Vrboska on Hvar – Little Venice in Croatia

Vrboska on Hvar is one of the most picturesque villages on the island. This tiny village on the north coast of Hvar island lies at the bottom of narrow curving fiord with several bridges, so it’s sometimes referred to as ‘little Venice’.

Vrboska is only about 4 kilometers west of Jelsa, and 6 kilometers east of Stari Grad town, and very near Stari Grad Plain which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The name Vrboska derives probably from two sources. The first one from Vrbanj, the inland village whose inhabitants in 15th century established a fishing port. The second one comes from Latin word ‘verboscam’ (wooden bay).

If you decide to visit Vrboska, see my Hvar island attractions page to find all interesting sights in this small fisherman village.

Vrboska has little over 500 inhabitants who live mainly of tourism, olive, fruit and wine growing, as well as of fishing. At the beginning of the 20th century, Vrboska had a sardine factory.

Today Vrboska is also a lovely tourist resort that has everything you need for a quiet family holiday. It’s surrounded by pine trees with several beaches, hotels, numerous private rooms and apartments, and many sports facilities.

Its deep bay has become suitable to anchor small yachts with a well-equipped marina for larger yachts.

With several bridges scattered around the village, local boat owners have boats with a folding mast in order to be able to pass under the bridge.

Vrboska Hvar – What To See

St. Mary church

In the middle of the village stands a fortified church of St. Mary built in 1579 to protect the village from Turkish attacks.

From the church roof you enjoy a beautiful view of the countryside and the surrounding sea. Opening hours: Mon-sat 10:00-12:00.

Fisherman’s museum

In order to preserve the fishing tradition, a fishing museum was opened way back in 1972. The museum holds an interesting collection of traditional fishing nets, tools and equipment.

To demonstrate the difficulty of fisherman life, museum also displays a reconstruction of a traditional fisherman’s house. Opening hours: Mon-sun 10:30-12:30 – 18:30-21:00.

Church of St. Lovre (St. Lawrence)

West of the fortified church of St. Mary there is the parish church of St. Lovre with 5 altars. It dates back to the 15th century, and has been adapted with Baroque style in the 17th century.

It contains numerous images of famous renaissance and baroque artists. Every year in August a big celebration takes place in Vrboska, the ‘Days of St. Lawrence’.

Vrboska Hvar Beaches

Vrboska has one of the best family beaches on Hvar island, Soline, a short walk through the pine trees from Vrboska in Jelsa town direction.

In the same direction there is also a popular naturist beach. Vrboska is a place with a long tradition of nudism in hidden nearby coves.

If you are a fan of naturism, some of the best camping sites on Hvar is on the north of the island just between Vrboska and Jelsa towns.

FKK auto camp Nudist is situated in a quiet, wooded cove, only 1 km far from Vrboska. It is located directly on the coast, in an area surrounded by trees looking at Brac island.

This camp has a 800 m long stone beach exclusively dedicated for naturists. Visit their useful website for more information.

Getting To Vrboska Hvar Island

There are several ways to reach Vrboska village: by ferry boat, by car, by bus or by fast catamaran (only passengers) via Bol (Brac island).

High-speed ferry operated by Krilo runs directly from Split ferry port to Hvar harbour. You can check availability of this route here.

The fastest way is by seaplane from Split airport or Split downtown seaplane harbor. There is a daily flight to Jelsa.

• By car ferry from Split to Stari Grad
• By car from Sucuraj taking Drvenik (Makarska Riviera) to Sucuraj ferry boat.
• By catamaran from Split – Bol – Jelsa.
• By bus from Stari Grad ferry port – check the bus schedule from Hvar/Vrboska/Hvar, Stari Grad/Vrboska/Stari Grad, Jelsa/Vrboska/Jelsa, Ferry port Stari Grad/Vrboska.
• By seaplane via Jelsa

Vrboska Hvar Accommodation

The entire Hvar Island is a popular tourist destination, and Vrboska village is a real gem of peace, tranquility, and traditional island life. There’s plenty of private apartments and hotels you can stay in:

Find Apartments in Vrboska, Hvar – Private accommodation in Vrboska Croatia – houses, rooms, apartments, holiday villas – guest reviews!

This quaint little village is worth a visit if you find yourself on Hvar island, but it’s also a great place for a family holiday.