Split-Dalmatia County · Croatia
Hvar
Hvar has two front doors and they are 20 km apart. Catamarans put you on the riva in Hvar Town, a two-minute walk from the square; car ferries land at Stari Grad on the far side of the ridge. Which one you use is decided not by preference but by whether you are bringing a vehicle — the fast boats carry none at all.
Getting to Hvar by ferry
Direct crossings serving Hvar — open one for its full timetable.
Hvar Town or Stari Grad? The answer is whether you have a car
Hvar has two arrival points and they are not near each other. Catamarans land at Hvar Town, on the riva a couple of minutes from the main square — you step off into the destination. Car ferries land at Stari Grad, on the north side of the island, and from there it is a drive of roughly 20 km over the ridge to Hvar Town.
The rule is simple: on foot, take the catamaran; with a vehicle, you have no choice but Stari Grad, because the passenger catamarans carry no cars at all.
Split to Hvar Town: the crossing most people take
Our timetable lists Split to Hvar at around 55 minutes, with departures spread from 08:30 to 17:30. Both Jadrolinija and Krilo (Kapetan Luka) work the route, and in peak summer the combined frequency across all operators reaches into the teens.
Crossing times quoted elsewhere range from 50 minutes to about an hour and a half; the difference is the vessel and whether the sailing calls anywhere on the way.
⚠ Bringing a car means Stari Grad — and that route is not in our listings
The only way to get a vehicle to Hvar is the Jadrolinija car ferry from Split to Stari Grad, scheduled at about 1 h 50 m with up to seven departures a day in summer and fares from roughly €8 per foot passenger — the cheapest way to the island if you do not mind the drive at the far end.
We do not currently list Stari Grad as a port, so that sailing will not appear in our search. Book it directly with the operator.
Hvar as a link in the island chain, not just a day trip from Split
Most guides treat Hvar as somewhere you visit from Split and return. The catamaran network makes a one-way chain along the coast just as workable:
- Hvar to Korčula — about 70 minutes, roughly three sailings a day between 09:10 and 17:55, Jadrolinija and Krilo.
- Dubrovnik to Hvar — one departure at 15:30, a little over three hours with Krilo.
Chained together, Dubrovnik → Korčula → Hvar → Split is a coastal route rather than a series of returns, and it removes the backtracking that costs most itineraries a day.
Book earlier than feels necessary
In July and August the Hvar Town catamarans sell out days ahead. Arriving at the pier twenty minutes before departure and expecting a seat is a summer mistake, not a winter one.
The car ferry to Stari Grad is more forgiving for foot passengers but vehicle space fills first, as on every Croatian island route.
Wind stops the fast boats before the ferries
Catamarans suspend in conditions the conventional car ferries handle without comment. On this coast the culprit is the bura, the dry northeasterly that arrives abruptly and blows hard. If a fixed connection depends on your crossing — a flight from Split, a booked transfer — the Stari Grad ferry is the more reliable ticket even though it is slower.
Check the operator's service notices rather than the timetable page; disruptions are posted separately.
Once you land
Hvar Town is compact and walkable, which is the argument for the catamaran. Stari Grad is a working town with its own charm but you will want wheels: buses connect the two, timed loosely around ferry arrivals, and taxis are available but not plentiful late.
The island runs long — roughly 68 km end to end — so if you are heading for Jelsa, Vrboska or the eastern villages, arriving at Stari Grad may actually suit you better than Hvar Town.
When to come
The catamaran network thickens from about April and thins sharply after October; in winter the island reverts to a much reduced Split–Stari Grad service. May, June and September give you the full timetable without August's sold-out sailings, and the sea is warm enough from June onward.
Hvarferry & travel FAQ
Should I go to Hvar Town or Stari Grad?
It depends on whether you have a car. Catamarans dock at Hvar Town, two minutes from the main square. Car ferries dock at Stari Grad on the north side, about 20 km away over the ridge. Passenger catamarans carry no vehicles, so with a car Stari Grad is your only option.
How long is the ferry from Split to Hvar?
About 55 minutes on the catamaran to Hvar Town, with departures across the day from roughly 08:30 to 17:30. Quoted times elsewhere range from 50 minutes to an hour and a half depending on vessel and stops. The car ferry to Stari Grad takes about 1 hour 50 minutes.
Can I take a car to Hvar?
Only on the Jadrolinija car ferry from Split to Stari Grad — up to seven departures a day in summer. The passenger catamarans to Hvar Town do not carry vehicles at all.
Do I need to book the Hvar catamaran in advance?
In July and August, yes — sailings routinely sell out days ahead. Outside peak season you can usually buy closer to departure, but vehicle space on the Stari Grad ferry fills first year-round.
Can I get to Hvar from Dubrovnik directly?
Yes. Krilo runs one departure at 15:30, taking a little over three hours. It is the southern end of a coastal chain that also links Korčula and Split.
Is there a ferry between Hvar and Korčula?
Yes, roughly three sailings a day in season, about 70 minutes, run by Jadrolinija and Krilo between 09:10 and 17:55.
What happens if the weather is bad?
Fast catamarans are suspended in strong wind — the bura on this coast — while conventional car ferries usually keep running. If you have a fixed onward connection, the slower Stari Grad ferry is the safer choice.
When do the ferries run?
The catamaran network builds from around April and thins after October. In winter the island falls back to a much reduced Split–Stari Grad service.
Reviewed by Serhat Özçelik, Founder & Editor of Ferry Schedule Hub · Last updated August 8, 2026.