Best for
Start your Hvar Town sightseeing from Palace Elisabeth on the main square, where you can return between walks without arranging a ride.
Best for
Start your Hvar Town sightseeing from Palace Elisabeth on the main square, where you can return between walks without arranging a ride.
What makes it special
Venetian and Austrian architectural details give this heritage hotel a sense of Hvar’s civic past, rewarding guests drawn to historic buildings.
Room to consider
Sea views and balconies are separate room features here, so check both when watching the harbor from outdoors matters to your stay.
Insider tip
Arrange luggage transport from Hvar port with the hotel before arrival, particularly if several bags would make the final approach less comfortable.
Free membership gives you access to preferred rates, exclusive benefits and current promotions for your stay.
Palace Elisabeth occupies the edge of Hvar's main square, where the town loggia faces the harbor. Few addresses place a guest so directly in the life of Hvar Town: the cathedral is across the square, boats leave from the nearby waterfront, and the hotel's terraces look over both. It is a five-star heritage hotel with the comforts of a spa and indoor pool, yet its defining feature is the town outside the door. That proximity brings convenience and, in summer, a lively soundtrack.
The marble shower bathroom is part of a room with Venetian-style decor. You have bathrobes and slippers, along with a 49-inch flat HD television. Room service is available, and laundry services take care of clothes during your stay.
In one bedroom design, pale grey walls have white trim around the panels behind the bed. Tall mirrors sit beside the headboard, close to wall lamps with gold-toned frames and black shades. A small bedside drawer provides a place for items you want close at hand. Long cream curtains hang from the top of the windows, with a layer of sheers nearer the glass.
Another view of the room shows a pale console with drawers below the wall-mounted screen. It gives you a surface away from the bed, as well as space within the drawers. Next to it, a wardrobe has mirrored doors. These details belong to the bedroom designs pictured for this room category.
The marble shower bathroom is part of a room with Venetian-style decor. You have bathrobes and slippers, along with a 49-inch flat HD television. Room...
A shower sits within the marble bathroom, which shares the bedroom’s Venetian style. Bathrobes and slippers are ready for use after bathing. The room faces Hvar’s old town and has a 49-inch flat HD television. You can also use room service and laundry services during your stay.
One of the pictured designs has tall mirrors on each side of the headboard. White trim outlines the grey wall panels, while black shades top the wall lamps with gold-toned frames. A small bedside drawer stands below the lamps. Long cream curtains dress the windows, with sheers forming a lighter layer close to the glass.
Elsewhere in this bedroom design, a pale console with drawers sits under the wall-mounted screen. The top is a separate surface from the small bedside drawer, with room to place items below the television. A wardrobe with mirrored doors stands beside it. Both pieces form part of the room’s pictured storage and wall details.
A shower sits within the marble bathroom, which shares the bedroom’s Venetian style. Bathrobes and slippers are ready for use after bathing. The room faces...
A shower and bathtub sit within the marble bathroom, alongside separate bedroom and living spaces. The suite is on the second floor, facing Hvar’s town square and harbour. A large balcony has an outdoor seating area. Inside, you have a minibar and a 55-inch flat HD television.
In one bedroom design, a pale palm-tree mural sits beneath a rounded arch above the bed. White columns border the mural, with bedside niches below. Tall mirrors and wall lamps stand on either side of the headboard. Gold-toned lamp frames have black shades, set against the pale colours of this Venetian-style room.
Another detail pictured within the category shows an urn-and-coral-style mural behind the pillows. Grey wall panels have white trim, and a black-and-gold frame surrounds a piece of wall art. Cream cushions include rectangular shapes as well as round bolsters. Crown motifs decorate their covers, giving these smaller pieces a pattern of their own beside the headboard artwork.
A shower and bathtub sit within the marble bathroom, alongside separate bedroom and living spaces. The suite is on the second floor, facing Hvar’s town...
The bathroom has either a shower or bathtub, with marble around the bathing space. Bathrobes and slippers are provided, and there is a 49-inch flat HD television in the room. The windows look towards Hvar harbour and the town square. Some rooms also have a partial view of the historic clock tower.
