You can only appreciate the real beauty of Hvar when you see it from the sea. The cathedral, arsenal and theatre, Fortica fortress, the Franciscan monastery, the Fabrika waterfront… And hundreds of boats, at berths and at anchor. You might not be able to stay here, since the number of berths on the waterfront is limited, and there are always at least twice as many interested candidates as there are free spaces. Still, you should give it a try. If you succeed, you will be seen, and that is the main reason for coming to Hvar anyway. Do not worry if you do not manage to find a space. You will be spared the noise and swell created by most winds, since the harbour is largely exposed both to the south and west, which is why there are always waves in the harbour. Find a safe haven somewhere on the Pakleni Islands instead.
The main, most popular berths for sailors are located on the waterfront in the eastern part of the harbour. Around a hundred metres of the waterfront are intended for passenger traffic. At night, this part of the waterfront is used by traditional cruise ships. Next comes the clearly marked part of the waterfront intended for sailors, equipped with moorings and water and electricity connections. The first part is usually taken up by mega-yachts, followed by berths for smaller boats. The fee for a berth is among the highest, or is perhaps the highest in the Adriatic. There is space for around 20 yachts, and the largest ones usually reserve berths in advance. The last 50 metres of the waterfront, its northernmost part, are reserved for local boats.
Around ten yachts or boats, depending on size, can moor on the low waterfront which extends about 30 metres west of the picturesque haven at the very base of the harbour. Although the berths are mostly intended for customs traffic, spending the night there is tolerated. These berths are also equipped with moorings. From that point, the waterfront continues for about 100 metres southwest. If you take a closer look, you will notice that this part is very old. Most of the stone slabs were placed during the time of the Venetian Republic. In the last few years, sailors have also been mooring at the very end of the western part of the shore, where the depths are extremely small – between 0.8 and 1.3 m. This is due to the presence of around 20 deadweights with buoys and moorings.
Hvar is an exceptionally interesting and lively town, with dozens of great restaurants, entertainment spots and cultural and historical monuments, so be sure to take advantage of the Hvar nightlife once you are safely moored.
(Port authority office, seasonal maritime border crossing, community health centre, pharmacy, police station, banks, post office, fuel station)
