The Island of Hvar has tons of beaches: rocky, pebble, and even sandy ones.
A bunch are tougher to get to, but that keeps them way less crowded. So if you want a quiet beach, you’ll find it on the Island for sure.
To give you an idea, Hvar has 270 km of coastline, the Island is 68 km long, and from Jelsa to Sućuraj alone is over 40 km, with barely anyone living there. So yeah, an almost private beach? Totally possible.
I’ve been to Hvar Town and other spots on Hvar Island loads of times, and I’ve checked out quite a few beaches. Bottom line: the water is crystal clear, whichever one you pick.
My video with the Hvar Beaches
If you want a visual impression of the beaches, check out my video, which features several beaches.
If you are in the planning phase of your holiday, and beaches are important, you might also want to check out my video with the beaches in Split and the beaches in Zadar.
The best beaches on Island Hvar
No one can say which beach on Hvar Island is the best, since that would require visiting all of them, and very few people have actually done that.
So instead of making a top 10 or best beaches on Hvar list, I will give you my personal opinion about the beaches I have visited. I have listed the beaches closest to Hvar Town first.
Križa (City beach) Hvar Town
Križa Beach is the closest beach to the Riva in Hvar—small but enjoyable.
The beach has big pebbles, but just 5 meters out, you get a sandy bottom.
- Distance from the main square in Hvar – 550 m (towards east)
- Deck chairs / Sunbeds – ✅
- Price Deck Chairs – €25 / day
- Sunshades Included – ✅
- Type of beach – big pebble
- Suitable for kids – ★★★★★
- GPS coordinates: 43.168740, 16.443316 – All Beaches Map
By the beach, there are several souvenir stands and a restaurant.
Križa Beach can only be reached on foot (or by boat 😂).
Bonj Beach Hvar Town
Bonj Beach is the largest in Hvar Town, located in front of the Amfora Hotel, west of the town center.
A large part of the beach area is concrete, on which you have sunbeds and double sunbeds. On both sides of the bay, there are restaurants and coffee bars.
- Distance from the main square in Hvar – 950 m (towards the west)
- Deck chairs / Sunbeds – ✅
- Price Deck Chairs – ?
- Sunshades – ✅
- Price Sunshade – ?
- Type of beach – part pebble – part concrete
- Suitable for kids – ★★★★★
- GPS coordinates: 43.171939, 16.433916 – All Beaches Map
You can reach Bonj Beach on foot; there is also an option to arrive by car and park above the Amfora Hotel.
Pokonji Dol Beach (Near Hvar Town)
If you want a less crowded beach near Hvar, Poklonji Dol is the best option. The beach is located roughly 2 km east of the town center. If you walk along the seaside, the distance is about 2.5 km.
- Distance from the main square in Hvar – 1900 m (towards east)
- Deck chairs / Sunbeds – ✅
- Price Deck Chairs – €10–15
- Sunshades – ✅
- Price Sunshade – ?
- Type of beach – large pebble
- Suitable for kids – ★★★★★
- GPS coordinates: 43.163733, 16.45570 – All Beaches Map
You can, as mentioned, reach the beach on foot, but it is also possible to drive there along the coast. Next to the beach, there is a parking area.
Two food and drink places also serve cocktails, and a massage is offered at the beach.
Carpe Diem Beach (Bar)
A popular beach among the younger generation is Carpe Diem Beach on Marinkovac Island in the Pakleni Islands. The beach can obviously only be reached by boat.
The boats for Marinkovac Island sail every 30–60 minutes from morning till midnight, and the price for a return is €10. The boat’s departure is in front of the old theater.
- Air distance from the main square in Hvar – 2000 m (southwest by south)
- Deck chairs / Sunbeds, Loungers – ✅
- Price Deck Chairs – ?
- Sunshades – ✅
- Price Sunshade – ?
- Type of beach – rocks
- Suitable for kids – ★★★★★
- GPS coordinates: 43.158289, 16.426245 – All Beaches Map
At Carpe Diem beach bar, you can eat and drink, but be aware that it is not budget-friendly.
Other Pakleni Island Beaches
The nudist beach (and regular guest) is on the nearby island of Jerolim. It is served by frequent boats from Hvar, and the return ticket also costs €10.
Palmižana Beach on Sveti Klement is a great beach with pebbles. Boats to the island are less frequent, and a return ticket costs €15.
Dubovica Beach
If you want to treat yourselves to a day on a nice beach, Dubovica should be on your short list.
The beach is located 10 km from Hvar Town in the direction of Stari Grad.
Parking for the beach is along the main road, which is 70 meters above sea level. From the parking, there is a 500-meter walk downhill to reach the beach.
Note: Parking option along the main road is limited; there is space for 25–30 cars, so come early.
It is also possible to reach the beach by taxi boat from Hvar Town. €15 per person.
- Distance from the main square in Hvar – 10 km
- Deck chairs / Sunbeds – ✅
- Price Deck Chairs – €15
- Sunshades – ✅
- Price Sunshade – €10
- Type of beach – pebble
- Suitable for kids – ★★★★★
- GPS coordinates: 43.146014, 16.534756 – All Beaches Map
Available at the beach: restaurant, toilets, beach bar
Stiniva Beach
Stiniva is a hard to reach, secluded beach on the north side of the Island of Hvar. To reach it, you have to take the old road between Hvar and Stari Grad, near the Brujse village. You turn off the main road and follow a small, partly asphalt, partly dirt road for the last 2.5 km.
