If you’re trying to decide between visiting Brac or Hvar during your trip to Croatia, this guide will help you choose the perfect island for your holiday!
Both Brac and Hvar are incredibly popular and attract thousands of visitors every summer. While they’re both worth exploring, if you only have time for one, this guide will help you pick the one that suits you best. Keep reading to find out which island is a better fit for you, Brac or Hvar!
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BRAC OR HVAR: OLD TOWNS
When visiting Croatia, exploring beautiful old towns is probably high on your list. After all, that’s one of the reasons you’re coming! Both Brac and Hvar have charming old towns, but they offer different experiences. Depending on what you prefer, you can see which one is better for you
HVAR
HVAR OLD TOWN
Yes, Hvar Old Town is absolutely gorgeous, and it’s a must visit. Like many Croatian coastal towns, it’s full of narrow, cobbled streets, charming staircases, beautiful stone buildings, and stunning squares and waterfront promenades. Some of the main landmarks you need to see in Hvar Old Town are St. Stephen’s Cathedral and square, the Hvar Theatre, the port, as well as the Franciscan Monastery. The Old Town is also full of restaurants, bars, and boutique shops, where you can enjoy great Croatian food, wine, and souvenirs.
Just outside the Old Town, there’s the magnificent Fortica fortress where you can experience the most stunning views of Hvar Old Town, Paklinski Islands, and the Adriatic Sea. Overall, Hvar is stunning but really lively, especially in summer. It’s very popular with yachters and partygoers, so it’s always very social. It’s also really expensive, so keep that in mind.
STARI GRAD
Stari Grad is another small town on Hvar Island, with its own little old town. It’s quite charming, and much less crowded than Hvar Town. There’s not much to do there, but a few of the gems you must visit are Church of St. Stephen and the Tvrdalj Castle. This is a great option if you don’t like the nightlife but still want to enjoy an old town on Hvar Island.
BRAC
BOL
Compared to Hvar, Brac has a much more relaxed and authentic vibe when it comes to its towns and villages. It’s the kind of place where you can enjoy the island’s peaceful charm and get a feel for local life. Bol is located on the southern coast, and it’s the most popular place on Brac. It has a smaller, more peaceful old town feel with a Dominican Monastery. You won’t find many streets here, just simple stone houses, a lovely waterfront promenade, and a handful of local bars and restaurants. Bol is calm, family-friendly, and quite traditional, which is perfect if you want to enjoy a calm holiday with still plenty of things to do.
Choose Hvar Old Town if you want a stunning old town with a more lively and glamorous experience, similar to Dubrovnik. Choose Stari Grad on Hvar or Bol on Brac if you’re looking for quiet, authentic, and less touristy old-town vibes.
BRAC OR HVAR: BEACHES
When it comes to beaches, both Brac and Hvar offer stunning options, but then again, it really depends on what you want out of your holiday. Here’s a short overview of the two islands!
BRAC
Brac has some of the most stunning beaches with some breathtaking landscapes. They’re perfect for families and various watersports.
Brac is home to Croatia’s most famous beach, Zlatni Rat in Bol. It’s a unique, horn-shaped beach whose tip shifts with the wind and sea currents. It’s ideal for swimming, sunbathing, enjoying water sports and beach bars. While it does get quite crowded, it’s very large so you can always easily find a spot. Other incredible beaches in Bol find in our Brac beaches guide!
HVAR
Hvar has some incredible beaches, both for relaxing and for partying. Here’s what you can expect on Hvar!
The most popular beach on Hvar is Dubovica Beach. It’s a gorgeous pebbled bay with a lone, picturesque stone house. It’s not that far from Hvar Town, but it’s a bit of an effort to reach, so plan your visit well. There are a few other great beaches near Hvar Town, such as Pokonji Dol and Zarace Beach. Additionally, you can also enjoy beach clubs such as Beach Club Hvar or Hula Hula Bar. There’s also the famous Carpe Diem beach club on Paklinski Islands.
Choose Brac if you want to experience the famous Zlatni Rat, or other family-friendly and laid-back natural beaches. Choose Hvar if you want secluded bays or a luxurious beach club!
BRAC OR HVAR: NIGHTLIFE
If you love a good party and nightlife is important to you, there’s a pretty clear choice here. Here’s a short overview of fun evenings on Hvar and Brac!
HVAR
Hvar has excellent party spots and it’s the perfect island for those who love a good night out. Whether you want a beach club party, a nightclub, or a yacht party, there’s something for everyone.
Some of the best spots for a beach party on Hvar Island are Hula Hula Bar and Carpe Diem Beach Club. Hula Hula Bar is perfect for grabbing a fun sunset drink and enjoying a beachfront party, but if you want something iconic, visit Carpe Diem. The beach club is located on Paklinski Islands and there’s a ferry that takes you there and back each night. It turns from a fun bar to a full-on club party at night. If you want something more chill, there’s Kiva Bar which is always crowded and lively, but it’s one of Hvar’s most popular spots. You can also check out Nautica Bar, Passarola, or Central Park Club.
BRAC
While you can still have fun on Brac, it’s nowhere near as rowdy as Hvar can get. Brac is more focused on fun dinners in restaurants and grabbing drinks at a bar, but clubbing is not something that’s overly popular there. Brac is simply known to be more relaxed, low-key, and more family and couple-oriented.
