Island Hvar – Your place for best holiday

Experienced sailors looking for some active fun can join local racing teams to take part in several regattas near Hvar. Some options for Adriatic exploring.

Sailing in Croatia is growing in popularity, as more tourists are taking to the seas to discover its stunning coastline and 1185 islands. Mainland towns such as Vodice, Trogir, Split and Dubrovnik are popular mooring spots, while there is much to investigate on islands such as Brac, Vis, Korcula and Hvar.

The needs of beginners are catered for with sailing schools, while a fully-crewed yacht can set its own agenda, but what about the solo tourist looking for a little sailing action?
Hvar Adventure Crewing Options

Local outdoor specialist Hvar Adventure’s core activity is sailing, offering a range of courses and excursions. For sailors who can demonstrate their sailing credentials and experience, there are interesting opportunities to crew with the company in one of the many races that take place on the Adriatic.

Regattas with Crewing Options for 2011

Split – Komiza – Split (May 27-29). A 3-day event comprising of a race each way to the picturesque second town on Vis, interspersed with a free day, which gives the opportunity to visit the famous Blue Cave at Bisevo.

Split – Hvar – Split (17-19 June). Similar to Komiza and including a free day and night in Hvar Town.

Southern Dalmatia Race (5-7 August). A 4-day race along a route that includes Orebic, Korcula, Mljet and Dubrovnik.

80th Mrduja Regatta (24-25 September). The oldest race in Croatia, with some 300 boats taking part in a 22 mile race from Split to a rock between the islands of Brac and Solta.

Solta Island Regatta (1-2 October). A two-way race from Split to Solta, the closest island to the Dalmatian capital.

Barcolona, Trieste (8-9 October). The most famous race in the world with more than 3,000 boats taking part. The trip included 3-5 each way from Zadar to Trieste.

Vis Island Regatta (14-16 October). 3-day regatta, including a race each way to Vis and a day to explore in the middle.

Jabuka Race (11-13 November). A four-day, non-stop offshore navigation race leaving from Vodice on the mainland, round the infamous Jabuka rock, the furthest island located between Croatian and Italy, 120 miles in all.

Tired of the beach and sitting in waterfront cafes on Croatia’s premier island? Why not head for the hills and undiscovered Hvar with an off-road Safari?

While the many focus of most holidays to Hvar is the stunning coastline and plentiful beaches, there is much to discover inland on Croatia’s premier island, described by Forbes Magazine as one of the world’s sexiest. One of the most rewarding ways to spend a day discovering Hvar off the beaten track is to take an off-road Jeep safari.

Secret Hvar Jeep Safaris

The day-long tour, organised by experienced local guides for specialist agency, Secret Hvar, take clients away from the popular tourist resorts, on an intoxicating voyage of discovery through the aromatic hills of rosemary and lavender, through the various hilltop villages of the island, and along tracks off-limits to most vehicles.

Malo and Velo Grablje

Departing from Hvar Town at 0900, the tour commences with the short trip to the two inland villages of Malo and Velo Grablje, the former completely abandoned and the latter in serious decline after once being the most important centre for lavender production in Dalmatia.

Malo Grablje has a special feel to it, abandoned by its residents en masse several decades ago in favour of the local fishing village of Milna down th road. One of the curious facts about Malo Grablje is the fact that all property owners have the same non-Croatian surname – Tudor – leading to the legend that the villagers are possible descendants of Henry VIII.

Restaurant Vidikovac and the Sveti Nikola Peak

Continuing along the spectacular old road from Hvar to Stari Grad, th tour pauses for refreshment at the isolated Restaurant Vidikovac, a stunning spot which boats sea views to the south of the island from one side, and equally picturesque northern sea views from others, before ascending to the island’s highest point, Sveti Nikola, from where panomaric views of the island take in the neighbouring islands of Brac, Vis and Korcula.

Stari Grad Plain

An examination of the UNESCO-protected ancient Greek agricultural colony known as the Stari Grad Plain is next on the itinerary, an extremely well-preserved area to close to Hvar’s oldest town, where the farming of olives and grapes continue in must the same way as they did in Greek times.

