Med Report: Is Hvar The New Ibiza?

A gang of articles in New York and London’s press about Croatia reflect the growing resurgence in the popularity of the ‘other’ Adriatic coast as a tourist destination. A mix of history, good weather and natural beauty bring in the tourists – and so does the ’scene’: the yachts of folk like Gates & Cruise yachts shore up at the happening islands of Vis and Hvar.

Hvar reminds us of Ibiza. Like the Balearic Isle, Hvar is a beautiful island blessed with sun and beach. But it’s the emergence of a scene in Hvar town that’s changing the nature of the island. The influence of Italy is apparent – in the past and now with the swarms of colorful Italians swarming the remote Salinas-like beaches; with the after beach parties and in the town’s bars and nightclubs.

Ibiza partly destroyed itself with its infatuation with drug culture something not apparent in the Hvar scene – something that keeps it fresh, approachable. Ibiza also used to maintain its reign partly through musical evolution. Each year, DJs in Ibiza would literally reinvent the dance scene and keep the island ahead of the competition, but now that dance music has lost its way – today’s generation of clubbers no longer strives to hear the next big thing, they listen to a mix of new tunes with club classics – classics we used to listen to on a hot afternoon drowned by the engines of airplanes at Space five years ago.

Croatia is very open to foreigners with much of the population (we met) with competent English. It’s a cosmopolitan gathering: the Italians are there, the British are coming, the Spanish too and even the Amerasians. All the ingredients are there for Hvar to become the new Ibiza.

Hvar