Stari Grad

• The Stari Grad Plain is a cultural landscape shaped over millennia, with rectangular plots bounded by dry-stone walls.
• Stari Grad lies at the end of a 7 km-long bay that is suitable for beginner and advanced windsurfers.
• The harbor is the largest on the island and an international port. Most travelers reach the island by ferry via the ports of Stari Grad and Sućuraj.

The Stari Grad Plain, Starogradsko polje, is not simply an open expanse: its rectangular plots are bounded by dry-stone walls. This cultural landscape, shaped over millennia, gives the area an agricultural character. Those interested in the landscape and its long development will find a different focus here than in a stay centered mainly on water sports.

Historic buildings include the Dominican Monastery of St. Peter the Martyr (Dominikanski samostan sv. Petra Mučenika). It was founded in 1482 and fortified with two round towers after the Turkish attack on the island of Hvar at the end of the 16th century. The museum in the monastery preserves the oldest inscriptions in Greek found in Croatia. The Church of St. Stephen (Crkva sv. Stjepana) is also a notable cultural site: construction of the Baroque building began in 1605.

The Church of St. Roch (Crkva sv. Roka) is right next to Tvrdalj and is dedicated to the patron saint of Stari Grad. The Tvrdalj of Petar Hektorović is also located in Stari Grad. At Škor Square (Trg Škor), its former use recalls another part of the town’s history: a shipyard once stood there.

The bay is a point of reference for travelers interested in windsurfing: it is 7 km long and, according to the description, suitable for both beginners and advanced windsurfers. In Stari Grad, you can also rent kayaks and SUP boards to explore secluded coves, pebble beaches and cliffs. Lanterna Beach is accessible on foot along the sea or by bike.

You can also include a circular route in your travel plans: Kabal 706 starts in the center of Stari Grad, continues to the settlement of Rudina and returns to Stari Grad via Kabal and Arkada. Bike rentals are advertised in Stari Grad for exploring routes, landscapes and historic sights. The circular route and water activities appeal to different interests; choose according to what you would like to focus on during your stay.

For the feast of St. Lucy on December 13, a large fire is traditionally lit in Stari Grad in front of the church. Children are given gifts hidden in a sock. On December 6, the feast of St. Nicholas, an old boat is sacrificed in a fire in front of the church every year. St. Nicholas is regarded as the patron saint of sailors.

The Dani u vali Festival took place in Stari Grad from September 17 to 20, 2026. It was a festival of traditional boats, the sea and sailors, where visitors could sample traditional food, drinks and other local products. Its set dates make it a specific example of the local events calendar, not a statement about dates in other years.

The harbor is relevant for traveling to the island: most travelers arrive by ferry via Stari Grad or Sućuraj. Stari Grad is the island’s largest harbor and an international port.

Find other places on this page under Vrbanj. Other place pages in the same broader area: Općina Sućuraj, Općina Hvar and Općina Jelsa.

How long is the bay of Stari Grad?

The bay is 7 km long. It is suitable for beginner and advanced windsurfers.

What is the Kabal 706 circular route?

It starts in the center of Stari Grad, goes to Rudina and returns to Stari Grad via Kabal and Arkada.

When are the feasts of St. Lucy and St. Nicholas?

The feast of St. Lucy is on December 13, and the feast of St. Nicholas is on December 6. Both feasts are associated with local traditions involving a fire in front of the church.

For the broader travel overview: Hvar.