August 28, 2026 – It has been open less than a month, but the new Hvar Sirena Resort, set an idyllic secluded bay, is already attracting impressive international column inches of praise.
It only opened on August 4, a soft opening in peak season, but it did not take long for a new rising star of Croatian tourism to attract international headlines, with news of the latest renovation by Suncani Hvar Hotels reaching as far away as New York, with the influential New York Times including Hvar Sirena Resort in its article 5 New Hotels for One Last Sun-Drenched Getaway, from Cape Cod to Croatia.
New York, of course, is very much on the minds of Hvar tourism providers, with the inaugural New York to Split direct flight being an unqualified success this year, reducing the travel time from the Big Apple to Hvar Paradise to just 10 hours, including an impressive speedboat transfer to the island. According to various sources I have come across, this direct flight will be more frequent and last longer in 2027, which is great news for American tourists, who are now the undisputed number one visitors to Croatia’s Premier Island.
While there is no such thing as a private bay or private beach in Croatia, Hvar Sirena Resort come pretty close, located in isolation in a forested bay 1.5 miles north of the town, with hourly shuttle transfer to the vibe of Hvar Town, meaning that guests can have the best of both worlds – the transquillity of Hvar, the island, and the internationally famous vibe of Hvar Town, something noted by the Times:
“While Hvar has long been a favourite of boldface names and partygoers, Sirena, set in a cover, says the emphasis is on tranquillity, where a guest can unfurl on the beach or by the pool. The hotel offers ‘silent sailing excursions’ to serene beaches, and each evening a bell signals a ’15-minute’ pause on the hotel terrace during which guests are guided through breathing exercises. The hotel also has a spa and yoga deck and offers weekly cultural activities, like a sunset tasting of honeys and sparkling wine with a local beekeeper.”
The honey theme was picked up by Forbes, which explores an intriguing new trend of bee conservation and honey tasting in luxury hotels around the world in Apitourism Is Buzzing—Is Honey Tasting The New Wine Tasting?, with honey tasting experiences in luxury hotels from Hawaii to New York City and Australia, to Rwanda, Tuscany and Hvar Sirena Resort:
Sunset Honey Ritual, Sirena, Hvar, Croatia
“On an island where bees reportedly outnumber residents 9,000 to 1, Sirena—Hvar’s newest boutique hotel—partners with the multigenerational, family-run Mikletovi Apiary, now in its third generation, dating back to a great-grandmother who supported her family through honey alone. At full summer harvest, the apiary’s 130 hives can produce more than 4,400 pounds of honey in a single week, worked under a zero-waste philosophy that uses everything from the honey to the pollen to the propolis. Guests join a sunset tasting of Hvar’s wild rosemary, sage, and lavender honeys as part of Sirena’s weekly Serene Sessions, with the beekeepers themselves on hand to talk through the island’s ecology.”
And no international tourism media comment on Hvar would be complete without Conde Nast Traveler, the influential American publication which regularly features Hvar among its top destinations in Europe (indeed, its famous Conde Nast Traveler Readers Awards is responsible for the oft-quoted statement that Hvar is among the 10 most beautiful islands in the world).
Sirena: First In – Located on one of Croatia’s prettiest swimming coves, this Havar island newcomer is just right for long summer days
- Best for: Solo travelers, groups, or a romantic getaway
- Location: Mala Garška Bay, just 1.5 miles from Hvar Town
- Can’t-miss feature: The small turquoise-hued cove is one of Croatia’s most beautiful and a quiet alternative to busy Hvar Town.
- In a nutshell: New 154-room boutique hotel in a secluded, turquoise-hued sea cove, just 10-minutes drive from busy Hvar Town on the hotel’s free shuttle, but a world apart. The dreamy setting is an ideal spot to drop anchor for a relaxing swim, snorkel, and linger over a bottle of local wine under umbrella pine trees buzzing with cicadas.
A really impressive start for this, the latest renovation in the Suncani Hvar Hotels portfolio, which has also added several stars to its hotels in the last 10 years. In addition to the Hvar Sirena Resort upgrade, Pharos, Hvar Bayhill Hotel has upgraded from a 2-star to 4-star hotel since 2016, which Palace Elisabeth upgraded from a 2-star hotel to the first 5-star hotel on a Dalmatian island back in 2019.
I have not stayed there, but I did visit last week, and, although Hvar Sirena Resort had only been open a few days, it was clear that this is a phenomenal addition to the Hvar tourism scene, offering something a little bit different to the other hotels on the island, with the accessibility of the Hvar Town vibe, but a boutique serenity a whole world away, just 10 minutes by shuttle transfer. One of the best uses of Hvar’s many incredible bays that I have seen in a long time, and I predict a bumper season for 2027 – but do sneak in this autumn to be among the first.
You can learn more about the complete Suncani Hvar portfolio on the official website.
