Yacht charter in Croatia
Cruising Croatia on a crewed yacht involves navigating the Adriatic Sea along a coastline featuring 1,246 islands, islets, and reefs. The area offers a mix of historic port towns, Venetian architecture, and secluded anchorages. Distances between islands in the Dalmatian archipelago are short, allowing for flexible itineraries. This destination suits groups interested in combining maritime history, swimming in clear water, and walking through coastal villages. The infrastructure supports large yachts with numerous marinas and town quays.
Best time to charter
The charter season runs from May to October. July and August are the warmest and busiest months, with light to moderate Maestral winds blowing from the north-west in the afternoons. May, June, September, and October offer quieter anchorages and cooler temperatures. The Bora, a strong north-easterly wind, and the Jugo, a south-easterly wind, are more frequent outside the peak summer months, requiring careful anchorage selection.
Anchorages and harbours to know
Hvar Town, Hvar
A busy port with Venetian architecture, offering town quay mooring and a nearby anchorage at the Pakleni Islands for quieter nights.
Skradin, Krka River
Located up the Krka River, this town provides access to the Krka National Park waterfalls and requires navigating a buoyed channel from Šibenik.
Polače, Mljet
A large, pine-fringed bay on the northern coast of Mljet Island, providing good holding and direct access to the trails of Mljet National Park.
Zaklopatica, Lastovo
A well-protected bay on the northern side of Lastovo island, shielded by a small islet, offering safe mooring and clear water for swimming.
Šipanska Luka, Šipan
A deep, sheltered inlet on the Elaphiti island of Šipan, featuring a traditional fishing village and holding for yachts in mud and sand.
Practical tips
- Getting there: Split (SPU) and Dubrovnik (DBV). Split and Trogir marinas are about 30 minutes from Split airport; ACI Marina Dubrovnik is about 30 minutes from Dubrovnik airport.
- Charter tax: Croatian VAT of about 13% is usually added to the charter fee (Applies to yachts licensed for charter in Croatia.).
- Fly into Split (SPU) or Dubrovnik (DBV). Split marinas are about 30 minutes away, Trogir is 5 to 10 minutes, and ACI Marina Dubrovnik is 30 minutes from DBV.
- Yachts must register crew and guest lists with the e-Crew system before departure, and local tourist taxes are calculated per person, per day.
- Town quays often use lazy lines rather than anchors. Harbourmasters allocate berths on a first-come, first-served basis, so arrive early in the afternoon during July and August.
- Holding tanks must be used in all ports, marinas, and enclosed bays. Pumping black water into the sea is strictly prohibited near the coastline and islands.