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

Short answer: pick Cidade de Hvar if you want nightlife, boutique restaurants, and a catamaran port on your doorstep, and don’t mind steps or summer prices; pick Stari Grad if you want a calmer, flatter, cheaper base with a car-ferry port and easy day trips. The question of Stari Grad or Hvar Town comes up on every planning thread because the two towns sit just 20 km apart on the same island yet feel like different holidays — one is Dalmatia’s answer to St Tropez, the other a 2,400-year-old farming town that happens to have a harbour.

Hvar Town vs Stari Grad in a nutshell

Hvar Town is built across two hills around a horseshoe harbour lined with yachts, cocktail bars, and a 16th-century arsenal — brilliant if you want to walk out of your hotel into a scene, but that means narrow lanes and roughly 180 steps up to the Fortica for the view. Stari Grad is older (one of the oldest continuously inhabited towns in Europe), sits flat around a sheltered bay, and trades the yacht-club energy for stone lanes, family-run konobas, and a UNESCO-listed farming plain right behind it. Neither is “better” — the question of Stari Grad or Hvar Town is really about what kind of week you want.

Skipper’s tip: we get asked this every week from clients transiting through Split — if it’s your first time on Hvar, read the whole comparison before booking, because the “obvious” pick (Hvar Town, because it’s famous) isn’t right for everyone.

Vibe and daily rhythm

Hvar Town runs a predictable evening clock in high season: sunset drinks from around 18:30, dinner from 21:00, then harbour bars toward the small hours. July and August bring an estimated 20,000 daily visitors onto an island of around 11,000 residents, so the main square genuinely fills up from late July into early August.

Stari Grad’s riva, by contrast, gets sun until minutes before sunset and stays noticeably quieter even at peak season — a place for a slow aperitivo, a wander through the Tvrdalj (poet Petar Hektorović’s fortified 16th-century home, with a still-stocked fish pond), and an early night before cycling out to the UNESCO-listed Stari Grad Plain, farmed the same way since Greek times some 2,400 years ago.

Getting to Stari Grad or Hvar Town from Split

Each town has its own port. The catamaran (Jadrolinija line 641, 1 May–11 Oct 2026, plus Krilo/Kapetan Luka roughly 20 Mar–15 Nov) lands foot passengers straight into Hvar Town harbour in about an hour (55–65 minutes), up to 19–20 sailings a day in peak season, fares roughly €10–30 one way. The car ferry (Jadrolinija line 635) is the only way to bring a vehicle to Hvar and lands in Stari Grad after about 1 h 50–2 h; high season runs roughly €56 total for one adult plus a car, off-season nearer €41.50, and your ticket doubles as the car’s reservation. A private boat lands wherever suits you in around 55 minutes and keeps running when wind cancels the catamarans; our Split to Hvar water taxi runs this route daily whatever the forecast. For the full sailing picture — every operator, season dates and how the lines connect — see our Split to Hvar ferry guide. 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 party size, message us with your travel window and how many you are — we’ll tell you honestly whether a shared catamaran, the car ferry, or a private crossing suits your trip. That’s what the contact page is there for.

Who should choose Hvar Town

Choose Hvar Town if a lively evening scene matters: cocktails with a harbour view, a short stroll to dinner, bars open past midnight. It also suits arriving without a car, since the catamaran lands you exactly where you’re staying. Be honest 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, or if you’re travelling with kids, staying more than a few nights, or bringing a car or bike to explore properly. The town is flat and walkable, nearby beaches (Bonj is shallow and family-friendly; Brizenica a quieter pine-shaded cove) suit younger children, and it sits closer to Vrboska and Jelsa for easy day trips. Our Vrboska guide covers that “Little Venice” canal town if you’re basing here.

Skipper’s tip: set on Hvar Town but travelling with a car? Don’t assume you have to drag it there. Plenty of our clients leave the car in Split entirely and cross by private boat straight into Hvar Town harbour — it 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 around 20 minutes apart, you don’t have to choose one for the whole trip. A popular pattern is three or four nights in Stari Grad as a calm base for day trips to Vrboska and Jelsa, followed by two or three nights in Hvar Town for the harbour scene and nightlife. It solves the transfer question neatly too — arrive by car ferry into Stari Grad, cross by bus or a short private boat hop, then depart Hvar Town by catamaran. Our Split to Stari Grad guide covers that crossing in detail, and our broader 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 piece the transfers together.

FAQ: Stari Grad or Hvar Town

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

It depends what you want. First-timers chasing the classic postcard Hvar experience — harbour bars, boutique shopping, a lively evening — do better in Hvar Town. Those who want to relax, explore by car or bike, and pay less tend to 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. Without 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, with the island absorbing far more daily visitors than it has residents. 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 passing through. Between the UNESCO-listed plain, the Tvrdalj, good local dining, 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 — 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, realistic 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, while 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, 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 (around 1 h 50–2 h), though the ferry is what you need with a vehicle. See our Split to Hvar transfer options for the full breakdown.

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