For a short first visit, stay near Hvar Town’s Riva and St Stephen’s Square if you want passenger boats, restaurants and historic sights close together. Check the route to the building entrance: lanes behind the waterfront climb, and a room near the harbour can still involve stairs. Križna Luka, east of the centre, is worth comparing if you plan regular walks to Pokonji Dol beach. Majerovica and the western shore offer another coastal setting, but pools, beach access and quiet rooms depend on the particular property. Stari Grad is a separate town on the north side of the island, with its own old harbour and the historic agricultural plain nearby. Choose it for time there, allowing for a bus, taxi or drive when you visit Hvar Town. Before booking either base, match your sailing to its actual port. The Split car ferry lands outside Stari Grad’s old centre; it does not deliver you to Hvar Town’s Riva.
A useful base for a short visit with restaurants and heritage close to the harbour. Ask for the actual entrance route and room orientation before choosing a building in the old lanes.
The tourist board describes a walk of about 25 minutes from the main square to Pokonji Dol. Your accommodation may be closer or farther away; check the path, surface and return climb.
Jadrolinija’s car ferries connect Split with Stari Grad and Drvenik with Sućuraj. These are different arrival points, so compare the onward drive as well as the crossing.
The heritage operator currently lists the Arsenal and St John’s Church as closed. A combined ticket does not make a closed site available; check the current visitor information before buying.
StartBooker answer
Choose Hvar Town’s old town and Riva for a short visit arriving by passenger catamaran. Križna Luka suits a stay with walks to Pokonji Dol beach, while Majerovica puts you on the western coast. Check the exact room for steps, noise and beach access. Stari Grad is a separate town, worth choosing for its own harbour and nearby countryside; it requires a road connection for visits to Hvar Town. If you bring a car from Split, the ferry arrives at Stari Grad’s ferry port, outside the old centre.
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Include your exact sailing, luggage, walking limits and preferred beach. Ask the planner to distinguish Hvar Town, Stari Grad town and Stari Grad ferry port, with enough time for each connection.
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First visit by passenger boat
Hvar Old Town and Riva
The Riva and St Stephen’s Square bring the harbour, restaurants and several historic sights into a small area. Stay here if you want to explore Hvar Town on foot and avoid an island transfer after arriving by passenger catamaran.
Compare the old town with the eastern and western coasts before looking across the island to Stari Grad. The right choice depends on your arrival port, nearest swimming spot and how often you want dinner in Hvar Town.
short visits and passenger-boat arrivals
Stay around the Riva and St Stephen’s Square for restaurants and historic sights close to the harbour. The lanes rise behind the waterfront, so check the entrance route even if the map places your room near the quay.
walking to Pokonji Dol for regular swims
Križna Luka is east of the main harbour. Compare individual properties here if Pokonji Dol will be your usual beach and you are happy to walk into the centre for dinner. Your exact position matters more than the area label.
a stay on Hvar Town’s western coast
Majerovica lies along the coast west of the old town. Compare the shore route, nearest swimming spot and facilities of each hotel or apartment. It can suit a coastal stay with walks into town, provided the distance works for your group.
time in Stari Grad and the surrounding countryside
Stari Grad has its own old harbour, stone streets and nearby agricultural plain. Stay here for days in this part of the island. Its ferry terminal is outside the historic centre, and Hvar Town needs a separate road journey.
| Base | Best for | Features | Getting around |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hvar Old Town and Riva |
short visits and passenger-boat arrivals The main square and harbour give you a convenient starting point. |
Check steps and evening noise. |
Walk within town; check your actual quay and entrance. |
| Križna Luka and Pokonji Dol |
walking to Pokonji Dol for regular swims A useful location when Pokonji Dol is part of most days. |
Allow for the return climb. |
Check both the beach path and the walk into the centre. |
| Majerovica and Western Coast |
a stay on Hvar Town’s western coast Choose a coastal property with the facilities you will actually use. |
Check walking distance and nearby venues. |
Use the shore route where suitable; verify steps and access. |
| Stari Grad |
time in Stari Grad and the surrounding countryside Explore the historic town and plain without commuting from Hvar Town. |
A separate journey for Hvar Town activities. |
Check buses for the town and ferry terminal separately. |
A short visit by passenger boat has different needs from a beach holiday or a week exploring by car. Compare the repeated journeys, then check the actual room for access, noise and facilities.
