By the Dalmatia Express crew — skippers running the Split–island routes daily, 24/7. Updated July 2026.

Short answer: choose Hvar Town if you want nightlife, boutique restaurants, and a catamaran port next to your hotel. Choose Stari Grad if you want a calmer, flatter, cheaper base with a car-ferry port and easy day trips. People ask this question all the time. The two towns sit just 20 km apart on the same island, but they feel like different holidays. Hvar Town is a glamorous resort town full of yachts and cocktail bars. Stari Grad is a 2,400-year-old farming town that also has a harbour.

Hvar Town vs Stari Grad in a nutshell

Hvar Town sits on two hills around a horseshoe-shaped harbour full of yachts, cocktail bars, and a 16th-century arsenal (the old naval building on the harbourfront). It’s a great choice if you want to step out of your hotel and straight into the action. But the lanes are narrow and steep. To reach the Fortica (the hilltop fortress above the town) you climb about 180 steps.

Stari Grad is older than Hvar Town — in fact, it is one of the oldest continuously inhabited towns in Europe. It sits flat around a sheltered bay. Instead of yacht-club energy, you get stone lanes, family-run konobas (traditional Dalmatian taverns), and a UNESCO-listed farming plain right behind the town.

Neither town is “better” — the real question is what kind of week you want.

Skipper’s tip: we get asked this every week by clients passing through Split. If this is your first visit to Hvar, read the whole comparison before you book. The “obvious” choice — Hvar Town, because it’s famous — isn’t right for everyone.

Vibe and daily rhythm

Hvar Town runs on a clear evening schedule in high season. Sunset drinks start around 18:30. Dinner starts around 21:00. Then the harbour bars stay busy into the small hours. In July and August, an estimated 20,000 visitors are on the island each day — that’s nearly double the roughly 11,000 people who live there. So the main square genuinely fills up from late July into early August.

Stari Grad’s riva (the seafront promenade) stays sunny until just before sunset, and it stays much quieter, even at peak season. It’s a good place for a slow drink before dinner. You can also walk to the Tvrdalj (poet Petar Hektorović’s fortified 16th-century home, with a fish pond that still holds fish), then have an early night before cycling out to the UNESCO-listed Stari Grad Plain — farmed the same way since Greek times, about 2,400 years ago.

Getting to Stari Grad or Hvar Town from Split

Each town has its own port, so how you travel changes where you land.

The catamaran (Jadrolinija line 641, 1 May–11 Oct 2026, plus Krilo/Kapetan Luka roughly 20 Mar–15 Nov) takes foot passengers straight into Hvar Town harbour. The crossing takes about an hour (55–65 minutes), with up to 19–20 sailings a day in peak season. Fares run roughly €10–30 one way.

The car ferry (Jadrolinija line 635) is the only way to bring a vehicle to Hvar. It lands in Stari Grad after about 1 h 50–2 h. In high season it costs roughly €56 total for one adult plus a car; off-season it’s nearer €41.50. Your ticket also reserves your car’s spot on board.

A private boat can land wherever suits you, in around 55 minutes, and it keeps running even when wind cancels the catamarans. Our Split to Hvar water taxi runs this route every day, whatever the forecast. For the full sailing picture — every operator, season dates, and how the lines connect — see our Split to Hvar ferry guide.

A private taxi boat is the only option that runs every day, at any hour, and picks you up exactly where you are — including Split Airport. Book your Split to Hvar water taxi.

On the island itself, the two towns sit about 20 km apart — 20–30 minutes by car, or around 20 minutes by local bus.

Stari Grad or Hvar Town: full comparison table

If you’re weighing up dates and group size, message us with your travel window and how many people are travelling. We’ll tell you honestly whether a shared catamaran, the car ferry, or a private crossing is the best fit for your trip. That’s what the contact page is for.

Who should choose Hvar Town

Choose Hvar Town if a lively evening matters to you: cocktails with a harbour view, a short walk to dinner, and bars open past midnight. It also suits travellers without a car, since the catamaran lands you exactly where you’re staying. Be honest with yourself about the steps, though — much of the accommodation sits up hillside lanes, and summer heat plus luggage plus 100-plus stairs is a real combination. Budget for peak pricing too; rates here run well above the island average in July and August.

