Croatia is a European country consisting of over 1,200 islands. The capital of the country is Zagreb. As it’s situated in the Adriatic Sea, there are many sailing opportunities that you can take advantage of when visiting Croatia. Here are some recommendations for your next vacation!
1 . Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and possibly even on Earth ( Google ranked it as number 1 ). It’s also known as the Pearl of Adriatic for its stunning location; perched on top of limestone mountains on the coast of southern Dalmatia with walls encircling old town Dubrovnik which reflects like a mirror in tranquil waters below while boat moor in serene marinas outside the city.
The city has a lot to offer. You can go on walking tours, take photographs of the sunset from the hills or swim in the sea by the city walls. Also, don’t forget to taste traditional food while you are there! UNESCO listed Dubrovnik’s old town as a world heritage site in 1979 because it is one of the most well preserved medieval towns in Southern Europe.
2 . Split – Trogir
Split (or historically known as Spalatum) is the second-largest city of Croatia and it’s beautifully located on the Adriatic coastline with its islands. It’s also one of the most popular destinations for sailing in Croatia because it has two marinas; Marina Kaštela (north of Split downtown) that can accommodate up to 620 boats and another one on Žnjan that can berth about 150 vessels. Trogir is a small historic town near Split which has many historical monuments like St. Lawrence Fortress from the 11th century. The best thing about Trogir these days is its new marina, Marina Dalmacija, which offers berths for yachts up to 80 meters in length.
3 . Zadar
Zadar is another marina city very popular with sailors. It’s located on the Adriatic Sea and it used to be the capital of the Venetian Republic for years, so it has a long tradition of sailing. The marinas in Zadar are located on peninsula Galovac (Porporela, Sukošan) and Kaštel Štafilić where you can berth your boat if its size exceeds 30×5 meters or smaller boats up to 8 meters. You can also anchor at small port Tomaceva or fish from your boat at fishing ports Linđo or Opatovo Maestral which are located right next to the marinas. They are all located on peninsula Veliki Kaštelski Otočec which consists of many coves for berthing your yacht.
4 . Rijeka – Kvarner Bay
Rijeka is a city on the northern part of the Adriatic Coast which offers many different boating opportunities. If you’re traveling with your family, you can choose from lots of funfairs and parks to visit around town or destinations for day trips like Opatija or Volosko where you’ll get amazed by the beauty of nature and the sea. The best way to explore Kvarner bay is definitely by boat because it has a lot to offer. There are a few popular towns worth visiting: Crikvenica, Novi Vinodolski, Selce, Senj, Lovran, Punat … but the last one is really special not only because of its beauty but also because it’s the home port of Jadrolinija Ferry which connects several islands with the mainland. You can also visit the island of Krk, Cres or Rab which have many beautiful towns and villages.
5 . Mali Lošinj – Cres
Mali Lošinj is an island in the Croatian part of Kvarner bay and it used to be a place where people from Adriatic went for a summer retreat, so the architecture on the island has a very distinct Mediterranean flair. There are marinas in Mali Lošinj itself, Nerezine, Krilo Jesenice, Brna … but the most popular is definitely Marina Nava right next to the city center surrounded by charming cafes and restaurants. The other must-go destination for yachting while visiting Croatia is island Cres with its spectacular National Park Kornati and inland river Mirna.
6 . Rovinj – Poreč
Rovinj is an old town on the Istria peninsula (Croatian coast) and it has a distinct Venetian flair. It’s also surrounded by many smaller islands like Ilovik, Crveni Otok, Rava … If you yachting in Croatian waters, make sure to include this destination because it’s worth visiting. The marinas in Rovinj are Marinas Gruž, Talia, and Marina Punta Alga for smaller vessels up to 30 meters long which can be berthed there for free of charge during daytime if there are no vacant berths, or you can just anchor in Rovinj Bay. Poreč is another rich city where history and tradition meet modern marine facilities. There are two well-equipped marine facilities here: Marina Poreč which has 581 boat berths and Marina Istra which offers storage space for boats up to 10 meters long.
7 . Opatija – Kvarner
Opatija is a famous tourist destination on the Croatian coast because it has beautiful surroundings like mountain Ucka, the most beautiful bay in the Adriatic Sea – Bled, many green islands … So you can imagine why people choose to stay there for their vacation. The marinas in Opatija are located right next to small townships called Kavran or Lovran, next to fishing port which belongs to Opatija, Rijeka … So the marinas are very well located and they offer many services.
8 . Pula – Istria
Pula is another city on the Croatian coast where you can find golden beaches all around the city. It’s situated near the big island of Brijuni which used to be a retreat for Yugoslavian president Tito so it has lots of historical sites like his hunting lodge or small islands Vir, Goli otok … The best way to explore this area is definitely by yachting because it has so much natural beauty that you need your own boat to visit every corner! The marinas in Pula are also very nice with some restaurants and cafes, sports grounds (tennis, run run, biking …), playgrounds for children.
9 . Novi Vinodolski – Kvarner
Novi Vinodolski is the best destination if you like exploring small townships on the Croatian coast. There are marinas in big cities around the city which offers all kinds of services to yachters: Marina Punat with its famous Tic Tac night club which offers live music every day during high season, marina Jadran which has a restaurant with a view of the sea just next to a marina so it’s a very popular place among sailors because you can spend couple hours enjoying delicious food or drink before or after your trip on the boat. If you want to visit Novi Vinodolski just give it a try and you’ll definitely enjoy it!
10. Hvar
Hvar is a Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea that has been named as one of the top 20 islands in the world. The island itself consists of about 100 villages and towns that each have their own unique identity. The main town on the island is also called Hvar where you can find many bars, restaurants, and cafes located in the old town. Furthermore, Hvar is a great destination for anyone who loves partying on their holidays (it’s one of Europe’s best-kept secrets when it comes to parties) because it has an annual mid-summer carnival with fancy dress parades, music events, and many boat parties that you can join at any of the numerous beaches.
11 . Sočerga – Istria
Sočerga is situated in the north of Istria and has a very special Mediterranean climate where you can see many different types of plants and fruits: figs, olives … The marina in Sočerga is called Bezigrad Marina which all yachters should know about because it’s the only marina with a 30/50 amp electricity connection. That means that if you are a yacht owner who wants to charge your batteries or other devices on the boat while staying at the marina for a few days, this marina will be perfect for you. It also offers several restaurants with great food and wines, a playground for children, a pool table …