Near the beach, there is parking for fewer than 15 cars, so you will not run into any crowds here.
- Distance from the main square in Hvar – 7.5 km (north-north-east)
- Deck chairs / Sunbeds – ❌
- Price Deck Chairs – ❌
- Sunshades – ❌
- Price Sunshade – ❌
- Type of beach – pebble
- Suitable for kids – ★★★★★
- GPS coordinates: 43.203404, 16.468432 – All Beaches Map
There are a few old stone houses and a church in the bay, but no facilities for beach guests.
In the same area, you also have Svirachina Beach and Brusje Beach, which are similar types of beaches.
Zavala Beach
Zavala Beach is located in the village of the same name on the south side of the Island of Hvar. The place can only be reached via the Pitve tunnel.
Limited parking is available near the beach.
There is a coffee bar/bistro next to the beach, and a restaurant nearby.
- Location – South side of Hvar Island
- Deck chairs / Sunbeds – ❌
- Price Deck Chairs – ❌
- Sunshades – ❌
- Price Sunshade – ❌
- Type of beach – pebble
- Suitable for kids – ★★★★★
- GPS coordinates: 43.122643, 16.695639 – All Beaches Map
If Zavala Beach is not quite enough, you can take the boat to Šćedro Island, where you have several secluded bays.
From Zavala in the direction of Hvar town, you have several small villages like Ivan Dolac or Sveta Nedilja, and several other places, which all have a similar type of beach.
Mina Sandy Beach
Several websites claim there are no sandy beaches on Hvar—well, guess what, they clearly haven’t explored the Island much!
Mina Beach is an excellent sandy beach with shallow water and plenty of pines providing shade on both sides of the bay.
At the head of the bay, there is a limited beach area, but on both sides, there are concrete platforms with easy access to the water.
- Distance from the main square in Jelsa – 1000 m
- Deck chairs / Sunbeds, Loungers – ✅
- Price Deck Chairs – from €10
- Sunshades – ✅
- Price Sunshade – €10
- Type of beach – sandy
- Suitable for kids – ★★★★★
- GPS coordinates: 43.160389, 16.702222 – All Beaches Map
A limited amount of parking is available near the head of the bay. On the west side, there’s a fast-food place and a coffee bar.
In front of Camping Mina, there’s an inflatable aquapark.
An alternative is Grebišće Beach in the next bay—also sandy with shallow water.
Velika Stiniva Beach
A few years ago, I spent an enjoyable holiday at Šer Zane, located right at Velika Stiniva Beach (see photo below)—an absolutely wonderful place.
As Velika Stiniva is in the part of the Island with the least population, you never have crowds here. Everybody arrives by car, and there is parking just a few meters from the beach.
Šer Zane is a restaurant and coffee bar, so you only have to walk a few meters for a refreshment, and you can enjoy your food with a fantastic view. On the beach, you also find Buffee Kod Mate, where light dishes and drinks are served.
- Distance from the main square in Jelsa – 20 km (towards east)
- Deck chairs / Sunbeds – ❌
- Price Deck Chairs – ❌
- Sunshades – ❌
- Price Sunshade – ❌
- Type of beach – pebble
- Suitable for kids – ★★★★★
- GPS coordinates: 43.155914, 16.813892 – All Beaches Map
In the area, you can also visit Dubac Beach, Mala Stiniva Beach, and Veliki Pokrivenik Beach, which are all similar types of beaches.
Map – Hvar Beaches
Here is a Google map where I have marked the beaches I mentioned in this article.
FAQ – Hvar Beaches
Can I rent a private beach on the Island of Hvar?
No, private beaches do not exist in Croatia. All beaches are public and open to everyone.
Are there any sandy beaches on Hvar Island?
Yes. Mina Beach and Grebišće Beach near Jelsa are both excellent sandy beaches with shallow water, ideal for non-swimmers and young children.
Is the water quality good on Hvar?
Yes, the water quality is excellent, no matter where you go swimming
Which is the best beach on Hvar Island?
There is no standout best beach on Hvar Island. Check my Hvar Beaches video above and then decide for yourselves
Which beach is closest to Hvar Town?
The Križa (City beach) is located 550 metres from the main square towards the east, and the Bonj beach is 1000 meters towards the west.
Are beaches on Hvar Island free?
Yes, all beaches can be visited free of charge; sunbeds, sunshades, etc, are charged.
Are there any family friendly beaches on Hvar Island?
Yes, the Mina Beach and Grebišće Beach near Jelsa, are perfect family beaches with sandy bottom, shallow water, and activities for kids
How do you get to the beaches on the Pakleni Islands from Hvar?
There are frequent boats from the Riva in Hvar to the Pakleni Islands; boats depart near the historical theater. Note: there are different boat routes, so make sure to check that you are going to the right island.
Do I need water shoes for the beaches on Hvar?
Depends on the beach; most beaches are Rocky or pebbly. And on those, water shoes are useful. If you visit the Sandy beaches near Jelsa, you don’t need water shoes.
