Things to Do in Hvar in August
August weather, activities, events & insider tips
August Weather in Hvar
Is August Right for You?
Advantages
- Peak summer warmth means water temperatures hit 25-26°C (77-79°F), genuinely perfect for swimming without a wetsuit. You can spend hours in the Adriatic without getting cold, which matters when you're island-hopping or anchored in secluded bays.
- Lavender fields are harvested in late June through early July, but August brings the lavender product markets and festivals. Local producers sell oils, soaps, and honey at peak quality, and prices actually drop slightly after the main tourist crush of July.
- Longer daylight hours give you roughly 14 hours of usable light, with sunset around 8:15pm. This means you can fit in a full beach day, return to your accommodation to shower and rest during the hottest afternoon hours (2-5pm), then head out for evening activities without rushing.
- The established summer rhythm means everything is fully operational. All seasonal beach clubs, water taxi routes, and island tour services run daily schedules. Unlike June when some places are still ramping up, or September when things start closing early, August offers maximum access.
Considerations
- This is peak season, plain and simple. Accommodation prices run 40-60% higher than shoulder months, and popular restaurants in Hvar Town require reservations 2-3 days ahead. The harbor front gets genuinely crowded between 11am-2pm and again 7-10pm.
- That 70% humidity combines with afternoon temperatures to create the kind of heat where you'll want to slow down. Walking uphill to Fortica fortress at 2pm will leave you drenched. Locals retreat indoors between 1-4pm for good reason.
- Ten rainy days sounds manageable, but August storms on Hvar tend to be dramatic when they hit. Expect sudden afternoon downpours that can last 30-90 minutes, occasionally disrupting boat schedules. The rain itself is usually warm, but it can cancel speedboat transfers to Pakleni Islands for 2-3 hours at a time.
Best Activities in August
Pakleni Islands Beach-Hopping
August water temperatures make this the ideal month for spending full days exploring the archipelago just offshore from Hvar Town. The chain of small islands offers progressively quieter beaches as you move further from the main drop-off points. Water clarity peaks in August due to settled summer weather patterns, with visibility often reaching 20-25 m (65-82 ft) for snorkeling. Morning departures at 9-10am give you the calmest sea conditions before afternoon breezes pick up around 2pm. The variable August weather actually works in your favor here since you can adjust which island you visit based on wind direction, always finding a sheltered cove.
Early Morning or Sunset Cycling Routes
The interior of Hvar island offers surprisingly good cycling on quiet roads through abandoned stone villages, vineyards, and olive groves. August heat makes midday cycling genuinely unpleasant, but early starts at 6:30-7:30am give you 3-4 hours of riding in 22-25°C (72-77°F) temperatures before it gets too hot. The route from Hvar Town to Stari Grad across the island covers about 20 km (12.4 miles) through UNESCO-protected agricultural land that dates back to Greek colonization. Alternatively, sunset rides departing around 6:30pm catch the cooling evening breeze and golden light on the lavender fields. You'll share the roads mainly with locals heading home from work rather than tourist traffic.
Wine Tasting in Jelsa and Vrboska
August brings the pre-harvest period when winemakers are actually around and available for tastings, unlike September when they're frantically harvesting. The north coast towns of Jelsa and Vrboska offer family-run wineries producing Plavac Mali and Bogdanusa varieties that you won't find outside Croatia. Tastings happen in stone cellars that stay naturally cool even when it's 29°C (85°F) outside, making this a smart afternoon activity during the hottest hours. The 30-minute drive from Hvar Town takes you through the island's interior where you'll see the dramatic landscape shift from coastal scrub to agricultural terraces. Most winemakers speak enough English to explain their production methods, and tastings feel genuinely personal rather than commercialized.
Kayaking to Hidden Coves
The southern coast of Hvar island has dozens of small coves accessible only by boat or kayak, and August's calm morning seas make this the most reliable month for paddling. Typical routes cover 8-12 km (5-7.5 miles) over 3-4 hours, hugging the coastline where you can duck into caves and snorkel in completely empty bays. The water is warm enough that capsizing isn't a concern, and the high UV index means you'll want the activity that keeps you partially wet anyway. Most tours depart around 8:30-9am to finish before the afternoon heat peaks and before the maestral wind picks up around 2pm. You'll likely see more sea life in August than other months since the warm water brings in schools of small fish near the surface.
Blue Cave and Vis Island Day Trips
The Blue Cave on Bisevo island creates its famous light effect specifically during summer months when the sun angle is right, with the best illumination happening between 10am-1pm. August offers the most consistent weather for making the 90-minute speedboat journey from Hvar, with tour cancellation rates dropping to maybe 10-15% compared to 30-40% in May or October. Most tours combine the Blue Cave with stops at Vis island for lunch and swimming at Stiniva Cove, giving you a full-day island-hopping experience. The tour involves multiple boat transfers and swimming stops, so the warm August water means you're comfortable getting in and out repeatedly. That said, these are among the most popular tours on the island, so boats can feel crowded with 10-12 people squeezed into each speedboat.
Evening Concerts at Historic Venues
Hvar Town leverages its Renaissance architecture for outdoor classical and contemporary music performances throughout August. The Franciscan Monastery cloister and the Arsenal theater host concerts 3-4 nights per week, with performances starting around 9pm when temperatures finally drop to comfortable levels. The acoustics in these stone spaces are genuinely excellent, and the settings beat any modern concert hall. Programs range from classical guitar and string quartets to Croatian klapa singing, which is the local a cappella tradition. These events attract a mix of tourists and Croatian visitors from the mainland, creating a more authentic cultural atmosphere than you'd expect in peak season. Shows typically run 60-90 minutes, perfect for fitting in after dinner.
August Events & Festivals
Hvar Summer Festival
This ongoing cultural program runs throughout July and August with theater performances, concerts, and art exhibitions spread across various historic venues in Hvar Town. The quality varies, but the best events feature Croatian National Theater productions and classical music concerts in the Arsenal theater and Franciscan Monastery. Worth checking the schedule when you arrive to see what's happening during your specific dates. Performances typically start at 9pm to avoid the afternoon heat.
Assumption of Mary Celebrations
August 15th is a major religious holiday across Catholic Croatia, and Hvar Town holds a traditional procession through the old town followed by an evening mass at the Cathedral of St. Stephen. The celebration is genuinely local rather than tourist-focused, with families from across the island coming into town. Restaurants get notably busier on this evening, and many locals dress formally for the occasion. The procession starts around 7pm from the Franciscan Monastery and winds through the narrow streets to the main square.