It has been almost two months of backpacking through Eastern Europe… can you blame me for not looking into my destinations ahead of time? Not to mention, I like the spontaneity of finding out what a city is like upon arrival rather than hearing others opinions (perhaps right or wrong) about any given destination. Hvar, Croatia was one of those cities that surprised me.Only a one-hour boat ride from Split is the beautiful picturesque beach of Hvar, Croatia. As we stepped of the catamaran onto the Hvar Port I was overwhelmed with passing tourists, seafood restaurants, boat cruise stands and those departing from the same boat as I was.
I guess when you don’t research something ahead of time and you make the assumption that the tourists wouldn’t run such a beautiful island; it’s a little naïve of my part. Hvar is one of those places that even if you want to ‘travel off the beaten path’… there is not much option, but it’s obvious as to why… Hvar is BEAUTIFUL, I mean absolutely stunning. It didn’t take an ounce of effort to create an outstanding picture perfect shot from my camera phone. So though I too am more of an ‘off the beaten path’ kind of traveller… I’m thrilled to have spent a couple nights in Hvar.
As one can assume with travellers and worldwide vacationers coming in, Hvar is quite the party destination. They actually have an entire 24-hour schedule of bars and clubs to be at. Though extremely tempting, I unfortunately didn’t engage in any of these drinking festivities as it was my last few days of #TrainLineTravel and all I needed was an ice cold beer, the blue water, the beach and a warm bed to fall asleep in even at 9:00pm. My time in Hvar was perfect even without the partying.
Explore the Little Cobble Stone Streets
These little hidden streets are beautiful, often quiet, but stunning. There is a city wall surrounding much of the upper city and you can explore the history of the town with your own two feet extremely easy.
Sun Bathe at One of the Many Beaches
You’re in Hvar, why wouldn’t you? Of course you could possibly enjoy this after a long night of drinking… but if you’re anything like me, the sun and sand is the last thing I want when I’m already sweating out last nights beer and shots.
Snorkel Your Way Through Hvar
Bring your own snorkel if you can (it’s kind of an expensive Island). There are some beautiful coral reefs along the edge of the island that can be explored for hours. I’d love to come back just to do this for an entire day.
Roam the Lavender Fields
Ahhhh, I didn’t have the time to do this, but I walked past a few bushes and can just imagine what it would have been like to really roam the lavender fields… heaven on earth?!
Photo Taken by Wagga Caro
Climb Your Way to the Fortress
It’s a steep climb, but totally worth the view. You’ll have to do it at some point while you’re here so during your peaceful walk through the cobblestone streets… be sure to check out the fortress.
My Favourite: Spend Hours Laying on Your Back in the Crystal Clear Waters
Just lying there… still… silent… eyes closed… on your back… and breathing slowly. Try this for about 20 minutes about everything stressful in your life will be gone. Muahhah, the cure for everything. This place is magical.
Of course, I’m not going to lie… if you enjoy going out and partying while on vacation (who doesn’t… I’m a little crazy) Hvar is the spot to be. I even thought about writing a blog about Hvar being the number one destination for university travel go-ers, perhaps even pushing it to being the best place to find beautiful, single travellers… or even a little more? Haha… I’ll let your minds head to the gutter… Not mine.
I was hosted by the beautiful and wonderful Villa Marija Hostel on behalf of Europe Famous Hostels and can tell you that whether you’re coming with a group of friends of as a solo traveller… this is the place to be. The minute you get there they give you a map with everything you need for the remainder of your trip. They tell you that the delicious pizza place below is 10% off… sweet… and they give you a 24-hour time line of where you’ll be partying for the rest of your time in Hvar. They have the best patio I’ve ever seen in a hostel with a bar, lounge chairs, couches and a table long enough for 30 to 40 people (which is always the pre-drink spot). They’ve even got a pool on their balcony…. Absolute craziness!
Have you stayed here? I’d love to hear your opinion!
Disclosure: We were hosted by Villa Marija to visit Hvar, Croatia for two nights. Though sponsored to make the trip, all words and thoughts are as always, my own. For inspiration about travelling the world, check out the following posts: Why You Should Travel Now, How to Create Your Own Blog, How to Break Out of Habit and Travel the World, The Best Quotes to Inspire You to Travel, The Bucket List.
