The best way to see Hvar is not on its streets. It’s by looking at it from a boat within swimming distance of the shore. Don’t get me wrong, Hvar is awesome. Its quaint harbor and relaxed atmosphere invite everyone to take a deep breath as soon as you step on its shores. But because it can be hard to get around the island, it’s best to explore Hvar along the coast on a boat.
For the perfect day on the water, you’ll want to book a private boat tour with a captain. Most private boat tours for under 10 people will be around $500-$800 for a full day, making it possible to score a tour for under $100 per person with a large group. But even if you’re with a smaller group, the experience is well worth the money.
I couldn’t recommend Liberty Boat Tours more for your excursion at sea. Our captain at Liberty was knowledgeable yet laid-back, making us feel comfortable and relaxed on the water.
Most local tours are bookable via WhatsApp, which can be jarring to American tourists who don’t typically use the app. But don’t worry, it’s totally normal in Croatia (and most other parts of the world). Make sure to book your boat day in advance to secure your date. I recommend booking as soon as you know which dates you’ll be in Hvar. Choose a date where you’ll have the entire day (waking up on the island and sleeping there, too) on the island. Our tour started at 10 a.m., and we cruised until about an hour before sunset.
On most boat tours, you have two options: see the south side or travel further to visit caves. We did the south side of Hvar tour because it allowed us to visit more locations and spend more time in the water than on the boat. Our captain strongly recommended this option because the caves can get crowded and they’re far. If your dream is to see a blue cave, save it for the Blue Grotto in Capri, Italy.
Here’s what you can expect on a south side of Hvar tour with Liberty Tours or another boat company:
The south side of Hvar by sea
The red rocks
The red rocks of Hvar are the coolest natural wonder on the island. These dramatic red cliffs that dip into the blue sea can only be accessed via boat. Make sure your captain brings goggles or a snorkel mask for your group to explore the world beneath the waves.
Waterfront winery: Zlatan Otok
Enjoy a glass of wine on the shores of the village of Sveta Nedilja. The winery’s taproom sits on the water, and the grapes for the wine grow on the hills above it. We ordered a flight of red and white wines, which were both exceptional.
Your captain can easily park your boat on the winery’s dock. (Drinks and lunch are not included in the cost of the boat tour).
Lučišće Beach
Lučišće Beach is a nearby pebble beach that makes for a great swim spot on your tour.
Dubovica Beach
Dubovica Beach is one of the prettiest beaches in Hvar, but it can be hard to access from the road above. From a boat, you can easily swim to shore and float in the water. There are also big rocks that you can jump from (They aren’t too high or scary).
Milna Bay
Even if you don’t book your boat day with Liberty Tours, you should ask the captain of any company to take you to Milna Bay for lunch at Notos, a delicious beachside restaurant. Like most of the stops, Milna Bay is a laid-back pebble beach you can swim at.
Borče Green Lagoon
The pine trees reflect on the water along the shores of the village of Borče. The emerald waters made the name of this swim spot the “Green Lagoon.” It’s a peaceful swimming spot where you can be serenaded to sleep by the songs of the cicadas and the gentle rocking of the boat.
Mlini Beach in the Pakleni Islands
As a bonus stop, our captain took us to the Pakleni Island of Marinkovac to hang out on Mlini Beach and walk around the small island.
The afterparty
After your boat day, ask your captain to drop you off at Hula Hula Bar on the Western side of Hvar Town. Here, you can enjoy the sunset with a drink in your hand.
Planning your trip to Hvar? Check out this guide to the island.
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