01Best Areas to Stay in Stari Grad

Stari Grad sits at the head of a long, narrow bay on the north coast of Hvar island. The town is small, so the whole of it can be crossed on foot in about 30 minutes. The practical choice comes down to four zones: the old town and Faros peninsula, the Helios bay hotel strip, the ferry port, and the west-coast coves.

Old Town (VaroΕ‘ and the Harbour Core)

This is the best base for most visitors. The old town is a grid of stone lanes between the waterfront and Tvrdalj, the fortified summer house of the poet Petar Hektorović. Konobas, wine bars, bakeries and a small market are all within a few minutes on foot. The UNESCO-listed Stari Grad Plain, a Greek field system dating to the 4th century BC, begins just outside town.

Best for
couples, first-time visitors, anyone without a car
Typical cost
€80–180 for a double or small apartment in July and August; €55–110 in May, June and September
Property types
renovated stone houses, small guesthouses and apartments. Madrugada Old City is a well-regarded option inside the old core.
Trade-off
lanes are narrow and cars cannot reach most doors. Arrival means a short walk with luggage, and rooms near wine bars can be noisy until about midnight in peak season.

Faros Peninsula and the Harbour Edge

The Faros side, named after the original Greek settlement, is quieter and residential. It is only a few minutes from the old town on foot. Ancora Faros and several apartments here offer sea views at lower prices than the old town core. The promenade running along the water leads to the old town in under 10 minutes.

Best for
travellers who want quiet evenings and a walkable location
Typical cost
€70–160 in summer

Helios Bay (Hotel Strip)

About 1 to 1.5 km east of the old town, the Helios area has the town's main hotel cluster. This includes PLACES Hvar Hotel by Valamar, Arkada Sunny Hotel by Valamar, the Valamar Amicor Green Resort and the PLACES Hvar Villas. The beaches are pebble, with shallow water suitable for children. Hotels have pools, restaurants and bike hire. The promenade to the old town takes about 15–20 minutes.

Best for
families, guests who want half-board and pools, cyclists
Typical cost
€120–300 per night in summer for a double, with breakfast included at most hotels
Trade-off
you eat at the hotel more often, and the walk back from town at night is long if you have small children

Ferry Port Area

Hotel Antica and several guesthouses sit around the ferry terminal on the western side. Catamarans and car ferries from Split dock here. It is practical for early departures, but the old town is about 1.5–2 km away along the bay. The area has few restaurants, and the sea views are good, but you stay at the edge of town rather than in it.

Best for
short stays, early ferry departures, car travellers
Typical cost
€90–250 in summer

West-Coast Coves (Maslina and Rudina Side)

Resort-style stays sit in sheltered coves on the western side of the bay. Maslina Resort is the top-end option, with its own cove and a restaurant that draws non-guests. Prices start around €500 per night in high season. Stays here suit travellers who want seclusion, but a taxi or bike ride into town is needed for dinner.

02Where to Stay by Traveller Type

Couples

Choose an old-town stone house or Heritage Villa Apolon on the seafront promenade. Both put evening walks and dinners within 5 minutes.

Families

Helios Bay is the clear pick. Pebble beaches, hotel pools and flat promenades work well with strollers. Villas with private pools are also common on the outskirts, priced from about €250 per night for 4–6 guests in summer.

Budget Travellers

Private rooms and small apartments in the old town or Faros start around €45–70 per night outside July and August. Expect to pay more in the last two weeks of July and the first three of August.

Cyclists and Hikers

Helios Bay and the plain side of town give direct access to flat cycling routes through the Stari Grad Plain. Several guesthouses supply bicycles to guests.

03Local Tips

  • A hotel next to the ferry port sounds convenient, but it is the wrong base for most visitors. The old town is nearly 2 km away, so the time saved on arrival is lost on every dinner and morning stroll. Choose it only for a one-night stopover.
  • Book apartments with parking only if renting a car. Old-town streets are pedestrianised in practice, and public parking near the harbour fills by mid-morning in August.
  • Ask for an upper-floor room in the old town if sleeping lightly; the lanes carry sound well.
  • Ferry arrivals from Split run year-round, with catamaran services in summer. A taxi from the port to the old town costs about €10–15; a walk takes 20–25 minutes.
  • Tourist tax is added to most bills at roughly €1–2 per person per night depending on season.
  • Shoulder-season visits in late May, June and September give the best balance of warm sea, open restaurants and rates 25–40% below August.

04How Far in Advance to Book

For July and August, reserve 3–5 months ahead. The old town has limited rooms, and the best-rated stone houses sell out first. In May, June and September, 4–8 weeks usually suffices.