- United Airlines has extended its nonstop service between Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark and Croatia.
- The daily red-eye flights land in Dubrovnik and the sunny island of Hvar can be reached within a three-hour boat ride.
- Hvar’s Adriatic coast and UNESCO-recognized wineries are its most notable features.
It is possible to find places where the time seems to stretch like an afternoon in the sun, and where the noise of the city fades into the murmur of the sea and the clinking of glasses underneath vine-shaded pergolas. HvarOne such place is, a thin Croatian island drifting in the Adriatic. Hvar, Croatia’s most sunny island, is a favorite among yachters and sunseekers. This is especially true during the summer months, June, July and August.
The island—and the whole of Croatia—just got twice as easy to visit thanks to new daily flights that connect Newark, New Jersey (EWR) and Dubrovnik (DBV). United Airlines has expanded a route that was previously offered four times a week between the two cities. Americans can fly directly to Croatia on a daily, non-stop flight of nine hours that lands in Dubrovnik early the next morning.
According to a press release from November 2024, the expanded nonstop summer service began in early May 2025. It ends in late August. This reflects “a more-than-doubling of seats available.” shared by Dubrovnik Airport.
Newark-Dubrovnik is the only nonstop flight that connects the U.S. with Croatia. The overnight flight arrives in Dubrovnik at 10 am local time. This gives U.S. travellers time to explore this coastal city before continuing to Hvar. Dubrovnik sits on an island in the Adriatic Sea and is famous for its Old Town. It also has 16th-century stone wall surrounding it.
The ferry runs four times a day between Dubrovnik and Hvar during peak season. The ferry ride takes just over three hours.
Arriving at the main hub of the island, Hvar Town, visitors will be greeted by the sun-drenched streets and Renaissance architecture. In the distance, you’ll find hillsides that are covered with lavender as well as tiny stone towns nestled between olive groves.
Many travelers use the seasonal flight as an entry to other islands. The Pakleni Islands are located just southwest of Hvar, and they’re known for their secluded coves and rocky beaches.
