Located 30 miles from the Croatian coastline on the far west and only 3 miles on the east, the island of Hvar is a world for itself. Hvar would be Croatians Long Island, while Split is within reach, that’s perfect for all the travelers flying in Croatia. Historically, it’s an unmatched melting pot of cultures and heritage: Illyrians, Greeks, Romans, Venetians, French, you name it, they all came here, one way or another. Everybody left their mark: in architecture, language, wine, fishing techniques, or simply admiration for the island of Hvar.
Today, Hvar is a paradise for those lucky enough to discover it.
1. The island of Hvar is magically beautiful
It’s been chosen numerous times among the 10 most beautiful islands by influential travel magazines. For me, it’s simply memorizing with its untamed beauty.
The sight of an open Adriatic sea, when you climb the highest peak St. Nicholas, is breathtaking. I had visitors who started crying out of the blue when they saw that endless beauty in front of them. As if their soul was freed. It was pretty cool and fulfilling. I was glad for them and honored to be able to bring them there. That’s why I’m writing this article at the beginning.
Well, you can be the judge.

2. The Island of Hvar has insane vineyards
Wine growing is a big part of the island’s history. If Greeks were on the island of Hvar, and they were, then there are at least 2500 years of wine-growing history on the island. The soil, the amount of exposure to the sun, and the air – plenty of factors that pour something remarkable into our bottles.
Before, people made terrasses. Dalmatia is packed with them. And it those terraces we grew. As if giants lived here and built enormous stairs, just because they could.
I did that in my life. I mean tresses and dry stone walls. It’s a fulfilling experience when you turn around and you see what you achieved. But to get there, it takes months, it takes years of work and persistence. And then when you realize, that you’re not even a dot in the sea of those stone terraces and dry stone walls. It becomes clear how you’ll never fully understand the effort that it took to build it through decades, centuries, and millenniums. They were built by people from another universe.
Today, beside terraces, you’ll find vineyards on the southern slopes of the island of Hvar. These vineyards look like enormous vine-paintings placed on the slopes of the island of Hvar

3. Traditional Dalmatian music is a part of daily life
Wine, good food, and a song are big elements of everyday life. After eating well, and drinking even better, you start carrying a tune. It simply happens because of joy.
The tune is followed by other people around the table and there you have it. One by one it becomes an orchestra of voices. And Klapa, traditional accapella Dalmatian music is born.
Throughout the year concerts of this type of music are organized all through the island in different places: Hvar, Stari Grad, Jelsa, Pitve, etc. Besides that, it’s very much a part of daily life. So you can stumble upon a group of people singing ‘klapa music’ in restaurants after having dinner because they just feel like it.
4. It’s a melting pot of people, culture and nightlife
The Island of Hvar is known for its nightlife. But that’s an understatement. It’s the people all around the world that are pouring here from all over the world, that make it even more vibrant.
Within a year you can learn English, French, Spanish, German, Chinese, whatever. And all thanks to people from all over the world who are arriving with the same idea in their mind: ‘I want to meet the world’. Come to Hvar with an open mind and just enjoy the rhythm of life.

5. It’s flooded with Mediterranean Architecture
Mediterranean architecture, from Spain to Greece, undoubtedly can be found all through the island of Hvar. From ancient civilizations till today, everybody left their mark on this timeless island.
Monasteries, churches, palaces, fortresses, stone houses, pavements, ports, lighthouses…, everything carries elements of heritage and old times. To give you an example: my family lives in a family house built in 1711., and that’s recent!

6. Outdoor activities are endless
Sailing, soccer, swimming, kayaking, cycling, rock climbing, windsurfing, running, donkey racing… Got ya! 🙂
But yes, it’s a polygon for all kinds of outdoor sports. For nature lovers, for early early-rising enthusiasts, it’s an endless ocean of possibilities. And yet, at the same time, you can lean back on the 13th of February – as I am at the moment – drink a cup of coffee in the sun and get a tan.
Throughout the year, different sports events are organized on the island of Hvar. From swimming and running marathons, to recently Spartan.
It all depends if you want to be active or simply lay back and enjoy the sun.

7. There are 6 UNESCO-protected things on the island of Hvar
Benedictine convent is known for the production of agave laces, and UNESCO protected.
Stari Grad is known for Stari Grad plain, where an original division of space made by Greeks in 384 BC can still be found. The town itself has layers of history, literally one above the other.
Klapa, a traditional Dalmatian acapella singing, is another cultural heritage protected by UNESCO.
In Jelsa, every eastern is held The procession „Following the Cross“. Today is UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The Mediterranean diet, which is a part of everyday life is UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.
And of course, previously mentioned dry stone walls as another UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

8. An unbelievable pallet of wines is grown on the island
Bogdanjuša, Prč, Drnjekuša, and Plavac Mali, are just some of the wines grown on the island.
It takes time to taste them all so I won’t waste our time on words. Check it out for yourself.

9. Local-grown food and traditional dishes
The island of Hvar is covered with vineyards, olive fields, and small family farms. Dalmatia in general, and so did Hvar, gave us some of the most excellent sailors and fishermen. Adriatic is our fish market. Add a bit of pride to it, and you’ll understand why Croats are so obsessed with making a perfect dish and standing tall behind it.
In the end, we wouldn’t be able to carry a tune, if our bellies weren’t content.

10. Numerous hidden gems all across the island
One of the numerous hidden gems, as an example, is a cave at an altitude of around 550m (around 1600 feet). Right below the highest peak of the island. It overlooks the Adriatic Sea towards Italy. In that cave are remains of a 15th-century Augustinian monastery. Below the cave slopes lead steep straight downhill to the sea. It’s around a 45% angle. On those slopes are vineyards. On the very bottom is a village. Below the village, and sea level is a wine cellar.
I’ll let you find the others on your own. If you need a hand, don’t be a stranger, give me a call.
