Here is a handy link to the UK govt website regarding travelling to Croatia.
We are also keeping and eye on Spain, Dubai and Singapore’s updates
Hvar is an island off the southern coast of Croatia. We chose here for our wedding as it was our first holiday destination together, back in 2014.
Getting here will involve a plane and a boat but we promise it’s not too difficult!
We have provided you with all the info you need to arrange your own transfers. If you book a package/hotel, most include transfers or have an add on option for you so it is worth checking with them too.
The closest airport is Split (SPU).
We've tried to list all the airlines that fly from everyone's closest airport - sorry if we have missed any of you off! We'd still recommend searching yourself.
We are flying Saturday 23rd July - Thurs 4th August.
We have to fly out the Saturday before due to legal requirements in order to marry in Croatia. It also gives us time to sort the paperwork too freeing us up in the days before the wedding.
From speaking to other guests, most people are flying Tues 26th - Sat 30th July.
Easy Jet
July 2022 package holidays now available
July 2022 flights also available
Bristol, Glasgow, London (all), Manchester
Jet2
July 2022 flights now available!
Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, London Stansted and Manchester
Vueling
Barcelona
They also offer connecting flights various Spanish airports including from Alicante, Granada, Madrid and Seville.
You may wish to fly in to other cities in Croatia;
Zadar - this is 1.5 hours away from Split so you will need to arrange car hire/transportation to get to Split Port
Dubrovnik - this is further away from Split, however you can get a boat from there directly to Hvar. The boat is much longer, around 4 hours, but may be an option for you if you’d like to see the city.
After landing at the airport you can either take public transport or a taxi to Split Port.
Bus
Outside the terminal there is a bus shuttle service (PLESO PRIJEVOZ company) to the port that takes 30-40 minutes. You can also take the number 37 public bus service.
Taxi/Uber
Our recommendation is to get a taxi (or even easier and cheaper, an Uber if you are familiar with this) to Split port when you arrive.
Ot takes around 30minutes to get to Split port but traffic around the port can get busy during peak season and close to boat times.
Approximate price for taxi ride from airport to Split harbour: 250 kuna / £30 / 33€
It may be worth checking who else is landing at similar times at Split Airport and arranging a mini-bus. Let us know your travel plans and we can help arrange car pooling or mini-busses to keep travel costs down.
Split Taxi Firms
airport-taxi-split.com/
Uber
If you haven’t used Uber before, you can use this discount code to receive money off your first trip: nicolaw353ue
Once at the port, the easiest option to Hvar is to take one of the daily catamarans with Jadrolinija.
It costs 110kn (approximately £12)
Book the catamaran ticket in advance (link below). July is in high-season, so book ahead to avoid the risk of the ferries getting fully booked.
Please bear in mind if you are travelling to the port straight from the airport traffic can get busy in that part of town. We’d advise giving yourself plenty of time to get to the port. There are plenty of bars and restaurants by the port should you need to wait around for your boat.
There are seven catamarans per day during high season and it takes around one hour to get to Hvar Town.
Book the Catamaran from Split town to “Hvar (Hvar)” and not “Stari Grad (Hvar)” nor “Jelsa (Hvar)”. They are ports on the opposite end of Hvar island which means a further transfer would be required.
Jadrolinija also have ferries to Hvar, but these take much longer to get to the island. These ferries are for cars and passengers on foot and take around two hours.
If anyone’s flight is arriving after 15:00 on any given day, you may also want to look at Krilo who also have catamarans to the island.
Depending on how long you decide to go to Croatia, you might want to stop over in Split before heading in to Hvar.
It’s the second largest city in Croatia so has plenty to see and do. Game of Thrones also had a number of filming locations here.
As it is larger than Hvar island, you can find really reasonable accommodation here.
Again, we can help you with recommendations but here are some of our favourite sights there:
Diocletian’s Palace and Cathedral
Peristil Square
Kasjuni Beach
Park Marjana viewpoint
Froggyland
Restaurants
Pandora Green Box - @pandora_greenbox_vegeteria
Plant based restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner
One of the main things to do is enjoy the coastline so I have put a separate section dedicated to this.
