Where to Stay in Stari Grad, Hvar: The Best Hotels, Villas and Apartments
Stari Grad is our favourite town on Hvar and the one we wish we'd based ourselves in from the start. Quieter, cheaper and more characterful than Hvar Town, it also has some of the most distinctive places to stay on the island. Here's every option worth booking.
UPDATED MAY 2026
Stari Grad is our favourite town on Hvar, and after three visits, the town we wish we'd based ourselves in from the start.
While Hvar Town handles the superyachts, the party crowd and the day-trippers, Stari Grad draws a quieter, more considered traveller.
The limestone lanes, the picturesque squares, the Riva at dusk, the konobas serving whatever came in that morning - it has a pace and character that's increasingly hard to find on the island as it becomes more popular. And it's noticeably cheaper than Hvar Town, which doesn't hurt.
Accommodation here reflects the town's character. There aren't hundreds of hotel options, Stari Grad runs on apartments, stone houses and a handful of well-chosen hotels, which is part of what keeps it feeling the way it does.
The upside is that some of the most characterful stays on the island are here, from a Michelin-recognised resort on the west coast to a centuries-old stone house on the most beautiful square in town.
This guide covers every option worth booking in Stari Grad, across every budget.
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STARI GRAD
HOTELS | OUR PICKS
OUR TOP PICK | Maslina Resort: the finest resort on the island, Michelin-recognised restaurant
BEST LUXURY RESORT | Valamar Amicor Green Resort: five-star eco resort with pools
BEST MID-RANGE | Places Hvar by Valamar: stylish, fun and right next to the beach
BEST VALUE HOTEL | Hotel Antica Stari Grad: 4-star, breakfast included
BEST LUXURY VILLA | Nine Olives Hvar: purpose-built dream house, uninterrupted sea views
BEST AIRBNB | Dolce Terra: converted stone animal stall, slow travel heaven
BEST BUDGET | Casa Delle Rose: characterful stone house, bicycles included
BEST HOSTEL | Hostel Sunce: clean, friendly, a few minutes from the old town
WHERE IN STARI GRAD SHOULD I STAY?
Stari Grad is small and entirely walkable, so no choice here is a bad one. That said, where you base yourself shapes your daily experience in a few meaningful ways.
THE OLD TOWN
The historic centre is the obvious choice - limestone lanes, the best restaurants, Za Pod Zub on Srinjo Kola and the Riva, a short stroll away.
Accommodation here tends to be apartments and stone houses rather than hotels, and the character of the buildings is often the highlight of the stay itself. Noise is minimal compared to Hvar Town — Stari Grad simply doesn't have that problem.
Best for: couples, slow travellers, those who want to feel genuinely immersed in the town
THE RIVA AND WATERFRONT
Staying along the waterfront puts the Riva, the fishing boats and the best sunset views right on your doorstep.
A handful of guesthouses and apartments occupy this stretch, and the morning walk along the promenade before the town wakes up is hard to beat.
Best for: those who want the harbour atmosphere, morning swimmers, sunset chasers
THE WEST COAST (MASLINA AND VALAMAR)
The luxury end of Stari Grad accommodation sits on the west coast, a short drive from the town centre.
Maslina Resort and Valamar Amicor Green Resort both occupy their own sheltered coves with stunning sea views and full resort facilities. Quieter and more secluded than anything in town.
Best for: luxury travellers, those with a car, couples who want seclusion without sacrificing proximity to town
OUTSKIRTS AND SURROUNDING VILLAGES
Apartments and houses just outside Stari Grad offer lower prices and a more local feel. You'll need a car for anything beyond the town itself, but the peace and quiet more than compensates.
Best for: families, campers, those on a tighter budget, anyone wanting a self-catering base
For the full breakdown of every property worth booking, our Where to Stay on Hvar guide covers the whole island in detail.
THE BEST HOTELS IN STARI GRAD
MASLINA RESORT | LUXURY
Olive (’maslina’) by name and surrounded by olive trees by nature, Maslina is the finest resort in Stari Grad and one of the most beautifully designed hotels on the island.
Set in its own sheltered pine-flanked cove on the west coast, it uses locally sourced stone, terracotta tiles, timber and brass throughout, with custom-made furniture designed to reflect Hvar's coastlines and pine forests.
The onsite restaurant sources from its own kitchen garden, celebrating local seasonal ingredients, and has earned a Michelin Guide listing to prove it.
BOOK | Maslina Resort
VALAMAR AMICOR GREEN RESORT | LUXURY
A five-star resort with genuine eco-credentials, awarded the prestigious Green Key certification for its sustainability practices, including solar panels and rainwater collection.
All the amenities you'd expect from a large resort - pools, spa, restaurant - in a setting that feels more considered than most.
Located in the heart of Stari Grad, it's a good base for those who want resort facilities alongside easy access to the town. Cycling and hiking trails are right on the doorstep.
BOOK | Valamar Amicor Green Resort
PLACES HVAR BY VALAMAR | MID-RANGE
A stylish, well-located resort just 50 metres from a pine-shaded pebble beach, about 20 minutes walk from Stari Grad town centre.
More relaxed and affordable than Valamar Amicor, with a lively poolside bar, DJ nights and a fun atmosphere that makes it popular with younger couples and groups.
