning views of the town and the Pakleni Islands.
Cultural & Historic Sites
The Stari Grad Plain is the best-preserved system of ancient Greek field-architecture in the Mediterranean.
This UNESCO-protected World Heritage site, which is the largest and most fertile field on the Adriatic islands, covers 6 kilometers and has been virtually intact for over 24 centuries.
Enjoy wine tasting at a local tavern paired with local dishes harvested straight from the plain, or visit the old shepherd’s village of Humac, which is a cultural living monument full of picturesque ruins and small stone houses. Also popular is the nearby Grapceva Cave, home to cave paintings dating back to an incredible 4,000 BC.
Water Activities
Whether you’re a fan of kayaking, diving, rafting, or sailing, Croatia is a paradise for those looking to explore the Adriatic Sea.
Speed boat excursions to the nearby islands, snorkeling, paddleboarding, windsurfing and kitesurfing are some of the most popular water activities on the Adriatic Coast.
Nightlife
Hvar Island nightlife revolves around exciting Hvar Town which has become the town that never sleeps - at least not from June to September.
You have a choice of many venues or if you prefer a more laid back atmosphere, there is Jelsa, Stari Grad and Vrboska to enjoy.
The Island is also famous for its large amount of Festivals covering a broad range of interests from cuisine, to music to religion.