Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
Hvar is both the name of the island and the name of the capital (Hvar Town), which sits near the island's western tip. Hvar Town rises like an amphitheater from its harbor, backed by a hilltop fortress and protected from the open sea by a scattering of small islands known as Pakleni Otoci ("hellish islands", although paradise islands would be a more fitting name). Along the palm-lined quay, a string of cafés and restaurants is shaded by colorful awnings and umbrellas. A few steps away, the magnificent main square, St. Stephen's Square (Trg sv. Stjepana), the largest piazza in Dalmatia, is backed by the 16th-century Cathedral of St. Stephen (Katedrala sv. Stjepana). Other notable sights in town include the Fortica Fortress and the Franciscan Monastery (Franjeva?ki samostan). In addition, partiers and explorers from all over the world flock to Hvar Town en masse so expect it to be crowded and expensive through peak season. Celebrity visitors have included King Abdullah of Jordan and his wife, Queen Rania, Italian clothing entrepreneur Luciano Benetton, Prince Harry of England, Beyoncé and her husband Jay Z, and many, many more.
On the beautiful vineyard-strewn island of Hvar you can visit the winery where the Plančić family has been producing a variety of top-quality wines, including rosé and dessert wines, as well as local rakija, since 1919. Look out for Bogdanuša (dry white wine) or Ivan Dolac (a select red). Call the winery for information about tours and tastings.
This award-winning winery on the island of Hvar—along with its restaurant Bilo Idro and on-site hotel—are well worth a visit. The Zlatan Plavac (a dry red) made by Zlatan Plenković has continually won prestigious awards at local and international wine fairs since the early 1990s. Call ahead for information about winery visits.
