Where to Sail in Croatia

Sesula bay in Solta is known for its scenic atmosphere and is an ideal place to spend the night in a peaceful setting whilst exploring Croatia.

From here, enjoy a stroll to the nearby historic town of Maslinica with its postcard-perfect looks, idyllic beaches, colourful sunsets, and shops selling locally made items like wine, honey, and schnapps. You can delve into local wine by contacting Kastelanac winery for pickup, discovering the history of the island’s famous Zinfandel and traditional vineyards. Or just relax on board with a view of the peaceful bay, perhaps swimming in the calm, turquoise waters.

Before setting sail, be sure to visit either of the two restaurants here, Sismis and Sesula, which offer mooring buoys free of charge to guests who dine with them. During high season, it’s best to make reservations in advance.

Dubrovnik dates all the way back to the 7^th-century when it was known as Ragusa. Today, visitors of all types come to enjoy its fabulous ambiance, particularly in the historic Old Town, surrounded by medieval stone walls.

It was Lord Byron who called it the “Pearl of the Adriatic,” a name that’s stuck ever since. In recent years, many travellers have come to tour “Game of Thrones” filming sites and walk atop those defensive walls for stunning views of the turquoise sea and the historic town centre. With so many different things to see and do, we could write several destination guides about Dubrovnik alone.

There is no free anchoring or mooring buoys, and the small harbour is off-limits, but there are two marinas with all the essential amenities within easy reach, including ACI Marina Dubrovnik and Marina Frapa, the closest. One of the most popular sailing routes is Dubrovnik to Split, so let’s get planning your trip!

A stunning stop on your sailing charter is Korcula. This is a beautiful small island with forests, sandy beaches, olive groves and vineyards.

Walled Korcula Town looks like it came straight from a storybook, complete with gates, towers, and ramparts. Often referred to as a “mini-Dubrovnik” it’s said to the birthplace of the famous international explorer Marco Polo, and visitors can even peek inside his birth house, which now serves as a museum. You’ll notice plenty of Venetian influences throughout, like St. Mark Cathedral with its pair of winged lions.

If you’re visiting in the summer, which offers excellent weather conditions, and want a space at the ACI marina nearby in yacht week, be sure to make reservations. Other options include the town quay on the opposite side of town or anchoring in Luke Bay for a fee. Getting around Croatia is very accessible – by Croatia yacht charters on sea or by walking around towns inland.

Brac Island is the largest of the Croatian islands, home to tranquil Lucice bay which offers many mooring buoys, although you will have to pay a fee whether or not you dine at the restaurant that owns it While you can anchor in an adjacent bay, you’ll be more exposed to the elements. It’s worth finding a spot here to stick around and chill on deck, surrounded by the crystal-clear cobalt waters and dense pines with their aromatic scent wafting through the air. You’ll find two restaurants here or you might head to Milna town on the other side of the hill. A 30-minute jaunt, it offers old-world Mediterranean charm and fabulous local eateries serving authentic Dalmatian fare, including lots of fresh seafood. This fresh food alone is a reason to visit Croatia!

Komiža town is another ideal option on unspoiled Vis Island. It boasts a spectacular backdrop of Hum hill and is surrounded by multiple, often deserted beaches. There are a number of outstanding restaurants, including one serving famous lobster, having exported them since the 16^th-century to other places around Europe. You can easily explore more of the island by taking a tour or renting a scooter, and this is also the best starting point for trips to the famous Blue Cave. Diving enthusiasts can spot with planes and sunken ships below the water’s surface. The town quay is small and busy, but there are mooring buoys if you can arrive before 4 p.m. and get by without water and electricity.

Maslinica is a village in the heart of the central Croatian islands just south of Split’s busy port on the mainland.

Located on Solta Island, its small harbour offers scenic beauty and a tranquil ambience along with idyllic beaches and spectacular sunsets. It’s also famous for its olive groves, with its name derived from the world maslina, which translates to olive.

Here you can check out the shops that sell locally made products like olive oil, honey, wine, and schnapps, or just toss a towel down on the beach to sunbathe. The taverns offer delicious eats too. While there are no moorings here, when enjoying one of our Croatia yacht charters you can anchor in the adjacent bay of Sesula or tie up at the Maslinica harbour’s pier.

The only village on the small island of the same name that sits at the mouth of the Krka river, Zlarin offers an idyllic spot for relaxing and just soaking up the sun in peace with no cars allowed here. Its historically famous for harvesting and processing red coral, with both a small museum and jewellery shop dedicated to the island’s tradition.

You’ll find several good cafes for enjoying the local atmosphere as well as fine restaurants for dining like the family-run Ivana. There are payable mooring buoys, or you can anchor for free, but you’ll usually found a space to more on the large town quay, which is protected from most winds, although if a north-westerly blows in, it can get quite choppy.

Set within a deep, sheltered by, the small resort town of Rogoznica has a long history as a fishing village, a place where local fishermen often sell their catch so you can pick up some of the freshest. It sits on a small island linked by a bridge to the mainland and has a waterfront with restaurants, bars and shops offering picturesque views over the bay, particularly at sunset.

Enjoy an adventure by walking inland to Dragon’s Eye Lake, a saltwater lake surrounded by soaring cliffs popular for cliff jumping. The town hosts the highly acclaimed Marina Frapa with mooring buoys on both sides of the bridge, while the town quay is on the island and free anchoring is possible further inland for those getting around Croatia by boat.