Hvar Town · Island Hvar · Adriatic
Palladium Sea Guide · Local travel guide
Makarska to Hvar Town: Ferry, Boat Tour & Private Speedboat Options for 2027
Trying to get from Makarska to Hvar Town? The key thing to know is that Hvar Island and Hvar Town are not the same destination. The nearby Drvenik ferry lands in Sućuraj, around 90 minutes by road from Hvar Town. Your practical choices are a catamaran via Split, a scheduled boat tour from Makarska, or a direct private speedboat.
Two quick answers before you choose a route
Is there a direct ferry from Makarska to Hvar Town?
Not in the current public timetable. Older pages may still mention a former Makarska–Hvar catamaran. For Hvar Town, the main public-transport route is currently via Split.
Can you visit Hvar Town from Makarska as a day trip?
Yes. A same-day visit is realistic via Split or by boat from Makarska. The practical difference is whether you want mostly time in Hvar Town or a full day at sea that also includes Hvar Town.
Quick answer first
How do you actually get from Makarska to Hvar Town?
Before the detailed guide, here is the practical difference between the four routes most travellers compare.
Road travel + connection/boarding time + catamaran~€38.50 pp / wayTown-only visit
~40 min drive + ~60 min seasonal boarding buffer + ~30 min ferry + ~90 min roadLow ferry fare; onward road costs extraMainly travellers taking a car onto Hvar
Times are practical planning estimates, not guaranteed schedules. Summer traffic and ferry queues can add time.
Interactive Hvar Town concierge
2 questions. 1 useful answer.
Choose your group size and time in Hvar Town. We’ll show the routes that fit.
Every realistic route
Five ways to reach Hvar Town from Makarska.
Makarska → Split → direct catamaran to Hvar Town
Bus to Split, then a direct catamaran into Hvar Town — the simplest public-transport route when the town itself is your goal.
If your only objective is Hvar Town, this is the public-transport option we would look at before Drvenik. The bus station in Split is beside the ferry harbour, and the catamaran lands directly in Hvar Town.
2 people · return bus + catamaran using current 2026 reference fares.
Reference inputs: Makarska→Split bus about €13.50 pp each way + Split→Hvar Town catamaran about €25 pp each way. Exact 2027 fares and schedules may change.
Planning notes & luggage
Mid-day sailings can create useful town-only windows without an extremely early start. In July and August, book the catamaran early once your date is fixed.
For one-way travel with luggage, check the baggage rules of the operator you book. Summer road traffic between Makarska and Split can add time.
If Hvar Town itself is the goal, this is the public-transport route to compare first. Mid-day 2026 sailings created useful town-only windows without a 05:30 start. Seasonal times differ by operator, so use the official links below for your exact date. In July and August, book the catamaran early once your date is fixed.
Travelling one-way with luggage? Check the baggage allowance and handling rules shown by the operator you book, as they can vary between services.
Public transport is usually the lowest-cost route. Use the calculator above for a current 2026 reference total; summer road traffic can still add time between Makarska and Split.
Check current schedules directly with the operator before travelling.
Car ferry · useful mainly when taking your own car onto Hvar Island
Drvenik ferry → Sućuraj → Hvar Town
Drvenik gets you onto Hvar Island — not Hvar Town. The ferry lands in Sućuraj, then you still have about 90 minutes by road.
See time breakdown & ticket rule
Important: Drvenik–Sućuraj tickets do not reserve a specific departure. In peak summer you may still queue for the next available ferry. Split–Hvar catamaran tickets are tied to a specific sailing.
The important part: Drvenik gets you onto Hvar Island, not into Hvar Town. After landing in Sućuraj, you still cross much of the island by road.
2 passenger ferry tickets + 1 standard car ferry ticket, one way.
What this estimate includes
2026 reference inputs: €4.10/adult ferry ticket; €19.70/standard car one way. Without a car, the estimate uses €60 Makarska→Drvenik taxi + €100 Sućuraj→Hvar Town taxi per direction. Car fuel, parking and taxi-price variation are not included.
2026 reference inputs: €4.10/adult ferry ticket; €19.70/standard car one way. Without a car, the estimate uses €60 Makarska→Drvenik taxi + €100 Sućuraj→Hvar Town taxi per direction. Car fuel, parking and taxi-price variation are not included.
Check current schedules directly with the operator before travelling.
Scheduled sightseeing group tour from Makarska with Hvar Town as a main stop
Small-group boat day to Hvar Town
Colnago 38 OPEN · small group · max 12
If you want both Hvar Town and a full day on the water, this option combines three hours in town with Golden Horn and two Pakleni Islands swim stops.
