Suncokret Dream
Your Holistic YogaRetreat on Hvar
Travel Guide
Suncokret is based on Hvar Island & here are suggestions on how to reach us from a variety of destinations...
Hvar, the Island of the Sun
Hvar (the ancient Persian word for "Sun-God") is rated amongst the 10 most beautiful and sun-drenched islands in the world, and it is one of the richest historically and culturally. Its earliest inhabitants date back to pre-historic times, and it is the center of early Croatian literature, architecture, sculpture, painting, and music, second only to Dubrovnik.
Hvar has 299 square kilometers of rocky, pebble, and sandy beaches and is surrounded by brush and pine forest, aromatic medicinal herbs such as lavender, sage, and rosemary, and is rich with Mediterranean vegetation and exotic wildlife.
With its crystal clear sea, fresh aromatic breezes, colorful villages, and majestic, sun-bleached towns, Hvar is the ideal place for a magical journey into an ancient culture and to the deepest seed of your soul.
Traveling to Hvar Island in Croatia
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There are so many ways to travel to Hvar Island via various destinations within Croatia and from abroad. For European travelers, the most direct and easy way to reach us is to fly, take a bus, or take a train to Split, while international travelers often take flights to Zagreb, Zadar, Pula, Dubrovnik, or even Italy, with a connecting flight to Split, from where you can easily travel onwards to Hvar Island via Ferry.
As of summer 2021, there are now direct flights from New York to Croatia via United Airlines and New York and LA to Dubrovnik via Paragusa.one.
See our 6 Tips to Find the Best Airfare Deals post for useful advice on booking your flight to Croatia!​
"Thank you very much. We have discovered Croatia & it has been an incredible opening to another world."
-Masha & Lera, Ukraine & Russia
The Ferry ​to Hvar
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The way to get to Hvar Island is by ferry. There are four major ports on the island, including one in Hvar Town, one in Stari Grad, one in Jelsa, and one in Sucuraj.
The closest port to the retreat is the Stari Grad Port.
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Tickets from Split to Stari Grad cost 55 Kuna (7.5 euros) per person, or 326 Kunas (43.5 euros) per car, one way. No advanced reservation is needed for foot passengers, though it is best to buy in advance if you are coming by car!
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If possible, try to match your travel plans with the retreat start and end times, in which case, the most convenient connection is the 14.30 (2.30 pm) ferry from the Split Port arriving at the Stari Grad Port at 16.30 (4.30 pm).
Upon return, you can catch our free transfer service back to the Stari Grad Port at 10.45 in order to catch the 11.30 ferry back to Split Port on departure day.
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Scheduled Free Transfers
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We provide FREE TRANSFERS from the Stari Grad Ferry Port on the event start date at 16.30 and from the retreat at 10.45 on the retreat end date (in order to catch the 11.30 ferry back to Split).
The ride from the port to the retreat takes about 5 minutes.
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We're looking forward to meeting you soon! 🤩🤩🤩
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Alternate Arrival Plans
If you plan to arrive/depart at other times or from arrival points other than the Stari Grad Port, it is best to check your options and then take a taxi to the retreat upon arrival.
Taxis are readily available at all ports, though you can pre-order one here.
To find the bus or taxi station from Hvar Town and Jelsa, you need to walk about 5 minutes along the promenade and pass the town square to get to the bus & taxi terminal.
Taxi fares to the retreat from the ports cost about 15 euros from Stari Grad; 20-25 euro from Jelsa; and 25- 35 euro from Hvar Town. Get a price quote and book your taxi here or here.
Our address is Suncokret Body & Soul Retreat, Gojava 9 Dol Sveta Ana (we are located to the east of St. Michael's Church and west of St. Ann's Church). Free parking is available for our guests who come by car. You can find us using Google Maps.
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Program Start & Conclusion Times
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Check-in at the retreat begins on the event start date at 16.45 (4.45 pm), while check-out is set at 10.45 on the day of departure for those taking our transfer service, or at 11.00 for those who have alternate travel plans.
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Early check-in and delayed check-out are strongly discouraged as we run back-to-back events and require the time in between events to prepare.
Flying to Split, Croatia
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There are direct flights to Split from many European destinations. The range increases continually so please check the full route network from the Split Airport website as well as other online resources:
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How to get to and from Split Airport
We found this great article on the topic here.
How to Reach the Split Port from the Split Airport
1. Take a Shuttle Bus:
A bus operated by Croatia Airlines departs from just outside the terminal door. You buy the ticket from the driver 30 Kuna (4 euros). It takes about 30 minutes to get to the city center. There is also a local bus that goes to the bus station in Split to and from Trogir every 20 minutes from a stop on the road in front of the Airport Terminal. The price of the ticket is approximately the same. Busses to/from the airport
2. Take a Taxi:
A taxi to Split costs about 250-300 Kuna (33-40 euros). You can book a taxi online through croatia-taxi.hr
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The shuttle bus stop & taxi station is just next to the ferry port. Easy-peasy!
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Split Luggage Check
In case you have extra time on your hands and wish to explore the beautiful & historic Old Town in Split, there are also multiple luggage facilities opposite the ferry port, train station and bus station (all located beside the other) where you can leave your luggage: 15 kunas (2 euros) per bag, or you can get a locker at the train station lobby (also opposite the port) for approximately the same price.
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Buying a Ferry Ticket
You can buy your ticket at the booth in the ferry terminal itself or online.
Overnight In Split
If you arrive before your retreat start date, an overnight stay in Split is an enjoyable experience. The attractions and shops stay open until 8 pm, so there is time to explore the city and there is an active nightlife to keep you entertained, as well.
