I’m wrapping up our whirlwind tour of Croatia today with notes on a place any traveler to the Dalmatian coast would be remiss not to visit – the island of Hvar. Well, one might be forgiven for skipping Hvar as long as at least one other island was visited. You simply must choose at least one Croatian island to experience. With over 1,000 of them, there’s sure to be at least one that fits your family’s travel tastes.
Getting There
Now, first things first. In order to explore Hvar, you have to, you know, get there. It is an island, after all, and attempting to swim or drive would be disastrous.
The easiest way is to take a ferry, or a catamaran in high season. Timetables offer plenty of options in the summer but are drastically reduced in the off season. No matter when you go, I highly recommend checking times and prices for adults, children, cars, cats, parrots, and pet gorillas here.
I was nervous about the ship selling out, so I (literally) ran down to the port first thing in the morning to buy tickets. We had originally planned to visit Mljet and Hvar, but we weren’t able to make Mljet work. We were totally over the constant chorus of begging from backseat to ride on a boat, and I was afraid we’d never live it down if we didn’t actually set sail while in Croatia.
Thankfully, all my worry was for naught – plenty of tickets, and they didn’t charge me for our four year-old!
Setting Sail
The excitement hung thick in the air as we approached the ship.
“Is THAT the ferry, mama?” Our middle one pointed to a gigantic cruise liner.
“No, buddy, that one is headed to Italy.”
Wow, Italy!
“Ours is the smaller one next to it.”
“Ohhh.. can we go to Italy?”
The disappointment of not sleeping overnight en route to the land of never-ending pizza was quickly quenched by the fascination of watching the cars and trucks drive onto our ferry. The attendants packed the vehicles in, insisting that drivers park with only a few measly centimeters of breathing room in between.
Once on board, we staked our claim to a swath of seats and set up shop. The ride from Split to Hvar takes about two hours, and the only way we can keep restless boys happy for that long is with food.
Our boat set off at 8:30am, and we brought (what I thought was) a standard amount of food for breakfast. They smashed that up in oh, about 20 minutes. I should’ve brought extra rations. Always bring extra.
Our pleas to “look out the window and enjoy the scenery!” fell on deaf ears. Luckily, a friendly Polish family sat across from us; they turned out to be gracious in conversation and donating a good portion of their own personal snack stash.
Arriving in Hvar
The ferry docks near Stari Grad (though you can sail to Hvar Town in summer), but the place everyone wants to see is Hvar Town itself.
Buses from the port to the town are timed to meet the ferries. The ride took about 20 minutes along a coastal road lined with grape vines and olive trees. Oh yes, island life, here we come!
Unfortunately, if you arrive by bus in Hvar Town, you’re automatically branded a tourist and you might be accosted by little old ladies shoving laminated photos in your face and demanding, “You want apartment?!” The fun doesn’t end when you leave the bus stop. They follow you into town and ask you again. And again. Note to self: be firm, and do your best not to be annoyed. They need to make money somehow.
But, nagging aside, my first impression of Hvar was that it was rather rustic. Many of the cafes and restaurants were shut, either permanently or just for the season. It was rather impossible to believe that this catatonic town is normally known as the celebrity-studded party capital of Croatia. Even the few street vendors that bothered to show up barely budged when we walked by.
The Fortress
Well, good thing our thang isn’t parties. It’s amazing views. And the best view in Hvar is undoubtedly from the fortress. To get to it, you’ll need to schlep your crew up the narrow city streets, climbing stair after stair (though not nearly as many as the 1,000+ we conquered in Kotor) until you reach the entrance gate. Once inside the gate, it’s an easy paved walk to the top.
We didn’t have to pay admission to the fortress (perhaps because it was off-season?), but I saw booths which I assume would be open in summer. Inside the fortress, you can explore several levels, enjoy a drink at the cafe, visit a small museum, and snap some great photos of Hvar Town and the surrounding islands.
A small church on the way up to the fortress.
Where there are cannons, there are boys.
Free Fun for Kids in Hvar Town
Since almost nothing in Hvar was open, we just wandered around until we finally found a fabulous playground on the north side of town. Doc Sci and I took turns napping in the sunshine while the boys made weapons and walkie talkies out of rocks and sticks.
And, speaking of rocks, no visit to a body of water would be complete for my boys without throwing some. There’s just something about searching for the biggest rock possible and following up the toss with a satisfying PLUNK and spastic SPLASH.
Inevitably, fighting about who had the biggest rock and who made the biggest splash ensues, but this is usually solved by an offer to let them stick some appendage in the water, no matter how cold. Off came the socks and shoes, and in they went. Even I dipped a toe or ten this time.
The Taste of Hvar
Back in Hvar Town proper, we were left with about an hour before our bus ride and a burning desire yet to be fulfilled: buy a bottle of authentic Croatian olive oil.
