I usually describe our travels per city or town. But as we sailed the islands and didn’t stay in a hotel I will take all the islands together and describe the best restaurants to eat and things to do while sailing this part of Croatia.
The area we sailed is called Split and Central Dalmatia according to the Lonely Planet. We started our sailing trip in Trogir, a town near Split. It is a lovely town, an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its rich culture stems from Greek, Roman and Venetian influences. From there we sailed the following islands:
Brac, Hvar, Vis and Solta. Around the islands there are different options to spend the night with your boat, either in the port or in one of the many bays.
We spent some nights in ports others anchoring in small or larger bays. If you need water and electricity, going into a port is the only way, but I would recommend anchoring as much as possible. It’s much more relaxing and we loved waking up and taking a dive in the clear blue waters of the Adriatic Sea. There is no better way to start your day!
All islands have their own charm and dozens of villages. Hvar is the most elegant of all, they call it the St. Tropez of Croatia. With posh yachts, happening bars & restaurants, young partygoers, and the sunniest spot in the country.
Our personal favorite was Vis Island. Vis was a military base for the Yugoslav army and therefor cut off from foreign visitors for 40 years. Until 1989 time stood still and because of the lack of development it has an unique charm. During the high season cars are forbidden on the island, except for those of the inhabitants. It will most likely become more popular now as it was used as a filming location for “Mamma Mia, Here we go again”.
Here are some awesome things to do when sailing the islands of Central Dalmatia.
- Anchor in the beautiful bays of the islands.
- Taste the local Croatian wines. Vis island has its own grape, Vugava. It’s been cultivated here since ancient times.
- Visit the open air cinema of Vis Island literally located next to the water.
- Sleep under the stars on the deck of your ship.
- Plan a night out on the town in Hvar with its many restaurants and bars.
- Opt for an adrenaline pack when chartering a boat. You get a better dinghy and will be able to do some serious tubing, wake boarding and water-skiing when anchoring in one of the beautiful bays. It also makes going to shore with a large family much easier.
- Visit the simple but beautiful churches of the islands.
Navigare Yachting
Central Booking Office
Ul. Damira Tomljanovica 11
10020 Zagreb, Croatia
Languages:
English, German, Russian, Italian, Spanish
Tel office: +385 1 2331 661
Mobile: +385 91 3777 237
Fax: +385 1 2331 003
Direct Clients:
booking@navigare-yachting.com
Price range
$$-$$$
Location
Navigate Yachting has a base in both Trogir and Dubrovnik. We chartered our boat from Trogir.
Accommodation
Different yachts are available both mono-hull and catamaran in different sizes ranging from 40-64 feet. Crewed or non crewed. We had a Hanse 575 with a skipper. Offering 4 cabins, including an owners cabin and a berth for the skipper.
Dining
The boat had a fully equipped kitchen with 3 fridges, oven and stove. We chose to have breakfast and lunch on board and dine out every night.
Services and amenities for kids
Not applicable.
Extra info
We loved our privately chartered boat. Although the kids said they’d like to try a flotilla next time.
With kids
Mizarola – Hvar
Frutarija – Vis
Konoba Lola – Vis
Without kids
Hula Hula – Hvar
Lambik – Vis
The best time to go sailing in Croatia is from May to October. We visited in July and it was pretty hot thus very happy to have air conditioning on board. July and August are peak months so it’s pretty packed with tourists but still very doable.
Below is the current temperature and forecast for the next days in Split, decide for yourself if it’s tempting or not.