One bedroom design has a rounded arch over the headboard and mirrored wall panels at the sides. An ochre armchair sits near the tall windows, with long cream curtains behind it. The chair has buttoned fabric, set beside the pale walls of this room design. The armchair offers a place to sit beside the window.
A further headboard detail shows a pale palm-tree mural under an arch. White columns frame it, with bedside niches below. Wall lamps have gold-toned frames and black shades, and a pale console with drawers provides another surface in this pictured Venetian-style setting.
The bathroom has either a shower or bathtub, with marble around the bathing space. Bathrobes and slippers are provided, and there is a 49-inch flat...
The balcony’s open seating area looks out across Hvar harbour and the town square. Inside, you have a marble bathroom with either a shower or bathtub. Bathrobes and slippers are available after bathing. The bedroom also has a minibar and a 49-inch flat HD television.
In one of the room’s designs, a pale palm-tree mural sits under a rounded arch above the bed. White columns frame the mural, while niches sit beside the headboard. Tall mirrors and wall lamps flank the sleeping space. The lamps pair gold-toned frames with black shades, beside the pale colours of the wall decoration.
Another pictured detail shows an urn-and-coral-style mural behind the pillows. Nearby, grey wall panels have white trim and artwork hangs in a black-and-gold frame. Cream cushions include both rectangular shapes and round bolsters. Crown motifs appear on their covers, adding a smaller pattern to this bedroom design alongside the larger headboard mural.
The balcony’s open seating area looks out across Hvar harbour and the town square. Inside, you have a marble bathroom with either a shower or...
The suite’s marble shower bathroom sits alongside a bedroom with Venetian-style decor. Bathrobes and slippers are available, as well as a minibar for refreshments. There is a 55-inch flat HD television inside. The windows face Hvar’s old town, giving the suite its city outlook.
One pictured bedroom has grey wall panels with white trim and tall mirrors beside the headboard. A turquoise bench with tufted fabric sits at the foot of the bed. The same colour appears on the edges of the long cream curtains. Behind them, white sheers form a second layer against the glass.
A sitting corner in this design brings together a tufted sofa and a round footstool beside a tall window. This gives you seating away from the bed. A slim curved console sits below the wall-mounted screen, next to a mirror. Pale carpet with a pattern runs beneath the sofa and footstool, and the window has cream curtains with turquoise trim.
The suite’s marble shower bathroom sits alongside a bedroom with Venetian-style decor. Bathrobes and slippers are available, as well as a minibar for refreshments. There...
An open-plan layout brings the sleeping and sitting areas into one space. The outlook takes in Hvar harbour and the town square. A marble bathroom has both a shower and bathtub, with bathrobes and slippers provided. A minibar and 55-inch flat HD television are also available indoors.
In one suite design, grey wall panels have white trim beside tall mirrors. Wall lamps with gold-toned frames and black shades sit near the bed. Turquoise seating with tufted fabric surrounds a large padded ottoman in the same colour. A matching bench stands at the foot of the bed, within this open interior.
A pale desk with drawers and a turquoise stool appears in another pictured detail. A slim curved console sits under the wall-mounted screen, with the bed visible beyond a mirrored wall panel. Pale carpet with a pattern extends below the furniture. Open glass doors also reveal water and part of the waterfront outside this bedroom setting.
An open-plan layout brings the sleeping and sitting areas into one space. The outlook takes in Hvar harbour and the town square. A marble bathroom...
From the top floor, the balcony seating area faces Hvar harbour and the town square. The suite has a marble bathroom with a shower and bathtub. Bathrobes and slippers are provided, alongside a minibar and a 55-inch flat HD television inside the suite.
One pictured bedroom pairs pale grey walls with white trim and tall mirrors. A golden bench with tufted fabric sits at the foot of the bed. Long cream curtains frame glass doors which look towards a white balustrade. Above the outdoor setting shown here, a canopy has a wood-toned finish.
Another interior detail shows a slim dark console with a curved shape beneath the wall-mounted screen. An open doorway gives a glimpse of the bathroom wall, which has a marble-look finish. Part of a basin stand is also visible through the doorway. A round cosmetic mirror sits on the bathroom wall, a separate fitting beside the basin area in this pictured suite design.
