The Pakleni Islands
A scatter of wooded islets across the bay, each with a tiny cove and a beach bar. A taxi-boat is the easiest day out you will ever plan.
Hvar
Lavender hills and the bluest harbour
Best time
May – June & September – October
Gentle pace
3–5 slow days
Ideal for
Couples · Island hoppers · Beach-loving families
Hvar is the sunniest spot in Croatia and one of its loveliest — a walled town wrapped around a harbour of impossible blue, backed by hills of lavender, rosemary and vineyards. Beyond the glamour of Hvar Town lies a quieter island of hidden coves, old stone villages and family-run konobas serving fish caught that morning.
With children, rent a small boat or take a taxi-boat to the Pakleni Islands for a day of swimming, base yourselves in a quiet cove rather than the town, and climb to the Spanish Fortress at sunset for the whole harbour glowing below.
Worth lingering over
Hvar Town at dusk
Climb to the Spanish Fortress for the harbour laid out in gold, then wander the square as the lanterns come on.
The lavender fields
In late June the hills bloom purple. Drive inland to the old villages and buy lavender oil from the families who distil it.
Hidden gem
The village of Stari Grad
Long before Hvar Town became fashionable, Stari Grad was the island’s heart — one of the oldest settlements in Europe, a sleepy grid of stone houses, shaded squares and hidden coves where you can swim alone even in August. Wander the lanes at siesta, lunch on fish at a harbour konoba, and feel a world away from the glamour across the island.