Where to Stay on Island Hvar
For the summer season of June through August 2024, accommodations are not included within The Field School package. We know that it can be difficult to find long-term lodgings in high summer! Here is our quick, unbiased guide to finding the perfect spot based on your needs. If you are still struggling to find the right fit after consulting this guide, just drop us a line. We do not have magical powers (alas) but we do live here on Hvar and can try to offer some additional ideas.
In response to requests from families, we have created a starter list of accommodations in collaboration with other Field School parents. Take a look here.
The General Layout
The island of Hvar is six times the size of Manhattan, so it is important to know where you’re staying relative to where you want to go. Our daily pick-up and drop-off will almost always be at the statue of Captain Niko Duboković in Jelsa’s main park (location on Google Maps).
The island’s three main towns are highlighted below: Hvar Town, Stari Grad, and Jelsa. Summer Camp will take place in Jelsa, the most family-friendly town on the island. It has grocery stores, restaurants and galleries, a large car-free downtown, access to the beach, and bike paths leading to further adventures. For maximum convenience, stay in Jelsa.
Stari Grad is another great option with a similar abundance of things to do. It is more historic than Jelsa and plays host to a vibrant sailing scene in the summer. It is a 10-15 minute drive from Jelsa. Public buses are available, but time-consuming.
Hvar Town has many virtues, but it is 30 minutes from Jelsa. If that commute is too daunting, be sure to at least carve out a day (or several) in your itinerary to visit. Hvar Town is the largest village on the island, with iconic Venetian architecture, breathtaking views, and a very rich cultural offering.
Vrboska is also worth considering. It is charming, bikeable from Jelsa, and offers basic amenities, such as a small grocery store and bakery.
There are several picturesque villages on the north-facing ridge of the island just a few minutes away from Jelsa: Dol, Svirce, Vrisnik, and Pitve. Each has a restaurant or two, but most daily activities require a car and the roads can be stressful, especially to Pitve and Dol. With that caveat, we do adore these towns and they are very peaceful in the summer.
There are many other attractive areas on the island. Just weigh your commute and pay careful attention to the quality of the roads you’ll be using every day. Some of Hvar’s prettiest beaches lie at the end of steep, one-lane macadam drives.
In Jelsa
Super Budget: Camp Mina (from €20/night). If you can handle staying in a tent with your children for multiple nights, then you will not find a better deal than Camp Mina, which has a great location on the beach and within walking distance of Jelsa’s town center (path pictured at right).
Budget: Fontana Resort (from €90/night for a 2-bdrm). A large, old-school resort directly on the beach, shaded by tall pine trees. This resort dates from the days of Yugoslavia, but the suites are very spacious, airy, and well-located. A great value for money. A Field School parent is organizing a group booking here. Please email carolyn@fieldschoolhvar.org for more information.
Value: Villa Napoleon (from €80/night for a 1-bdrm with a fold-out in the living room). Wooden floors, sunny terraces, spacious bathrooms, and a fairly central location all make this a great value, as well.
Mid and Higher-End: There are a number of dated but spacious rentals in the mid-range. Expect to pay around €300+ per night for airy, recently renovated apartments and villas.
In Stari Grad
Super Budget: Scour Airbnb or Booking.com. There are some very inexpensive rooms, particularly in the “Priko” neighborhood opposite the historic center.
Budget: Hotel Arkada (from €110/night for a room). Another Socialist-era icon, Hotel Arkada is what turned Hvar into a modern tourist destination. While the rooms are old, the larger resort in which it is based offers tons of kid-friendly entertainment and extras. The location is very pretty and a 10-minute bike ride into town.
Value: For a variety of historical and political reasons, Croatia’s accommodation landscape is unusually fragmented. Privately owned apartments and villas make up a much larger fraction of the room stock than is true in almost any other country. To navigate this bevy of choices, we recommend working with Hvar Unlimited, a concierge service staffed by deeply knowledgeable locals.
Luxury: Without question, the boutique, 50-room Maslina Resort rules the roost for luxury on this side of the island. Understated but magical, this sumptuous getaway earns every penny of its lofty price tag.
For a splurge
If you’re planning to rent out a high-end villa with multiple bedrooms, a pool, and other creature comforts, we recommend working with Villas Hvar or Hvar Away.
Owned and managed by locals, Villas Hvar represents 130 villas on the island. Their website is a great source of information about the island and they go above and beyond to prioritize sustainability - including by organizing a tree planting with local school children every fall. Hvar Away is a newer team, comprised of tech-savvy, down-to-earth expats. Both agencies ensure a seamless experience for guests by providing services like grocery delivery, 24/7 building maintenance, as well as à la carte luxuries, like a private chef or at-home massage.