A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kitzbuhel vs. Hvar for Nightlife, Hiking, Backpackers, and Food

Should you visit Kitzbuhel or Hvar?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Kitzbuhel or Hvar? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Kitzbuhel

Kitzbuhel is a outdoorsy, adventure-filled, and world-class ski resort. It also offers plenty of small town charm and also has plenty of sights and activities. You'll find world class beauty here as well. And you can't forget about the skiing, nightlife, and food.

Hvar

Hvar is a party-oriented, historic, and beautiful island. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and hiking.

Kitzbuhel and Hvar: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Kitzbuhel or Hvar?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Kitzbuhel than Hvar, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Kitzbuhel is better known for its skiing, historical sights, hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty, while Hvar is more popular for its museums, nightlife, scuba diving & snorkeling, and beaches. Hvar is more touristy than Kitzbuhel and is popular for its wild parties, beautiful buildings, and world class cuisine. Kitzbuhel is well known for its world renowned skiing, scenic natural beauty, and summer hiking opportunities. Also, Kitzbuhel is famous for The Kitzbüheler Horn.

How is Kitzbuhel different from Hvar?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Hvar and Kitzbuhel. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Is Kitzbuhel or Hvar Better for Skiing?

Kitzbuhel is renowned for snow skiing. However, Hvar is not a skiing destination.

Visitors will find world class skiing in Kitzbuhel. There are four ski resorts near the village and 145 miles of slopes. Hahnenkamm Streif racecourse is world famous, but there are also 57 lifts that offer access to skiing for everyone from beginners to professionals. This is a world class ski area that is considered to be one of the best in the world. It attracts international skiers who come for the well maintained slopes and world class skiing.

Hvar is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Kitzbuhel or Hvar?

Hvar is a popular place for its historical sights. However, Kitzbuhel is not a good destination for its sights and museums.

Hvar offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Wandering around the old town you'll see many historic buildings such as the Cathedral of St. Stephen. You can also visit the nearby Hvar Fort or explore the Franciscan Monastery.

Kitzbuhel offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. Visitors come for the skiing and outdoor adventures, not the museums and historical sights. But you can visit the St. Andreas Parish Church, Museum Kitzbühel, or the Liebfrauenkirche while you're in town.

Is the Food Better in Kitzbuhel or Hvar? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Kitzbuhel and Hvar can be an enjoyable experience.

Kitzbuhel has a huge number of terrific restaurants. There's a diverse food scene with everything from rustic inns to award-winning fine dining experiences. You'll find both local dishes and international flavors around town as well.

Dining out in Hvar is an experience not to be missed. It's an island, so you'll find no shortage of seafood in the restaurants. There's fish, crab, lobster, squid, and octopus on the menus around town. Many dishes are prepared with risotto or pasta and you'll find a lot of olive oil and wine.

Is Kitzbuhel or Hvar Better for Nightlife?

Hvar is an unbeatable place for nightlife and partying. Also, Kitzbuhel is not as popular, but is still a nice ski resort for its evening party scene.

The nightlife in Hvar is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. The island has a reputation as a party island, and it's well earned. Most of the activity is found in Hvar Town, particularly between the months of June and September. Young people flock to the island for the all night parties and wild beach bars and clubs.

Kitzbuhel has plenty to do after the sun goes down. The nightlife scene offers everything from wine bars to high end cocktail bars or local pubs with beer on tap. There are also dance clubs and other party areas where visitors dance until the early morning hours.

Is Kitzbuhel or Hvar Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Hvar is a popular place for its diving and snorkeling. However, Kitzbuhel is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Hvar has a few good snorkeling spots. The water is clear and there are snorkeling day trips that leave from town. This is a great way to get out on the water and glimpse the undersea world.

Kitzbuhel is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Kitzbuhel or Hvar Better for Beaches?

Hvar is great for the beache. However, Kitzbuhel is not a beach destination.

Hvar is considered a top beach destination. The island has hilly bays and coves that are fun to explore. The best beaches are found to the south and southwest of the island and many are pebbly or gravelly.

Kitzbuhel is not a beach destination.

Is Kitzbuhel or Hvar Better for its Old Town?

Kitzbuhel is notable for its old town. However, Hvar does not have a historic old town.

Kitzbuhel is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. The town center is compact and charming with restaurants, churches, and shopping. It's the perfect place to unwind after a day on the slopes.

Hvar does not have a historic old town.

Is Kitzbuhel or Hvar Better for Hiking?

Kitzbuhel is renowned for the nearby hiking options. Also, Hvar is not as famous, but is still a good island to visit for its hiking trails.

