Sailing in Croatia: guide for first timers

With over 1,000 islands scattered along 200km of Adriatic coastline, Croatia isn’t just one of the most beautiful countries in the world; it’s built for sailing. Sheltered harbors, short island hops, steady winds, and no shortage of places to drop anchor: this is one of Europe’s easiest and most rewarding places to get on the water.

Adapted from The Rough Guide to Croatia, read on for an insider's guide to enjoying your first sailing in Croatia.

Where to go (and for how long) when sailing in Croatia

If you're planning a trip to Croatia and want to spend time on the water, head straight for the southern Dalmatian coast. This is where island-hopping in Croatia is at its easiest and most rewarding. The sea is calm, the winds are steady, and the islands are close enough together that you can sail for a few hours, drop anchor, and still have time to explore on foot.

Most sailing routes start and end in either Split or Dubrovnik. A round trip gives you the flexibility to explore islands like Hvar, Vis, Brač, and Korčula over the course of a week. If your Croatia itinerary involves sailing one way between the two cities, allow at least eight days. That gives you time to actually enjoy each stop rather than rushing from port to port.

If you’ve got longer, consider heading north from Split towards Šibenik and the Kornati Islands, or adding the Elafiti Islands near Dubrovnik. These quieter routes offer a slower pace and fewer crowds, especially outside peak season.

Sailing in Croatia isn’t just scenic, it’s practical. The distances are short, the harbours are well-equipped, and the route options suit both first-timers and experienced sailors alike.

As for which islands to focus your attention on, here is a brief overview of what awaits you on some of the country's best islands during your sailing trip in Croatia.

Sail to: Hvar Island

Hvar isn’t just one of the best islands in Croatia, it’s also one of the most varied. Sure, it’s got a reputation for yachts and champagne bars, but sail beyond the main marina and you’ll find sleepy villages, quiet coves, and family-run konobas serving fresh-caught fish and local wine.

The southern coast is dotted with coves you can only reach by boat, perfect if you’re after a quiet swim or a picnic without a crowd. If nightlife’s your thing, Hvar Town delivers, with cocktail bars, beach clubs, and a harbour packed with sleek boats and people who want to be seen.

The island’s food scene punches well above its weight. Think grilled squid, goat cheese drizzled in local honey, and handmade pasta with wild herbs. Many restaurants serve olive oil and wine produced just a few kilometres away.

And there’s real history here too: Stari Grad and its surrounding agricultural plain are UNESCO-listed, and Hvar Town’s old quarter is a maze of stone alleys and shady courtyards.

Sail to: Brač Island

Brač balances quiet charm with just enough buzz to keep things interesting. Even in peak season, Croatia’s third-largest island keeps a laidback rhythm, ideal if you’re after slow mornings, swimmable coves, and the odd evening tipple in a waterfront bar.

Supetar, on the north coast, is the main port and the island’s largest town. Once a fishing village, it still feels local, with pebbly beaches, low-key bars, and a small Old Town curled around a crescent-shaped harbor. It’s a good place to get your land legs back, and a quiet contender for one of the best places to visit in Croatia if you want something authentic but not remote.

On the south coast, Bol is home to Zlatni Rat, one of the best beaches in Croatia, and also one of the most photographed. Its narrow, shifting spit of white pebbles juts into turquoise water and catches just enough breeze to make it perfect for windsurfing and sailing. Lovrečina Bay, further east, is another standout with its shallow sandy shallows and pine-shaded shoreline.

Away from the coast, Brač’s rocky interior hides olive groves, vineyards, and walking trails with knockout views, exactly the kind of scenery that makes a honeymoon in Croatia feel properly romantic, without the cliché.

Sail to: Šolta

Just a short sail from Split, Šolta feels like a world away. It’s one of the quietest stops when sailing in Croatia, and that's its charm: no mega-marinas, no cruise crowds, just stone villages, pine forests, and coves you might have all to yourself.

Stomorska, on the island’s northeast tip, is the most popular mooring spot, but “popular” here still means just a few taverns and a sleepy quay. For something with a touch more polish, sail around to Maslinica on the western coast. It's harbour strikes a rare balance, fishing village meets low-key luxury, and it’s easily one of the most scenic anchorages in Dalmatia.

Šolta’s interior is surprisingly wild. Small, almost-forgotten hamlets like Gornje Selo and Donje Selo dot the hills, linked by quiet roads perfect for cycling. After docking in Rogač, the island’s main port, you can hike or bike uphill to Grohote, a timeless settlement with narrow lanes, stone archways, and a church that still rings out over olive groves.

For a more stripped-back stay, beachside camping in Croatia doesn't get much more peaceful than Šolta. A few small campsites hug the coast, giving you front-row seats to the Adriatic, with nothing but crickets and waves at night.