However, if you still want to have some fun in the evenings, there are a few places in Bol where you can enjoy a good night out. Varadero Cocktail Bar is the most popular spot with good drinks and music, but there are also a few clubs, like 585 club and Ela’s Club.
Overall, if you want real nightlife, obviously choose Hvar. However, if you enjoy a night out with a drink but prefer a more laid‑back vibe, Brac could be perfect for you!
BRAC OR HVAR: ACCESSIBILITY
When it comes to accessibility, both Brac and Hvar are islands, so reaching them does require some effort. Public transportation on both islands is limited, so exploring without a car can be a bit challenging. I would highly recommend coming with a car to both islands!
HVAR
You can easily access it from Split and a small village called Drvenik, but it’s a bit harder to reach Hvar from other destinations, especially if you have a car with you. However, I would highly recommend having a car if you want to explore the whole island.
There are two car ferry options, from Split to Stari Grad and from Drvenik to Sucuraj. From Drvenik you have a short 30-minute ferry ride, while from Split it’s longer, at around 1 hour 45 minutes. From there, you can than use your car to explore the island in a way you prefer.
>>> SPLIT TO HVAR DAY TRIP GUIDE
If you’re not planning to take a car ferry, you can travel by catamaran, which goes directly to Hvar Town and takes around an hour, depending on your departure point. There are catamarans from Split, Brac, Lastovo, Dubrovnik, Vis, and so on. However, if you’re coming with a catamaran, you won’t have a car, and the buses on Hvar are quite limited. You can use the buses to reach Stari Grad or Jelsa, but for small bays, secluded beaches, and hidden gems, you’ll have to use a taxi.
BRAC
Brac is quite easy to reach, especially from Split and Makarska. I’d recommend visiting Brac with a car so you can explore the island more fully, but even without one, you can still have a great time!
The car ferries leave from Split to Supetar and from Makarska to Sumartin. Makarska to Sumartin ferry is great if you’re in south Dalmatia, but if you’re situated in Split, Supetar is the better option. They’re quite frequent during summer, but limited if you’re visiting off-season. Having a car on Brac will give you the ability to explore Bol, Pucisca, and many other small villages worthy of visiting. That’s why I highly recommend coming with a car!
However, if you don’t have a car, you can grab a catamaran to Bol. Bol is the most developed and most visited area on the island, so if you’re coming on foot this is your best option.
Overall, if you want a faster option, visit Brac. If you don’t mind a longer ride and prefer a more popular and lively location, go to Hvar!
BRAC OR HVAR: CROWDS
When it comes to crowds, there’s a clear difference between Brac and Hvar. While people love and visit Brac a lot, Hvar has a lot more tourists during peak season.
HVAR
Hvar is very popular and it attracts a lot of young people such as yacht crews, partygoers, influencers, backpackers, and even cruisers sailing along the Adriatic Coast. During peak season (July and August) the streets and beaches are packed, so you won’t really get a relaxing holiday. There are a few quieter spots on the island, but they’re far away from Hvar Town. There’s always something happening, so if you’re not a fan of crowds, Hvar in the summer might not be the best choice for you.
BRAC
Brac gets quite a few visitors, but it’s nowhere near as crowded as Hvar Town. Most people visit Bol because they want to visit the famous Zlatni Rat Beach, so most of the crowds are located right there. The rest of the island is very relaxed and perfect for a slow-paced holiday. There are a lot of small villages and towns such as Supetar, Pucisca, Postira, Milna, Sutivan, and so on which are calm and uncrowded, even during summer.
If you want peace, space, and a more relaxed experience you have to choose Brac. However, if you’re a social person who thrives in fun and lively crowds, Hvar is the place for you.
BRAC OR HVAR: ACTIVITIES
When it comes to activities, both Brac and Hvar have plenty to offer, but the types of experiences they provide are quite different.
HVAR
Hvar is vibrant, social, and the ultimate destination if you’re looking for a stylish, luxurious, and modern holiday. Here are some of the top activities you won’t want to miss on your Hvar itinerary:
- Explore Hvar Town
- Take a trip to Paklinski Islands
- Take a wine tour or an olive oil tasting
- Go kayaking and snorkeling
- Grab sunset drinks and visit beach bars
BRAC
Brac is the more chilled-out, nature-focused alternative to Hvar. It’s less about the glitz and more about genuine adventure and natural beauty. Here are some great activities to include in your Brac itinerary:
- Go windsurfing & kitesurfing in Bol
- Hike to Vidova Gora
- Cycle to various small villages
- Go wine tasting in local vineyards
- Visit stone quarries
- Relax at the beach
If you love an active holiday which includes sports, nature hikes, and fewer tourists, Brac is the perfect choice for you. If you love socializing, partying, and good food, Hvar is the better option.
BRAC OR HVAR: CONCLUSION
Overall, both islands are amazing, but they offer very different vibes, so it’s key to know what kind of holiday you want. If I had to pick for a summer trip, I’d go with Brac. It’s less crowded, stunning, with breathtaking beaches and a laid-back feel. That said, Hvar is absolutely stunning in the off-season. We visited in April, and it blew us away. Hvar is truly one of a kind, but if you’re not into the party scene, summer there might not be your thing.
