Vacapedia Vacation Rentals Blog

The members of the international jet set crowd are always on the lookout for new vacation locales  and over the last few years celebrities like Italian Designer Valentino, hotel heiress Nick Hilton and Hollywood bigwigs like Kevin Spacey and Gwyneth Paltrow have all found their summer nirvana on the sun dappled and lavender scented island of Hvar which is situated in the Adriatic sea off the Dalmatian coast of Croatia.

Azure waters and the rugged coastline of Hvar photo credit Lena ni

With the war having ended in the mid nineties, Croatia’s Dalmatian islands like Hvar, Vis, Korčula and Brač which are blessed with seemingly endless days of sunshine, cerulean waters, craggy landscapes and historic towns with wonderful seafood restaurants have become the new hot spot for the world’s glitterati. However it is not only the celebrities who come to Hvar and these other Croatian islands, as many ordinary folk have also realized that these islands have much to offer and provide great bang for your buck in the European summer months when other perennial summer favorites like Saint Tropez, Mykonos, Ibiza are often overcrowded with the hordes.

Recent estimates in fact indicate that in the month of August, the population of the town of Hvar actually swells from 5000 to 30,000 visitors a day. This just shows that Hvar is fast gaining in the popularity stakes and will soon be up there with the best even though it still doesn’t have an airport for a direct air link to the rest of Europe and the world. Most international visitors, who do not sail to Hvar on their own luxurious yachts, seem to arrive on the island by flying into the city of Split and then taking the passenger catamaran across the Adriatic Sea from Split to Hvar.

Your self contained vacation rental in pretty Kalober bay

You can actually book your ferry ticket online at the website of the Jadrolinija Ferries and it is actually advisable to do so in the month of August when ferry tickets are often sold out. You can alternatively also take the car ferry which comes into the neighboring town of Stari Grad and then take the bus to the town of Hvar but of course this is a much slower journey which takes longer.

Your sunny vacation rental at avelini in the district of Majerovica

The best way to enjoy the many charms of this beautiful island is to book a vacation rental in or around Hvar town. Once you have your own vacation rental you can embrace the laid back pace of the island where the philosophy of Fajka reigns supreme. Similar to the Spanish concept of siesta, the philosophy of Fajka asks you to have a proper leisurely lunch at one of the waterfront cafes of Hvar town and then return to your vacation rental located close by take a nap so that you are refreshed and rejuvenated for your nocturnal exploits.

There is enough to see and do on the island of Hvar and here are some of my suggestions for enhancing your pleasure on this exclusive but accessible island:-

Take a walk on  Riva

Riva is the waterfront promenade of Hvar which is dotted with cafes, restaurants and bars. It is here that the exclusive yachts and super cruisers come to dock in the summer. The townspeople of Hvar and tourists alike like to walk on the promenade in the evenings and gawk at these gigantic yachts which belong to the rich and famous.

Riva,promenade of Hvar photo credit munksynz

Enjoy a glass of the local red

Hvar actually is one of the two premier winemaking areas of Croatia. Its sunny Mediterranean climate and terrain produce excellent quality Plavac Mali grapes which are used to produce some great red wine. Be sure to indulge in some when you vacation in Hvar.

Go Clubbing

Hvar boasts of a rocking nightlife and has many bars and clubs that are located on its waterfront. One such waterfront bar called Carpe Diem seems to be the current favorite on Hvar’s nightlife scene

Buy some Lavender scented goodies

Lavender grows in abundance on the island; do buy some hand made lavender oil or some dried lavender flowers which are excellent as moth repellants to protect your expensive cashmere sweaters or to just remind you of your idyllic time on Hvar.