The scheduled route is a small-group boat day for up to 12 guests on Colnago 38 OPEN, combining Golden Horn, two Pakleni Islands swim stops and three full hours in Hvar Town. You book a seat — not an entire private charter.
2027 price per person
Weather, age & departures
Bad weather: reschedule or full refund if the tour cannot operate safely. Individual stops may be adjusted if sea conditions require it.
Children: under 6 are not accepted on this full-day group tour.
2027 departures: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 08:30, from 1 May to 1 November.
Bad weather: reschedule or full refund if the tour cannot operate safely. Individual stops may be adjusted if sea conditions require it. Children under 6 are not accepted on this full-day group tour. Guests concerned about a full-day speedboat ride, limited mobility or other participation considerations should check the tour guidance before booking.
Planned 2027 departures: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 08:30, from 1 May to 1 November.
Direct private transfer · choose your comfort level
Two direct private boat options to Hvar Town
For groups that want to leave Makarska and arrive directly in Hvar Town without changing transport, Palladium offers two direct private options. Use the switch below to compare a simple transfer with keeping the boat for a full day and finishing in Hvar Town.
Choose the boat by group size and comfort, then compare a direct transfer with keeping the boat for the whole day.
Direct transfer prices include the skipper and fuel.
Price clarity: the €650 and €1,000 one-way figures are the quoted transfer prices per boat. Full-day charter figures are shown separately, with route fuel added to the full-day option.
For the direct open-sea crossing to Hvar Town, Palladium uses the larger Beneteau or Colnago; we do not offer this route on the smaller Cap Camarat.
Budget private transfer option
Boat to Jelsa + ~30-minute taxi = Hvar Town
Useful private workaround for up to 6 guests: boat from Makarska to Jelsa, then a pre-arranged taxi to Hvar Town.
Luggage & taxi details
Palladium can arrange the taxi in advance. Local taxi pricing is third-party and can vary.
Luggage: Cap Camarat storage is limited. Six guests with small suitcases can work, or about four guests with large suitcases. Tell us the luggage amount in advance.
Up to 6 guests: private Cap Camarat to Jelsa €380 (skipper + fuel included) + local taxi to Hvar Town ~€50–80. Plan about 1h35 total: around 50 minutes by speedboat from Makarska to Jelsa, about 15 minutes for the handover, then roughly 30 minutes by taxi to Hvar Town. The group total is roughly €430–460. Palladium can arrange the taxi in advance. Taxi pricing is third-party and can vary.
Luggage: the Cap Camarat has limited storage. As a practical guide, six guests with small suitcases can work, or about four guests with large suitcases. Please tell us the amount of luggage in advance.
A question almost every Hvar Town visitor asks
Is 3 hours in Hvar Town enough?
For most day-trip guests, yes. Three hours is enough to see the waterfront and old town, walk up to Fortica, have lunch or a drink, and still avoid turning the entire day into one long town stop. If you want both Fortica and a relaxed sit-down lunch in peak season, visit the fortress first and consider reserving lunch ahead.
Fortica timing & admission details
Fortica is about a 15-minute uphill walk from the waterfront. In 2026, entry was €12; allow roughly 45–75 minutes return if you go inside.
We previously allowed a longer Hvar Town stop, but guest feedback consistently showed that three hours was the better balance inside a full-day island itinerary.
Fortica is about a 15-minute uphill walk from the waterfront. In 2026, entry was €12; allow roughly 45–75 minutes return if you go inside. We previously allowed a longer Hvar Town stop, but guest feedback consistently showed that three hours was the better balance inside a full-day island itinerary.
Fortica admission reference: Hvar Tourist Board, 2026.
Staying in Hvar Town? One-way travel opens another option.
The scheduled group boat day from Makarska can also be your one-way transfer to Hvar Town.
Use the scheduled group tour as your transfer day: travel with your luggage, enjoy the morning route, then leave the boat in Hvar Town around noon.
Board the scheduled Colnago group tour in Makarska at 08:30 with your luggage, enjoy Nugal, Golden Horn and the first Pakleni Islands swim stop, then leave the boat in Hvar Town at around 12:00.
The Colnago has two cabins with ample luggage space. Just tell the crew by check-in that you are staying in Hvar Town so nobody waits for you at 15:00. Your transfer day becomes part of the holiday.
Luggage & check-in details
Storage: Colnago has two cabins with ample luggage space.
Booking: no special one-way booking process is needed.
Important: tell the crew by check-in that you are staying in Hvar Town so they do not wait for you at the 15:00 departure.
Travelling as a group?
From around 6–8 guests, compare the total group price with a private boat — especially if you also want a full day at sea. 13+ guests? Ask us on WhatsApp →
Choose by what you actually need
Choose your route.