Where to go • When to go • What you should know • How to Book
Croatia’s Adriatic Sea mainland coast is 1,777.3 kilometers (1,104.4 mi) long, while its 1,246 islands and islets encompass a further 4,058 kilometers (2,522 mi) of coastline. This along with the gorgeous ocean climate in the summer season, clear waters, and friendly people makes Croatia one of the more desirable and popular sailing areas in the world. The official language is Croatian, but almost everyone speaks English.
There are hundreds of yacht charter companies to choose from, some large well-known global companies and many boutique family-run companies. For a week-long sailing vacation, you can rent and skipper yourself (or hire a local skipper) small (35 ft) to large (52 ft) monohull-type sailboats as well as small (38 ft) to large (52 ft) sailing catamarans. Larger sail and power yachts are also available for hire with a skipper and crew.
What is a sailing vacation, yacht charter, etc..? Learn more here ›
Best time to go? Contact us for more information regarding the best times to go to specific locations (including the charter options and pricing available).
Croatia requires a sailing license for bareboat chartering. The NauticEd SLC (nauticed.org/SLC) is an accepted license that is easy to get if you know your sailing stuff! If you want the relaxation of a skipper or don’t have a sailing license, we can easily find you a skippered yacht.
What is a sailing vacation, yacht charter, etc..? Learn more here ›
Where to go on a Croatia sailing vacation?
NauticEd are sailing vacation and yacht charter agents who’ve sailed extensively in Croatia – and we can book a Croatia yacht charter for you in any of these locations. There are four main areas to sail on the Croatian coastline. Each location is easily large enough for a 2-week sailing vacation and so those seeking only a week are confined to smaller areas within each location. With all yacht charter companies, the start and finish days are on Saturdays – thus, you pick up the boat at 5pm Saturday and must return by 9am on Saturday. The first and last nights are required to be in the Marina. Thus a 1-week vacation is really only 6 days and 5 nights out exploring, while a 2-week vacation is 13 days and 12 nights out which gives a better chance to fully explore an area.
But, which area to explore? Below, we show the 4 main areas and each is unique from the other. Meaning, in this lifetime, you have to visit all the best charter destinations in Croatia. By the math above, you need at least four 2-week trips to Croatia to properly get a good introduction to this Mediterranean delight.
Scroll below for location information.
The Istrian Peninsula and Bay of Kvarner areas in northern Croatia offer diverse landscapes with beautiful beaches alongside charming scenery. Known for its ancient Roman history, this Croatian area offers picturesque towns, remote beauty, and seaside ports grouped alongside medieval churches.
Explore
The Dalamatia Islands are the narrow long stretch of islands in the middle of the western side of Croatia (on the eastern side of the Adriatic sea). This area can be divided into 2 main cruising areas. North Central Dalmatia and South Central Dalmatia.
The gorgeous islands in north-central Dalmatia offer uninhabited islands and gorgeous nature with the Kornati Islands, Krka National park, and Sibenik archipelago national parks. This less developed area is great for snorkeling with abundant marina life alongside Roman fishing villages.
Explore
The islands in south-central Dalmatia are the most popular ports to sail in Croatia because these islands offer it all… Beaches, medieval towns, nightlife, natural wonders, and charming villages.
Explore:
See our Practical Guide and Itinerary map of South Central Dalmatia (Split – Trogir area)
Dubrovnik is probably the most famous Croatian city known for its famous protective city walls, lively arts and culture, and beautiful history. Rich in sailing history, Dubrovnik is also known for the filming location of Game of Thrones and Star Wards. Sailing in this area provides an opportunity to visit the Elafiti Islands, the Lastovoa archipelago, and ancient towns such as Korcula and Cavtat.
Explore
NauticEd are expert yacht charter agents. We don’t charge you a fee and can more than likely save you money on all your sailing vacations. We search the world’s databases for over 8,000 yachts in 55 destinations. We give expert advice on where and when to go – likely, we’ve been there. Make an inquiry and book your sailing vacations through NauticEd Sailing Vacations.
NauticEd is a fully recognized education and certification platform for sailing students combining online and on-the-water real instruction (and now VR). NauticEd offers +24 online courses, a free sailor's toolkit that includes 2 free courses, and six ranks of certification – all integrated into NauticEd’s proprietary platform. The USCG and NASBLA recognize NauticEd as having met the established American National Standards. Learn more at www.nauticed.org.
The NauticEd Vacations team are Expert Global Yacht Charter Agents – when you book a sailing vacation or bareboat charter through NauticEd, we don’t charge you a fee – we often save you money since we can compare prices from all yacht charter companies. PLUS, we can give you advice on which destination or charter company will suit your needs best. Inquire about a Sailing Vacation or Charter.
Greece Yacht Charter & Sailing Vacations
Croatia – Podcast