Humac, the Abandoned Shepherd’s Village

Lunch is taken in the eco-village of Humac, a shepherd’s village long since abandoned by its inhabitants, but one of the most atmospheric places on the island. Konoba Humac, at the front of the village, has been sympathetically restored, and offers outstanding organic food prepared according to traditional methods.

Best Croatian Beaches: Soline in Vrboska

After an excellent lunch, the tour makes its final stop, to one of the island’s nicest beaches at Soline, near Vrboska, a chance to dip into the water and contemplate the sights, sounds and smells of the off-road Hvar experience.

Finding things away from the beach for children to do on holiday can be a challenge. Why not drop off the kids at an inland atelier in Dol for a morning?

The attractions of the family beach on a holiday to Hvar are obvious, a popular destination with its small pebble beaches and pristine, but there are also other activities for kids, such as art classes on a Saturday morning in Dol, one of the six inland hilltop villages which form the spine of the island.
Art Classes for Children

Each Saturday morning, from 1030 to 1300, children of all ages are welcome to spend the morning in an exquisite tumbledown setting of an art studio run by a resident Slovenian artist. Children from as young as two are encouraged to express themselves through art in a medium that they choose, whether it be drawing, painting or mosaic classes.

Parents can leave the children there and enjoy a couple of hours of peace and quiet, perhaps to enjoy a leisurely coffee in the local bar at the end of the track, or to head back to the waterfront towns of Stari Grad and Vrboska, just minutes away.

Many parents choose to linger, however, as the charms of the atelier extend far beyond temporary respite from the children. Set in a stunning hillside location, the atelier is located at the edge of the village and is a ramshackle collection of authentic stone buildings, each offering different art exhibits, the highlight of which is the main atelier, where the impressive works of Marinka and her late husband, Marin, are on display.

Visiting Artists to Dol

In addition to the art classes, the complex is also a haven for visiting artists, including a German sculptor on a recent visit, sat in tranquility at the end of the atelier’s colourful garden with two students from German, who were learning the basics of sculpting with Brac stone (the chalky white stone from the neighbouring island has been used in prominent buildings such as the White House and Liverpool Cathedral).

To find Atelier Marinka, park at the village cafe and take the path to the right of the building, heading straight until the road forks. There is a sign “Atelier” to the right, and one of the most atmospheric experiences on the island awaits in the last building.

Suncokret Yoga and Meditation Retreat

Given the popularity of the coastal resorts, the inland villages are less visited, but there is much to discover for tourists willing to make an effort. Another hidden gem in Dol is the American-run Suncokret Body and Soul Retreat, a holistic yoga and meditation centre now entering its eighth season.

While the tourist focus on Hvar is understandably on the beach, the art classes are one more example of things to do away from the beach.

Looking for peak season party action, fields of lavender, winter regattas or olive and grape harvests? The best time to visit Hvar is an individual choice.

The best time to visit Hvar depends on what you are looking for in your holiday. Here are a few pointers:

Peak Season on Hvar

If it is party action and blue skies and temperatures of 30 C plus that is your ideal holiday, book your flights for July and August. This is the peak season, a time when the yachts increase in size, the Italians come en masse, and the population of the island more than doubles. A time for partying, cocktails at the beach and late nights on the waterfront.

Easter on Hvar

One of the highlights of the domestic calendar and a delightful time to visit, Easter tends to coincide with the official end of winter, the beginning of the season and returning family members celebrating this important religious festival over a long weekend. The overnight Easter Procession is an event unique in the world.

Olive and Wine Harvests

The main tourist season over, local focus turns to the fields, with agriculture a mainstay of the local economy and culture. All hands are turned to the fields for the grape harvest in September, and for the olive harvest in October/November (the merits of late and early picking are hotly debated in the island’s cafes), while the lavender harvest in June/July is yet one more chance to engage with local people and nature.

Fields of Lavender

An arresting view round every corner, Hvar is famed for its colour and aroma. The picturesque basics – pristine turquoise sea and lush green hilly terrain – are interspersed with a colourful array of flora and fauna throughout the year, with perhaps the highlight being the fields of lavender, for which the island is famed, in June and July.

