Hotels near Stari Grad and Stari Grad Plain

Stari Grad (literally Old Town) is one of the oldest continuously inhabited towns in Europe, founded as Pharos by Greek colonists from Paros in 384 BC. Its small harbour, narrow stone lanes and shaded squares make it a quieter, more local-feeling alternative to Hvar Town and the natural base for exploring the eastern half of the island.

The town's two unmissable sights are Tvrdalj Castle, the fortified summer residence of 16th-century poet Petar Hektorovic, with its rectangular saltwater fish pond and Latin inscriptions; and the Dominican Monastery with a small museum that includes a Tintoretto. Just outside town, the Stari Grad Plain is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an agricultural landscape laid out in stone-walled parcels by the Greeks in the 4th century BC and farmed almost unchanged for 2,400 years.

Pro Tip: Rent an e-bike in Stari Grad and ride the marked paths through the UNESCO plain at golden hour. Stop at a small producer for olive-oil tasting straight from the source.