Is Stari Grad on Hvar Island, Croatia, Worth Visiting?

Stari Grad is a small town on Hvar Island in Croatia and has lots of interesting things to do. I enjoyed a lovely day trip to Stari Grad by ferry from Split. It was pretty chilled on my early spring visit. I explored the coast, went for a hike in the countryside, dined out, and found historic buildings.

It is one of the oldest towns in Europe, and the Stari Grad Plain is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This relates to when the town was inhabited by the Greeks, who first settled in 384 BC.

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Things to Do In Stari Grad

I was only on a day trip, so I missed a few of the town’s attractions, mostly because they were closed for winter/early spring. You can also find many organised activities and tours on the GetYourGuide website.

Coast Path Walk

On arrival in the town, I did the 25-minute walk into the centre. You get to pass through some scenic countryside on the way. There were places to sit, beaches, and then the marina.

Beach Lanterna

The island is also a popular destination for beach holidays in Croatia, and there are quite a few in the town. The nearest is Beach Lanterna, which is on the coast path towards the ferry port. It’s a pretty place with seating and steps leading to the water.

There are also changing facilities, and in summer, a kiosk for refreshments is open. During my visit, I had a break and enjoyed the views here.

Riva

On the Riva, you can enjoy sea views and see lots of comings and goings of fishing and leisure boats. There are cafes and bars for a break from exploring the Riva. It is also a good part of town for shopping, with food stores, bakeries and tourist shops.

Fortress of Petar Hektorović

One of the top sights in the town is the Fortress of Petar Hektorović. The Fortress of Petar Hektorović is a fortified building with Renaissance features, including water features. The building dates from 1448; however, it was fortified in the 16th century during the Ottoman attacks on the island.

Explore The Old Town

There are narrow cobbled streets and small town squares in the old town. Some buildings here are quite historic, and the local tourist board tells the story of each part nicely. There are also some churches and chapels to see when exploring the area.

Škor Square is a nice place to visit, and they sometimes have a small market here. The name ‘Škor’ is derived from the old shipyard which was here until the 17th century, when the square was built.

Lower Street, aka Duolnjo Kolo, also caught my eye. The street’s current layout dates from the 15th/16th century. They believe this was parallel to the waterfront; thus, it was the seafront in ancient times.

Walk on The Stari Grad Plain

One of the main reasons for visiting was for a countryside walk on the Stari Grad Plain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stari Grad Plain on the island of Hvar is a cultural landscape that has remained practically intact since the Ionian Greeks from Paros first colonised it in the 4th century BC. They used it mainly for growing olives and grapes back then, and this is still the case.

There are ancient ruins to see when exploring the plain mixed in with vineyards and olive groves. I really enjoyed exploring the area, and there were options for extended walks. The main downside for me was that the vineyards I passed were closed in early March.

One of the eye-catching historic structures I saw was a trim, an ancient stone shelter between the stone walls.

Kupinovik Roman Villa Rustica

Another historic ruin I found during my circular walk on the plain was the Kupinovik Roman Villa Rustica. The site was interesting, and the ruins seemed well-preserved and, as a bonus, offered some great views of the hills.

This Roman villa was most likely built on the foundations of ancient Greek architecture, as indicated by the Greek grave inscription that they found here. The villa dates from the 1st century, and remains of mosaics and pillars have been found. This site was involved in olive oil production, and you can see remnants of it.

Archaeological Site of Pharos

A nice place to visit in the old town area is the archaeological site of Pharos. The archaeological site of Pharos is a small garden with multiple layers of historic ruins. The site also contains remains of the ancient Greek city of Pharos, including its walls.

At the edge of the site, you can see the Crkva sv. Ivan, aka the Church of St John. This site dates from between the 4th and 6th centuries. Today’s church of St John is early Christian, and the original walls have been preserved up to the height of the barrel vault. Above that, the wall dates from the 11th century, and the rose above the door is 14th-century Gothic. Inside, there are remains of mosaics and an early Christian altar.

Wine Tourism

Hvar Island is well known for its Croatian wines and is an excellent place to come and try some. There are various vineyards to visit, including Hora Hvar Winery, which I walked past while exploring the plain. Also in the town centre are various wineries where you can purchase or taste wine. For wine aficionados, GetYourGuide also has some wine tours to book on the island.

Boat Trips

There are many boat trips available from the town during the warmer months. This includes boat hire and guided trips to nearby islands or other parts of Hvar Island.

St Stephen’s Square, Church & Tower

Formerly, the city’s entrance was St Stephen’s Square. Key features of the square are the church and the bell tower. The main square was once a site for community meetings and negotiations.

Construction of the Baroque church began in 1605 to replace an old 11th-century church. The bell tower was erected in 1753, with the lower parts built from the ramparts of the Greek city of Pharos.

Bars & Restaurants in Stari Grad

Bistro Kod Damira

One of the best-rated restaurants on Google Maps was Bistro Kod Damira. This coincided with it being the only one open in the town centre serving food on my visit. Bistro Kod Damira has outdoor seating in a town square and indoor dining too.

Their menu features Dalmatian cuisine, including a variety of seafood dishes. Initially, I was disappointed that they had run out of octopus goulash. However, the server recommended the octopus and vegetables, which hit the spot for me and made for an excellent meal.

Molo Misto

For my first coffee of the year, I visited Molo Misto in a picturesque square overlooking the Fortress of Petar Hektorović. They had both inside and outside seating. Inside, cigar smoking seemed popular among some guests, who had rather impressive cigars. Their coffee was nice and served the Croatian way with water.

U.O Ploča 85

Overlooking the harbour in the central areas is U.O Ploča 85, which has covered outdoor seats. It was quiet, so I chose the one with the best view. I drank a cold Karlovačko beer here after the walk from the ferry port, which was well deserved. I found the service here quick and friendly, and the prices were good for a place with a sea view.

Chevap

My last rest stop on an epic day trip was Chevap in the ferry port, a perfect spot to wait for foot passengers. They have a range of drinks, including coffee, fruit juices and beer. They also serve street food, including burgers and cevapi. I tried their burger to boost my energy for the trip back to Split.

Getting To Stari Grad by Ferry

I took the ferry from Split to Stari Grad and back for my day trip. The Jadrolinija ferry booking process was straightforward; you can either head to the ticket office before alighting or purchase tickets online via their app or website.

The trip took under 2 hours on the car ferry, which I was testing to see if it was dog-friendly. It was so Henry could get a future visit to the island. There was also a fast ferry, but it didn’t fit my day-trip schedule.

On board, there were plenty of seats inside or on the top deck. One note: I would bring my own refreshments because on board they were very expensive.

The highlight of my return trip to Split was the sunset views from the boat’s deck.

Is Stari Grad Worth Visiting?

Stari Grad is a lovely destination for a day trip, as there was plenty to keep me engaged. I’d love to return for a longer trip when everything is open but not in peak season. A highlight was the hike in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was interesting and relaxing. Exploring the old town was fascinating too, especially seeing the various points of interest throughout.

Finally, the bars and restaurants I visited were good and chilled as per usual in Croatia. The octopus lunch was a really delightful treat and is highly recommended. To summarise, if you like the seaside, good food, history and long hikes, then Stari Grad in Croatia is well worth visiting.