Croatia is one of the best places to sail whose popularity seems to be only growing, especially among yacht lovers. Due to the short distances sailing between islands, a rich cultural heritage, well preserved natural beauty and more than 1,200 islands, many people recognize this country’s near perfect conditions for exploring by sea on any cruising adventure!
To make your planning easier, here are the top places to visit and best places to sail if you plan a yachting summer holiday in Croatia.
Split, sail from the heart of Dalmatia
Split is a center of the Dalmatia region and one of the favorite starting points among yacht lovers for any cruise. Besides the sheer fact that it has the best connections to all nearby islands, it is also a significantly important town with a long history and mesmerizing beauty.
The old town, built inside the old palace under UNESCO World Heritage protection, is still lived in even to this day. It offers a perfect mix of traditional and modern so it’s quite fascinating to observe how modern Dalmatian life is going.
Split is always lively during summer, even crowded, since many visitors appreciate the beauty of this town.
Dubrovnik, home of “Game of Thrones” and amazing architecture
If you haven’t visited this place you will absolutely fall in love with it, and if you haven’t at least heard of it before then you are missing out!
Dubrovnik is a unique town also known as the “Pearl of the Adriatic” that has a long cultural history and legendary monumental heritage protected by UNESCO. Of course, this port town, one of the best places to sail in Croatia, got even more popular after it was used for filming the world-famous “Game of Thrones” series.
Besides that, Dubrovnik’s exceptional architecture is framed by long walls that we recommend you to visit! Walking the famous walls is a unique experience because you get the best view of the town from above and you have many perfect Instagrammable spots for all your photos.
Korcula is for wine and Marco Polo
Korcula also is known as “Little Dubrovnik,” a magical place to visit if you want to experience the feel of Dubrovnik but on a much smaller scale, with a lot fewer tourists and more time with locals.
This island is the sixth-largest Croatian island, famous for its delicious local wine, small sandy beaches and fascinating monuments and cultural heritage.
It is believed that this very island was the birthplace of Marco Polo, the famous explorer, which is why you will find many themed shops all around the island. A charming island with labyrinthine streets and long walls, Kor?ula tells a wonderful story of how life there used to be, and how it is today.
Kornati Islands National Park for Yachting
The Kornati are an absolute must-visit if you want to escape mass tourism, enjoying the simple things in life in the privacy of your own yacht. This archipelago is composed of numerous islands, islets and reefs and it is by far the largest in Adriatic.
Don’t expect to find a vibrant atmosphere and many tourist attractions, because here it is all about preserving nature and the crystal-clear sea! Kornati Islands are a perfect spot for snorkeling, kayaking, various watersports and almost anything you can think of making it one of the best places to sail in Croatia.
Trogir has charm, great food, fewer tourists
A pretty little town located near Split, and the second largest town in Croatia, is the charming and historic Trogir. Just like his significantly larger companion, Trogir is also set within fantastic medieval walls. History and art lovers will be mesmerized by this place! The old town is so well preserved that it will feel like you are walking through an open-air museum.
Another advantage of mooring here is that Trogir is linked by bridges to the larger Ciovo Island that can be easily visited in a short amount of time. The Split airport is also nearby which makes Trogir a great starting point for any sailing adventure.
This is the place for those who are looking for gastronomical adventures and some amazing local food, too. If you decide to spend the night moored here, you will see everyone walking on the wide seaside promenade lined with yachts and excellent, cheap restaurants under the moonlight.
Brac for beautiful beaches
Brac is one of those islands where traditional life is still preserved in villages, and it is famous for its white stone, olive oil and the most beautiful beach at Bol called Zlatni Rat or Goler Horn.
The two main centers, Supetar and Bol, are more modern and offer many tourist attractions. Both have exclusive appeal to them. However, if you are in search of something more traditional you must visit Pucica — that is one of the most beautiful villages to drop anchor and relax. But whatever you choose you will be surrounded by a magnificent landscape, cliffs, crystal clear waters, and pine forests.
Hvar the party island!
If you are looking for something fun, lively and a bit extravagant, you must visit Hvar town on the island of Hvar. Hvar Town each year gets numerous visitors and yachters who love the glamour, VIP parties, restaurants and endless sun.
In fact, this island is known for having the most sunny hours in a year!
Besides a widely known party scene here you will find several restaurants and high-end bars. There is also an extensive history and cultural heritage for history lovers, amazing beaches and some more remote places to explore on your own.
Go now because the pronouncedly Mediterranean climate, plenty of sunny days, beautiful nature, VIP events and many recreational facilities will surely keep luring many people in.
Vis, Croatia’s hidden gem for seafood and sea
The most mysterious island must be Vis, which not so long ago became recognized as the forgotten jewel of Croatia.
Due to its military history, the furthest island was “isolated” from tourism until 1989, so the natural landscape and lifestyles there are very well preserved to this day.
Vis is a beautiful place to visit because you can see through the sparkling clean sea down to pebble and sand beaches. This is also a great destination for food lovers because almost everywhere in town you can find a really good local restaurants that offer fresh seafood dishes daily.
Furthermore, the peaceful environment in Vis is close to ideal for relaxation, swimming and your personal exploration of various settlements around the island.
You definitely won’t regret visiting this place or your yachting summer holiday in Croatia.
Aymen Bouhlemi is the head of the marketing department at Goolets LTD and has explored Croatia from the bow of a yacht many times. He shares his favorites ports of call for yachters in this sponsored post from Goolets LTD.
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