Hvar

Smooth, sultry and sexy, Hvar is the undisputed jewel in Croatia's Adriatic crown, for you and me as well as a host of big-name players like Benetton, Gates, Spielberg and (Ivana) Trump. And indeed, the gorgeous island, stretching finger-like some 43 miles towards the southern end of the Makarska Riviera, is one of the most pleasant in the entire Adriatic. With great swathes of lavender across the island, hidden coves, plenty of beaches and fabulous weather with 2,700 hours of annual sunshine and only eight snowy days a decade it's no wonder that those who can afford it flock here to see and be seen. Hvar town, the 16th-century Venetian ...

Smooth, sultry and sexy, Hvar is the undisputed jewel in Croatia's Adriatic crown, for you and me as well as a host of big-name players like Benetton, Gates, Spielberg and (Ivana) Trump. And indeed, the gorgeous island, stretching finger-like some 43 miles towards the southern end of the Makarska Riviera, is one of the most pleasant in the entire Adriatic. With great swathes of lavender across the island, hidden coves, plenty of beaches and fabulous weather with 2,700 hours of annual sunshine and only eight snowy days a decade it's no wonder that those who can afford it flock here to see and be seen. Hvar town, the 16th-century Venetian capital, is the major draw Croatia's St. Tropez with as many smart hotels, shore-front terraces and cocktail bars, all centered on Dalmatia's largest piazza, as anyone would want, along with a picture-perfect castle up above the town. Take a trip over to the Pakleni islands offshore for the best beaches, or out to the smaller, lower-key, less flashy settlements of Jelsa (coming up fast with the hip set), Stari Grad and Vrboska, where you'll find fine seafood, pleasant terraces and fewer crowds or into the deserted eastern interior for a real taste of the quiet life.

About the Expert

Piers Letcher is the author of Croatia: the Bradt Travel Guide, Dubrovnik: the Bradt City Guide, and coauthor of Zagreb: the Bradt City Guide.