Hvar is both the name of a Croatian island and of its largest town, a distinction that matters when planning a visit. The island lies in the Adriatic off the Dalmatian coast, while Hvar Town occupies its western part. Travellers who arrive by ferry at Stari Grad land elsewhere on the same island, and the crossing does not put them directly in the town whose name appears on guidebooks. Across the island, old settlements, vineyards, coves and a UNESCO-listed agricultural landscape invite a wider itinerary than a single waterfront promenade.
The appeal is not only seasonal beach life. Hvar’s central plain and sheltered bays helped shape settlement, farming and maritime movement over many centuries. The official tourist board describes the island as a landscape of vineyards, olive groves, rosemary, lavender and pine, with different characters from one end to the other. Hvar Town offers a dense historic centre and harbour; Stari Grad has a deep bay and access to the ancient plain; Jelsa and smaller villages provide other starting points. Distances and road conditions make it worth choosing a base before trying to see everything.