The old town suits a visit focused on Hvar Town itself. You can walk between the square, harbour and restaurants, with the route to your particular room checked before arrival.
AlternativeKrižna Luka is worth comparing when swimming will take up more of your stay.
Compare eastern properties by their route to Pokonji Dol. Being able to walk to a beach can simplify a stay without a car, but the path and the return after swimming still matter.
AlternativeThe Riva may suit a short visit with more boat departures than beach days.
Look west when you have found a hotel or apartment with a setting you like. Check its swimming access and the route to the centre so that evening walks suit everyone travelling.
AlternativeStari Grad offers a different town setting if your plans are mainly elsewhere on the island.
Choose Stari Grad for its harbour, old streets and nearby plain. It can work for exploring the island, with a car or with planned bus journeys, but it is a separate destination from Hvar Town.
AlternativeA room near Hvar Town’s Riva reduces cross-island journeys for a brief visit.
Check each address before comparing prices: results can cover different parts of Hvar island or places farther away. A Stari Grad booking needs a separate journey for Hvar Town’s harbour, and central rooms may still involve steps.
Passenger catamarans can bring you to Hvar Town. The Split car ferry arrives at Stari Grad’s ferry terminal, while the Drvenik car ferry reaches Sućuraj at the eastern end of the island. Choose the actual port on your ticket and plan the onward journey before booking accommodation.
Platanus lists its airport shuttle between the airport North parking lot and Split main bus station, beside the ferry port. The one-way fare is €10 (about US$11.20), including luggage. Allow for road traffic and the separate walk to your vessel’s boarding point.
For Hvar Town, compare dated passenger services such as TP Line 652. For a car from Split, book the Stari Grad ferry and allow for road travel after landing. The ferry terminal is outside Stari Grad’s old centre, so even a booking there needs a final transfer plan.
TP Line asks passengers to arrive at least 15 minutes before departure. Jadrolinija advises at least 45 minutes for Split–Stari Grad, or 60 minutes in season. These are boarding margins, not enough time to clear an airport and reach Split; leave a larger gap after a flight.
The current island timetable distinguishes Hvar–Stari Grad from Hvar–Trajekt, the ferry terminal. Use the service for the place you actually need, check the travel date and buy the ticket on the bus. Selected departures adjust to arrivals of the Split ferry.
The tourist board lists Pokonji Dol, Križa and Bonj among beaches reachable on foot. Choose a property by the route to your preferred swimming spot, including steps and the return climb. Summer facilities and a convenient path should be checked separately.
Summer taxi boats depart from Hvar Town for the Pakleni Islands. Ask which island or bay the ticket serves, whether it includes the return and when the last boat leaves. Keep a town plan available if the operator changes the service because of sea conditions.
TP Line’s October 2026 page lists line 652 between Split and Hvar Town at a standard €25 (about US$28) one way, with a scheduled crossing of 60 minutes. Other fares and services have their own conditions. Check the departure date and ticket category before paying.
On Jadrolinija’s Split–Stari Grad route, the published tariff separates passengers and vehicle categories. Enter your car’s dimensions accurately and compare the full booking. A vehicle ticket for this port does not include the onward journey to Hvar Town.
Give the vessel operator your mobility equipment details and ask about boarding assistance. Then confirm the transfer vehicle, stopping point, steps and lift at the accommodation. A room close to the Riva does not establish that the whole route is step-free.
HVAR 1612 describes an alternative theatre entrance with a lift to stage level, but access remains partial. Fortica’s entrance forecourt can be reached by road; its interior has steps and uneven stone surfaces. Contact the operator before choosing visits around your requirements.
