Vrboska
A village along both sides of a narrow inlet, with a church that was built as a fortress.
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Vrboska runs along both banks of a long narrow inlet on the northern side of Hvar, joined by small bridges, which is why it gets called the little Venice of the island. Its church of St Mary of Mercy is genuinely a fortress: after Ottoman raids burned the village in 1571 it was rebuilt in the following decades with thick walls, a battlemented parapet and a defensible roof terrace, so the parish church doubled as the refuge for the population. It can be climbed. The village also has a fishing museum, one of the older of its kind in the country, and the Stari Grad Plain runs behind it.
What you actually see
- A village on both banks - joined by bridges along a narrow inlet.
- A fortified church - rebuilt with battlements after the raid of 1571.
- A roof terrace to climb - the defensible top of the church.
- A fishing museum - among the older ones in Croatia.
When to go
May to September. Half a day.
Honest expectations
The church and museum keep seasonal and limited hours. The village is small and quiet, which is either the appeal or the problem. Moorings fill in summer. Beaches are stone and concrete.
Nearby
Jelsa is east; Stari Grad and its plain are west.
What to pack for Vrboska
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.