Life looks better at sea.

The definitive sailing-Croatia itinerary — ancient walled cities, open-sea passages, turquoise national park lakes, and evenings that justify the whole journey. Works for couples, families, and groups equally.

1. Day 1 2–3 hrs · ~40 NM

   Split → Hvar Town

   Afternoon departure, steady NW wind through the Brač Channel. Arrive Hvar in the late afternoon. Walk to Fortica fortress at sunset. Evening: Hvar’s best restaurants, main square alive after 8pm.

2. Day 2 3–4 hrs · ~30 NM

   Hvar → Vis Town

   Southwest into open water. Vis Town — Venetian palazzi, Roman ruins, quiet sophistication. Closed to foreigners until 1989, it has aged beautifully. Explore on foot, hire bikes. Evening: outstanding local restaurants — book ahead in peak season.

3. Day 3 4–5 hrs · ~38 NM

   Vis → Korčula Town

   Longer crossing — watch for dolphins in the Pelješac Channel. Korčula Town — often called Little Dubrovnik, a medieval fortified city on a peninsula. Walk the unique herringbone street layout, Cathedral of St. Mark, Marco Polo’s alleged birthplace. Evening: local Pošip white wine, dine inside the old-town walls.

4. Day 4 2–3 hrs · ~22 NM

   Korčula → Mljet (Polače)

   Sail east to Mljet — Croatia’s greenest island, 72% national park. Anchor at Polače, a Roman-era harbour with ruins visible from the boat. Swim in the saltwater lakes of Mljet National Park — Malo and Veliko Jezero — and visit the 12th-century Benedictine monastery on the island in the middle of the lake. Evening: quiet, starlit anchorage.

5. Day 5 2–3 hrs

   Mljet → Korčula return

   Second morning at Mljet for any missed exploration, then sail back northwest toward Korčula. Stop on the quieter east side of the island or continue to a nearby bay. Evening: local cooking, wine, easy anchorage.

6. Day 6 3–4 hrs · ~35 NM

   Korčula → Hvar (Stari Grad)

   Sail northwest to Stari Grad on Hvar — the oldest continuously inhabited town in Croatia (384 BC), a UNESCO World Heritage site. Quieter and more authentic than Hvar Town. Walk the Stari Grad Plain — an ancient Greek agricultural field system unchanged for 2,400 years. Evening: stone-street dining, local wine.

7. Day 7 2–3 hrs · ~35 NM

   Stari Grad → Split

   Morning departure, final crossing north. Arrive Split by noon.

• MarinaACI Marina Split or Marina Kaštela
• Total distance~220–250 NM
• Best seasonJune–September

For those who want the Adriatic without the crowds — rugged limestone archipelagos, protected national park waters, and the kind of anchorages where you might have an entire bay to yourself. The Kornati Islands are unlike anywhere else in the Mediterranean.

1. Day 1 2–3 hrs · ~30 NM

   Zadar → Murter / Betina

   Depart Zadar and sail south down the coast toward the Šibenik archipelago. First stop: Murter or Betina on Murter island — the traditional gateway to the Kornati. Stock up on provisions here; the Kornati have limited facilities. Evening: Murter waterfront, local taverna.

2. Day 2 2–3 hrs · ~20 NM

   Murter → Kornati National Park

   Enter the Kornati — 89 islands, islets, and reefs covering 300 km² of protected water. The landscape is elemental: bare white limestone plateaus dropping vertically into cobalt water, almost no vegetation, no permanent inhabitants. Anchor in one of the inner channels or bays and swim in water of exceptional clarity. Evening: konoba on one of the inhabited islets, grilled fish, local wine.

3. Day 3 1–2 hrs · ~10 NM

   Kornati → Telašćica Nature Park

   Sail north to Telašćica — a deep natural bay on the southern tip of Dugi Otok, one of the most sheltered anchorages in the Adriatic. The park includes 25 smaller islands and a saltwater lake (Mir) noticeably warmer than the sea. Walk to the 160 m cliffs on the seaward side — the drop to open sea is dramatic. Swim in Mir lake. Evening: anchor deep in the bay, total quiet.

4. Day 4 1–2 hrs · ~15 NM

   Telašćica → Dugi Otok (Sali or Božava)

   Explore Dugi Otok — the ‘long island’, 45 km from end to end. Stop in Sali, the island’s main settlement, or continue north to Božava for a smaller, quieter harbour. The island is famous for its olive oil and its preserved Dalmatian atmosphere. Evening: excellent fresh fish, unhurried pace.

