Bareboat or flotilla sailing holiday in Croatia
On a flotilla or bareboat sailing holiday in Croatia, you sail the paradisiacal turquoise Mediterranean Sea. Sail to tranquil, colourful islands and picturesque port towns steeped in history. Enjoy delicious seafood and meet friendly locals on your sailing holiday in Croatia. Explore pristine bays and spectacular waterfalls, ancient fortresses and dense forests along Croatia's famed Dalmatian coast!
Sailing holiday to the Kornati islands
The park is open all year round so you can enjoy the fresh air, tranquillity and beautiful scenery whenever you want. The park is the place for sailors who love the tranquillity of uninhabited territory! Kornati is pre-eminently the location for a Robinson-like sailing holiday. There are 25 restaurants in Kornati National Park, most of which have local dishes on their menus. Fish,seafood specialities and dishes prepared with Kornati lamb are specialities. Every first Sunday in July is the Catholic feast day of the Madonna of Tarca. There are festivities on this day on the Kornati islands. The Kornati Cup is a traditional sailboat regatta at the beginning of the tourist season in April.
Sailing holidays from Zadar
Zadar is home to stunning sunsets. The famous British film director Alfred Hitchcock once said that the sunset in Zadar is the most beautiful in the whole world.
There are many good restaurants in Zadar such as restaurant Arsenal (old town) and restaurant Sime (near Borik and Diklo). The old town is easily reached via a pedestrian bridge. The 9th-century St Donatus Church is one of the many sights in the old centre. In the morning and late afternoon/early evening, the church is open to visitors. The adjacent Saint Anastasias Cathedral and the Roman Forum are also among the many sights the old town has to offer.
Zadar has a rich history. As far back as 900 BC, Zadar was an important city in a power struggle with various rulers in the area. Through 3000 years of history, the city has been in the hands of the Romans, the Byzantines, the Venetians, the Ottomans, the Croatian kingdom, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Italian kingdom (until the end of World War II) and then the Republic of Yugoslavia.
Discover Hvar on a sailing holiday in Croatia
Hvar is much loved by royalty, jet set and many celebrities. The island is trendy and lively and exudes luxury, but is also a popular destination for tourists looking for tranquillity and an affordable holiday destination.
Beautiful promenade and fantastic nightlife too
For young people, the island's vibrant nightlife makes it a fantastic place, a true ‘party island’. ‘After Beach Parties’ are very popular on the island and a favourite spot of many is Club Carpe Diem in the harbour. The parties on the stunning promenade are also fantastic. Nightlife spots you must have been to: Club Veneranda (a club on top of a mountain near ancient ruins. From the central square walk past hotel Adriana and you're almost there), Hula Hula (nice bar by the sea, 15 min walk from the central square, between hotel Amfora and hotel Podstine) and the Kiva Bar (Rock music and tequilas are the main ingredients).
Recommended restaurants
There are plenty of good dining options in town. At the restaurants along the promenade you can enjoy the beautiful views. Exclusive restaurants can be found in narrow alleys near the main square. Recommended restaurants where you can eat well at a good price are: Vartal, Bonaca, Posteni, Gariful, Passarola and Robinson. The nicest beaches are the pebble beach of Vira campsite and the beaches of Pakleni Otoci (Pakleni islands) with its beautiful bays.
To visit or not to visit Krka waterfalls
Krka National Park is definitely worth a visit! The park is open all year round. In summer, you can swim at the waterfalls. So don't forget to bring your swimwear! It is useful to wear good walking shoes. You should also bear in mind that short clothes should not be worn when visiting the monastery.
Visit the KrKa falls in spring
Our advice do not go to the KrKa waterfalls during your sailing holiday in Croatia, too many people in one place. As a sailor, you'd rather avoid mass tourism. Visit Croatia once in spring and grab a few extra days. The waterfalls are beautiful then and you can do some leisurely hiking or hire a bike.
Entrance fees
Jan, Feb, March, Nov, Dec:
Adults: 30 kuna
Children (7-18): 20 kuna
April, June, Sept, Oct:
Adults: 110 kuna
Children (7-18): 80 kuna
July and Aug:
Adults: 200 kuna
Children (7-18): 120 kuna
Weather and season for a sailing holiday
You can expect nice weather in Croatia from May to September. Before or after that it can also be nice, but there is a risk of a shower or you may need to put on an extra jumper in the evening. In May, the sea water is still a bit fresh but from June onwards is already good for swimming. The wind can come from all regions in Croatia. Different names are used for these winds. Very well known is the maistro (mistral), a fresh northerly wind that (unlike in France and Italy) is slight and produces wonderful sailing weather. Notorious are the occasional bora and jugo. The fierce bora blows from the north-east and has a relentless character. A brisk jugo (less relentless and slightly more constant) blows from the south. Because of these two winds, you should always be aware of the weather forecasts in Croatia.
Eating in Croatia
In Croatia, pizzerias are very popular and affordable. Want to taste a pizza with an authentic Croatian flavour? Then go for a pizza with pršut, a delicious smoked ham.
The menu of almost every Croatian restaurant includes pasta dishes and risotto. Italian cuisine is very popular in Croatia. Many dishes from Istria and Dalmatia are based on Italian cuisine.
Fish, meat or vegetarian
On the coast in Istria and Dalmatia you will find many fish restaurants. The dishes are prepared with fresh fish, seafood and shellfish caught in the morning. Plain meat dishes are also available in the fish restaurants, but as these are eaten infrequently, they usually come from the freezer. You can also quite possibly find vegetarian food in Croatia. In tourist areas, there are often restaurants with one or more vegetarian dishes on the menu.
Croatia is a real wine country and it shows when you eat out in a restaurant. More and more restaurants are putting homemade local wines on their menu. There is a large selection of top wines from all over Croatia.
Own berth
Many coastal and island restaurants have their own mooring for hungry sailors ready for a good meal after a long day at sea. The real fish lover should opt for a small, traditional fish restaurant on one of the islands. Be surprised by the delicious fresh fish dishes.
Grocery shopping in Croatia
Many people choose to cook for themselves during their holidays. If you buy products from a Croatian brand, you are buying quality. Croatian products have to meet strict requirements and contain little to no e-numbers. They are also often cheaper than imported products. For a loaf of bread, you pay between 5 and 10 Kuna. Fresh products such as vegetables, fruit and fresh fish, are better bought at the market.
€1 is roughly equivalent to 7.50 Croatian Kuna
The most common supermarkets are: Konzum, Plodine, Spar, Lidl, Mercator, CBA, Studenac, Getro, Billa and Kaufland.
Croatian delicacies
Here are some Croatian delicacies (from the supermarket) that you can try during your sailing holiday in Croatia:
- Neapolitan biscuits (brand: Kraš)
- Bajadera chocolates (brand: Kraš)
- Mandulat (kind of nougat with almonds, best brand: Bobis)
- Cheese from the island of Pag (very tasty and salty, Croatian name: Paški sir)
- Pršut (dried salty ham, similar to prosciutto, best kind: Drniški Pršut)
- Dried figs (various brands)
- Maraskino liqueur (best brand: Maraska Zadar)
- Prošek dessert wine (best brand: Vinoplod Vinarija Šibenik)