Tvrdava Fortica (aka Spanish Fortress)
A medieval castle overlooking Hvar and the surrounding islands. The initial walk up the old town can be a bit sweaty in the heat but once you clear the town walls it's a much gentler slope up to the tree-shaded hillside to the fortress. If it’s too hot for a walk up there taxis will take you up for 100kn (£12)
Boat Trips
Croatia is made up for 1,000 islands and there are plenty of boat trips to take you to the nearby options. Hotels will likely have excursions for you, or if you walk down to the port you’ll see plenty of taxi-boats that offer direct trips, half day or full day excursions.
Most will take you to the Blue Caves and the Pakleni Islands (including Palmižana Beach which is sandy!) along with plenty of snorkelling if you want along the way.
Explore the rest of the island
You can hire cars or scooters to explore the other parts of the 42-mile island outside Hvar town.
Kino Mediteran / Open Air Cinema
An old Venetian fortress which recently spent time as a nightclub has now been converted to an open air cinema showing European films (including in English). Tickets are between 20-35kn (£2-4) which popcorn, drinks and treats available
Fishing Charters
The Ruiz rabble will be pleased to know that there are lots of Charter options for you from the port
There are lots of bars all in the Old Town streets above the main square. Similarly to the restaurants, they can be small so getting a table can be difficult but there are many to chose from you won’t be thirsty for long.
There are so many options so here are some recommendations for you:
Central Park Club - this is a live music bar owned by Hotel Park and directly below where we are having our reception. Each night they have live music in their candle lit courtyard. We love it here and intend to slope down there when our wedding party finishes up. In the day they also serve breakfast, lunch and an early dinner.
Back Lane Craft Beer @backlanehvar. It’s exactly what it says on the tin, but also serves up spirits and cocktails made with local ingredients
Archie’s Bar - this is a bar in the main square with a couple more bars either side. All are friendly, have the cheapest menu for drinks and you get to enjoy any performances in the square. It’s also much cooler than drinking in the small streets in the Old Town which can be a little close on a night time
Vintage Wine Bar - a nice relaxed bar with a good wine, beer and cocktail selection
For those of you wanting more of a party or nightclub, your options are more limited:
Kiva - a rock bar which will probably take you back to uni days. Be warned it can be very crowded
Hula Hula Bar - a beach club for any party goers day or night
Carpe Diem - this is a beach club by day which turns in to a nightclub set on an neighbouring island. You will see long queues for the boats at the port but please be warned it gets a lot of bad press for being rowdy, overpriced, poor service and overzealous bouncers
Given Croatia’s close proximity to Italy, there is a strong Italian influence on food so you’ll find plenty of seafood, steak, pizza and pasta in most restaurants.
Most restaurants are veggie and vegan friendly too.
There are some good food restaurants in the main square by St Stephens church and are reasonably priced plus family friendly.
There are lots of other options in the streets to the left of the square (if you look directly at St Stephen’s church). There is plenty of choice but be aware they can be small so difficult to get a table.
If you walk back down towards where the catamaran dropped you off you can also find restaurants along the front and in the streets behind it.
Below are some recommendations, including restaurants which focus on other world cuisines:
Silk @silkstreetfood. Pan Asian street food open for lunch and dinner
Rozeta @rozetasushihvar. Sushi restaurant open for lunch and dinner
Fig @figrestaurants. International food with veggie and vegan friendly options. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner
Black Pepper @blackpepperhvar. A fine dining twist on local cuisine
Lola Bar & Street Food @lolabarhvar. A cocktail bar which serves mainly Mexican style street food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s quite lively so avoid if you’re after a nice quiet meal!
Hvar does not have any sandy breaches but is instead full of beautiful, rocky coastline with some pebbled beach options. There is also no tide so you can swim with ease whenever you like.
Croatian law states that the first few metres of land cannot be owned by anyone. So you are free to lay your towel wherever you like on the rocks/pebbles free of charge, including in the beach clubs.
There are plenty of sun beds and parasols dotted along the coast which are charged by local bars/beach clubs if you prefer some comfort. The beds range from 60 - 100 kuna (£6.50 - £13.00) for all day use.
There are also stalls which sell fold-up padded cushions for extra comfort if you are happy laying on the large rocks.