Sail to: Sveti Klement Island

Sveti Klement is the largest of the forested Pakleni Islands, a car-free cluster just off the southern coast of Hvar. The name often gets mistranslated as “Hell’s Islands” because pakao means hell in Croatian, but the real root is paklina, a sticky pine resin once harvested here. Hellish? Not even close. These islands are more shaded hammocks and long lunches than fire and brimstone.

Sveti Klement covers just 5 square kilometers and has three sleepy settlements: Palmižana, Momića Polje, and Vlaka. Most boats head straight for Palmižana, a natural horseshoe bay with a well-run marina, a few upmarket restaurants, and a sandy beach that’s small but sheltered. In high season, it’s buzzy with day-trippers and yacht crews, but the island never loses its slow, off-grid feel.

There are no roads here, just forest paths leading through pine, cypress, and rosemary scrub. It's a good place to stretch your legs after a few hours under sail, or to spend a lazy afternoon with a cold drink and a swim.

If you’re ticking off low-key things to do in Croatia, this is one of the easiest wins: moor up, swim, eat well, and enjoy not hearing a single engine all day.

Sail to: Vis Island

The most remote of the southern Dalmatian islands, Vis spent decades off-limits to foreign visitors due to its role as a military base. That isolation preserved something rare on the Adriatic, a genuine sense of detachment. Even now, it feels quieter, rougher around the edges, and refreshingly untouched by mass tourism.

Sailing into Vis offers a different pace. There’s no flashy marina scene here, just fishing boats, quiet anchorages, and a handful of harbourside bars that don’t feel like they’re trying too hard. Independent travelers come for the calm, the history, and the food. Vis has long been known for its seafood, especially lobster and the daily catch, which ends up on tables in taverns that don’t bother with menus. Ask what’s fresh and go from there.

The island also has its own take on fast food: pogača od srdele, a soft-dough anchovy pie you’ll find in local bakeries. Pick one up before heading off to explore inland villages like Komiža, a charming old fishing town with stone houses and a laidback vibe.

If you’re sailing in summer, don’t miss the Blue Cave on nearby Biševo island. It only glows when the sun hits it just right, midday is best, when the cave floods with an unreal, electric-blue light. Just get there early. It’s not a secret anymore.

Sail to: Korčula Island

Korčula is one of the most rewarding stops when sailing in Croatia, especially if you're after calm anchorages, walkable towns, and standout local cuisine. The southern coast is dotted with quiet coves and sandy bays, where the sea is calm and clear. These are great for swimming, paddleboarding, or just dropping anchor for a long lunch onboard.

Korčula Town sits on the northeast coast and offers one of the most atmospheric Old Towns in the Adriatic. Surrounded by medieval walls and packed with tight alleys and stone staircases, it’s a place worth lingering. Outside the centre, you'll find small beaches, shady coves, and some of the best local bakeries and seafood restaurants along this stretch of coast.

Venture inland and you’ll see why Korčula is considered one of the greenest islands in Croatia. Vineyards and olive groves stretch across the hills, producing some of the region’s top dry whites. Grk is a sharp, mineral wine grown only in sandy Lumbarda, while Pošip, produced around Smokvica and Čara, is fuller and rounder. Both are essential parts of the island’s strong food culture.

If you're chasing foodie experiences in Croatia, this island delivers. Try the local Žrnovski makaruni, a hand-rolled pasta usually served with slow-cooked lamb or goat. It’s simple, rich, and exactly the kind of dish that makes sailing with an appetite worthwhile.

Sail to: Mljet Island

Mljet is one of the largest of the southern Dalmatian islands, and also one of the greenest. Much of it is covered in dense pine forest, with saltwater lakes and quiet coves tucked into its shoreline. Many visitors arrive on a day trip from Dubrovnik, but if you’re sailing, you’ve got the advantage; this is an island worth staying for.

The western tip is home to Mljet National Park, a peaceful patchwork of walking and cycling trails that wind around two interconnected lakes. In the middle of the larger lake sits a small island with a 12th-century Benedictine monastery, which you can reach by boat or kayak. The park is car-free, calm, and ideal for slow travel.

Pomena, the island’s main harbour and gateway to the park, is a small, easygoing place with just enough restaurants and rooms to make it a comfortable base. Local food is simple and excellent: goat’s cheese, olives, and fresh fish, often washed down with Mljet’s own white or ruby-red wines.

There’s a mythology here, too. According to legend, Odysseus was shipwrecked on Mljet and kept here by the nymph Calypso. Spend a night or two at anchor, and you’ll understand why he didn’t rush home.