Sailing in Croatia & Dalmatia

South Dalmatia – Dubrovnik, Korčula and the Elaphiti Islands

South Dalmatia is the region south of the narrow Bosnian corridor at Neum, which divides Croatia at this point – the coast around Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik, with its fully walkable city walls and old town of white limestone (UNESCO World Heritage), is the start or end port of almost every voyage. Its fame today owes much to Game of Thrones, where the city played King’s Landing – many of the series’ locations can be recognised from the water. Just offshore lie the car-free Elaphiti Islands with Šipan, ideal for a first anchorage. Korčula, the dark, pine-covered wine island with its Marco Polo old town, brings the Pošip and Grk grape varieties on board. Mljet National Park, with its two saltwater lakes and the Benedictine monastery on the island in the lake, is the greenest spot on the whole coast. And the quiet anchorage off Cavtat, just short of the Montenegrin border.

Central Dalmatia – Split, Hvar and the island of Vis

The heart of the cruising ground. Split grows around Diocletian’s Palace, still lived and traded in today. Hvar, the most glamorous island of the Adriatic, is scented with lavender; the neighbouring Pakleni Islands offer the finest bathing bays. Vis, with the fishing town of Komiža, was closed to civilians by the military for decades and has stayed unspoilt to this day – from here you reach the Blue Grotto of Biševo. Brač is home to Bol and Cape Zlatni Rat, Croatia’s most famous beach. Šibenik, with the Cathedral of St James (UNESCO) and the nearby Krka waterfalls, along with the medieval island town of Trogir and its Romanesque-Venetian old town (UNESCO) and the fishing village of Primošten, round off the central Dalmatian waters.

North Dalmatia and the Kornati National Park

Around Zadar, with its sea organ and the Greeting to the Sun, lies the barest, most solitary cruising ground in the country: the Kornati National Park, a labyrinth of 89 almost uninhabited limestone islands. No greenery, no towns, just rock, wind and anchorages – the most demanding and quietest sailing in Croatia.

Kvarner Bay – Lošinj, Cres and Rab

The north is milder and greener. The twin islands of Cres and Lošinj are home to a colony of bottlenose dolphins; Lošinj is known as an island of wellbeing with especially clear air. Rab surprises with real sandy beaches, a rarity in Dalmatia. The gateways are Rijeka and the elegant resort of Opatija.

Istria – Rovinj, Pula and Poreč

The Istrian peninsula in the north-west carries the Venetian signature most clearly. Rovinj stacks its houses straight out of the water like Venice and remains a town of artists and fishermen. Pula preserves one of the best-kept Roman amphitheatres in the world. Poreč holds the golden mosaics of the Euphrasian Basilica (UNESCO). Istria pairs sailing with truffles, olive oil and wine.

Which ship for Croatia?

The Adriatic is one of the few cruising grounds where you can choose across the entire range – from a sailing voyage to a cruise. Every one of these voyages is arranged and booked through ivent-sailing:

• Sailing yachts with cook and skipper (Kairos) – intimate, few guests, anchoring in bays no large ship can reach. The most personal way in.
• Charter yachts – from extremely sporty to highly luxurious, whether you want to take the helm yourself or be thoroughly looked after.
• Catamaran cruise – spacious and stable, with a skipper aboard; perfect for relaxing, swimming and anchoring off the islands, even without any sailing experience.
• Sailing cruise on tall ships (Royal Clipper, Star Clipper) – true sailing under up to 42 sails, the romance of the classic windjammers.
• Windjammer luxury (Sea Cloud II) – hand-set sails, grand-hotel atmosphere at sea.
• Boutique cruising (Le Ponant, Le Bougainville, Le Boréal) – French elegance, intimate ships, great cuisine.
• Ultra-luxury cruise (Silver Nova, Silver Ray, Silver Muse) – suite-based, the highest level of service.

So the Dubrovnik dreamer who is not (yet) ready to book the grand windjammer voyage finds the right yacht in the very same waters – and vice versa.