Vrboska is a small town on the north coast of Hvar, a Croatian island. It sits on a long, narrow inlet. Stone bridges cross the water between old houses, and pine trees grow down to the sea. The most famous building is the fortress-church of St Mary. People built it in 1575 to protect the town from pirates. Locals call Vrboska “little Venice”. It is much quieter than the real Venice.
Why stay (or stop) here
Table of Contents
| Vrboska’s case | |
|---|---|
| Peace | Hvar’s smallest town; in August it feels as calm as other towns in June |
| Beaches | Soline pebbles + the pine peninsula’s coves, 15 min on foot |
| Fishing heritage | The tiny Fisherman’s Museum; konobas that still cook like it |
| Position | 4 km from Jelsa’s buzz, wine country at the back door |
| Marina | ACI marina — sailors’ services without sailor prices in town |
Skipper’s tip: swim at the mouth of the inlet before 09:00. The water inside is very calm at that hour. Then have a coffee by the middle bridge. Most visitors are still asleep, so you will have the town almost to yourself.
Getting there in 2026
No public fast line calls at Vrboska. The routes: catamaran or ferry to Jelsa or Stari Grad (two ports on the north coast of Hvar) (all times and prices in the complete Split–Hvar ferry guide), then 10–15 minutes by taxi/bus; or a private taxi boat from Split directly into the inlet, about 60 minutes — the approach up the wooded channel is worth the fare by itself. From Split Airport, ~75 minutes gate-to-bridge. €370–900 per boat, 24/7.
In practice the useful public link is catamaran line 9603 (Split–Bol–Stari Grad–Jelsa), around €10 one way in peak season — but it runs a single useful departure each way per day, so a missed connection costs you the afternoon. Car ferries into Stari Grad are far more frequent, and from there it is roughly 15 minutes by road. We break the trade-offs down in our Split to Jelsa guide.
| Option | Time | Schedule | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private taxi boat (Dalmatia Express) | ~60 minutes, door-to-door into the inlet | 24/7, on your schedule; sails when catamarans cancel; Split Airport pickup available (~75 min gate-to-bridge) | €370–900 per boat (fair for groups) |
| Catamaran (line 9603) | ~1 h to Jelsa | One useful departure a day each way | ~€10 one way |
| Car ferry to Stari Grad + drive | ~1 h 50 + 15 min drive | Fixed timetable, year-round | Check current fares |
Skip the single daily catamaran and arrive on your own time. Book your Split to Vrboska water taxi.
Eat & do
Have lunch in a konoba (a simple family restaurant) on the south quay, the St Mary fortress roof (check seasonal opening), cycle the flat lane to Jelsa for gelato, and give an evening to Soline’s sunset side. Wine people: Tomić and Duboković cellars in Jelsa are ten minutes away — see our Hvar wine guide.
Skipper’s tip #2: a pine forest on a small peninsula (Glavica) lies between Vrboska and Soline, a pebble beach nearby. The outer coves are used by people who swim without clothes. The inner coves are better for families. There are no signs, so look around and choose the side you like.
Reaching Vrboska in 2026
Vrboska is tucked into a long, narrow inlet on Hvar’s north coast near Jelsa — pretty, but a little awkward by public transport. A private boat from Split (about 55 minutes to Hvar, from around €370 per boat) can bring you straight into the inlet or to nearby Jelsa, skipping the bus connection entirely. See how the crossings compare in our Split-to-Hvar guide, or get a door-to-door quote on the Hvar water taxi page. It pairs naturally with Stari Grad and the Pakleni for a slower north-Hvar day.
Skipper’s tip: Vrboska’s “little Venice” canals are prettiest in the hour before sunset, when the fishing boats come in — stay for dinner and you’ll have the stone bridges almost to yourself after the day-trippers leave.
What to see once you’re there
Vrboska rewards a slow wander. The fortified church of St Mary of Mercy, built to shelter locals from 16th-century pirates, still doubles as a little fortress you can climb for a view over the inlet. There’s a small fishing museum documenting the village’s sardine heritage, a handful of quiet pebble coves within walking distance, and pine-shaded swimming spots on the Soline side. It pairs easily with Jelsa, ten minutes away, for more restaurants, or with Stari Grad and its UNESCO-listed plain.
For a north-Hvar base that stays calm when Hvar Town is crowded, Vrboska is hard to beat.
Time from Split to Vrboska
FAQ
How do I get to Vrboska from Split?
Take a boat or ferry to Jelsa or Stari Grad, then drive a short way. Or take a private boat straight into the inlet (about 60 minutes).
Is Vrboska worth visiting?
If you want a calm, good-value place to stay, it may be the best town on Hvar.
Does Vrboska have beaches?
Yes — Soline and the pine-peninsula coves, a 15-minute walk.
How far is Vrboska from Hvar Town?
About 25 km, or 35–45 minutes by road. Bus line 113 goes via Stari Grad, up to 10 times a day in summer. The two towns feel very different: Hvar Town is busy and Vrboska is quiet.
Why is it called little Venice?
The town straddles a canal-like inlet crossed by small stone bridges — Few towns in Dalmatia (the coast of Croatia) are built like this.
Vrboska is also a small diving base: Hvar Divers, a PADI dive center located right in the village, runs boat dives along the north coast of the island. For dinner, locals will point you to Konoba Lem.
Related guides
- Split to Hvar: ferry, catamaran or speedboat — compares the passenger catamaran, car ferry, and speedboat options.
- Where to stay on Hvar — how to pick a base on Hvar island, from Hvar Town to quieter villages.
- Stari Grad or Hvar Town? — helps you choose which Hvar port town suits your trip.
- Hvar wine guide — where to taste local wine on Hvar, including Plavac and Pošip grapes.
- Pakleni Islands guide — a small group of islands just off Hvar Town, good for a beach day.
Sources
St Mary fortress hours and museum openings are seasonal — check with the Hvar Tourist Board. Our route times/prices are first-hand operating data, July 2026.
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