Croatia

How to Plan a Day Trip from Split to Hvar, Croatia

Last Updated on 22/04/2024 by kami

Hvar Island in Croatia is one of the most popular day trips from Split. And even if there are plenty of great things to do in Hvar that would keep you busy for days, sometimes all you have in your Croatia itinerary is one day only.

But no worries; you can easily go on a day trip from Split to Hvar and enjoy all the best attractions the beautiful island has to offer. This is what I did too, and I spent a great one day in Hvar.

If you are wondering how to visit Hvar from Split and how to plan your perfect day trip there, look no further. I put together this Split to Hvar guide with all the necessary information you might need. Read on and enjoy visiting Hvar!

Contents show

Why visit Hvar

Hvar Island offers a perfect combination of history, centuries-old monuments, charming old towns, and beautiful nature with breathtaking landscapes. This is everything you probably wish for during your holidays in Croatia.

Even if you have only a few hours to enjoy the island, going on a day trip from Split to Hvar is a good idea. It will help you get to know Hvar a bit and see its highlights.

Since the island is pretty close to Split, and there are many fast connections between Hvar and mainland Croatia, visiting Hvar is very easy, either independently or with a tour.

Tours from Split to Hvar

If you don’t feel like visiting Hvar on your own, there are numerous highly-rated tours from Split to Hvar that you can join. Most of them have other places included in the agenda, too.

Depending on the tour, after departing from Split, you will either go directly to Hvar and start sightseeing there or go to other destinations first. The most popular ones included in the day trip from Split to Hvar are Blue Cave, Vis Island, Brac Island, and Pakleni Islands. In all the tours available, you will spend at least two hours on Hvar.

Here are some of the highly-rated tours from Split to Hvar:

How to get from Split to Hvar island

Getting from Split to Hvar is actually very easy. Currently, four companies are operating on this route: Kapetan Luka, Jadrolinija, Adriatic Fast Ferries, and TP Line. They offer similar services and prices, so which one you will eventually take depends on your planned itinerary.

When I went for a day trip from Split to Hvar, I used Kapetan Luka on the way there, and Jadrolinija when I returned to the mainland. Depending on the connection, the travel time from Split to Hvar is usually around one hour; the fastest boats take 50 minutes.

The timetable depends on the season. In the summertime, there are up to twenty journeys per day between Split and Hvar, while in the low season, it can be only two or three. But even in winter months, you can plan an easy day trip from Split to Hvar, although it is not possible every day. You can check the timetable here.

Ferries depart in Split from the harbor near the bus station, only a short walk from the Diocletian’s Palace and the Old Town. At the entrance to the harbor, you will find the timetable of the next departures, the name of the company operating each of the journeys, and the number of docks the boat is at. Everything is clearly marked and easy to find. When you arrive at Hvar, again you are right in the center of the town, near all the attractions and best places to visit.

If you travel in the off-season, you will most likely get the ticket even shortly before the departure at the ticket offices in the harbor (each company has its booth). In the summer, purchasing the tickets at least a few days in advance is recommended. Split to Hvar is a popular route, and even if more boats are operating daily, tickets might still be sold out, especially for more popular departure times. You can buy tickets in Split or online here.

When looking for ports of arrival, you might notice three different places you can get to on Hvar island: the town of Hvar, Stari Grad, and Jelsa. If you are planning only a day trip from Split, you should go to Hvar town as that’s the most interesting place on the island. If you still have time in your itinerary, you can add Stari Grad to your one day on Hvar and go back to Split from there.

How to spend one day in Hvar

You will most likely choose the early boat from the mainland for your day trip from Split to Hvar. This way, you will arrive at the island’s main town before most people go out, which is perfect.

You can explore the Old Town with its winding lanes and the main square – St. Stephen’s Square – without too many people around and fully enjoy the central part of Hvar. Be sure to check the historical Arsenal building (originally from the 14th century) and go up the stairs on its side for the best view of the main square. You can also sit in one of the cafes for a quick breakfast and a cup of coffee before continuing your Hvar sightseeing.

After exploring the Old Town, head to the Spanish fortress for the best views of Hvar and its surroundings. You can walk up from the center (it’s relatively easy), or you can take the taxi all the way to the entrance.

