The island of Hvar

Hvar (old names Pharos/Lesina), pronounced "hwahr", is a island, located in the central Dalmatia, in the vicinity of, and within the region gravitating towards, the city of Split. Hvar is administratively part of the Split-Dalmatia county of Croatia.

Mountainous island of Hvar is spread out from west to east to around 68 km and is the longest island in the Adriatic. Total surface is 300 km2 and the highest peak is 628 m (St. Nicolas).

Perfumed by the scent of lavender, Hvar is one of the most hyped and beautiful of all the Croatian islands and has been a favorite getaway ever since the Romans. It is also the most visited island in Croatia often referred as Croatian St. Tropez.

The island is characterized by gentle winters, warm summers and many hours of sunshine. It is just as attractive in the winter, as it is in the summer. Hvar holidays are a mixture of splendid buildings, lavender and rosemary fields, olive groves, carefully cultivated vineyards, palm trees, aloes, pine trees, beautiful rocky and pebbled beaches and a warm, blue sea.

One of the most famous folk products on the island of Hvar is "Queen's wash", the pure distillation of rosemary oil which was recommended by travel writers from the 19th century for gargling the throat and against scurvy.
Hvar is also the island of the pink fields of lavender. This aromatic plant of exceptional quality developed all over the fields of Hvar. The lavender oil is used for destroying moths and for the production of perfume and lotion. It blossoms in June, July, and August. You simply can't leave the island without purchasing some lavender oil.

Larger resorts include:

• the town of Hvar - the largest settlement on the island and one of the most popular resorts on the whole of the Adriatic Sea
• the town of Stari Grad - ancient Greek Pharos, the town where past centuries mingle with modern tourist facilities
• Jelsa - the small town on the northern part of the Island, an important maritime and agriculture center
• Vrboska - a picturesque village of compact stone houses known for its red wines
• Sucuraj - more than 2,300 years old, the most important port on the eastern side of the island
• Sveta Nedjelja - the village below the highest peak on the island, St. Nikola, known for its quiet pebbly beaches

The Paklinski otoci (Paklinski islands) are the one of the most attractive and most visited spots on the island, just to the west of Hvar town. Pakleni are a series of eleven wooded islands, three of which have simple bars and restaurants, and also there is a popular yacht marina. They can be reached from Hvar town by motor taxi boats that leave about every 15 minutes.
Southern coast of the island is full with perfect little pebbly bays. It is a favorite destination for many swimmers and sunbathers from Hvar town.

How to reach Hvar?
Hvar is connected by ferries or catamarans from Split, Drvenik (near Makarska), Bol (the island of Brac), Ancona (Italy) and Pescara (Italy).

Accommodation
Adriatica.net has a great choice of various accommodation facilities including apartments, rooms and hotels (Adriatic, Amfora, Bodul, Dalmacija, Palace, Pharos, Slavija) in Hvar town and other settlements on the island of Hvar including Stari Grad (Hotel Arkada, private rooms and apartments), Jelsa (Hotels Mina and Fontana, private rooms and apartemnts), Vrboska (apartments and rooms), Sucuraj (apartments and rooms), Sveta Nedelja (apartments and rooms), Zavala (apartments and rooms), Milna (apartments and rooms) and other places.

Further reading
Hvar.hr
Jelsa online
Sucuraj
Sunny Hvar