Stari Grad
Stari Grad is a small town on Hvar's north coast, known for its Greek past, the UNESCO-listed Stari Grad Plain and a calmer pace than Hvar Town.
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Stari Grad sits on the north coast of Hvar, an island in the Adriatic off Croatia's Dalmatian coast. Greek settlers from Paros founded it in the 4th century BC. The main things to see are close to the harbour: the old stone streets, Tvrdalj, a 16th-century summer house of the poet Hanibal Lucić, and the ferry port that links Hvar with Split. Compared with Hvar Town on the south coast, it is smaller and quieter, so it suits travelers who want walks, swimming and wine more than nightlife.
The Stari Grad Plain lies just behind the town. The UNESCO-listed plain is a pattern of stone walls and farmland laid out by the first Greek settlers, with vineyards and olive groves across it. Walking and cycling are the simplest ways to see it. Spring and autumn are milder for walking than midsummer, and a few nights is enough to see both the town and the plain.
Stari Grad in five
- Arrive by the Split car ferryThe tourist board says the main car ferry terminal is near Stari Grad, a 20-minute drive from Hvar Town, with regular ferries from Split throughout the year. Foot passengers can use the catamaran to Hvar Town instead.
- Walk or cycle the Stari Grad PlainThe plain is a UNESCO cultural landscape divided by Greek colonists in 384 BC into rectangular plots bounded by dry stone walls, which have stayed intact for 24 centuries. Go in the morning in summer.
- Visit Tvrdalj, the fortified housePetar Hektorović's Tvrdalj is one of the town's main sights, alongside the Church of St. John, the Dominican monastery of St. Peter Martyr and St. Stephen's Church. Check hours before you walk over.
- Taste wines from the plainThe Hvar tourist board lists wineries whose vineyards lie in the protected Stari Grad Plain, with local varieties such as Plavac mali. Book a tasting rather than turning up unannounced.
- Take a bus or taxi to Hvar TownStari Grad and Hvar Town lie about 20 minutes apart by car. Use a bus, a taxi or a rental car for evenings, and check the last return before you go.Hvar
Need to know
- Airport
- None; Split (SPU) is the gateway for Hvar
- Getting there
- Car ferry from Split; catamaran to Hvar Town, then road
- Getting around
- On foot in town; bike, bus or car on the plain
- Best base
- Stari Grad for quiet; Hvar Town for the harbor scene
- Time needed
- 1 to 3 nights; 1 day as a stop
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh10°Low7°Mild, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 130 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh11°Low8°Mild, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 91 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh13°Low9°Spring, mildMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 109 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, mild
- AprilClear8 rainy daysHigh15°Low12°Spring, freshAprilClear
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 84 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, fresh
- MayPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh19°Low16°Warm, calmMayPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 88 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calm
- JuneClear5 rainy daysHigh24°Low21°Warm seaJuneClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 40 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- JulyClear3 rainy daysHigh27°Low23°Hot, busiestJulyClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 20 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busiest
- AugustClear4 rainy daysHigh27°Low23°Hot, busiestAugustClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 54 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busiest
- SeptemberClear8 rainy daysHigh23°Low20°Warm sea, calmerSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 97 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea, calmer
- OctoberClear9 rainy daysHigh19°Low16°Mild, quieterOctoberClear
Good
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 87 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quieter
- NovemberRain15 rainy daysHigh15°Low12°Wet, quietNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 259 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, quiet
- DecemberRain13 rainy daysHigh12°Low9°Mild, quietDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 180 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
Average daily high and low in Stari Grad, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Stari Grad
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
15
- Feels like
- 12°
- Humidity
- 53%
- Wind
- 14 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 93%
Stari Grad
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today19°11°93%Monday: Rain. High 19°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 93%.
- Tue17°14°15%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Wed18°12°3%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Thu17°12°0%Thursday: Clear. High 17°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri17°11°4%Friday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Sat16°10°12%Saturday: Rain. High 16°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 12%.
- Sun15°13°22%Sunday: Rain. High 15°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 22%.
Updated 07:14 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- MaySudamjaSplit, a day trip
Before you go to Stari Grad
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Rules for Stari Grad, checked
- Hvar's main car ferry terminal is near Stari Grad, a 20-minute drive from Hvar Town; the Split to Stari Grad ferry runs daily and regularly.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- The Stari Grad Plain is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, divided by Greek colonists in 384 BC and intact for 24 centuries.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Stari Grad FAQ
Is Stari Grad worth visiting?
Yes for a quieter Hvar stay, a UNESCO plain to walk or cycle and a harbor town without Hvar Town's crowds. It is less of a party base and more of a walking and wine one.
Is Stari Grad or Hvar Town better to stay in?
Stari Grad is calmer, near the car ferry and the plain. Hvar Town has the nightlife, the fortress and the Pakleni water taxis. Many travelers split nights between them.
How do you get from Stari Grad to Hvar Town?
By bus, taxi or rental car, about 20 minutes by road according to the Hvar tourist board. Check the last bus before a late dinner.
How do you get to Stari Grad from Split?
A car ferry sails daily from Split to Stari Grad, listed as regular year-round service by the Hvar tourist board. Catamarans serve Hvar Town and Jelsa instead, so check the port on your ticket.
What is the Stari Grad Plain?
A UNESCO-listed field system laid out by Greek colonists in 384 BC, divided into rectangular plots bounded by dry stone walls. It is still farmed with vineyards and olive groves.