Planning a Trip

Visitor Information -- Hvar Town's principal tourist office is at Trg Sv. Stjepana bb, Hvar's main square (tel. 021/741-059; fax 021/742-977; www.tzhvar.hr; 8am-2:30pm and 3:30-10pm daily June-Oct, 8am-2pm Mon-Sat Nov-May). Stari Grad's is at Nova Riva 2 (tel. 021/765-763; www.hvar.hr; summer 8am-10pm Mon-Sat, 9am-1pm and 5-8pm Sun; winter 8am-2pm Mon-Sat). Jelsa's tourist office is at Mala Banda (tel. 021/761-017; summer 8am-11pm Mon-Sat, 10:30am-12:30pm and 7:30-9:30pm Sun; winter 8am-1pm Mon-Fri). Each can provide literature and maps, but if you want accommodations in Hvar Town, go to Pelegrini Travel, steps from the boat landing (tel. 021/742-743; pelegrini@inet.hr), open 8am to 10pm Monday through Saturday and 6 to 8pm on Sunday. Pelegrini handles most of the private accommodations in Hvar Town and books rooms through travel agencies in Split and other towns. Atlas Travel, on the west side of the harbor (tel. 021/741-670), is an excellent place to book excursions. During July and August, there is the potential for a reservation snafu, so be sure you have confirmed -- and preferably paid for -- accommodations before arrival.

Getting There -- Jadrolinija operates car ferry service between Split and Stari Grad (38kn per person and 250kn per car each way), and some runs also stop at Korcula and Dubrovnik. Car ferries from Dnvenik, just south of Makarska, dock at Sucuraj at the extreme southern tip of the island (13kn per person and 95kn per car each way). From May through September pedestrian-only ferries and catamarans dock at Hvar Town at the extreme northern end (30kn per person each way). Stari Grad and Hvar Town are 77km (46 miles) and a narrow, hilly, serpentine road with spectacular views of the sea apart. Buses connect from the ferry port in Stari Grad and go across the island to Hvar Town and Jelsa seven times a day (20kn per person each way). Jadrolinija has an office on the Riva in Stari Grad (tel. 021/741-132) and can provide prices and schedules. In summer, there usually are half a dozen or so buses that ply the route between Stari Grad and Hvar Town, but Sundays, holidays, and other times, service is spotty. Catamarans that carry only foot passengers also serve the island, and they are faster than the car ferries. Most pick up and drop off passengers at the Hvar Town marina. It is possible to spend the morning in Korcula and go on to Hvar in the afternoon. However, you'll have to overnight on Hvar because the last boat arrives there about 6:15pm, and nothing leaves late at night. In addition, it is very difficult to see much on Hvar if you only have a day.

Getting Around -- Hvar Town is closed to motorized traffic from the bus station to the Riva, which is also the busiest thoroughfare until after nightfall, when the long, rectangular main square, Trg Sveti Stjepana, becomes a circus. If you want to see anything besides Hvar Town and Stari Grad, a car is a time saver, but Hvar Town is best covered on foot.