Shoulder Season: All the Benefits without the Crowds

While the occasional hardly soul swims all year, the generally-accepted swimming season runs from May to October. May, June, September and early October are excellent times to visit for people looking to beat the hordes, while being able to enjoy the benefits of everything open and a warm temperature. Locals have more time before the peak season madness, and these months are more relaxed in general.

Winter Regattas, Cycling and Tranquillity

While trying to sell Hvar as a beach resort in December might be stretching it, a visit to Hvar in winter gives an entirely different, but equally rewarding perspective. The lower temperatures make it popular with cycling groups, while the winter regatta in Hvar Town in December is a popular event. The biting bura wind and the frequent rain (yes, it does rain, how do you think it stays so green!) bring home the realities of the harsh realities of Dalmatian life. Not for the fainthearted, but a great web to blow away the cobwebs if looking for some isolation.

Hvar Town has a long tradition of tourism, but today’s St. Tropez image is very different from its tourist origins, which are based on health and science.
Croatian tourism is booming once more after the recent war in Yugoslavia and one of the most popular destinations is the island of Hvar, famous for its lavender, natural beauty, historic stone towns and party atmosphere in Hvar Town. Sipping a cocktail and enjoying a sunset over the Pakleni islands watching the mega yachts mooring is certainly a highlight, but the origins of tourism on the island are quite different.

The First Visitors to Hvar

Interpretations by the Greek poet Apollonius place the island on the route taken by the Argonauts in search of the Golden Fleece, describing the island as idyllic Pityeia or covered in pine trees. What is known is that the Greek poet Xenphanes from Elea visited Hvar in the 6th Century BC, in search of fish fossils.

Rich Roman visitors came on individual visits during the Roman Empire (Diocletian’s Palace in Split was built in the 4th Century for Emperor Diocletian), and there were many rustic villas built in the various bays of the island, which were known as villae rusticae.

On the Pilgrimage Route from Venice to Jaffa

There is more documented proof of religious tourism from the 15th Century, as Hvar featured as a stopping point for some on pilgrimages to the Holy Land on the popular route from Venice to Jaffa. Travellers were understandably from the wealthier classes and the writings of the period that have survived constitute the first real picture of life on Hvar.

Tourist impressions from the Middle Ages were in some ways not too dissimilar to the impressions today, with frequent mention of the stormy sea, the white stone, the palm trees, the playful dolphins (a regular sight even today), and the smell of rosemary below the fortress.

The period saw the emergence of what was called ‘rural tourism’, as the aristocracy and rich elite spent holidays in villas in the towns and bays on Hvar. One of the best preserved of these is the summer palace of famous poet, Petar Hektorovic, in Stari Grad, called the Tvrdalj. It included a fishpond, walled garden, tower and dovecote. It is well-preserved and today houses the Ethnographic Museum.

A Royal Visit and the Emergence of Science Tourism

The 18th and 19th Centuries brought a new type of tourist, in search of scientific discovery. Dalmatia became a popular destination for scientists from Germany and Austria, and Hvar, with its rich flora and fauna, was an especially popular spot. Of particular interest to the scientists were the island’s plants, insects, sponges and sea worms. There was even a royal expedition in 1838, when the King of Saxony, King Friedrich II paid a visit.

Founding of the Hvar Health Society in 1868

Hvar was formally established as a tourist destination in 1868, with the founding of the Hvar Health Society, following extensive scientific analysis of the island’s climate. The climate was found to be an excellent environment for treating various illnesses, lung illnesses in particular. Thanks to the hard work and connections of Professor Oskar Schmidt and Dr Franz Unger, the Hvar Health Society, or Higijenicko drustvo u Hvaru, Societa Igienica di Lesina, Heil-verein von Lesina, was formed on May 15, 1868. The healthy climate and its recuperative powers remains one of Hvar’s most attractive features for many visitors.

