Why Visit Stari Grad: The Quiet Side of Hvar and Croatia's Oldest Town
Stari Grad is on the same island as Hvar Town and could not be more different. It's the oldest town in Croatia, founded by Greek settlers in 384 BC, and it sits at the end of a long, sheltered bay surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and lavender. Where Hvar Town is loud and glamorous, Stari Grad is slow, stone-built and smells faintly of lavender in summer. Most sailing tours skip it. We think that's the mistake.
Where is Stari Grad?
Stari Grad is on the north coast of Hvar island, at the head of a 6 km bay that runs in from the Hvar Channel. Hvar Town is 20 minutes away by road over the hill, on the opposite coast. The main island ferry from Split arrives here, but the old town itself sits at the far end of the harbour, well away from the ferry traffic.
Why Stari Grad Hvar is worth visiting
The oldest town in Croatia. The Greeks called it Pharos and laid it out 2,400 years ago. The old town that stands today is medieval and Renaissance, a compact tangle of stone lanes, small squares and shuttered windows that feels lived in rather than preserved.
The Stari Grad Plain. Behind the town, the Greek settlers divided the fertile plain into a grid of fields with dry-stone walls, and that grid is still farmed and still visible today. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and you can walk or cycle through vineyards and olive groves that have been worked continuously since antiquity.
Tvrdalj. The fortified summer house of the 16th-century poet Petar Hektorović, built around a walled fishpond and garden in the middle of town. It's small, odd and one of the most peaceful spots in Dalmatia.
Lavender. Hvar is Croatia's lavender island and Stari Grad is where you'll see it sold: oils, soaps, sachets, honey and, in summer, lavender gelato. Fields bloom in June and July.
The harbour at dusk. Stari Grad's long, narrow harbour is lined with konobas and cafés, and because there's no big nightlife scene, evenings here are about a long dinner, a bottle of local Plavac Mali and the water going still.
Stari Grad with Roam Sailing
Stari Grad is our first island stop and the calm before Hvar Town. There's time to walk the old town, visit Tvrdalj, swim in the bay and have dinner on the waterfront with the group. It's the evening most guests describe as the moment the week clicked: everyone knows each other's names, the sea is glassy and nobody has anywhere to be. See the full 8-day route.
Good to know
Is Stari Grad worth visiting? Yes, if you want the quiet, historic side of Hvar island. It won't suit anyone looking for beach clubs, but it's one of the most atmospheric small towns in Croatia.
How far is Stari Grad from Hvar Town? About 20 km by road, roughly 20–25 minutes by car or bus over the hills. Our boat sails around the island between the two.
When does lavender bloom on Hvar? Late June to mid-July is peak bloom. Lavender products are sold in Stari Grad all season.
Stari Grad is the Hvar you didn't know existed. Come for the history, stay for the evening. Explore all our Croatia sailing destinations.