We asked everyone in Croatia where to get the best olive oil. Answer? Buy it on the islands if you don’t have the hookup from a friend or relative with their own grove.
But, we were at a loss – where should we buy a liter or two when only a few street vendors were even open? None of them had that thick, fragrant olive oil of our dreams, the kind that’s literally clouded with flavor.
Oh, my friend, once you have tasted real olive oil (and, it tastes like olives, fancy that), you can never go back to the store-bought stuff.
We randomly noticed a shop at the green market, one that I would’ve ordinarily considered too touristy. We popped in and the owner chatted us up, offering to let us taste the oil. First his family’s everyday use oil, then a thick extra virgin green olive oil, and then a variety made from black olives. One dip, and Doc Sci and I both agreed: simply AMAZING.
The bottle we bought was made from black olives, and it is only the oil that drips down. It’s not even pressed! It’s simply collected, so the taste is very pungent and pure. We had almost no kuna left, but you can bet we left with the biggest bottle of oil that the shop offered.. and several hundred grams of delicious olives preserved only with sea salt and flavored with sprigs of rosemary.
As I pour a small dish of that oil in my German kitchen and dip crusty ciabatta in it, I remember our day in Hvar and our time in Dalmatia. Long after the bottle of oil is gone, I doubt I could forget that yes, this is the taste of Croatian island life.
Have you tried authentic olive oil before? What does island life taste like for you and your family?
Practical Tips for Your Family’s Visit to Hvar:
- Check sailing times and ticket prices here, in advance. Keep in mind that tickets sell out very quickly in summer. If you plan to take a car, ask around for how many hours in advance you should line up to get on the ship.
- We sailed to Hvar from Split, and we opted not to take our car. However, if you do opt to take a car to one of the Croatian islands, make sure to check out locations of fuel stations and keep in mind that roads on the islands can be narrow and wind through mountainous terrain.
- When we arrived in Stari Grad, we rushed to get on the bus, not knowing how many places would be available to get to Hvar Town. It looked like a few other mini-buses showed up in order to accommodate the overflow. Tickets were 27kn/adult and we didn’t have to pay for the kids. The ride took about 20 mins, but I was told in advance it takes 30 (maybe in season?).
- You can stock up on snacks at the Konzum grocery store in Hvar Town before catching the bus back to the ferry. There aren’t really many options for takeaway food either in Hvar Town or at the port, so either eat at a restaurant in Hvar, bring your own meal, or make a picnic out of what you can find at the grocery store.
- Toilets are expensive in Hvar Town. The only free toilets I noticed were located at the fortress (but there may be an admission charge in high season) and on board the ferry.
Β Other awesome Croatian islands for planning or dreaming:
This post is part of Our Croatian Family Adventure: Ten Days on the DalmatianΒ Coast series.Β Click on the link to view our bucket list and recaps of each excursion!
Thrifty Travel Mama 
I am so glad that you climb those stairs and show me the views so I don’t have to. Haha! No I probably would climb them if it was off season.
I assume that I had authentic olive oil on Greece, but have never tried Croatian olive oil. Another reason to add Croatia to the bucket list!
Very glad to be of amazing view service. π We also had some great olive oil in Italy, but this Croatian stuff is just completely unique. I’ll bet you had some good stuff in Greece if it was bright green and really cloudy.
Every restaurant we ate in had their own olive oil and all of it was amazing!
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Ohhh shame it was THAT quiet. I had no idea that is was so dull there in April. Loads of people head there for Easter for the big celebrations. I’ll note that down – sorry my dear. Thanks for the links to the island info.
Ohh and I love that you are so Thrifty…yet you buy the most expensive olive oil. Love it.
You gotta save in order to spend on the good stuff π
I have a sudden hankering for that oil, just as you had it – dipped in bread.
(I’m also relieved to hear the rock-throwing thing. It’s universal, then? P and T could spend hours – my only worry is they sometimes throw with a fair bit of abandon… you have to keep an eye on them…)
Oh by the way – I didn’t quite see how much a gorilla fare was?
You’ll need a specialized fare quote for that one π
π
Come on over, we still have a bit left π
Yes, aim is neither a skill possessed nor even a passing interest. Because of that, we always make sure no people, animals, boats, cars, houses, etc are anywhere in their chucking radius. But as long as there’s no danger of harm, I’m all for letting them throw the entire beach in the water (and admit it, the parents actually a good kerplunk too).
Dear thrigtytravelmama, I only have to say: thank you, thank you, thank you. I’m a Latin mama who loves to travel with my 3 boys (and my husband, I almost forgot, ha). Mine are 6, 4 years and 7 months old at this time and we’re planning to visit Croatia on the High-Season (I’ll be patient, I promise). I thought I was the only crazy mama who brings their children to non-Disney holidays and reading your blog just make me feel I’m not alone in the world. xoxo. Ana (from Argentina).
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