You’ll find ladders in to the sea along the rocks and it’s customary to find a flat rock to sunbathe all day. Some people prefer to use sea shoes to walk across the rocks to enter the water but we just use our flip flops and leave them close by the ladder when we fancy a dip. Nude bathing is acceptable so don’t be surprised, although nude bathers generally sunbathe in quieter areas further around the bays for privacy.
Wherever you find beds or ladders you’ll also be sure to find a little kiosk, shop or restaurant nearby for food, drinks and toilets. We generally opt for these along to west coast from Hvar as they have cheaper sunbeds and easy access a beer for 40-50 kuna (£3.50-£5), pizza or local snacks.
Generally speaking the west coast has more beach with beach bar options, whereas the east coast tends to have fewer bar/shops by the beaches
Here are some options for you:
Beach Lučica - Free
A local, pebbled beach right in front of the Franciscan monastery which is a seven minute walk to the east coast from the main port - free of charge to use but no sun beds options
There are some stalls along the top for drinks, snacks and towels/padded cushions for sale
Beach Marjerovica - Free
Another local, pebbled beach to the west coast from the port but also gets tourists from nearby hotels. It’s about a 17 minute walk. There’s water equipment hire, an inflatable obstacle course and sunbeds along with a few bars and kiosks.
Robinson’s beach - £
A secluded, pebbled beach 15 minutes boat ride down the east coast. It would take 50 minutes to walk there. There is a restaurant with toilets, a small pebbled beach, plenty of flat rocks to sunbathe and some sunbeds
IG: robinsonbeach_
Water taxi: 50 kuna return (£6)
Sunbeds: 60 kuna (£7)
Drinks: beer - 25 kuna (£3), cocktail 45 kuna (£5)
Food: Main meal average price 130 kuna (£15
FALKO Beach Bar - £
A definite favourite of ours. A chilled beach bar with reasonably priced food and drinks. Much more relaxed than some of the other Beach Bars. It is furthest along the west coast (no more than 20 mins from the port) so tends to be quieter and it’s great for sunset
IG: @falkohvar
Sunbeds: 100 kuna per bed
Drinks:
Food:
HULA HULA Beach Bar - £££
This is much more of a party beach club and is very busy on weekends. It’s a 15 min walk from the port.
IG: @hulahulahvar
Sunbeds: TBC
Drinks: beer - 50 kuna (£6) cocktails 95 kuna (£11)
Food: Main meal average price 190 kuna (£20)
BEACH CLUB (formally Bonj Beach) - ££££
A high end, french-riviera style beach club which is a 12 min walk from the Port, along the west coast.
There is also a pebbled beach area which is free to use.
IG: @beachclubhvar
Sunbeds: 225 kuna per person (£45)
Packages also available for beds and cabanas with drinks and food included
Drinks: Beer - 50 kuna (£6) , cocktails 100 kuna (£12)
Food: Average main meal 200 kuna (£22)
For those wanting to venture a little further out, there are LOTS of beaches all across the bays of the island but most require a 20min walk or a taxi/taxi boat to get to them. This website lists some of the best: www.placesofjuma.com/best-beaches-hvar-island/
Pokonji dol Beach
Palmižana beach - 70kuna
Mlini beach
A few people have been in touch if I have any contacts for hair and make up.
I have reached out to a few of the main hotels to see if they have any recommendations but so far I’ve been able to find the below
Esthetique Hvar
Hair and beauty salon
m.facebook.com/pages/category/Hair-Salon/Esthetique-Hvar-106847391519331/
IG: @esthetique.hair
Veronika Kiš
Hair, make up, nails and lashes
IG: @veronikamake_up
Doris Mirko
MUA that looks to be based in Split but imagine if there’s a few of you then a package for a group in Hvar
www.facebook.com/makeupankast/
Ambakovic Make Up
MUA based in Hvar
m.facebook.com/makeupbyanamarija/
IG: @ambakovic_makeup
Fora
Hair, nails and make up
m.facebook.com/fora.nila/services/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=0&refsrc=deprecated&_rdr
IG: @fora_salon_hvar
Longin Beauty Lounge
Manicures, pedicures, waxing and massages
www.longinbeautylounge.com/en/
IG: @longinbeautylounge