Tourism has blossomed in the intervening years, and Hvar was voted one of the ten most beautiful islands in the world by readers of Conde Nast. It is a popular celebrity haunt and the rich and famous can be found on their large yachts or in the recently refurbished Hvar hotels. Away from the glitz of Hvar Town, the tradition of celebrating the island’s nature continues, with events such as the Lavender Festival in nearby Velo Grablje.

American TV network CNN was right to announce at the beginning of the year that Croatia would this summer be one of the most desirable destinations for famoust stars of the world. In support of this announcement are definitely the photographs of Hollywood actress Eva Longoria dancing and one of the best tennis players of all time, John McEnroe at Stradun in Dubrovnik. The Croatian coast and islands are visited each year by more and more famous guests.

Some of them did not hide their enthusiasm about Croatia, like Bill Gates, one of the richest people in the world who recommended Croatia as one of the ideal places for a holiday in Forbes magazine. The founder of Microsoft and his family visited Skradin, a town in central Dalmatia and the National Park Krka.

Eva Longoria and her husband, the famous NBA player Tony Parker and friends, amongst which were actors Amaury Nolasco and Jennifer Morrison, cruised the coast and visited Mali Lošinj, Zadar, Kornati, Šibenik, Skradin, Trogir, Split and Hvar, where they, judging by the photos published by the world’s media, had an amazing time. They also ended up in a club in Vodice called Hacienda, where they held the «DJ Cut Killer and Tony Parker Show». They also visited Dubrovnik, which is the place visited by most celebrities. Amongst them was also the famous American actor Morgan Freeman, the guest of honor at the Dubrovnik Film Meeting Festival, which has been organized in the past few years in collaboration with the Sarajevo Film Festival. In the past few years Gillian Anderson, Mickey Rourke, Steve Buscemi and Kevin Spacey were also among those who visited.

Even at the beginning of the season, walking the streets of Dubrovnik were the world’s most famous flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia, the tv crime show star Dennis Franz and former German chancelor Gerharda Schroedera.

The first days of summer were spent in Croatia by the Hollywood couple Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, who arrived in Dubrovnik from Rome.

This year’s Libertas film festival was marked by the new acting star Gabourey Sidibe, who was nominated for an Oscar for her first role in the movie Precious. At the opening of the festival there were many more famous faces to be seen, like the Czeck film director and Oscar winner Jiřij Menzel and one of the most productive film makers of Hollywood, Dantea Spinottija.

Dubrovnik was also host to a charity tennis match between Wimbledon winner Goran Ivanišević and one of the best tennis players of all time Johna McEnroea, who was accompanied by his wife Patty Smyth and their children.

The second ranked tennis player, Novak Đoković was having a good time in Split, and also spending his summer in Croatia after seven years, was the French handball representatives, who has Croatian roots, Nikola Karabatić. He visited his relatives in Poljice, close to Trogir, visited Dubrovnik and went to a concert in Primošten.

Some of the musical greats didn’t only come to Croatia for a holiday but also for performaces, either individual of as part of the many summer festivals.

Concerts in Zadar were held by Seal and the soul-jazz diva Natalie Cole.

Because of the Garden festival, one of the best European summer events, a samll fishing village Petrčane next to Zadar was visited by many stars of electronic music such as Hercules & Love Affairs, 2020 Soundsystem, Crazy P, Dave Bee-ar, Tristan Da Cunha, Horse Meat Disco, DJ Stu Patterson, Greg Wilson, Norman Jay i Henrik Schwarz.

The Garden festival is highly ranked in the second position of the best summer festivals according to a leading European on-line magazine for electronic music Resident Advisor, while the British The Times last year included it amongst the twenty best European summer festivals, not just because of the choice of musicians but also because of the special location on the penninsula Pinija in Petrčani and the pine woods close to the sea.

Beautiful Croatian beaches, many hidden coves and excellent cuisine have already been discovered by stars such Steven Spielberga, Andre Agassi, Gwyneth Paltrow, Robert De Niro, Clint Eastwood, Sharon Stone, Tom Cruise, Bono Vox, Beyonce and Jay Z and many others.