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Where to Stay in Split
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Bellevue - A decent hotel in the town center
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Peristil Hotel - 3-star hotel inside the walls of Diocletian's Palace
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Villa Kastel - B&B in the old palace
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Many more options to be found on Booking.com www.airbnb.com
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Dining out in Split​
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Corto Maltese - freestyle food
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Mia Fiaba - traditional food at a family restaurant
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Bepa - Mediterranean cuisine using the freshest local ingredients
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Split Guides
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Traveling via Dubrovnik
Getting to Hvar Island from Dubrovnik is rather easy and there are several options to consider.
Flight Connections to Split
One good travel option is to fly from Dubrovnik Airport to Split and from there either take a bus or taxi to the Dubrovnik port, from where you can catch a catamaran to Hvar Island.
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Catamaran Services from Dubrovnik to Hvar Island
From 23.06 – 26.09 there is a catamaran line offered by Jadrolinija.com, departing Dubrovnik at 7 am and arriving on the island at 10.30 am.
There is a luggage office right off the main square in Hvar Town, as well as public restrooms with showers! Therefore you can enjoy the sights in Hvar and even take a swim in its crystal clear sea before making your way to the north side of the island.
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This option would give you plenty of time to enjoy the sites in Hvar Town before taking the 15.30 bus to the Stari Grad port where we would collect you from at 16.30. While waiting at the port, you can do a bit of shopping in the shopping center across the street, or wait with a cool drink in a cafe in the prot.
Krilo Catamaran from Dubrovnik to Hvar Town & Taxi to the Retreat
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There is another catamaran operated by Krilo that departs Dubrovnik every Sunday at 16.30 (01.04. – 31.08.2022), arriving in Hvar Town at around 19.40, and from 01.09 – 30.10 it departs at 16.00 and arrives at 19.10! Once in Hvar Town, you would take a taxi to the retreat.
Driving to Hvar Island from Dubrovnik
You can also rent a car to enjoy a drive up the coast. One option is to pick up your car from Dubrovnik Airport and drop it off at Split Airport. Or you can drive directly onto the island via ferry crossing from either Drvenik or Split.
Split is about 200 km up the coast from Dubrovnik, and Drvenik is about 110 km. The 30-minute Drvenik ferry crossing will bring you to beautiful Sucuraj on the eastern end of Hvar Island, from where it is an adventurous and scenic drive to Dol Village, approximately 1 hour.
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Dubrovnik Bus to Split & Ferry to Stari Grad Port
You can also journey to Split by bus, and from there by ferry to the island.
If you don’t like the idea of spending a day in town prior to reaching us, why not consider taking a bus along the scenic coastal road? The views of the Adriatic sea are mesmerizing and there are so many bus lines to choose from that you could plan your arrival in exactly the way that feels most convenient for you.
Here is the website for the schedule
Here is the section that is relevant to the retreat timeline:
Departure - Arrival
07:45 12:00
08:00 12:25
08:00 12:15
09:00 13:30
09:45 13:40
If you go for any of these bus options, you would arrive in plenty of time to catch the 14.30 ferry to Stari Grad port, arriving at 16.30 just in time for our free transfer service to the retreat. The bus station is just across from the port, so it literally will bring you where you need to be! The ticket costs approximately 18-20 euros, depending on the time you choose.
Places to Stay & Eat in Dubrovnik
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Or check options on Booking.com or Airbnb.com
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Nishta Vegetarian Restaurant in Dubrovnik
Traveling via Zadar
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The distance from Zadar to Split is 158km and the journey can take you anywhere from 1 hour 40 minutes by highway, or up to 4 hours if you go by bus along the old coastal road.
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Bus from Zadar to Split
If you arrive at Zadar Airport you have a Zadar Airport Bus which will get you to Zadar Bus station. However, If you are in Zadar's old town you will have to catch a taxi from the old town to the Zadar bus station as it’s not within walking distance.
There is a huge number of bus departures from Zadar to Split with different companies, the ticket costs around 80 kunas or 13 euros; you can find tickets here: https://getbybus.com
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During the summer months, it is advisable that you book your ticket in advance as it's peak tourist season and the Zadar to Split bus fills quickly.
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From Split, you can follow our guidance above to reach us on Hvar.
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Traveling via Rijeka
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Bus to Split
Some of the buses drive the entire year-round, others only for a limited period during the summer season. The bus travel time from Rijeka to Split is about 8 hours; you can find tickets and the schedule here.
Traveling via Zagreb
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Bus to Split
The cheapest and probably easiest public transport option is to travel from Split to Zagreb by bus. There are many services throughout the day, running every hour, including throughout the night. Try to book a direct bus to Split, where the journey takes about five hours, depending on traffic. Book your ticket in advance, as this is a very popular and busy service.
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Find tickets: http://www.croatiabus.hr/en/home/
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Buses are comfortable, with regular rest stop breaks, and some have Wi-Fi. Check departure times and availability online. Prices vary according to the bus company you use.
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Traveling via Italy
Ferry from Italy to Split & Stari Grad
You can also take the ferry from Ancona or Pescara direct to Stari Grad or Split. Check out the latest information on Jadrolinija and Snav.
EasyJet flies from London Stanstead to Venice, from where you can catch a bus to Rijeka and take the Jadrolinija ferry overnight down the coast to Stari Grad (via Split).
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Further south, you can go from Bari to Dubrovnik via Jadrolinija and either travel up the coast by bus to Split or take the catamaran from Dubrovnik to Hvar Town, as mentioned in the section above.
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