Hvar Island Sunrise and Sailboats

I do love sunsets, but more so I love waking up for sunrise in a beautiful, new place. As someone who had to wake up painfully early for work, I find it refreshing to wake up for serene sunrises while on vacation, making every relaxing day as long as possible. I typically sneak out solo to enjoy the beauty of the quiet start to the day that so many miss. I still remember the most beautiful sunrise I’ve seen to date. It was the morning I woke up in Hvar!

We traveled from Split the previous evening, and climbed what seemed like thousands of stairs, dragging our luggage to our apartment overlooking red rooftops to the sea.

Hvar is described as the longest and sunniest island in the Dalmatian archipelago. I think it’s one of the most beautiful islands in the world. It’s pretty much impossible to take a bad photo of Hvar.

This was my first experience with rocky beaches done right. I do enjoy the lack of sandy mess from time to time, but that doesn’t change the fact that sand is soft and comfy, while most rocks are not. In Hvar, large, smooth rocks, lead to crystal clear waters, making it easy to find nice spots to relax around the island.

Large beds are provided at many of the bars along the waterside. Our favorite spot was Hula Hula Beach, a trendy setting for sunset drinks and beach-side dancing if you’re feeling frisky.

I found Hvar to be an island with something for everyone. You can rent a scooter and explore vineyards in the hills, you can hike to private beaches, you can enjoy the vibrant and late-night party scene. We soaked it all up and I fell in love. Hvar has everything, including fabulous local wines to complement some of the best seafood I’ve had in my life.

We explored Hvar from top to bottom, taking time to relax and enjoy the beaches as well as hike the hills. Some of the most breathtaking views are high in the Hvar Fortress.

If you’re planning a trip to Hvar (as you should), my #1 piece of advice is to make time to take a sail. You can easily visit many of the smaller islands around Hvar. There are motorized boat taxi’s that will take you to and from nearby islands and restaurants, but nothing compares to riding the winds.

There are many ways to experience Hvar by boat, from sunset sails and day trips around the island, to 7 day sails that offer access to more of the Dalmatian archipelago. Without enough time to sail for distances, we spent a day sailing and swimming, exploring the waters around Hvar and neighboring islands.

Hvar is above and beyond being just ‘another’ of our favorite places, it’s a place where we dream of spending much more time. As we travel around the world, we definitely plan to stop in Hvar for an extended period of waking sunrise.