When we were planning our trip to Croatia a friend told us “you absolutely have to go to Hvar, it’s amazing!”. No truer words have ever been said. Hvar is a beautiful gem of an island in the Adriatic Sea.

Whether you are just going for a day trip from the mainland or spending a good amount of time there the turquoise water and mediterranean landscape will capture your heart.

We spent a few days lounging around on the beaches and enjoying the historic city scapes. Towards the end of our stay we rented a scooter to go explore the island. While Hvar Town itself is totally walkable getting around to other parts of the island do require some kind of transportation.

This one day itinerary will take you from the beaches to historic towns and waterfronts to hills covered in lavender. It’s an awesome way to get a sense of the island in just a day.

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Explore Hvar by scooter

Start in Hvar Town, rent a scooter from Antonio’s located right next to the bus station. They were super helpful and set us up with a scooter, helmets, and a map.

Beachside coffee

Head south east out of town towards Stari Grad on 116, this is the “new road”, it is the easiest and fastest way to get across the the island. Make a stop in Milna for beautiful beach views and a cup of coffee at any of the beachside cafes. It’s a wonderful and peaceful way to start the day.

Continue on 116 towards Stari Grad, you’ll go through a tunnel!

Lunch with a view

Park anywhere in Stari Grad and wander around. The waterfront is full of shops and restaurants, and it’s fun to just sit on the water’s edge and watch all the boats coming in and out of the harbor. We grabbed some really awesome pizza for lunch at Mola Podloza before moving on.

Laze on the beach

Jump back on 116 and continue east towards Vrboska. The beaches at Vrboska are quiet and peaceful. Spend the afternoon lounging on the shore and swimming in the crystal clear water. When we were there, there was a sort of water park down the beach a ways. A bunch of giant inflatable structures floating in the water to climb and slide and play on. So if you are feeling like letting your inner six year old out that would be a lot of fun.

After baking in the sun for a bit cruise over to the next town over of Jelsa. It’s a quiet little spot but cute to walk around and grab a gelato for a snack.

Stop and smell the lavender

For your way back to Hvar Town take the “old road”, it’ll go up and over the hills you took the tunnel through to get to Stari Grad. The split off for it will be right near the junction for Stari Grad and you will just follow the signage to take you back to Hvar Town. The winding old road goes up through the hills with beautiful views of the Adriatic Sea and lavender fields. Stop at any and all pull outs to take in the views and smell the lavender.

Once back in Hvar Town you can return the scooter and if you have the time or energy cruise around the waterfront. Get a delicious dinner at Black Pepper, they serve up modern mediterranean and seafood in the classic Hvar fashion, outdoor seating on the staired street.

Cruising around the island by scooter is a fun and easy way to see some of the most beautiful views around. Whether you’ve got just a day or a week exploring this amazing island will not disappoint.

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