Another week, another list, another mention of Hvar.
Croatia’s premier is rarely out of the media when it comes to the best places to be – it is famously known as one of the 10 most beautiful islands in the world. So it is little surprise that the recently-released Travel + Leisure 50 Best Places to Go in 2023 included the island of Hvar.
Also encouraging is that this year’s inclusion did not include the usual cliched sentences, but paid tribute to the new and renovated hotels on the island, including the island’s first sustainable hotel, traditions such as the lavender festival, and the new attraction in Jelsa – stargazing. Here is what they had to say about the only Croatian inclusion in this year’s list:
Those seeking a brighter 2023 will find it on Hvar: This Dalmatian Coast island calls itself the sunniest in Croatia. That means plenty of time for cycling more than 100 miles of bikeable terrain or kayak trips to secluded beaches. At night, those clear skies make for incredible stargazing: Jesla, on the island’s north shore, was named the first International Dark Sky Community in Southern Europe in 2022; and Moeesy, the island’s newest luxury hotel, has one room with an over-the-bed skylight for bedtime viewing. The town of Velo Grablje’s 14th-century charm peaks in July, when the lavender festival blooms with food, drink, and family-friendly activities all centered around the fragrant Mediterranean plant. And in Hvar proper, the harborside Riva Marina hotel reopened in June 2022 with refreshed waterfront terrace suites and a new restaurant and bar concept focused on local ingredients. Just down the block is the island’s first sustainable hotel, Beach Bay, which opened this past summer 2022 with an off-grid solar power system and a commitment to honor UNESCO’s Sustainable Travel Pledge.
To see the full Travel + Leisure list fo 2023, click here.
How well do you know the island of Hvar? After living on the island for 13 years and having written more than 9,000 articles about Croatia’s premier island, here are 10 things that blew my mind about my new home. And there isn’t a beach or mention of nightlife anywhere…
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What is it like to live in Croatia? An expat for 20 years, you can follow my series, 20 Ways Croatia Changed Me in 20 Years, starting at the beginning – Business and Dalmatia.
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