Essentials
- City
- Hvar Town, Hvar Island, Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia
- Population
- Approx. 4,200 (Permanent residents in Hvar Town; rises to 20,000+ in summer)
- Internet Speed
- Avg. 75 Mbps; Fiber optics increasingly available in the town center via HT (Hrvatski Telekom)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 EUR = 1.05 USD. Croatia uses the Euro since 2023. Raiffeisen Bank and PBZ have ATMs in the Riva.
- Tap Water
- Drinkable and high quality (piped from the mainland Cetina river)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- Hrvatski Telekom (HT) or A1. Unlimited 7-day tourist SIM for €11 from Tisak kiosks
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut and Wise are widely used; PBZ is the most accessible local bank for long-term residents
- Accommodation
- Seasonal pricing applies; Airbnb, Booking.com, and local agencies like Hvar Touristik
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards accepted in most restaurants/hotels; cash still preferred for small cafes and markets
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and local 'Sobe' (rooms). Expect €60-€120/night in shoulder season
- Budget Accommodation
- Dink's Place Hostel (€25-€40/night) or White Rabbit Hostel (€30/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Stari Grad (Old Town) or the Riva (Harbor) for proximity to nightlife and landmarks
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Križna Luka (Walking distance to center but quieter) or Stari Grad (the town, not the ferry port) for a more local vibe
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- The Hub Hvar (Pop-up style, often located near Pharia Hotel) or Saltwater Nomads (split-based but active in Hvar)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Caffe Bar Sidro (Morning hours) or Nonica (Quiet backstreet cafe with good Wi-Fi and pastries)
- Networking Events
- Hvar Digital Nomad Get-together (seasonal meetups usually advertised on 'Hvar Island' Facebook groups)
- Social Events for Expats
- Friday night drinks at Falko Beach Bar (before high season kicks in)
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- No Uber on island; use Cammeo or local Hvar Taxi (+385 91 161 6263)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Suncity Hvar (Scooter: €35/day; E-bike: €30/day) located near the main bus station
- Best Beach Nearby
- Dubovica Beach (8km away) or Bonj Beach (in town)
- Top Regional Airline
- Croatia Airlines (Flying into Split-SPU)
- Top International Airline
- Lufthansa, Eurowings, and EasyJet (Seasonal via Split Airport)
- Highway Access
- State road D116 connects Hvar Town to Stari Grad and Sućuraj
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Hvar Bus Station (Dolac) for island travel; Split Ferry Port for mainland access
- Public Transport Passes
- Single tickets only on Čazmatrans buses (Hvar to Stari Grad approx. €5)
- Regional Travel
- Jadrolinija or Krilo Catamarans (Hvar to Split: €10-€25, 1 hour)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Hvar Town Health Center (Dom Zdravlja); serious cases require a 15-min helicopter transport to KBC Split
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Hvar Life (Yoga sessions on the beach) or Suncani Hvar Hotels’ Spa Center at Adriana Hotel
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Hvar Garage Gym or the fitness facilities within Amfora Resort (€15 daily pass)
- Laundry Services
- Lavasub Self-Service Laundry (located near the Konzum supermarket)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- No major apps; call restaurants directly (e.g., Pizzeria Kogo)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Hvarska Gregada (Traditional fish and potato stew) at Giaxa
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- BioMania (Bistro & Street Food) - 100% organic and plant-based
- Best Dessert Spots
- Icy Bar Hvar (Gelato) or Slasticarna For (Traditional cakes)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Konzum Supermarket or Tommy Maximarket for daily essentials
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Bazzar.hr or Amazon.de (Shipping takes 7-10 days to the island)
- Grocery Delivery
- Konzum Klik (Delivery available with limited slots to island addresses)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- The Riva (Hula Hula Hvar for sunsets, Carpe Diem for late night)
- Local Brewery
- Vunetovo Craft Beer (Local microbrewery by Anna; try the 'Alveus')
- Wine Bars
- Vintage Wine Bar (Extensive list of local Plavac Mali and Bogdanuša wines)
- Street Food Stalls
- Fast Food For (Burritos and burgers near the harbor)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Black Pepper (Modern fusion Mediterranean) located in the historic alleys
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Fortica Spanish Fortress (Spanjola) overlooking the archipelago
- Museums & Art Venues
- Hvar Heritage Museum (located in the summer residence of Hanibal Lucić)
- Historical Sites
- The Hvar Public Theatre (Oldest in Europe, founded 1612)
- Religious Sites
- St. Stephen's Cathedral and the Franciscan Monastery
- Annual Events
- Hvar Summer Festival (Koncerts/Theatre, June-Sept); Lavender Festival (July in Velo Grablje)
- Cultural Districts
- The Groda (The historic uphill residential neighborhood)
- Theater Venues
- Arsenal (The historic building housing the Public Theatre)
- Local Markets
- Green Market (Pazar) near the bus station for local olive oil and honey
- Music Scene
- Veneranda (Outdoor club/concert venue in a former monastery compound)
- Street Art
- Limited; look for small artisan workshops like the Lace Museum (Agave lace by Benedictine nuns)
- Cooking Classes
- Cooking Hvar (held in a traditional village setting in Velo Grablje)
- Art Galleries
- Gallery Škorpion in nearby Stari Grad for local contemporary works
- Historic Buildings
- The Loggia and Clock Tower on the main Pjaca
- Local Heritage
- The 'Za Križen' (Following the Cross) procession (UNESCO protected, held during Holy Week)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Pakleni Islands (Accessible by taxi boat for €10-€15 return)
- National Parks Nearby
- Krka National Park (Possible as a long day trip via Split ferry)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The coastal path from Hvar Town toward Pokonji Dol Beach
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Napoleon Fortress (higher than Spanjola for unobstructed sunset views)
- Birdwatching Locations
- The Stari Grad Plain (Ager), an ancient Greek land parcel system
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Highly restricted due to forest fire risk; check with fire department (Vatrogasci)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Hrvatska Pošta (Main office on the Riva); DHL/DPD deliver to island
- Tech Repair Services
- Mobis (in Split); for small fixes, try local computer shop 'Inforad' in Stari Grad
- Table Tennis Spots
- Public tables at the Sport Center near Hotel Amfora
- Language Classes
- Croaticum (at University of Split) or private tutors found on 'Expat in Croatia' portal
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Hvar Town Library (Gradska knjižnica Hvar) inside the Arsenal building
- Community Centers
- Fabrika 35 (Creative space and social hub)
- Gaming Lounges
- Limited; mostly in Split (e.g., Friendly Fire Esport Arena Split)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Automat Klub Admiral in Split (No casinos on the island)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €5,500 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = €165,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,800 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = €114,000 in Jelsa/Stari Grad)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €5,200 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = €260,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,500 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = €175,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €4,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €384,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,200 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €256,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 10% for revenues up to €1M; 18% for higher
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10%
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents (183+ days)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 30% (on income over €50,400)
- VAT
- 25% (Standard rate)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, EU-aligned regulations
- Property Tax
- No general annual property tax, but a 'Second Home' tax (approx. €0.60 to €5.00 per m²) applies
- Property Transaction Tax
- 3% Real Estate Transfer Tax
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Digital Nomad Visa (Residence Permit) offers 0% income tax on income earned from outside Croatia for up to 1 year