How to spend a sunshine-filled 48 Hours in Hvar, Croatia

With a culinary spread to rival any Mediterranean country and dramatic scenery along the Dalmatian Coast, Croatia lures travelers into an Adriatic dream. The historic island of Hvar is no exception. There’s so much to do here that spending 48 hours in Hvar is easy.

Famed as being one of the sunniest islands in Europe, Hvar is known as a party destination for the well-heeled, with superyachts lining the marina come the summer months. However, it also has fantastic seafood, beautiful white sand beaches and a 500-year-old fortress that is worth exploring.

Here’s some ideas of how to make the most of 48 hours in Hvar.

Wander around the sights on a 2-hour walking tour to delve into the history of Hvar, once a major port for the Venetians. The old town, Stari Grad, is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site with charming white stone streets that have been around since 384BC. See the first public theatre in Europe and St. Stephen’s Cathedral, built in the 17th Century. Afterwards, you can sip an Aperol Spritz on the piazza.

One of the top things to do in Hvar is visit to Tvrdalj Palace. Designed by Croatian poet Peter Hektorovic in the 16th Century, who used the residence as his summer home, it also served as a shelter for locals during attacks by the Ottoman Turks.

Beautifully-preserved, the palace also boasts gorgeous gardens that will inspire your creativity, and a peaceful courtyard overlooking a sea-water fish pool where you can spend a relaxing evening.

Self-guided cycling tours are available from your stylish hotel, the Amfora Hvar Grand Beach Resort. This is a fabulous way to see the island, particularly the cultivated plains of Stari Grad, which have been in existence for 2,400 years!

Pass by huddled stone houses in villages such as Brusje and perhaps stop for a light glass of Bogdanuša, which means “given by God”, a white grape native to Hvar, from one of the tiny wineries on the way.

If oenophiles are wondering what to do in Hvar, then it’s time for a cool respite and experience like no other. Take a speedboat to a beautiful wine cellar located in a limestone chasm by the sea, where you can try the rare native varieties such as the fruitful Plavac Mali, along with cheese, bread and olive oil, from olives also grown on the island.

You can also enjoy wine on the vineyard-covered slopes of the island along with a delicious Farm-to-Table dinner.

For an exquisite dining affair that encompasses the abundant resources of Hvar, book this specialty dinner table at Štajun. Chef Hrvoje Tomicic showcases the meat and seafood alongside fresh seasonal ingredients in this rustic yet elegant restaurant.

Hvar delicacies include peka, which is typically slow-cooked lamb, octopus and veal, and gregada, a tasty fish dish boiled with potatoes. All six courses are paired with local wines and Champagne as you relax in the cobbled courtyard.

If you fancy the breeze in your hair while you tour a spectacular national park, take a boat tour to the Pakleni islands, just a short sail from Hvar. Swim inside the Green Cave to see a magical emerald light show and then the must-see Blue Cave, which bathes in an ethereal glow. Find unspoilt coves amid the Pakleni islands where you can snorkel or simply bask in the Mediterranean sun.

A sunset in Hvar is truly a spectacle, so why not glide by kayak over the calm waters to witness it? Paddle to a quiet beach where you can have a light bite of marinated goat’s cheese, or a thirst-quenching drink as the pink and orange streaks paint the sky, and then go around Pokonji dol island to see the sun explode across the horizon.

Join the Insight Vacations Country Roads of Croatia tour and you’ll spend two days in Hvar staying at the stylish Amfora Hvar Grand Beach Resort, with plenty of free time to soak up the vibes of the island.