5. Day 5 2–3 hrs · ~25 NM

   Dugi Otok → Silba or Olib

   Sail north to the quieter islands of Silba or Olib — car-free, largely unspoiled, popular with those who know the northern Dalmatian islands well. Silba has a unique stone tower (Toreta) and a relaxed, community feel. Swimming from the boat in clear water. Evening: simple, good, local.

6. Day 6 1–2 hrs

   Northern islands → Premuda or Ist

   Continue exploring the quieter northern reaches before beginning the return arc. These islands see fewer visitors than the central Dalmatian route — the pace is slower and the welcome is genuine. Evening: anchor in a sheltered bay, watch the stars.

7. Day 7 3–4 hrs · ~40 NM

   Return to Zadar

   Morning passage south back to Zadar. If time allows, sail past the sea organ on Zadar’s waterfront — James Joyce called Zadar’s sunsets the most beautiful in the world.

• MarinaACI Marina Zadar or Marina Tankerkomerc
• Total distance~150–170 NM
• Best seasonJune–September · Kornati permit arranged by Unda Mora

Šibenik is one of Croatia’s great underrated sailing bases — a medieval city at the mouth of the Krka river, surrounded by some of the most varied sailing in the Adriatic. This itinerary combines UNESCO World Heritage sites, two national parks, and authentic Dalmatian island life, with shorter passages that suit those who prefer more time ashore.

1. Day 1 1–2 hrs · ~10 NM

   Šibenik → Vodice or Prvić

   Before casting off, spend Saturday morning in Šibenik — a medieval city that predates the Venetian era and has one of the most impressive cathedrals in Croatia (Cathedral of St. James, UNESCO World Heritage). Sail late afternoon to Vodice or the small island of Prvić just offshore. Evening: first night on the water, easy passage, settle in.

2. Day 2 Half-day · ~10 NM

   Vodice → Krka National Park → Skradin

   The Krka river flows through a series of spectacular waterfalls inland from Šibenik. Sail or motor up the lower reaches of the river to Skradin — the park’s gateway town — and take the national park boat to the Skradinski Buk waterfall, one of the most beautiful natural sites in Croatia. Swimming is permitted at designated areas. Evening: return to Skradin for dinner — excellent freshwater and sea fish.

3. Day 3 2–3 hrs · ~25 NM

   Skradin → Kornati (Southern Entry)

   Head out to sea and south into the Kornati. Enter from the southern side and anchor among the dramatic outer islands — steeper, more exposed, and arguably more impressive than the inner channels. The outer Kornati cliffs are best seen from a boat at sea level — the scale is hard to appreciate from photographs. Evening: inner anchorage, fresh fish from the konoba boat.

4. Day 4 3–4 hrs · ~30 NM

   Kornati → Primošten

   Sail northwest back toward the coast and the distinctive silhouette of Primošten — an old town built on a small peninsula connected to the mainland by a narrow causeway. One of the most recognisable images in Dalmatia. Walk the old-town walls at sunset. Primošten is famous for its Babić red wine, produced on the terraced vineyards above the town. Evening: excellent restaurants in the old town — the setting is exceptional.

5. Day 5 2–3 hrs · ~20 NM

   Primošten → Zlarin or Krapanj

   Sail north toward the smaller islands near Šibenik. Zlarin is known as the coral island — red coral jewellery has been made here for centuries. Krapanj is the lowest and smallest inhabited island in the Adriatic, with a long tradition of sponge diving. Both islands are genuinely local — few tourists, honest food, the Dalmatia of fifty years ago. Evening: quiet anchorage, complete contrast to the previous nights.

6. Day 6 2–3 hrs

   Zlarin / Krapanj → Žirje

   Sail south to Žirje — the outermost inhabited island of the Šibenik archipelago, remote and largely undeveloped. Excellent anchorages on the northern side. Snorkelling in clear water, walking the island’s single track, swimming from the boat. Evening: final night out, cook aboard, watch the stars from the water.

7. Day 7 2–3 hrs · ~25 NM

   Žirje → Šibenik

   Return passage north to Šibenik. Arrive mid-morning, disembark by noon.

• MarinaACI Marina Šibenik or Marina Solaris
• Total distance~130–160 NM
• Best seasonMay–October · Krka & Kornati entrance fees not included