Who should choose Stari Grad

Choose Stari Grad if you want Hvar’s history and scenery without the crowds and the price tag. It also suits families, longer stays, and anyone bringing a car or bike. The town is flat and easy to walk around. Nearby beaches suit younger children: Bonj is shallow and family-friendly, and Brizenica is a quieter, pine-shaded cove. Stari Grad also sits closer to Vrboska and Jelsa, so day trips are easy. Our Vrboska guide covers that canal town, sometimes called “Little Venice”, if you plan to base yourself here.

Skipper’s tip: staying in Hvar Town but travelling with a car? You don’t have to bring it all the way there. Many of our clients leave their car in Split and cross by private boat, straight into Hvar Town harbour. This skips the car-ferry queue and the winding coastal drive — and it’s often not much more than a taxi from the port would have cost anyway.

The easiest answer: split your stay

Because the two towns are only about 20 minutes apart, you don’t have to choose just one for your whole trip. A popular plan is three or four nights in Stari Grad as a calm base for day trips to Vrboska and Jelsa, then two or three nights in Hvar Town for the harbour scene and nightlife. This also solves the transfer question neatly: arrive by car ferry into Stari Grad, cross by bus or a short private boat ride, then leave from Hvar Town by catamaran. Our Split to Stari Grad guide covers that crossing in detail, and our where to stay on Hvar guide compares both towns against the island’s other bases. Get in touch with your dates and we’ll help plan the transfers.

FAQ: Stari Grad or Hvar Town

Is Stari Grad or Hvar Town better for first-time visitors?

It depends on what you want. First-time visitors chasing the classic postcard version of Hvar — harbour bars, boutique shops, a lively evening — usually do better in Hvar Town. Visitors who want to relax, explore by car or bike, and pay less usually prefer Stari Grad.

How far is Stari Grad from Hvar Town?

About 20 km — roughly 20–30 minutes by car, or around 20 minutes on the local bus. A private water taxi can also cross directly between the two harbours in well under an hour.

Which town has the ferry port for cars?

Stari Grad. Jadrolinija’s car ferry (line 635) is the only way to bring a vehicle onto Hvar from Split. If you don’t have a car, the fast catamaran runs directly into Hvar Town harbour instead.

Is Hvar Town too crowded in summer?

In late July and the first half of August, yes. The main square and harbourfront get genuinely busy — the island has far more daily visitors than residents at that time. The shoulder months (May, June, September) are much calmer.

Is Stari Grad worth staying in, or just a day trip?

It’s worth staying in, not just visiting for a day. Between the UNESCO-listed plain, the Tvrdalj, good local food, and quieter family beaches, three to five nights gives you time to day-trip to Hvar Town, Vrboska, and Jelsa without rushing.

Can I stay in one town and day-trip to the other?

Yes, easily — this is one of the most common patterns on the island. The bus, a taxi, or a short private boat transfer all cover the 20 km in well under half an hour. This works well even with young kids.

Is it cheaper to stay in Stari Grad than Hvar Town?

Generally, yes. Stari Grad is consistently one of the more budget-friendly bases on the island. Hvar Town’s peak-season rates climb sharply in July and August.

What’s the fastest way to get from Split to either town?

A private water taxi is the fastest door-to-dock option, at around 55 minutes on your own schedule. For scheduled transport, the catamaran to Hvar Town (50–60 minutes) beats the car ferry to Stari Grad (about 1 h 50–2 h) — though you need the ferry if you’re bringing a vehicle. See our Split to Hvar transfer options for the full breakdown.

Related guides

• Split to Hvar: ferry, catamaran or speedboat — compares the passenger catamaran, car ferry, and speedboat options.
• Split to Jelsa — every way to travel from Split to Jelsa, a small harbour town on Hvar.
• Pakleni Islands guide — a small group of islands just off Hvar Town, good for a beach day.

Sources & further reading

• Jadrolinija — Split–Stari Grad car ferry line 635, timetable and prices
• Jadrolinija — Split–Hvar Town catamaran line 641
• UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Stari Grad Plain
• Krilo Fast Ferries — Split–Hvar sailing schedule