The beach is deserted and off in the distance you can hear the cries of sea gulls. The beautiful rocky shoreline of the cove caught your attention immediately, and you decide that is where you should spend the night. While there is still daylight left, you decide to spend some time exploring the beach.
It feels good doing this together with your friends, you will be able to share the experience. That's why you chose sailing in Croatia.
Croatian coastline
If we got your attention for a moment, let's take a look if sailing is for you by going through some facts. Sailing in Croatia is for those who would like to sail, explore and enjoy the beautiful Croatian coast and islands - Istria, North Adriatic, Dalmatia and South Adriatic. Croatian coastline is 1777 km (1104 miles) in length and there are over 1000 islands and beaches, coves and islets are there to explore and adventures to live! Croatian Adriatic is crystal clear blue sea and swimming is one of top thing to do in Croatia.
The most popular sailing spots in Croatia include the regions of Pula (Istria), Rijeka (Kvarner), Zadar, Šibenik, Split (Central Dalmatia), and Dubrovnik (South Dalmatia).
Depending in a level of engagement you are willing to do, there are three types of sailing you can do in Croatia. You could charter a bareboat and take care of everything by yourself, charter a skippered boat with a skipper who will control everything and maybe ask for some help or choose fully crewed charter.
What do you need to charter a bareboat in Croatia?
If you have a valid skipper's licence and experience in sailing, this is probably the only acceptable way in which you are to experience sailing in Croatia. You plan out your own itinerary, take care of your finances, choose marinas/anchorages and how long you are going to sail. This type of sailing is most affordable, but requires knowledge! Check out our complete guide to renting a boat in Croatia!
8-Day Private Sailing Tour from Split with Meals and Pickup
Experience the Adriatic coastline in style with an 8-day exclusive yacht tour, offering ultimate luxury and comfort.
Departing from Split, you'll have a dedicated captain and chef onboard to cater to your every need. Explore Croatia's picturesque islands, ride a motorcycle in Montenegro, visit the stunning city of Mostar in Bosnia, and discover the natural beauty of Blidinje Nature Park. Indulge in daily dinners and most lunches and breakfasts. Pickup from your Split accommodation is stress-free. Enjoy the convenience of travelling through three countries with ease while relaxing on a luxurious yacht. Included in the package: Dinner, lunch, and breakfast.
Boat rental in Croatia with a professional skipper
Okay, so you have been sailing once or twice, you liked it and want to do it again, but bare-boating is not for you. Charter a boat with a skipper! An experienced skipper will be responsible for manoeuvring and suggesting places to visit, many of them not noted in your guidebooks. You enjoy total freedom with this option: you can choose which boat you can sail on, prepare your own meals, manage your time and as a bonus you have an experienced skipper next to you.
Sail Croatia - Elegance Cruise
Embark on a captivating 7-night round-trip cruise from Split and discover the beauty of Croatia from a unique perspective.
Sail to historic towns, islands, and stunning beaches en route to Dubrovnik, with guided excursions to destinations including the charming Old Town of Stari Grad, Hvar Island, Mljet National Park, and Makarska. Explore at least eight distinct locations in just one week and enjoy guided daily tours of Croatia's captivating cities and islands. Relax in a comfortable upper deck cabin aboard your cruise ship and savor daily breakfast and lunch on-board. Included in the package: 7 nights of on-board accommodation, optional excursions, and Wi-Fi access.
Crewed Yacht Charter in Croatia
This is the most comfortable and enjoyable way to sail the Adriatic and usually is related to gullets and luxury yachts. You enjoy the hospitality of a full crew taking care of you on board, pampering you, preparing the meals and showing you the hidden coastline gems. The routes are mostly predefined, such as romantic escape routes and similar but you can always suggest an itinerary you'd like to follow.
The best yacht charter bases to begin your sailing journey in Croatia
Most popular sailing areas in Croatia are in regions of Pula (Istria), Rijeka (Kvarner), Zadar, Šibenik, Split (Central Dalmatia) and Dubrovnik (South Dalmatia).
