Let's Go Europe 2019. Harvard Student Agencies

even if you’re not the adventurous type, the Venetian architecture and year-round sun make this a nice place to just relax. Hvar is the holiday destination of Croatia.

       ORIENTATION

      Hvar Town is the largest tourist destination on the island of Hvar, which consists of other cities such as Stari Grad. The central point of the city is the Pjaca, the main square. The square marks the location of the eighteenth-century St. Stephen’s Cathedral of Hvar. This is pretty hard to miss and, if you don’t see it, you’re really not looking. The Riva area, which is near the coast and the location of much of the nightlife in Hvar, can be found west of the Pjaca. If you’re looking to do more sightseeing, the Franciscan Monastery is south of the Pjaca and the Fortica Španjola is north.

       ESSENTIALS

      GETTING THERE

      If traveling internationally, the closest international airports are in Split and Dubrovnik. From there, you’ll need to take additional transportation to Hvar via ferry. You can take a ferry from Split or a cross-island ferry from Korcula, Vis, or Brac to get to Hvar. There is also an international ferry line that runs from Italy that stops in Hvar. Most ferries will dock at Stari Grad, from which you’ll have to take a 20min. bus to Hvar Town.

      GETTING AROUND

      Hvar Town is pretty small and easily walkable, so you won’t need to worry about using public transportation or taxis. To get to other cities on the island, there are buses to connect you. The bus to Stari Grad is a 20min. ride.

      PRACTICAL INFORMATION

      Tourist Offices: Main tourist office (Trg. Svetog Stepana 42; 021 741 059; www.tzhvar.hr; open July-Aug daily 8am-2pm and 3pm-9pm)

      Banks/ATMs/Currency Exchange: Privredna Banka (Fabrikia b.b.; 021 421 413; open M-F 9am-2pm, Sa 9am-noon)

      Post Offices: Hrvatska pošta (Riva b.b.; 021 742 588)

      Internet: The tourist office offers free Wi-Fi in Hvar, but otherwise, your best bet is accommodations.

      EMERGENCY INFORMATION

      Emergency Number: 112

      Police: Police headquarters (Ive Milicica 5; 021 504 239; www.splitsko-dalmatinska.policija.hr)

      US Embassy: The nearest US Embassy is located in Croatia’s capital, Zagreb (Ul. Thomassa Jeffersona 2; 016 612 200; open M-F 8am-4:30pm).

      Hospitals: Health Center Hvar (Ul. biskupa Jurja Dubokovica 3)

      Pharmacies: Ljakarna Lakoš-Marušic (Trg. Sv. Stjepana 18; 021 741 002).

       ACCOMMODATIONS

       EARTHERS HOSTEL ($)

      11 Martina Vucetica; 099 267 9889; reception open 24hr

      Earthers Hostel is what happens when a location 15min. outside of town forces its guests to bond with each other. The result borders on a cult: Earthers has a strong community vibe and a stunning garden terrace, with a view to boot. Oh, and did we mention the hammocks? Kick back after a long day of sightseeing in one of these babies. For your more practical needs, unlike the other hostels in Hvar, Earther’s has in-house washing and a drying rack.

       i Dorms from 100 kn, privates from 350 kn; reservation recommended; Wi-Fi; luggage storage; linens included; towels included; laundry facilities

       HOSTEL MARINERO ($)

      Sveti Marak 9; 091 410 2751; reception open 9am-1am

      The rooms are new and clean; some even have in-suite bathrooms (gasp). The dark secret of Hostel Marinero, though, is that the only common space is the stairs that they put pillows on. Be warned, if you come here with a big backpack you may accidentally knock out a fellow traveler who is j-chilling on the steps.

       i Dorms from 100 kn; reservation recommended; Wi-Fi; luggage storage

       WHITE RABBIT HOSTEL ($)

      Stjepana Papafave 6; 021 717 365; reception open 24hr

      You don’t need a rabbit foot to be lucky at White Rabbit Hostel. Wacky name aside, the rooms are clean and showers have good water pressure, and that’s about all we ask for. The rooftop bar is a nice gathering space for “interaction with fellow travelers” (i.e. drinking games), except the roof closes at 11pm due to the hostel’s location in central Hvar’s residential area. It’s not a terrible trade-off for White Rabbit’s proximity to all Hvar has to offer.

       i Dorms from 100 kn; reservation recommended; Wi-Fi; luggage storage; meals available

      CULTURE

       ARSENAL

      Trg Sv. Stjepana; hours vary by show

      Located on the main square of Hvar, there’s not much one can do here besides take a selfie. In its heyday, Hvar’s Arsenal was used to service the Venetian navy before being converted into a theater. Times have changed, though, and now the building itself is under renovation. But its location on the terrace right by the water makes this a nice place to chill with gelato and enjoy views of Hvar.

       i Show ticket prices vary; wheelchair accessible

       RUINS OF ST. MARK’S CHURCH

      Trg Sv. Stjepana

      Although it’s apparently too dangerous to enter the church itself, the guardian may be kind enough to let you into the courtyard outside the church, which houses old graves. Not your typical graveyard, the space feels ethereal with palm trees, marble tombstones, and old stone pavement. If you don’t catch such a stroke of luck and nothing is open, hop on up the steps to the concrete walkway with stellar views of the church bell tower and Hvar Town.

       i Free; no wheelchair accessibility

      LANDMARKS

      FORTICA ŠPANJOLA

      Ul. Higijenickog Društva; 021 741 816; open daily 8am-9pm

      Forget romantic sunset pictures on the beach: Fortica Španjola is the place to go. This fortress protected Hvar over the centuries of rule by the Byzantines, Venetians, and French, just to name a few. While it’s a bit of hike to get up here (read: stairs galore), the views make it all worth it and your legs will thank you for the unintended workout later. If you don’t feel like paying for the fortress itself, you can always walk around below, where the views are still stunning. We recommend visiting the fortress right at sunset, so you can watch Hvar glow when the pink rays hit the tan stone.

       i Admission 40 kn; no wheelchair accessibility

       ST. STEPHEN’S CATHEDRAL OF HVAR

      Trg Sv. Stjepana; 099 576 3019; open 9am-noon, 4pm-6pm

      It’s impossible to miss the Cathedral of Hvar, as it lies on the main piazza and dominates the city’s skyline. The white stone façade is typical of Dalmatian churches and dates from the late Renaissance. The church is dedicated to St. Stephen, who is unsurprisingly the patron saint of Hvar. Expect to see artwork inside created by Venetian artists who worked on the cathedral when Hvar was part of the Republic.

       i Admission 10 kn; wheelchair accessible

      MUSEUMS

       BENEDICTINE CONVENT AND HANIAL LUCIC MUSEUM

      Kroz Grodu bb; 021 741 052; open M-Sa 10am-midnight

      Your