Although it is the smallest town on the island of Hvar, the beauty of Vrboska easily surpasses that of all the others, primarily due to its geographical location. It is situated on the northern coast of the central part of the island, deep in a bay at the end of a narrow, meandering inlet. In the middle of the bay is an island and numerous small bridges span the channel, earning Vrboska the nickname of “Little Venice”. Roman ruins indicate that the town has been inhabited since antiquity, but the oldest preserved monuments and buildings date back to the 15th century.
Impressive old houses in Gothic, Neo-Renaissance and Baroque styles, as well as Mediterranean architecture with characteristic stone buildings and narrow streets, predominate in the town. This idyllic picture is complemented by the thick pine forest hugging the town on the landward side, and beautiful beaches and coves on the seaward side. A rich tradition of fishing is evident in the cuisine offered in this charming, warm small town. Nowadays the primary activity in Vrboska is tourism, of course, and the central marina on the northern coast of Hvar is economically the most important establishment in Vrboska. ACI Marina Vrboska, located in the outer part of the harbour of Vrboska, is open all year round.
Did you know…?
…that the fortified church in Vrboska is one of the most beautiful examples of this type of architecture. It was built on the foundations of the former Church of St. Mary, burnt down during the large Turkish raid lead by Uluj Ali Pasha, when most of the island was plundered and burnt.
…that Vrboska has a long tradition of nudism, mostly practiced on the island of Zečevo and in the Nudist Camp, only a kilometre from the town centre.
Berths
- 119 berths
- 17 dry berths
Amenities
Transport connections
Vrboska is connected with Split, the regional centre (with an international airport and motorway to Zagreb) via ferry port in Stari Grad, 7 km away. It is also connected with Rijeka and Dubrovnik by year-round and seasonal ferry services, as well as with the Italian cities of Ancona and Pescara via Split, and Bari via Dubrovnik. There is also a boat service to the town of Bol on the neighbouring island of Brač, which has a small international airport.