No matter how you get there, you will not be disappointed as the panorama from the top is breathtaking, with the town of Hvar, the blue waters of the Adriatic Sea, and the Pakleni islands right in front of you. The fortress itself is an important historical landmark, dating back to the 13th century.

After visiting the fortress, on the way back, you can stop to see a beautiful little Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, parts of the city walls, or the abandoned Dominican Monastery.

These are all the must-see places and attractions of Hvar, so how you spend the rest of the day is up to you. There are different options for you to consider

Staying in Hvar town

You can stay in the town of Hvar and enjoy its vibrant atmosphere, with numerous outdoor cafes and restaurants. There are also lovely paths along the waterside offering beautiful views of the marina and Hvar town. The further away you go from the center, the closer to nature you get.

Go to the beach

There are some lovely beaches on Hvar island where you can relax and enjoy the sea and sun. Some of them, like Pokonji dol and Mekicevica beaches, are only a short walk away from Hvar town, so you can spend your day in Hvar mixing a bit of sightseeing with proper seaside holidays.

Visit nearby Pakleni Islands

Only a short boat ride away from Hvar town (10-20 minutes), you will reach Pakleni Islands – a picturesque archipelago that can be a good escape from the hustle and bustle of Hvar and Split. There are beautiful beaches and coves, some great snorkelling options, beautiful nature as well as some funky bars.

You can reach the islands from Hvar by water taxi; there are many boats ready to take you there moored in the Hvar marina.

Explore more of Hvar island

Since there are so many ferries between Hvar and Split, you still have to explore more of the island beyond the town of Hvar.

You can rent a car (those have daily rates; click here to get one) or a scooter (paid by the hour) and visit other interesting places on Hvar Island. Some of the best places to stop in are the picturesque village of Vrboska, a lovely beach town Jelsa, or the oldest settlement in Hvar – Stari Grad.

If you don’t want to drive yourself, you can take the local bus to Stari Grad and after sightseeing in the town take the ferry from there back to Split (the downside of this option: the ferry terminal is some 2 km away from the center of the town so you might need to walk or take a taxi).

Returnig from Hvar to Split

Once you are done exploring Hvar Island, you can take the boat back from either Hvar town or Stari Grad. The last ferry departs from Hvar town at 9:00 pm in the high season between June and September, earlier in other months (but still doable for a day trip).

Again, it’s better to plan in advance and buy the ticket a few days before the departure. If you need to get your ticket in Hvar, the offices of different companies are scattered around the Old Town (but always close to the docks).

The ferry from Stari Grad is a slower one, taking two hours to reach Split – unlike the fast catamaran to Hvar town, this is a regular ferry that also takes cars onboard. The last one departs from Stari Grad at 17:30 outside of the summer months; in July and August, there are two more departures later in the day, at 20:00 and 23:00.

In Split, you will arrive at the same harbor in the city center where you departed from.

Final thoughts on Split to Hvar day trip

Even if Hvar offers so many attractions and you can easily spend longer holidays there, sometimes all you have is one day only. Fortunately, even in such a short time, you can see a lot, both historical landmarks and beautiful nature and landscape, and enjoy Hvar to the fullest.

With the proximity to Split and many fast connections, visiting Hvar is very easy, either independently or with a tour. And who knows, maybe this short trip to the island will inspire you to spend more time there in the future? One day I spent in Hvar certainly had that effect on me!

Travel Resources

You can find the best accommodation options at Booking. They have many discounts and excellent customer service. Click here to look for the place to stay in Croatia

Never travel without travel insurance, you never know what might happen and better safe than sorry. You can check the insurance policy for Croatia here.

I recommend joining organized tours to get to know the place better and to visit more places during your trip. You can find a great selection of tours at Get Your Guide – click here.

Make sure to have the offline map always installed on your phone, they can save you so many troubles. I always use the free app Maps.Me.

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I’ve included a few handy links of services and products I personally like and use so you can plan your own trip to Croatia too. They are often affiliate links. This means I will get a small commission if you book/purchase anything through my links, at no extra costs for you. Thank you!

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