From the top floor, the balcony seating area faces Hvar harbour and the town square. The suite has a marble bathroom with a shower and...
A bathtub within the room provides a bathing space outside the marble shower bathroom. The suite is on the top floor, with balcony seating facing Hvar harbour and the town square. You also have a minibar and a 55-inch flat HD television indoors.
In one bedroom design, a floral urn mural rises above the headboard. A dark tub stands beside an ochre wall, with a copper-toned finish on the inside. It places the bath within the bedroom setting. Fans decorate the wall near a white column, and wall lamps have gold-toned frames with black shades.
A further pictured area has an ochre sofa with tufted fabric, beside white columns and tall mirrors. Long cream curtains hang at broad glass doors, while white trim borders the grey walls. A dark curved desk stands near the sofa, along with a small round table. Pale carpet with a pattern runs below the seating and these two pieces of furniture.
A bathtub within the room provides a bathing space outside the marble shower bathroom. The suite is on the top floor, with balcony seating facing...
The suite has a separate bedroom and living room, plus a marble shower bathroom. A balcony opens onto panoramic sea views. Venetian-style details carry through the indoor spaces, and a minibar holds refreshments for time spent in the suite.
One bedroom design has pale pink walls, with a mural of plants and a fan motif above the headboard. Tall mirrors border the mural beside wall lamps with gold-toned frames and black shades. A small pale drawer sits by the bed, while a golden tufted bench stands at its foot. A slim curved console is also part of this pictured room.
Long cream curtains frame glass doors facing a white balustrade beneath a wood-toned canopy. The outdoor design shown here has a round pale table with chairs and a cushioned armchair. White columns border the seating, with harbour water and an island shoreline beyond.
The suite has a separate bedroom and living room, plus a marble shower bathroom. A balcony opens onto panoramic sea views. Venetian-style details carry through...
The hotel stands on the site of Hvar's former Duke's Palace. Under Venetian rule this was a place of civic importance, beside the loggia that served the town's public life. The Spa Hotel Empress Elisabeth took its place in 1899; today's name carries that Austrian chapter forward. The building now brings those layers together without asking guests to treat the hotel as a museum. Historic stonework and formal rooms sit alongside contemporary bedrooms and a working spa.
Its position changes the pace of a stay. You can step out for a walk through the square before the waterfront fills, return for a pause in the afternoon, then go back into town for dinner. The Arsenal and Hvar Public Theatre are close by, as is the route uphill to Fortica fortress. Guests who enjoy seeing the town from morning through late evening will get more from this address than those seeking an isolated island retreat.
Palace Elisabeth is at Trg svetog Stjepana 5, near Hvar Town's passenger-boat arrivals. Catamarans link Hvar Town with Split, while car ferries use other island ports, so the arrival port matters when planning a transfer. The operator offers luggage transport from Hvar port and assistance with transfers. This is worth arranging in advance if traveling with several bags: motor vehicles do not enter the historic center, and the final approach is on foot.
Once settled, the central location makes a car unnecessary for much of a short visit. Restaurants, the promenade and local boat departures are within a walk, and water taxis make the Pakleni Islands a straightforward day out. Beaches are accessible from town, but the hotel itself is not a beachfront property. For a stay built around swimming from a private shore or spending the whole day within resort grounds, its location is a meaningful distinction.
The hotel has 44 rooms and suites, according to the operator's current full-buyout inventory and its Leading Hotels listing. The accommodation ranges from Premium Rooms to city-view and sea-view categories, with several balcony suites and a Presidential Penthouse Suite. In a historic building, category and outlook matter more than the promise of a uniform room plan. A Premium Room is a compact base for days spent out in Hvar; a sea-view balcony room makes the harbor part of the stay.
Guests seeking more room to settle in should look at the suites rather than assume that every heritage bedroom is generously sized. The Deluxe Sea View Suite offers a separate step up in space, while the Elisabeth, Imperial and Penthouse balcony suites place more emphasis on the outlook. A city-view room can be a sensible choice when the square's scenery is less important than access to the hotel and town. Confirm the exact view and layout of the category you select, especially when a balcony or additional living space is the reason for choosing it.