Around Kitzbuhel visitors will find world-class hiking trails. During the summer months the area is filled with miles of stunning hikes. There's the famous Kitzbüheler Horn, as well as more relaxing mountain strolls. You'll enjoy breathtaking views and serene mountain pastures.

Hvar offers some nice hiking trails. There are a number of hikes on the island that cater to every skill level and take you through natural areas or past historic sights.

Is the Shopping Better in Kitzbuhel or Hvar?

If you're looking to go shopping, Kitzbuhel and Hvar both offer plenty of notable spots.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Kitzbuhel. The village offers a mix of international and local brands. There's everything from fashion and jewelry to sporting goods and local foods.

Many visitors go to Hvar to go shopping. In the town you'll find galleries, boutiques, jewelry shops and other beach stores. It's fun to pop in and look at the different items.

Is Kitzbuhel or Hvar Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Kitzbuhel or Hvar.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Kitzbuhel is very family-friendly. This is a family-friendly ski area that has child care available in several places as well as kids slopes and other family friendly things to do. During the summer months there's hiking, biking, and other outdoor adventure activities.

Hvar is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. There are adventure parks, water parks, and other fun activities for kids. There are also beaches where everyone can swim and sea kayaking trips. Hvar Observatory is also a unique and fun place to visit as a family.

Is Kitzbuhel or Hvar Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Kitzbuhel and Hvar make for a excellent place to visit.

Kitzbuhel is a great ski resort if you're traveling as a couple. Couples who enjoy skiing, winter sports, and other outdoor adventures will truly appreciate a visit. It makes for an adrenaline filled holiday that is both romantic and fun.

Hvar is a very popular place to visit for couples. There are some romantic hotels and beautiful beaches that make this a wonderful destination for couples. Anyone who enjoys a coastal setting with clear waters and a variety of water sports will enjoy their time here.

Is Kitzbuhel or Hvar Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Hvar is an unbeatable place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Kitzbuhel is not as popular, but is still a nice ski resort for backpackers.

With so many budget-friendly offerings, Hvar is extremely popular for backpackers. The island has long been a popular stop with backpackers who enjoy the affordable prices, abundance of hostels, and active nightlife scene. You'll have no trouble meeting other travelers, particularly during the peak summer months.

Kitzbuhel is a very popular ski resort for backpackers and budget travelers. There are several hostels near town that cater to the budget crowd. There's also a large number of skiing and sport enthusiasts so its not hard to meet other likeminded travelers.

Is Kitzbuhel or Hvar Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Kitzbuhel and Hvar both offer notable public transit to get you around.

While Kitzbuhel offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are trains and buses that connect the town to other nearby villages. During the winter months are are ski buses that take skiers to the ski areas.

Hvar has a few public transit options. Buses are operated by Cazmatrans Hva and they travel between the major municipalities.

Is Kitzbuhel or Hvar a more walkable city?

Kitzbuhel is notable for its high level of walkability. Also, Hvar is not as famous, but is still a good island to visit for its ease of walking around.

Kitzbuhel is a very walkable ski resort. The town is small and compact enough to explore on foot.

Hvar is a somewhat walkable ski resort. Hvar Town can be explored on foot, but you'll need a vehicle to explore other parts of the island.

For even more information, also check out Is Kitzbuhel Worth Visiting? and Is Hvar Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Hvar or Kitzbuhel?

How long in Kitzbuhel or Hvar?

It's fun to spend time in either Kitzbuhel or Hvar. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Kitzbuhel due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 4-7 days is a good amount of time for Kitzbuhel, and 2-4 days is enough time in Hvar.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Hvar than Kitzbuhel if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Hvar.

One day in Kitzbuhel or Hvar?

Kitzbuhel is a small town where visitors enjoy the nightlife and food. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

You'll find nightlife and food around the island of Hvar. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Kitzbuhel or Hvar?

Kitzbuhel is a fun place to experience. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

You'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the beautiful destination of Hvar. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this island has to offer. This island offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Kitzbuhel or Hvar?

Kitzbuhel might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. This ski resort offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

Travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the historic island of Hvar. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. It's also a great beach destination, too. Most people head to the area for the nightlife. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Kitzbuhel or Hvar?

Even though Kitzbuhel is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Many people spend one week here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Because of this, one week is usually enough time for a trip here.

Hvar is a popular choice for travelers. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Austria, The Best Luxury Tours to Austria, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Croatia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Croatia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kitzbuhel and Hvar, we can see that Kitzbuhel is more expensive. And not only is Hvar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hvar would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hvar and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Kitzbuhel would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kitzbuhel than you might in Hvar.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kitzbuhel Expensive? and Is Hvar Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Kitzbuhel or Hvar?

Kitzbuhel has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Hvar. When comparing the sizes of Kitzbuhel and Hvar, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.