Use the timetable for your travel date, then plan beach and heritage visits around the services actually running. Keep some time in town when a boat outing changes, and include every transfer in your accommodation comparison.
TP Line’s October 2026 schedule for route 652 lists three daily crossings each way; its other routes follow different calendars. Recheck the operator’s page for your own date rather than copying a summer departure or assuming an island connection continues into winter. For that October service, departures from Split are 08:15, 11:15 and 15:45.
The tourist board’s June 2026 guide lists the theatre at 10:00–19:00 and Fortica at 09:00–20:00. Reconfirm the current visitor hours before setting out. The heritage operator currently lists the Arsenal and St John’s Church as closed, even though they appear in combined-ticket descriptions. The Hvar Heritage Museum is separately listed as closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
Explore the square and old lanes, or plan a visit to Stari Grad with a confirmed land connection. DHMZ forecasts and the boat operator’s decision should guide a Pakleni trip. A sunny waterfront does not guarantee suitable conditions for a crossing later in the day. Check the final bus back before leaving Hvar Town for an outing elsewhere on the island.
The published adult prices are €12 (about US$13.45) for Fortica, €10 (about US$11.20) for the theatre and €5 (about US$5.60) for the Loggia and clock tower. A combined ticket costs €15 (about US$16.80). Compare what you want to visit and what is open before buying several admissions separately. Ask about concessions if a student, pensioner or young person is travelling.
A room in Stari Grad or farther from the centre may involve buses, taxis or luggage help. Ask for current quotes and count the journeys across the whole stay. Compare that total with a room near your arrival quay; a lower nightly rate is only part of the calculation. Confirm the fare before boarding; the published island timetable does not list prices.
A pool, lounger or attractive water entrance may belong to a particular hotel or paid venue. Confirm access for the room you are booking, seasonal opening and any separate charges. Keep those costs apart from public transport fares and ordinary admission tickets. An apartment’s place name does not establish a right to use a nearby hotel’s pool.
Choose Hvar Town’s old town and Riva if your passenger boat arrives there and you want restaurants and heritage nearby. Compare eastern Križna Luka for Pokonji Dol walks or western Majerovica for a coastal stay. Stari Grad is a separate town with an additional journey to Hvar Town.
Yes. A passenger catamaran can bring you to Hvar Town, where you can organise town walks and visits to nearby beaches. Čazmatrans connects island towns and the Stari Grad ferry terminal. Check the current return service before planning an evening elsewhere, and confirm steps at your accommodation.
The Split car ferry on route 635 arrives at Stari Grad’s ferry terminal, outside the old centre. You need a road connection for Hvar Town. Another car route links Drvenik with Sućuraj at the island’s eastern end; compare the onward drive before choosing it.
No. HVAR 1612 currently marks two spaces mentioned in the ticket description, the Arsenal and St John’s Church, as closed. Check the open sites and visitor hours before buying, and plan the theatre or Fortica visit separately from any weather-dependent boat outing.
Choose a specific room after checking its surroundings. An address away from the Riva can still be near a road, beach venue or hotel entertainment. Ask about room orientation, nearby events and sound insulation; the name Križna Luka, Majerovica or Stari Grad does not guarantee silence.
Ask for the complete route from your arrival quay or vehicle stop to the room, including entrance steps and lifts. Confirm assistance with each transport operator. For heritage visits, contact HVAR 1612 about the theatre’s partial access and the steps and uneven surfaces inside Fortica.
Reviewed by StartBooker
Last reviewed 2026-10-15
Updated
Editorial method: The production page was read in full on desktop and mobile before this revision. Research checked ferry and bus operators, both local tourist boards, the heritage operator and UNESCO. Time Out and Rough Guides informed the area comparison. This is an editorial self-review. The September bus footnote and current heritage closures were checked separately from general destination descriptions. US dollar equivalents are approximate, using the ECB euro reference rate of 14 October 2026.
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