01How Much Does Stari Grad Cost?
Stari Grad is one of the cheaper bases on Hvar. Accommodation in Stari Grad, Jelsa and the smaller villages typically runs 20-30% below Hvar Town for comparable quality. A trip to Hvar island overall is often estimated at €78-153 per person per day before accommodation, but Stari Grad usually lands at the lower end of that range because the town is small, walkable and has no club scene driving up drink prices.
Prices below reflect 2026 rates, which are the latest published. Expect small increases of a few percent for 2027, mainly in accommodation and restaurants. Ferry tariffs are set by Jadrolinija and can change at the start of each year.
02Daily Budget in Stari Grad (per person)
| Style | Daily cost (excluding ferry) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | €55-75 | Hostel bed or shared apartment, bakery breakfast, konoba lunch, supermarket dinner |
| Mid-range | €110-170 | Private apartment or 3-4 star hotel, two restaurant meals, one activity |
| Comfort/luxury | €300+ | 4-5 star resort, fine dining, private boat or guided tours |
These ranges assume July and August. In May, June and September, accommodation drops noticeably, and in the shoulder months the same mid-range day can cost €90-130.
03Getting to Stari Grad: Ferry and Transfer Costs
Split to Stari Grad car ferry (Jadrolinija line 635)
The car ferry is the only vehicle connection from Split to Hvar. The crossing takes about 110 minutes, and up to 7-8 sailings run daily in summer, fewer in winter.
- Adult
- €5.90 in the lower season, €8.40 in the higher season (29 May to 27 September).
- Child (3-12)
- €3.00 lower season, €4.20 higher season.
- Standard car (up to 5 m long, 2 m high)
- €35.60 lower season, €47.60 higher season.
- Car plus one adult in summer
- €56.00 one way.
- Bicycle
- roughly €5.70-8.10.
Car spaces sell out in July and August, so book ahead on the Jadrolinija site. Foot passengers can buy at the port.
Catamaran alternatives
Passenger catamarans from Split mostly go to Hvar Town, at around €23-25 one way, and take 50-60 minutes. They do not carry cars. The car ferry is the standard route to Stari Grad for most visitors.
Local bus to Hvar Town
Stari Grad to Hvar Town is about 20 km and takes roughly 20 minutes. Bus fares are about €4-5 each way. A taxi for the same trip runs about €35-50.
Cost tip: A foot passenger on the car ferry pays under €9, while a catamaran to Hvar Town costs around €23. Arriving at Stari Grad and taking the bus is the cheapest way onto the island, even after the €4-5 bus fare.
04Accommodation Prices in Stari Grad
Hostels and budget rooms
Hostel Sunce offers single, double and triple rooms, with beds from roughly €18 per night. Basic private rooms and small apartments start around €45-80 in the shoulder season and climb to €80-130 in July and August. Budget accommodation across Hvar is commonly quoted at €42-80 per night.
Mid-range hotels and apartments
Old-town stays such as Ancora Faros and Madrugada Old City sit within about 100-200 m of the harbour and start around €110-150 in peak season. Hotel Antica Stari Grad is a 4-star option with breakfast included. Places Hvar by Valamar is a resort-style hotel about 1.1 km from the centre, with rates from around €160 per night; Heritage Villa Apolon, a 4-star B&B, starts near €165.
Luxury
Maslina Resort, about 2.3 km from the centre, is the top-end property. It has a Michelin Guide-listed restaurant using produce from its own garden. Rates start at several hundred euros per night and exceed €900 at peak times. Valamar Amicor Resort sits in between, from roughly €390.
Seasonal pattern
June to August is the most expensive period, with averages around €385 per night across commonly viewed hotels. December to February is the cheapest, near €115. Winter has a catch: many restaurants and accommodation providers close from November to March, and ferries drop to 1-3 daily services on some Hvar routes.
05Food and Drink Prices
Stari Grad has a compact harbour strip and old-town lanes with a handful of cafes and konobas. Prices run lower than in Hvar Town.
- Coffee or espresso
- €1.60-2.50
- Pastry or burek from a bakery
- €2-4
- Konoba main (grilled fish, meat, pasta)
- €12-25
- Whole grilled fish (by weight)
- €50-80 per kg, usually shared between two
- Pizza
- €9-14
- Local wine (glass)
- €3-5; bottle in a restaurant: €22-40
- Beer (0.5 l)
- €4-5.50
- Budget meal per person
- €8-15
The island's local wines come from the Stari Grad Plain, and bottles bought directly from small producers cost less than restaurant mark-ups. Supermarket shopping makes self-catering realistic: a picnic lunch of bread, cheese, tomatoes and prosciutto costs roughly €6-9 per person.
06Sightseeing, Activities and Extras
The main appeal of Stari Grad is free: the old town lanes, the seafront promenade and the surrounding Stari Grad Plain, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape of ancient Greek field divisions, which can be walked or cycled at no cost.
- Museums and Tvrdalj fortress
- small entry fees, typically a few euros each.
- Bike rental
- about €15-25 per day; e-bikes cost more.
- Beaches
- pebble beaches around the bay are free. Sunbeds at resort beaches cost roughly €15-30 per pair.
- Car rental
- often €50-100 per day in summer; a scooter is cheaper.
- Tourist tax
- charged per person per night, usually around €1-2.50 in season and often added to the final accommodation bill. Children are charged less or nothing.
- Parking
- paid zones near the harbour in summer, around €1-2 per hour.
07Is Stari Grad Cheaper Than Hvar Town?
Yes, by a clear margin. Accommodation is typically 20-30% cheaper, dinner out costs less, and there are no beach-club minimum spends. The trade-off is that Hvar Town has the Pakleni Islands boats and nightlife. Staying in Stari Grad and taking the €4-5 bus for a day trip or an evening in Hvar Town is the strongest value choice on the island.
08Money-Saving Tips for Stari Grad
- Travel outside 29 May-27 September. Car ferry fares fall by about 30% and hotel rates drop sharply. Early June and mid-September are the best balance of weather and price.
- Walk on to the ferry. Foot passengers pay €5.90-8.40, and Stari Grad's centre is walkable from the port in about 20-25 minutes, or via a short taxi ride.
- Book a room with a kitchen. A small apartment cuts the daily food bill by €15-25 per person.
- Eat the main meal at lunch. Many konobas offer cheaper set or daily dishes at midday.
- Buy wine and olive oil from local producers rather than at harbour shops.
- Use cash for small purchases. Cards are widely accepted, but small bakeries, market stalls and some private rooms still prefer cash.
- Skip the car if staying in town. Stari Grad is entirely walkable, and the bus covers Hvar Town, Jelsa and Vrboska.
09Sample Budgets for a 3-Day Stay (per person, summer)
- Budget
- about €170-230 for beds, food and the local bus, plus ferry.
- Mid-range
- about €380-520 including an apartment or hotel, two restaurant meals daily and bike rental.
- Comfort
- €900+ in a 4-5 star resort with dining and a private excursion.
10Final Verdict
For travellers wanting Hvar's scenery and heritage without Hvar Town's prices, Stari Grad is the better-value base. Budget about €100 per person per day in July and August, and closer to €70 in June or September.
