Top Experiences in Hvar Island

Get to know Hvar's 2,400-year history through its vineyards. The island has produced delicious varietals for centuries, starting with the ancient Greeks who first planted vines on Hvar in the 4th century BCE. The Stari Grad Plain is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and where you'll find most of the Greek and winemaking history. Wine in the region didn't stop with the Greeks. The Romans, Venetians continuously enhanced it, and even the Socialist era, when organic methods reigned (and won the island many gold medals for organic wine). One of the most famous varietals found on Hvar is Plavac Mali, a grape related to Italy's Primitivo and Zinfandel in the United States. It's believed that Plavac Mali is the original Zinfandel, and Hvar is home to the oldest Plavac Mali vineyard in the world. You'll also find several other beloved indigenous grapes on the island, including Bogdanuša, Posip, and Maraština.Discover all the flavors of Hvar on this wine tasting excursion, complete with local snacks to keep you going! This wonderful tour takes you to the most outstanding wineries on the island, where you can visit the vineyards, cellars, and production facilities and then put your newfound knowledge to test with tastings paired with local food delicacies.Discover more unique experiences on Hvar.

Enjoy a full day of off-roading fun with your partner, friends, or family as you cover Hvar's undulating island terrain, accented with vineyard-covered hills, thick olive groves, and fragrant fields full of rosemary and lavender. Set out from Hvar Town along a dirt road to the abandoned 16th-century village of Malo Grablje before carrying on to the slightly older, UNESCO-protected Velo Grablje. Once home to a thriving lavender industry, Velo Grablje is slowly undergoing a revival. Today, only a few people inhabit the village throughout the year, but many gather for the annual lavender festival. Stop for an authentic lunch at a family-run tavern that traditionally prepares your meal using locally sourced ingredients and a peka. The peka is a large metal baking dish with a bell-shaped lid to cook food in an open fire. Next, you'll spend a little time relaxing on Soline Beach on the island's northern coast near Vrboska. Then, head up Vidikovac for views over the Stari Grad Plain, an agricultural landscape that was first colonized by the Greeks and is still maintained today, as well as Stari Grad itself, Croatia's oldest township. After a moment to absorb the breathtaking surroundings, you'll ascend Hvar's tallest peak, St. Nicholas, for additional sweeping vistas over the Adriatic and neighboring islands like Brač, Korčula, and Vis, and possibly even the east coast of Italy! On your way down the sloping hillside lies Sveta Nedija, a village surrounded by vineyards so steep...

Ditch the crowds, get off the beaten path, and enjoy a unique exploration of the island of Hvar. With a local guide, you'll hike through the island's stunning countryside, traversing hills, passing through hidden villages, and absorbing the traditional architecture. You'll learn about the traditional ways of life that still inhabit Hvar while enjoying the island's beautiful nature. As you make your way toward the village of Malo Grablje, you'll follow the island's old trail. This route was the main road connecting Hvar Town with Stari Grad to the north in the Middle Ages. Listen to stories from your guide about the island's history as you hike from village to village. Along the way, you'll stop at a quaint restaurant for an authentic Croatian lunch. The traditional cooking method includes a "peka," an iron bell covered in hot embers.Read more about historical excursions in Croatia.

Discover the beauty of Hvar on a cycling tour, starting in Stari Grad on the island's northwest side, a quaint town surrounded by scenic agricultural landscapes. After getting acquainted with your bike and gear, you'll set off to explore Hvar. One of the best ways to see the entire island and get to know all sides of Hvar is on a bike, where you can take a slower pace and stop as you please. You can choose from several routes, ranging from 6 to 9 miles (10 to 15 km), although all are easy rides on mostly flat roads. All routes offer the essence of Hvar, passing through the island's beautiful lavender fields, olive groves, vineyards, palm trees, pine woods, and more. You'll start at the well-preserved ancient Greek ruins on the Stari Grad Plain—an agricultural landscape established by the ancient Greeks in the 4th century BCE (and a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Stop along the way to explore small villages in the inner part of the island and coastal favorites like Jelsa and Vrboska.Read more about active experiences in Croatia and other unique activities on Hvar.

Enjoy a boat tour of the scenic islands of Brač, Pakleni, and Hvar. Enjoy the scenes around you as you pass by rugged coastline, secluded coves, and forested islets. The most anticipated stop is the famous Zlatni Rat Beach on Brač Island, which juts out into the sea with a triangle of golden sand. After enjoying some time swimming and snorkeling, you'll return to the boat and make your way toward the Pakleni Islands. Stop in quiet bays and coves to swim, snorkel, and enjoy the water, then head inland to a local spot for a bite to eat. Your skipper knows all the best spots and will recommend local favorites according to your taste! The rest of the day can be as leisurely or as active as you'd like. Chat with your skipper about what other places or activities you'd like to see and do. You can simply lounge on a few idyllic beaches, find more popular spots for swimming and snorkeling, discover new sports like kayaking, paddleboarding, or windsurfing, or spend more time inland hiking or eating island cuisine.Discover more excursions in and around Split.