Families should make the same assessment with occupancy in mind. The right arrangement depends on the ages of the children and the particular room; confirm cot, extra-bed and connecting-room options directly for the chosen category rather than assuming they apply throughout the hotel. A suite may give a longer stay more breathing room. The central square is also a lively place in peak season; travelers sensitive to noise should ask about room position rather than presume a harbor view will be quiet.
San Marco is the hotel's principal restaurant, set above the loggia with views across the square and sea. Its Mediterranean cooking draws on local products, and the terrace makes the setting as important as the menu. This is one of the pleasures of staying here rather than merely visiting Hvar Town for an evening: breakfast and dinner can both take place above the same harbor as its mood changes through the day.
There is also a hotel bar looking toward the harbor. A drink here works particularly well before walking into the old town, although guests need not confine their meals to the property. Hvar's streets offer enough choice to vary the rhythm over several nights. San Marco is the natural place for a meal that keeps the town in view; restaurants beyond the square offer a different angle on the island's food and evening life.
The indoor swimming pool is a useful counterpoint to the activity around the square. Leading Hotels describes a sundeck with views over Hvar Bay and the Adriatic, while the hotel's own site confirms the pool, spa and gym. The spa offers massages and facial and body treatments, with sauna or steam facilities listed by the hotel collection. It gives guests a place to slow down after a boat excursion or a walk up to the fortress without turning the property into a large wellness resort.
The distinction is worth keeping in mind. This is not an outdoor pool complex or a beach club, and the pool does not replace a day in the sea. It is an indoor amenity within a compact historic hotel. For guests who want Hvar Town's restaurants and waterfront at hand but also value a swim or treatment between outings, that balance is unusually practical.
Hvar Town rewards an unhurried first day. St. Stephen's Cathedral anchors the far end of the square; the Arsenal and historic theatre explain some of the port's civic past; the climb to Fortica gives a broader view of the harbor and Pakleni Islands. These are distinct places rather than decorative scenery around the hotel. Taking time to walk between them makes the hotel's setting easier to understand.
The waterfront also opens a wider itinerary. Boats reach the Pakleni Islands for beaches and coves, while a drive inland reveals villages, wineries and the island beyond its best-known harbor. A multi-night stay can alternate those outings with simpler hours in town. Palace Elisabeth makes that pattern easy because returning to the room does not require a transfer away from the center. If a trip is primarily about quiet countryside, though, another part of Hvar will provide a better base.
Palace Elisabeth is most compelling for travelers who want the historic square, harbor and daily movement of Hvar Town as part of their hotel experience. Its heritage is tangible, San Marco has a genuine vantage point above the loggia, and the indoor pool gives the day a quieter interval. The trade-off is equally clear: this is a central, compact town hotel, not a secluded resort with a private beach. Choose the room for its outlook and space, and choose the hotel because the place around it matters.
San Marco combines Mediterranean cooking with sea views above the town hall, making dinner a chance to enjoy Hvar’s setting without another outing.
The indoor pool looks out over Hvar Town, so you can take in the rooftops from the water after exploring the streets below.
The hotel’s yacht charter options open up coves and bays beyond town, adding a day on the water to a centrally based stay.
Trg Sv. Stjepana 5, 21450 Hvar, Croatia
Yes. Palace Elisabeth Hvar is a strong choice for travelers who want history, sea views, spa, and a central Hvar stay. It suits couples, culture travelers, island hoppers, yacht guests, and visitors who want Hvar Town on foot.
Palace Elisabeth Hvar is located on Hvar's main square, close to the harbor and waterfront. The location is practical for restaurants, cafes, boat departures, the cathedral, the marina, and old-town walks.
Palace Elisabeth Hvar has 44 rooms and suites in an intimate heritage hotel setting. Many rooms and suites offer views toward Hvar's main square, harbor, marina, or the Adriatic Sea.
Palace Elisabeth stands on the site of a 13th-century ducal palace in Hvar. The hotel was rebuilt in 1899 and named for Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also known as Sisi.
Yes. Palace Elisabeth is one of the best locations for exploring Hvar Town without a car. Guests can walk to the waterfront, restaurants, bars, shops, the fortress path, churches, and boat departures.
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