Hvar

One of the most popular islands of the Dalmatian Coast, Hvar is proud of its reputation as the ‘sunniest and greenest’ of Croatia’s many isles, with a wealth of natural attractions. Reachable by car-ferry from mainland Split or Makarska, Hvar’s glitzy beach resorts and Mediterranean climate draw a steady stream of day-trippers and island-hoppers, who come to enjoy the stretches of sand and pebble beaches, scenic hiking and cycling trails, and lively culinary scene, noted for its local seafood. 
Hvar Town is the main tourist hub, a beautifully preserved medieval town, still surrounded by its 13th century defense walls and a favored haunt of European celebrities, who dock their yachts in the harbor. The laid-back port town of Stari Grad, the quiet fishing villages of Jelsa and Vrboska, and the nearby Pakleni Islands are also popular destinations, surrounded by a landscape of vast lavender plantations, sprawling vineyards and secluded rocky coves.