A shuttle bus runs to Stari Grad, Hvar Town, Jelsa and Vrboska for those who want to explore.
BOOK | Places Hvar by Valamar
HOTEL ANTICA STARI GRAD | MID-RANGE
Not to be confused with our favourite restaurant in town, Hotel Antica sits right next to the ferry terminal with gorgeous views over the clear blue bay.
A comfortable, well-run four-star option with excellent staff and a buffet breakfast included - with plenty of vegetarian options. The most convenient hotel option in town for those arriving by ferry.
BOOK | Hotel Antica Stari Grad
NINE OLIVES HVAR | LUXURY VILLA
Completed in June 2024 after five years of design and construction, Nine Olives is the most spectacular villa option near Stari Grad.
A purpose-built holiday house on the edge of town with uninterrupted sea views, five bedrooms sleeping up to ten, a chemical-free heated pool, large terraces and sunsets that guests consistently describe as some of the best they've ever seen.
The owner - an Englishman who loved Stari Grad so much he built his dream house there - is responsive and helpful.
Perfect for groups of friends or extended families who want something special.
BOOK | Nine Olives Hvar
THE BEST AIRBNBS AND APARTMENTS IN STARI GRAD
Stari Grad's best accommodation secret is its apartments. Stone houses, ancient courtyards, converted animal stalls, the character here is exceptional.
For our full guide to Hvar Island's best Airbnbs and apartments, read here. Our Stari Grad picks:
DOLCE TERRA | LUXURY
An ancient stone animal stall transformed into a boutique villa - and one of the most distinctive stays on the island. Every corner feels considered rather than decorated: reclaimed wood, local stone, wildflowers and olive trees surrounding a private pool, garden and barbecue.
The villa sleeps 8 in 3 bedrooms and is designed entirely around slow living. The kind of place you book and then spend the whole holiday not wanting to leave.
BOOK | Dolce Terra
HOUSE HERITAGE, SQUARE Å KOR | MID-RANGE
On the most beautiful square in Stari Grad, the quaint, flower-covered Square Å kor, House Heritage offers something rare: a two-bedroom, two-bathroom stone house with a fully equipped kitchen, rustic original details and an enclosed courtyard with a pizza oven.
The kind of place that makes you feel like you actually live somewhere rather than visiting it. Central location with the best restaurants, cafes and the beachfront all within easy walking distance.
BOOK | House Heritage, Square Å kor
CASA DELLE ROSE | BUDGET
A traditional stone house renovated with care and genuine personality. Local and natural materials throughout, original stone archways and atrium preserved, walls decorated with work from local artists supported by the host.
Two bedrooms, two bicycles, two sun loungers for the beach and four yoga mats for slow mornings in the vine-covered courtyard. Everything you need, nothing you don't.
BOOK | Casa Delle Rose
THE BEST HOSTELS IN STARI GRAD
HOSTEL SUNCE
A few minutes walk from the old town centre, Hostel Sunce is the best budget option in Stari Grad. Clean, comfortable and friendly, with single, double and triple rooms rather than large dorms - a good option for solo travellers who want their own space without paying hotel prices.
The onsite restaurant, dining room and communal area make it easy to meet other travellers without the full party hostel atmosphere.
BOOK | Hostel Sunce
STARI GRAD HOTELS GUIDE | WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
BOOK WELL IN ADVANCE
Stari Grad is quieter than Hvar Town but still gets busy in July and August. The best apartments and stone houses book out months ahead of peak season.
If you're visiting late June through August, start looking early - the most characterful places disappear fast and what's left is rarely worth the price.
SHOULDER SEASON IS THE SWEET SPOT
We visited in April and May and paid around two-thirds of peak season pricing for accommodation, considerably less for food and activities and got a better version of the town in return.
May and September are our strong recommendations - warm sea, manageable crowds and everything still open and operating.
APARTMENTS OVER HOTELS
Stari Grad has always been more of an apartment town than a hotel town — and that's a feature rather than a bug. The family-run stone houses and converted historic buildings here offer more character than most hotels at a fraction of the price.
For years, guesthouse owners would meet arriving ferries and offer rooms to passengers as they disembarked. That tradition has faded, but the apartments remain, and they're still the best value accommodation option on the island.
TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR CROATIA
Honest take: if something goes wrong, a medical emergency, a missed ferry, a scooter accident on a Croatian coastal road, travel insurance is the difference between a stressful story and a catastrophic one.
After 10+ years of full-time travel, here's what we use and recommend:
FOR TRAVELLERS | World Nomads offers travel insurance for independent travellers and intrepid families. Their policies offer coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.
Get a quote from World Nomads →
READ | Our ultimate guide to travel insurance
PLAN YOUR VISIT TO HVAR ISLAND?
Make the most of your time on Hvar with our essential Croatia travel guides.
EXPLORE HVAR
Start with these guides to help plan your time on the island:
Hvar Island Guide — 21 things to know before you visit
WHERE TO STAY ON HVAR
Where to Stay on Hvar Island — hotels, guesthouses and hostels
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PLAN YOUR HVAR TRIP WITH THESE USEFUL GUIDES
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