Hvar day trip
Hvar beach clubs by boat: Carpe Diem, Hula Hula and Palmižana
The best-known beach clubs and bays around Hvar, what each one is like, and how to reach them by private boat from Split. Carpe Diem Beach on Marinkovac, Hula Hula at sunset, and the slower side of Palmižana.
Hvar has a reputation as Croatia's party island, and much of that reputation lives on the water. The famous beach clubs are either on the Pakleni islands, just off Hvar town, or on the coast right beside it. Most visitors reach them by water taxi from Hvar harbour. Coming by private boat from Split, you skip the ferry, skip the taxi queue and choose your own hours.
Carpe Diem Beach
The best known of all. Carpe Diem Beach sits in Stipanska Bay on Marinkovac, one of the Pakleni islands, a short hop from Hvar town. It is a full daytime beach club: sunbeds and cabanas under the pines, a pool, several bars, a restaurant and DJs as the afternoon goes on.
Most guests arrive on the club's water taxi from Hvar's harbour, about 15 minutes. It is a day for people who want the full beach club experience, with music and a crowd. Book sunbeds in high season.
Hula Hula
Hula Hula is a beach bar on Hvar's coast just west of town, and it is famous for one thing: sunset. Through the afternoon it is relaxed, and as the sun drops towards the Pakleni islands the music comes up and the terrace fills. It is reachable on foot along the coast from Hvar town, which makes it an easy last stop before heading back to the harbour.
If you are on a day trip from Split, Hula Hula works as the finale. Time your afternoon around it, then head home across the channel in the evening light.
Palmižana, the slower option
Not every group wants a party. Palmižana, on the island of Sveti Klement, is the calmer side of the Pakleni islands. Its bays have long been known for good restaurants, beach bars with sunbeds and a more unhurried feel. There is also a marina, which makes it a natural lunch stop by boat.
For a mixed group, where some want music and some want a long lunch and a swim, Palmižana is often the answer. You can anchor in a sheltered bay, swim, eat well, and still be close to the livelier spots if the mood changes.
A beach club day by boat
Leave Split at around 09:30. Cross to the Pakleni islands, roughly an hour, and start with a quiet swim in a bay before the clubs get going. Spend the middle of the day at Carpe Diem or over lunch in Palmižana. In the late afternoon, move to Hvar town for a walk or to Hula Hula for sunset, then run back to Split in the evening.
A private boat means the group moves together, on your timing, with a skipper who knows where to anchor and when to leave. No one has to watch the last ferry.
A few practical notes
Book sunbeds and tables ahead in July and August, particularly at weekends. Club policies on minimum spend, access and private boats change from year to year, so check with the club, or ask your skipper, who will know what applies this season. Bring cash and cards, sunscreen and something to change into for the evening.
For groups celebrating something, see our guides to stag boat days and hen and birthday charters. For a quieter Hvar day, read what to do in Hvar when you arrive by boat. When you know your dates, send them to us.
Common questions
- What are the best beach clubs in Hvar?
- The best known are Carpe Diem Beach in Stipanska Bay on Marinkovac, one of the Pakleni islands, and Hula Hula, a beach bar on Hvar's coast just west of town, famous for its sunset sessions. For a calmer day, the bays of Palmižana on Sveti Klement have restaurants and beach bars with a more relaxed feel.
- How do you get to Carpe Diem Beach?
- Carpe Diem Beach is on the island of Marinkovac, reached by water taxi from Hvar town's harbour in about 15 minutes. By private boat from Split you can go directly to the Pakleni islands, which takes roughly an hour.
- Can you go to Hvar's beach clubs on a day trip from Split?
- Yes. A private boat can take you from Split to the Pakleni islands, drop you close to the club you want, and bring you back to Split in the evening. That avoids the ferry timetable and the water taxi queues in Hvar harbour.
- Do I need to book at Hvar beach clubs?
- In July and August, booking sunbeds or a table in advance is strongly recommended, especially at weekends. Policies on minimum spend and access change from season to season, so check directly with the club. Your skipper can usually advise on the current arrangements.