Getting to Hvar
Getting to Hvar from other parts of Europe is fairly easy and inexpensive. Those coming from the Western Hemisphere are in for a longer journey, but we assure you: it’s worth it! Read on for our best tips on getting to the island without stress.
Saving on Air Travel
Hvar’s nearest major airport is 30 minutes outside of Split, a historic city on the mainland of Croatia. In the summer, Europeans and Brits can take advantage of the many cheap flights to Split from London, European cities, and Istanbul.
Flights from the Americas are, of course, more expensive. A roundtrip flight from the US, Canada, or Mexico usually totals $1,200-1,500. But there are three alternative approaches that can reduce that cost by several hundred dollars:
Flights to Croatia’s capital city Zagreb are usually much cheaper than flights to other parts of Croatia. Car rentals can be a deal, too. The drive from Zagreb to Split is four hours. You could also splurge and hire a car transfer to cover this distance.
Fly into Venice or another regional hub like Budapest and drive the rest of the way. From Venice, it is a seven-hour drive, so you will want to break it up with a night in Rijeka or Zadar - no great hardship.
Fly into a transatlantic hub, like Reykjavik, then book a cheaper flight on a regional airline.
Be aware that flying east will typically be a red-eye, meaning that parents and children will be “sleeping” on the plane. Adjusting to the earlier European time zone can take a week, especially with younger children. Our schedule - with lots of fresh air and a window for afternoon naps - is designed to help with jetlag, but you should still be prepared for a few slumber parties!
Hvar Is an Island
First-time visitors to Hvar often confuse Hvar Town for Hvar Island. Hvar Town is a beautiful, vibrant outpost on the island’s southwestern tip, facing outlying islands and the Adriatic Sea. It is well-known as one of Europe’s premier destinations and hosts a yacht scene in the summer months that you are unlikely to see anywhere else. But it is just one part of Hvar Island!
The Field School of Hvar is based in a town called Jelsa, which faces the Mosor mountain range on the mainland of Croatia. It is laidback, stunningly pretty, and family-oriented. The other larger town on Island Hvar is called Stari Grad. It is one of the oldest towns in Europe, and has a reputation for under-the-radar luxury. There are a number of other small villages, as well as large stretches of vineyards, olive orchards, lavender fields, wild forest, and scrubland.
You can learn more about these communities on our page about where to stay on Hvar. For now, the most important thing to understand is that Island Hvar is pretty big, much bigger than Hvar Town alone.
Hvar Is an Island, continued
Because Hvar is an island, you will need to take a boat to get here. There are a number of private ferry and companies. Except in special cases (late flight, for example), you should ignore all of them except for Jadrolinija. It is the state-sponsored juggernaut, offering cheap and reliable transit from the mainland to Hvar and beyond. Here is how to navigate Jadrolinija successfully:
Catamarans are not the same as ferries. Only ferry boats carry cars. The ferry is much larger and takes two hours to arrive on Hvar. Catamarans are smaller and only take one hour.
Double check your port. Ferries only come to Stari Grad and Sućuraj, but catamarans also run to Jelsa and Hvar Town. Unless you are coming from Dubrovnik by car, avoid Sućuraj. It is on the far side of the island, separated from the more populated areas by a long, hair-raising drive.
Buy your ticket online, in advance. This will save you from having to stand in line under the hot sun or (shudder) miss your ferry.
Arrive a little early. If you are bringing a car, park it in the queue well in advance and then leave it to wander until it’s time to board. If you’re travelling by foot, hop aboard 20 minutes before departure to stake out a good seat.
Ask the ticket taker where to put your luggage. Usually people leave their bags downstairs where the cars are parked.
If you are travelling from the Western Hemisphere!
… then it is worth shelling out for a private boat transfer. A taxi driver will wait for you at the airport, drive you and your bags to a speedboat a few minutes away, and the skipper will bring you as close to your destination as possible - some hotels and villas have their own docks. The trip takes an hour or so and usually costs around $400. It’s a lot of money for most people, but by the time you arrive in Split, you and your kids will already have travelled overnight for 10+ hours. A private transfer can make all the difference between an arduous mission accomplished and an ugly why-am-I-doing-this meltdown. There are a number of quality private boat operators on island Hvar. We recommend Faros Boats for having a family-oriented mentality and strong safety policies.