Hotels in Stari Grad
Stari Grad is older than it looks: Greeks from the island of Paros founded it as Faros in 384 BC, and the fields behind it, the Stari Grad Plain, still follow the land division they laid out. The plain has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008. In town, Tvrdalj, the 16th-century residence of the poet Petar Hektorović, is the sight not to miss. For where to sleep, the choice is simple: the old town for character, or the hotels on the bay for pools and space. On this site all four hotels are on the bay: PLACES Hvar by Valamar sits on the promenade, 50 m from the sea, and was fully renovated in 2020; Maslina Resort has a private beach area and an infinity pool; Valamar Amicor Resort suits families; Arkada Hotel has a seawater pool in a pine wood. The ferry is the reason to come here with a car. The Jadrolinija car ferry from Split crosses in about 110 minutes, and with a vehicle you should be at the port 45 minutes early in summer. Hvar town, on the south coast, is roughly 15 km by road. My honest view: Stari Grad is the better base for a week of exploring Hvar by car, and the wrong one if your plan is the bars of Hvar town every night.
Stari Grad is the town at the end of a long, sheltered bay on Hvar's north coast, and it is where I would base a family or a couple who want Hvar with a car, without the nightlife and crowds of Hvar town. The Jadrolinija car ferry from Split lands here, the old stone town is walkable, and the four hotels on this site are resort-style properties along the bay among pines: PLACES Hvar by Valamar, Valamar Amicor Resort, Arkada Hotel and Maslina Resort. All four have pools, which matters in a town whose beaches are pebble and rock. Hvar town is about 15 km away by road.
Stari Grad at a glance
Valamar Amicor Resort
Beachfront resort with a pool, family dining, and pet-friendly rooms
Why guests love itValamar Amicor Resort in Stari Grad combines direct beach access with an outdoor pool, the pairing I look for first with children. Rooms are air-conditioned with sea or garden views, the family-friendly restaurant serves varied cuisines, and pets are welcome. A sun terrace gives parents somewhere to sit while the children swim. Stari Grad is a calmer base than Hvar town, and a score of 9.3 from 242 reviews is excellent.
Maslina Resort
Beachfront luxury with an infinity pool and private beach access
Why guests love itMaslina Resort in Stari Grad gives a family a private beach area and an infinity pool overlooking the sea, which covers most of a holiday day. Rooms are air-conditioned with sea-view balconies, the family-friendly restaurant offers varied dining, and pets are welcome. Parents get a spa and a beach club, and lush gardens surround the buildings. I would keep it for families who want five-star comfort on Hvar, and a score of 9.3 from 168 reviews backs it up.
PLACES Hvar Hotel by Valamar
Beachfront hotel with a pool, spa, and rentals on the Stari Grad promenade
Why guests love itPlaces Hvar Hotel by Valamar sits on the Stari Grad promenade, 50 metres from the sea, and I would suggest it to active families. The outdoor pool is shaded by pine trees, tennis courts give older children something to do, and bike, scooter and boat rentals make the island easy to explore. Parents can book time at the spa and wellness area. The hotel was fully renovated in 2020 and pets are welcome. A guest score of 8.9 supports the choice.
Arkada Hotel
Beachfront hotel with a seawater pool and balconies overlooking the sea
Why guests love itI would pick Arkada Hotel for a family that wants a quiet beachfront stay on Hvar. There is an outdoor seawater pool, direct sea access and rooms with balconies, all surrounded by pine woods and Mediterranean plants. Pets are welcome. The town centre of Stari Grad is a short drive away, so I would plan evenings with a car. A rating of 7.6 from 134 reviews is modest, so I would read recent comments.
What to expect
- Founded as Faros by Greeks from Paros in 384 BC, with the old town at the head of the bay.
- The Stari Grad Plain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008, right behind the town.
- Port of the Jadrolinija car ferry from Split, about 110 minutes across.
- Four resort hotels on the bay, all with pools, including PLACES Hvar by Valamar (8.9/10 from more than 1,600 reviews).
Local tips
- ✓With a car, be at the Split ferry port 45 minutes before departure in summer: vehicles queue for the Stari Grad car ferry, and a full boat means waiting for the next one.
- ✓Visit Tvrdalj, the 16th-century fortified residence of the poet Petar Hektorović, early in the day, then walk the lanes of the old town around it, compact enough that most sights are within five minutes of the harbour.
- ✓Drive or cycle into the Stari Grad Plain: its fields and dry-stone walls still follow the Greek land plots of the 4th century BC, a UNESCO site since 2008.
- ✓Choose your hotel by its pool, not only its beach: Stari Grad's beaches are pebble and rock, and the four hotels on the bay each have their own outdoor pool.
- ✓Do not plan to commute nightly to Hvar town: it is about 15 km by road, so Stari Grad suits people who want quiet evenings and day trips.
Where to stay
FAQ
Is Stari Grad or Hvar town better to stay in?
Stari Grad for a calmer stay with a car, families and anyone arriving on the car ferry from Split, which lands here. Hvar town for nightlife, restaurants and the fast catamarans that dock in its harbour. The two are about 15 km apart by road, so commuting every evening is tiring; pick the town that matches your evenings.
How do you get from Split to Stari Grad?
By the Jadrolinija car ferry from Split, which crosses to Stari Grad in about 110 minutes. With a vehicle, arrive at the Split port about 45 minutes before departure in summer, as cars are loaded in order and boats fill up. Check the current timetable on the Jadrolinija website before travelling.
What is there to see in Stari Grad?
The town itself, founded as Faros by Greeks from Paros in 384 BC; Tvrdalj, the 16th-century residence of the Renaissance poet Petar Hektorović; and the Stari Grad Plain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008, where the fields still follow the ancient Greek land division.
Are there sandy beaches in Stari Grad?
Do not expect sand. The beaches around the bay are pebble and rock, often shaded by pines, which is why the pools of the hotels on the bay matter. Maslina Resort has its own private beach area and an infinity pool, and Arkada Hotel has a seawater pool.
Is Stari Grad good for families?
Yes. The bay is sheltered, the old town is compact and walkable, and the hotels on the bay have pools and space. Valamar Amicor Resort has a family-friendly restaurant, and PLACES Hvar by Valamar offers bike, scooter and boat rentals for days out on the island.