1. The water
Croatia's first and most important undeniable attraction is indeed its water. Crystal-clear and so perfectly turquoise-coloured that it makes all other waters you have seen in your life pale in comparison. You don't have to worry about murky waters where snorkelling seems more of a chore than a fun activity, or about not being able to peer over the side of your boat to see the coral reef you are cruising over. There is simply nothing like the waters of Croatia.
2. The sailing community
Unlike other places in the world where there are few fellow sailors, Croatia is known for its thriving sailing community where people from all over the world come to hang out on the water and sail all summer. This means you can of course have some privacy on the water, but also join in all the fun with other boats off the coast! It's the best of both worlds, and it's waiting for you in Croatia.
3. The fun festivals
As mentioned above, with a thriving sailing community comes some of the best festivals in this part of Europe. Wonderful people from all over the continent and beyond come to Croatia to take part in festivals like The Garden Festival and Unknown, where music, DJs, partying, booing and amazing people punctuate the nights in the hope of making it the best summer ever.
4. The nudists
Say goodbye to tan lines and hello to that perfectly tanned body you've been waiting for all winter and summer. Not only that, who doesn't love the view of beaches and sailboats?
5. The delicious food
Between all that sunbathing, making new friends with fellow sailors, attending fun festivals and exploring the underwater world, chances are you'll get quite an appetite. Luckily, Croatia is home to some of the most incredible cuisine where island favourites are combined with a kind of Italian fusion, making it undeniably delicious. Enjoy freshly caught and local fish, fresh produce and tasty olives, and combine it all with a glass of rich wine, and you have the perfect Croatian meal to fuel you before heading off to your next adventure of the day.
6. The beautiful sunsets
To make that meal even more enjoyable, gulp it down as you watch the sun slowly sink behind the horizon while admiring the incredible colours from the sailboat. The Croatian sunset is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Pull open another bottle of wine or bubbly, snuggle up next to that beautiful girl or boy you met at one of the festivals and wonder why you don't sail in Croatia every summer.
7. The endless islands
With over 1,000 islands across Croatia, you are guaranteed never to be short of cool and amazing hotspots to see, discover and explore. While not all of them are completely open to the public, some of them have recently opened, meaning there's a good chance you'll find a few you can have the whole day to yourself. Each island offers something unique and different from the next, where history, culture and nature abound and are waiting to be discovered by you and your sailing friends!
8. Pictures galore
During your sailing adventure in Croatia, you will visit hundreds of islands and experience crazy festivals and celebrations. So you can expect the most beautiful photos you have ever taken. Croatia is a great place to whip out your camera or smartphone and take stunning photos.
9. The climate
As you probably figured out, your chances of fantastic warm weather while sailing in Croatia are colossal. Croatia has a Mediterranean climate. That means the country has very mild winters, beautiful springs and summers with hot sunshine almost every day. In fact, the average number of hours of sunshine per year in Croatia is 2600; making it one of the sunniest regions in the Mediterranean. Say goodbye to cloudy days and hello to eternal sunshine.
10. The affordable prices
Sailing in Croatia is very affordable (especially if you decide to do it with a large group of friends). Meals and activities are also surprisingly cheap compared to many neighbouring countries. Don't want to spend $18 or $30 on a meal? You can get away with just 10 euros and save those pennies for other fun things.
Going on an exciting sailing adventure through Croatia and its beautiful waters? You will surely leave with dozens of new memories to look back on for years to come. And who knows, maybe it will become your new favourite place to go all summer!