Another luxury hotel was opened in June on the central Dalmatian island of Hvar, known as one of the sunniest Croatian islands, with an offer based on a rich spa offer.

The Adriana Hvar marina hotel & spa, as the hotel’s full name reads, is situated on the very Hvar waterfront and offers a view of the best known Hvar localities – the Cathedral of St. Stephen, the Arsenal, the main square and Hvar harbour. This is actually a newly-renovated facility operating within the Suncani Hvar hotel company, and which offers its guests accommodation in 50 deluxe rooms, nine classic suites and several spa-specific suites.

The hotel has received a high four-star rating, and along with the classic amenities it also offers a range of attractive additional facilities like a covered heated pool with seawater in which guests will be able to swim yearround. A restaurant has been opened on the hotel terrace, a classic bar and an attractive The Top sky garden bar whose luxurious design and unique setting will certainly become another favourite gathering place for the people of Hvar and their guests.

But the most attractive part of the offer is the new Sensori spa centre that offers numerous therapeutic and beauty treatments, massages and many spa programs like yoga and relaxing excursions into the outdoors. The centre stretches over three storeys with about 1,400 square metres housing all of the indoor and outdoor amenities.

The hotel offer is therefore for the large part based on the concept of wellness and spa, and that this is really a top level of quality is attested to by the fact that the Adriana, Hvar marina hotel & spa recently became a full member of the prestigious global group – The Leading Small Hotels of the World.

Hvar is the most attractive Croatia’s island. Its beaches are mostly pebble and rocky. There are many famous beaches
but you can find although many hidden bays and coves that can be reachable only by boat. If you want every day on this island to be different, choose among its beautiful and unique beaches. Below you can find some of the most famous beaches:

Amfora beach – biggest town beach, in front of hotel Amfora, 5 minutes walk from the town.
Available facilities: restaurant on the beach, beach bar with snacks, showers.
Rent a: paddle boat, catamaran kayaks, sun beds, sun screens…

Camp Vira beach – located in Camp Vira, 4 km north-west from the city, 90 meters long pebble beach. Available facilities: beach bar, lounge bar, restaurant, children playground, shops, showers. Rent a: sun beds, sun screens, boats, paddle boats, catamaran kayaks…

Sirena beach – in front of hotel Sirena, 2 km from the town.
Available facilities: Marin beach bar (with snacks)

Palmizana – located on Sv. Klement, rich flora, nautical sailors.

Soline – pebble beach, located on Sv. Klement, naturally protected from wind.

Milna beach – located in village Milna. Milna is situated 4 km east of city of Hvar. There are two pebble beaches, and a woody and gentle coast where pine-trees, agaves, vineyards and orchards overgrow. Next to Milna lagoon there are two other woody lagoons; Malo and Veliko Borče.
Milna is one the oldest Hvar resorts, established at the very beginnings of tourism in Hvar, and its particularly country atmosphere is punctuated by an old villa of the noble family Ivanić (today owned by family Božić-Fio) from 17th century.There are several restaurants in Milna.
There is an organised transportation by boat from Hvar port, and it is also reachable by car or foot.

Zarace beach – located There is a long lagoon with a wide pebble beach beneath a small, abandoned village of Zaraće, situated on the very top of rocky cliff resembling a pirates’ stronghold. We point out to the lovers of deep waters that in these parts of the islan picturesque submarine scenery is found. There are several restaurants. Zarace can be reached by boat or car.

SVETE NEDILJA
A settlement and a resort (12 km east of the town) which is best accessed by car. There are beautiful pebble beaches and numerous restaurants and B&Bs.

Dubovica

A favourite Hvar resort, situated 8 km east of city, with large pebble beach and beautiful submarine scenery. Like Milna, Dubovica has a long pastoral tradition, too. There is a restaurant. Dubovica can be reached by boat or car.The only way to reach Dubovica is down an unmarked trail. A bus ticket from Hvar Grad to Dubovica is 9kn. It takes about 15 minutes but is worth the effort. A wonderful secluded cove with a pebbled beach, one restaurant and if you want, a place to rent a room.