Best Dog-Friendly Hotels in Hvar and Korčula

Before you go

What happens when you get there

Jadrolinija ferries

Small pets travel free. In the passenger lounges they must be in a carrier no bigger than 45 x 35 x 25 cm with a waterproof bottom, and carrier plus dog must not weigh more than 8 kg, one carrier per passenger, under the seat or on your lap. Dogs over 8 kg also travel free but stay on the open deck. Every dog must wear a muzzle and be on a lead, assistance dogs aside.

Catamarans with a bigger dog

On Jadrolinija catamarans, dogs over 8 kg go in designated boxes on the open deck, for a fee, and the reservation is mandatory, made at a Jadrolinija sales point or by email if you bought online. HSC Jelena has one kennel for dogs over 8 kg, so book it well ahead. Krilo catamarans want a valid pet passport, a lead and a muzzle throughout, and keep animals in a designated area, usually the open deck. Check TP Line's rules with them directly.

Getting there

Split airport is the gateway for Hvar and Brač, and Dubrovnik for Korčula. From Split airport a shuttle bus runs to Split port in around 30 minutes, then car ferries go to Stari Grad and Sućuraj and foot-passenger catamarans to Hvar Town and Jelsa, with a Split to Jelsa catamaran stopping at Bol. By car from Dubrovnik, drive to Drvenik for the 40-minute ferry to Sućuraj.

More hotels on the Split page

Several Hvar Town, Stari Grad and Bol hotels are listed under Split, not here. Adriana, Riva, Pharos, Beach Bay and Heritage Hotel Park Hvar are in Hvar Town, Maslina and Valamar Amicor are in Stari Grad, and the Bluesun Elaphusa, Borak and Bonaca are in Bol, near Zlatni Rat. Look there if you want to stay in Hvar Town itself or on Brač's south coast.

Dog beaches

Majerovica is Hvar Town's official dog beach, down steps from the Antun Toni Petrić promenade, mostly pebble and partly shaded. Around Jelsa there's Gradina about 1 km from the centre, Zavala, Punta Glavica at Vrboska and a dog beach about 1 km east of the main beach at Ivan Dolac, and Zarače on the south side has a dog area too. These are named extras, not a sign that dogs are banned elsewhere.

Vets

On Hvar, Veterinarska ambulanta Lota is at Put Rudine 3, Stari Grad (+385 21 244 337), and Dr. Mirej Butorović-Dujmović is at Šime Buzolić Tome 15a, Hvar (+385 21 880 022, mobile +385 91 533 0530). Neither is listed as 24-hour. For Korčula and Brač, ask your hotel for the nearest vet when you arrive.

Tell the hotel first

Owners here are generally relaxed about dogs, but the local tourist board asks guests to say they're bringing one before booking. Aminess asks you to declare the dog when you book, and only takes pets over six months old with a pet passport.

Best walks

In Hvar Town, the Antun Toni Petrić promenade from the harbour to Majerovica dog beach, and the path to the Franciscan monastery cove. On the north coast, the seafront path from Vrboska's Punta Glavica to Jelsa and on to Gradina beach. In Korčula Town, the seafront promenade round the peninsula and the old town walls, and the coast path from Port9 bay along the shore into town. At Brna, the bay and the coast either side. On Brač, the waterfront path along Postira's harbour and round to the beaches either side of the village.

When to go

Late spring to early autumn, when the island resort hotels are open, as most run spring to autumn. Crossings thin out outside summer, and with a dog that matters more than usual because catamaran kennel space is so limited, so book the boat as soon as you book the hotel. In high summer, go for the car ferry if your dog is over 8 kg and you'd rather not rely on a single kennel.