From cities filled with ancient ruins to pristine beaches and impressive waterfalls, Croatia is one of the most popular tourist destinations for a private yacht charter. The ultimate summer escape offers delicious cuisine, amazing music, and stunning beaches for your sailing vacation. With more than 1,000 islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Croatia yacht rent is something you should consider for your holiday.
Sensational music festivals, spectacular rocky coast, unspoiled nature, dynamic cultural scene, priceless architecture, and more, Croatia offers something for every tourist.
What to visit depends on your taste and interest. But this country in the Adriatic Sea has everything you could ask for and more.
Here are some of the most beautiful places to visit in Croatia.
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Plitvice Lakes National Park
This is one of the most famous sights in Croatia. Declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Plitvice National park is a fairyland of cascading emerald lakes, waterfalls, and lush greenery. Through the park, you can find many wooden footbridges and hiking trails designed to enjoy the exotic paradise.
It is definitely one of the most unique places to visit in Croatia. The easy walking trails, turquoise water, stunning viewpoints, and photogenic waterfalls will make sure you bring back memories with you.
The lakes in this park are continuously changing color depending on the amount of minerals or organisms. There are 16 terraced crystal clear lakes and 90 waterfalls within Plitvice.
The lakes are so clean and luminous that you will want to jump right in. But remember, swimming is forbidden in the National Park.
Dubrovnik
Definitely one of the most popular destinations in the Dalmatian coast, Dubrovnik is a city that got popularized lately thanks to the Game of Thrones TV series. All the scenes in King’s Landing are filmed in Dubrovnik.
The scenic and ancient walled city is a popular destination for Croatia yacht rent. During your sailing holiday, definitely make a stop at Dubrovnik.
Exploring the Croatian city of Dubrovnik by cruise is a truly magical experience. From the outside, you can take in breathtaking views of its iconic red-roofed houses and ancient walls, while on board you get to see many different Croatian attractions during your journey. Cruise itineraries often include some of the country’s most picturesque spots, such as Split, Hvar, Stari Grad, and others. Throughout Croatian cruises, you also have plenty of opportunities to explore natural parks, swim in crystal blue waters, visit amazing beaches and sample Croatian cuisine. With so much available on cruises, it is clear why these journeys offer one of the best ways to experience all that Dubrovnik has to offer.
In aci marina Dubrovnik, you will find yachts and luxury yachts. Some of the wealthiest people in the world choose the city as their sailing Croatia holiday destination.
Placa, or Stradum is the most famous and beautiful street in the city. Cutting through the Old Town(Stari Grad), the 300 meters long promenade paved with marble connects the city’s eastern and western gates.
Many describe the city as the Pearl of the Adriatic Sea. It is a must-see destination for any sailing holiday.
Besides Game of Thrones, Dubrovnik has served as filming ground for James Bond, Robin Hood, and many more movies.
Elaphati Islands
Our next destination for Croatia yacht charter is Elephati Islands. Located just off the coast of Dubrovnik, there are six main islands to soak up the authentic Croatian lifestyle.
And if you value your privacy, Elephati islands provide just that. You are far and away from the crowds of Dubrovnik and you can spend time talking to locals.
You can make your way around the islands by sailing Croatia boat rental or motor yacht rental. There are many hidden caves where you can take a refreshing dip from your motor boat.
Also, do not forget to try some delicious Croatian cuisine. Here you can eat raw fish, served in the form of sashimi or carpaccio. And you will find wineries like nowhere else. They are definitely not part of any guidebook.
Kornati Islands
Exploring the Croatian Adriatic coast, you will stumble upon the Kornati island archipelago. They are known as the Stomorski islands. Located in the northern part of Dalmatia, south of Zadar and west from Sibenik, there are 89 islands in total.
The Kornati island archipelago is the densest in the Mediterranean Sea. They were declared a national park in 1980. It includes many islands, many of which are less than 1 hectare in size. Only 5% of the land surface area of the Kornati has been cultivated.
Kornat, the biggest Kornati island has a total area of 12.53 square miles. It comprises two-thirds of the park’s land area. Around it, it is all crystal clear sea.
Korcula
For your sailing vacation through the Dalmatian islands, we recommend Korcula. Nicknamed Little Dubrovnik, the island is full of red-tiled roofs and cobbled streets.
The legend goes that the beautiful island was founded by a Trojan hero but was colonized by the Greeks until wars with the Romans. On Korcula, you can find traditional sword fighting and acapella singing groups.
Korcula is also famed as the birthplace of Marco Polo. It is one of the greenest islands in all of the Adriatic Sea.
Ancient Greeks called the Croatian island Black Korcula because of the dense forests. The main resorts are Korcula Town, Vela Luka, and Lumbarda.
You should spend at least three days here because there is so much to do and enjoy.
Hvar
Moving down the list of places you can visit during your sailing holiday with Croatia yacht rent, we have Hvar. Unlike Korcula, it is much better served with catamaran charter and ferries from Split.
The Croatian island is the chic capital of the Dalmatian region. You can find Italian influence here, noticeable in the white-stoned Venetian renaissance buildings with precious artwork.
Among the best things to do when visiting the beautiful island is to visit the many churches and cathedrals. The must-see place is St. Stephen’s Cathedral. The cathedral’s square renaissance bell tower is an unforgettable sight in the evenings. Head into the church to enjoy an abundance of Renaissance art. For example, you can see the Madonna and Child, a Venetian work from the 1220s.
Speaking about monasteries, you have to visit the Franciscan Monastery, a walled renaissance monastery near the harbor. The light is the depiction of the Last Supper by either Palma Junior or Matteo Ingoli, both Venetian artists.
Opatija
We cannot talk about your Croatia yacht rent sailing holiday without mentioning the hub of Croatian tourism since the 1800s. Opatija and its luxury villas, seaside resorts have been a spot for Austrian nobility since the mid-1800s.
As you walk past the luxurious hotels and elegant facades, you can pretend to be an Austrian emperor for a day. It is the highlight of the Croatian coast and one of the places you must visit.
Famous for the Maiden with the Seagull, a statue by Zvonko Car in 1965. It is now one of the symbols of Opatija.
Because it is a spot for glamour and celebrities, Opatija has its own Walk of Fame. There, you can find many great Croatian names honored. For example, genius inventor Nikola Tesla, tennis legend Goran Ivanisevic, or musician Rade Serbedzija.
Let’s not forget, Opatija is known as the place where Adriatic coastal tourism began. In 1884, Hotel Kvarner was the only public accommodation of its type on the coast. You can certainly say it was the first Croatian hotel on the coast of the Adriatic Sea.