In Pula region, other than exploring the red and green coast, true pearl is the Brijuni National Park. It consists of two large and twelve smaller islands. Brijuni is unique blend of nature and cultural heritage. Mild Mediterranean climate with lots of sunshine resulted in lush flora.
Rijeka can offer you something different before going on the beaten path to Kvarner islands. Rijeka has been a large harbour town for few centuries and it would be a shame to miss relics of past times. Why wouldn't you want to take a peek at Viktor Lenac and 3.Maj shipyards, beautiful Kostrena beaches, former oil refinery, torpedo launching ramp where torpedo was invented, and Opatija, the 'Pearl of the Croatian cost'.
Zadar region is known as more "friendly" for sailing than other regions. Wind is always the same and predictable, there are lots of islands and coves to explore and hide in case of need. As soon as you sail out of Zadar, beautiful islands such as Dugi Otok, Zirje, Silba or Premuda will call you out to explore them.
Šibenik, a true delight for sailors! You have two national parks to explore! National Park Krka and its beautiful lakes and waterfalls and Kornati National Park - a series of islands whose beauty words can barely describe.
Sailing from Split usually means that you chose the most comfortable option. Crewed boats sail from Split to Dubrovnik (and back) and stop on Hvar, Brač and Korčula. Good thing is that if you want to go for other two options, Split has largest selection of boats to choose from.
Sailing in Dubrovnik understands exploring Elaphite islands, coast of Pelješac and mooring in National Park Mljet. Just sailing under the Old Town Dubrovnik city walls is an experience that you will be telling of for years!
Find out more useful information about renting a boat in Croatia or read our guide on renting a boat in Dubrovnik.
You can also combine sailing, island hopping and hiking. Check out Croatia hike trails offering breathtaking views of the adriatic coastline and surrounding islands.
Weather
General Information
Weather conditions on Adriatic depend on cyclones and anti-cyclones that form over Central and Southern Europe which usually move from the west to the east. The cyclones bring warm and moist southern winds accompanied with rain, like the Jugo wind but when the anticyclones start raising in Europe to the east, the winds turn north-east bringing cold and dry air along - the Bura, which eventually disperse rain clouds and brings clear blue sky.
Temperature
This areas climate brings plenty of sunny days and high temperatures on the whole Adriatic, with minimal during differences between the nort and the south during summer. Daily temperatures range from 28 to 35 Celsius degrees with night temperatures (which are getting higher year by year) usually from 24- 30 degrees (yes..that's hot!). The sea temperature generally ranges between 23- 28 Celsius degrees during the summer. Temperatures start to drop slowly in mid- September due to the temperature difference between day and night.
Nautical season in Croatia
The Adriatic and thousands of its island and islets are a beautiful playground for sailors most of the year. The best time to sail is from early April until the end of October. The summer months of June, July and August are a centre of tourist season so if you're planning to sail in these months you'll enjoy lot of happenings but be sure to book early enough. Also, in these months it could be difficult to find free berths in some attractive places on Adriatic so be prepared for possible plan changes. April, May as well as September and October are not overcrowded and the weather conditions still guarantee a pleasant holiday.
Booking a yacht/boat charter in Croatia
Chartering a yacht/boat usually takes place far in advance, because finding one during nautical season is hard. What you should keep an eye out are discounts! Early booking and first minute bookings always guarantee a discount, so as a contrast to usual last minute offers on tours, you should charter as early as possible.
Information about health and safety in Croatia
When it comes to potential health concerns for visitors, Croatia is similar to any other Central European country. Read more about Staying healthy in Croatia.
Croatia Currency and Money
Croatia, a member of the EU, uses the euro (EUR) as its official currency. You can easily exchange dollars, pounds, or other currencies for euros at numerous banks, exchange offices, especially in tourist areas, though exchange rates vary by day and location. The official rate can be found on the Croatian National Bank's website, but banks and exchange offices may set their own rates.
To avoid extra charges, check with your bank before traveling. Payments in Croatia are made exclusively in euros, with credit/debit cards and contactless options widely accepted. ATMs are plentiful, and electronic payment methods like Google Pay are growing in use. It’s recommended to carry 100-200 euros in small bills and coins for convenience. Read more about /croatia/travel-information/currency.
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