Hvar

Tailor-made holidays on Hvar

Hvar is Central Dalmatia's most photogenic island — lavender-scented hills, a UNESCO-listed harbour town, the Pakleni archipelago five minutes off the riva, and some of the warmest, clearest water on the Croatian coast. We are a Croatia-based DMC and have been planning private trips to Hvar since 2006, so every part of your itinerary can be shaped around how you actually want to travel, from boutique stays inside the old town to private boat days across to Vis and Korčula.

What is a tailor-made holiday on Hvar?

A tailor-made holiday on Hvar is a custom itinerary built around your dates, party size, budget and pace. Instead of booking a standard package, you choose where to stay (Hvar Town for the buzz, Stari Grad for the UNESCO old-port calm, Vrboska and Jelsa for quiet family bays, or a private villa in the inland vineyards), how to get around (private speedboat transfers from Split, sea taxis to the Pakleni Islands, a crewed yacht for the week) and which experiences to add — Fortica fortress sunset, lavender-village walks in Velo and Malo Grablje, wine tastings at Tomić and Lacman, a private boat day to the Blue Cave on Biševo. We assemble it into a single bookable trip with one point of contact.

When is the best time to visit Hvar?

• May, June and September are the sweet spot — warm sea (20–24 °C), long days, lavender in bloom in June, and the Pakleni Islands are calm and uncrowded for boat days.
• July and August are peak: Hvar Town has the strongest nightlife on the Adriatic and consistent flat-water conditions for island-hopping, but the riva and ferry port get busy from late morning. Early-morning private tours and afternoon swimming stops on Palmižana or Jerolim work best.
• October is excellent for shoulder-season luxury: grape harvest in the inland vineyards, fewer guests in the best boutique hotels, and the Adriatic still warm enough for sailing.
• November to April is quiet, ideal for cultural breaks in Stari Grad and gastronomy weekends in the lavender villages; ferry frequency drops and many seasonal restaurants close.

What can a private boat tour from Hvar include?

Private boats and skippered speedboats depart from Hvar Town's riva and Stari Grad harbour. Itineraries are flexible — a typical full day combines:

• The Pakleni Islands (Sveti Klement, Jerolim, Palmižana) for swimming and a seafood lunch at a beach konoba
• The Blue Cave on Biševo and Stiniva cove on Vis in good weather
• Šćedro Island for quiet southern-side swimming away from the crowds
• Korčula Old Town as a day-trip with a stop for lunch on the water
• A sunset cruise to Pakleni for cocktails and dinner

Multi-day charters extend to Mljet National Park, Vis, Bisevo and Dubrovnik. See our private boat tours from Hvar for day-trip options and the full boat charter range for crewed yacht itineraries based out of Hvar.

Where should I stay on Hvar?

The choice depends on what you want from the trip:

• Hvar Town — the social heart of the island; boutique luxury hotels and apartments inside or just above the old town, walking access to Fortica, the cathedral and Pakleni boat shuttles.
• Stari Grad — UNESCO-listed harbour town on the north side; slower pace, family-run boutique hotels and easy access to the Stari Grad Plain (also UNESCO).
• Jelsa and Vrboska — quieter coastal towns with sheltered bays; best for families and travellers who want pine-shaded swimming and a calmer dinner scene.
• Inland villas in Velo Grablje, Malo Grablje and the vineyards — for groups of 6+ who want a private pool, dedicated host, and lavender fields outside the door, with a 10–15 minute transfer to Hvar Town or Stari Grad.

We work directly with hotel reservations and villa owners across all of these areas, so the rates and inventory you see are the live ones.

How do tailor-made holidays compare to booking everything separately?

A tailor-made itinerary typically costs the same as the sum of its parts, sometimes less, because we hold direct contracts with local skippers, yacht crews, drivers and villa managers — there is no third-party markup. The difference is in coordination: speedboat transfer from Split airport, ferry alternatives, restaurant reservations in Hvar Town and Stari Grad, weather contingency for Pakleni boat days, last-minute changes — all handled by one team on the ground. Most of our travellers come back for a second trip and ask for the same planner.

How far in advance should I book?

For May–October travel, six months of lead time is comfortable — the best boutique hotels in Hvar Town, the most sought-after villas in the vineyards, and the top private speedboats book out by early spring. For shoulder season, 4–6 weeks is usually fine. We do accept short-lead requests (under two weeks) but availability narrows fast, especially for peak July–August weeks and lavender-season (mid-June) trips.

How do I start planning?

Send us your dates, party size and the kind of trip you have in mind — we reply within one business day with a first proposal and live availability. There is no charge for the planning itself; you only pay for the components you choose to book.