What is there to do in Hvar for a day?

The best day in Hvar combines a swim in the Pakleni islands with time in Hvar town. The Pakleni islands are just offshore — clear, sheltered water and small coves accessible only by boat. In town there is the harbour, the main square, the fortress on the hill, and enough good restaurants for a long lunch.

Is Hvar worth visiting?

Yes. Hvar town is one of the most attractive harbour towns in Dalmatia, and the water around it is excellent. It is popular and can feel busy in July and August, but the Pakleni islands absorb the crowd because not everyone has a boat to reach the better anchorages.

Where should you swim near Hvar?

The Pakleni islands, a short run from Hvar town by boat. They have several sheltered lagoons with clear water and a couple of low-key beach clubs if you want one. The best bays are accessible only by boat, which keeps them genuinely good.

What should you eat in Hvar?

Hvar has a range of good restaurants in and around the harbour. Fish is the obvious choice — grilled, baked, or served raw as carpaccio. Book a table in advance in peak season; the better restaurants fill up. Your skipper can usually recommend and book if you mention it on the day.

Guide

Hvar day trip

What to Do in Hvar (When You Arrive by Private Boat)

Arriving in Hvar by private boat changes what the day can be. Here is how to use the time well: the Pakleni islands, Hvar town, where to eat, and when to leave.

3 September 2026 3 min read

Clear turquoise water around the Pakleni islands near Hvar

Hvar has a reputation that can feel a little daunting — the most glamorous island in Croatia, expensive, full of superyachts. The reality is more manageable. Yes, it is popular. But the water around it is genuinely excellent, the town is worth an afternoon, and arriving by private boat gives you a version of the day that the ferry crowd does not get.

Start with the Pakleni islands

Do not go straight to Hvar town. The Pakleni islands are the reason the day is special.

They sit just offshore, a scatter of pine-covered islets with sheltered bays and clear water. Some have beach clubs and restaurants that you can moor alongside; others are quiet anchorages with no one else around. A private boat can pick and choose.

Arrive at the Pakleni islands in the morning before the anchorages fill. Swim, snorkel if you have gear, and have a slow start to the day on the water. Most groups spend two to three hours here before moving on.

Then into Hvar town

From the Pakleni islands to Hvar harbour is a short hop. Moor at the town quay or at a buoy, and the town is immediately in front of you.

Hvar town is compact and straightforward on foot. The main square is one of the largest in Dalmatia, and the harbour is lined with good bars and restaurants. If you want to go further, the fortress above the town has a view worth the climb. The walk up takes about 20 minutes.

Allow two to three hours in town. That is enough for a walk, a long lunch, and a wander without feeling rushed.

Where to eat

The harbour has many restaurants and some of them are excellent. Prices are higher than elsewhere in Dalmatia, but not unreasonably so for what you get. Fish — grilled, baked, or as a seafood pasta — is the right call.

Book in advance. In July and August the better restaurants fill by noon. If you tell your skipper where you want to eat, they can usually handle the reservation.

For a lighter option, the back streets of the old town have cafés and konobas with shorter menus and better prices.

Timing the day

Leave Split at 09:00. Reach the Pakleni islands by around 10:30. Swim until noon. Into Hvar town for lunch and the afternoon. Back on the boat by 16:00 or 17:00 for the return to Split.

The afternoon light on the water is worth not rushing. If the sea is calm, a skipper will often suggest one more swim stop on the way back.

What to bring

Sunscreen, a hat, and something you can swim in. Towels are on the boat if you are booked with a skipper. Bring a layer for the journey back — it cools down once you are moving.

For the full Hvar day trip guide including routes and what the booking looks like, see our post on a day trip to Hvar from Split by boat. To compare the private boat with the ferry, read Split to Hvar: Ferry or Private Boat.

Ready to plan the day? Send us your dates and we will put together a route.

Common questions

What is there to do in Hvar for a day?: The best day in Hvar combines a swim in the Pakleni islands with time in Hvar town. The Pakleni islands are just offshore — clear, sheltered water and small coves accessible only by boat. In town there is the harbour, the main square, the fortress on the hill, and enough good restaurants for a long lunch.
Is Hvar worth visiting?: Yes. Hvar town is one of the most attractive harbour towns in Dalmatia, and the water around it is excellent. It is popular and can feel busy in July and August, but the Pakleni islands absorb the crowd because not everyone has a boat to reach the better anchorages.
Where should you swim near Hvar?: The Pakleni islands, a short run from Hvar town by boat. They have several sheltered lagoons with clear water and a couple of low-key beach clubs if you want one. The best bays are accessible only by boat, which keeps them genuinely good.
What should you eat in Hvar?: Hvar has a range of good restaurants in and around the harbour. Fish is the obvious choice — grilled, baked, or served raw as carpaccio. Book a table in advance in peak season; the better restaurants fill up. Your skipper can usually recommend and book if you mention it on the day.