When to visit Hvar? A guide to the seasons

For many people this is the loveliest time of year to explore Hvar without the summer bustle. Air temperatures sit between a comfortable 20 °C and 26 °C, which makes April and May ideal for walking routes, cycling through the Stari Grad Plain and visiting the island's cultural and historic sites.

June brings the famous Hvar lavender into flower, and the scent of wild herbs drifts across the whole island. The sea warms up enough for swimming, restaurants and konobas open their terraces, and local transport and the ferries run without a hitch.

July and August bring summer at full tilt, long days of sunshine and temperatures regularly above 30 °C. The island is at its liveliest: the bays fill with boats, the beaches with swimmers, and evenings in Hvar Town are given over to dinners by the water, exhibitions and unhurried cocktails at sunset.

The town still has its evening buzz, but the mood these days is far more measured, closer to relaxed luxury.

September is the secret favourite of many seasoned travellers and locals alike. The sea has stored up heat all summer long, so swimming in September is a genuine pleasure, while the crowds in the streets thin out dramatically.

September and October have a charm of their own, as the grape and olive harvests get under way. It's the ideal stretch for visiting authentic island wineries in Svirče, Pitve or Sveta Nedjelja and enjoying the finest plavac and pošip.

Through the winter months Hvar returns entirely to its roots. Seasonal businesses close their doors and the island settles into a mild, comfortable hibernation.

With more than 2,700 hours of sunshine a year, the climate stays remarkably gentle even in winter, which makes the island appealing to digital nomads, writers and anyone after complete seclusion, the smell of sea and pine, and a conversation with locals on an empty waterfront.