Jelsa dates back to the 14th Century, established as a harbor of the ancient village of Pitve. It prospered in the 19th Century due to the shipbuilding industry. With the decline of the sailing ships, Jelsa accepted new tourist challenges, and the first hotel was built here as early as 1911.

Vrboska is the smallest town on the island of Hvar. But it has the oldest and most significant arts and artifacts of old masters owned by the church, the only fishing museum on the island, and ACI marina, which is the most protected marina on the Adriatic coast and around 1 km of beachfront.

It has a narrow winding bay with a beautiful little island in the middle of the 2 km long bay, which divides Vrboska into two parts. Four small stone bridges connect the North and South parts; because of that, it is nicknamed Little Venice.