Croatia Island Hopping: Long-awaited Hvar

I had heard many things about Hvar – some even claimed that it was Croatia’s most beautiful island [my favourite island is a different one, though]. Intrigued I was.

September takes me back to our last time in Croatia (we had a double visit last year, which was entirely successful). We visited Hvar in early June, but I realised that September was the perfect month to explore the southern Balkans [and it was my favourite month last year].

While it didn’t blow me away in terms of beauty, Hvar did offer interesting and deeply-rooted particularities that stayed with us—

 

Driving around the island, I feel I chose well to have Jelsa as our Hvar base. If you can and decide to stay here, too, book an apartment in its upper part for unforgettable views of the harbour.

Pokonji Dol is the great beach close to Hvar [bring water shoes because it is rocky; the sea was cold even if it was hot outside] that serves Pokonji Dol Islet. This is part of the Paklinski Islands, which are said to host some of the best snorkelling [you can spot some fish close to the shore, too!] around Croatia. We chose to kayak there. The waves were tricky and the area was busy with ships; however, we loved the experience! 

If you head to Taman T-shirts for a great souvenir of Hvar from Pokonji Dol, you’ll stumble upon one of the most beautiful views of Hvar town.

Stari Grad, named ‘one of the oldest settlements in Europe’, has a different energy, a very neat and authentic one! While strolling around with a gelato in your hand may allow you to experience its alleys best, do stop at Butiga Art Shop for some unique souvenirs. There’s something for everybody.

For a change of scenery, head to Humac, an uninhabited hamlet. There are still some paths to walk, a church, and some constructions were underway when we visited.

Another great experience on Hvar was the tasting of the Kompozitor olive oil. It is an award-winning olive oil for a reason! I miss it because we used it all; it was the best we’ve ever tasted and went well with bakes and pasta sauces, too.     

 

Off-Hvar, Drvenik is an enchanting departure port with a cute little beach.

Ston has probably become my favourite mainland Croatian town. There are many things to do and many items to take with you. The Walls of Ston do not only provide astonishing views over the salt pans but also an opportunity to exercise [it isn’t an easy climb, but it can be fast – especially if you arrive before the closing time]. Speaking of salt, head to Solana Ston if you wish to go home with some bags of salt. Another fun local item to try? Stonska torta – a delightful dessert [I won’t say more; head to a restaurant and ask if they have it].

 

These are some happy memories; I enjoyed revisiting them!

I hope you make some happy ones, too!