Bucket list experience:
Dalmatia, Croatia
With sheltered waters, a steady breeze and a plethora of blissful, uninhabited islands close to the mainland, the Dalmatian islands are made for sailing.
Hoisting a sail is the ideal, and most flexible, way to explore this beautiful and still largely unspoilt archipelago, discovering secret coves, swimming in azure waters off the boat, and stopping in local towns.
Charters tend to be for a week and various itineraries are available. The main ports of call are the islands of Korcula and Hvar.
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Destination Guide >Private yacht charters are available for those with a sailing licence; otherwise you’ll need to be accompanied by a qualified skipper. That’s no bad thing; besides knowing how to sail the boat, they’ll be full of local knowledge about those dreamy hidden coves and how best to avoid the crowds.
Plenty of companies offer both options, with a number based in Split. Typically, week-long charters are offered, with food and provisions, allowing a good amount of time for exploring the endless coves. Note that you’ll need to pay marina/port fees, though facilities are generally very good, with showers and shore power widely available.
If you don’t want to spend a whole week on a boat, many hotels in and around the Dalmatian Islands have private yachts and powerboats for guests’ exclusive use, allowing you to explore the islands without being tied to a week at sea.
The sailing season in Croatia runs from April to October. The best time for sailing the Dalmatian Islands is June or September. July and August get crowded, so don’t expect much solitude – even on the water.
From November to March, the weather can be unstable with cold winds and storms, and the water is too cold for swimming.
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity
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€220 | Rating 4.92 / 5 [14 ratings]
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Hvar, Dalmatia, Croatia[10.2 miles]
Trendy hotel in up-market Hvar Town, with a fabulous rooftop pool and bar, a vast spa and a waterside restaurant.
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Hvar, Dalmatia, Croatia[10.2 miles]
History and elegance prevail at this palatial 45-room grand hotel, with a renowned restaurant and spa.
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Sveti Klement, Dalmatia, Croatia[11.4 miles]
Boho-chic escape – lush gardens with bungalows, villas, two restaurants and a beach, on a car-free islet near Hvar.
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Hvar, Dalmatia, Croatia[12.5 miles]
A luxurious 50-room waterside resort with contemporary design, gourmet dining, a spa and its own organic garden on Hvar Island.
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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Dalmatia, Croatia
A magical, unspoilt archipelago of a thousand-plus islands stretching along Croatia’s southern coast. A heady mix of sea, mountains, adventure sports and medieval buildings
Dalmatia, Croatia
Dazzling Dubrovnik offers UNESCO-listed heritage set against the pure blue backdrop of the Adriatic.
Dalmatia, Croatia
With ancient architecture, Adriatic island-hopping and adventure sports galore, Split makes a superb seaside base.
Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Hvar, Dalmatia, Croatia[10.2 miles]
A character-filled, Venetian-era old town, with a picturesque main square, a lattice of historic streets, and cultural treasures galore.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Dalmatia, Croatia
A scattered wine region of family-run vineyards that produce excellent wines. Learn the art of Dalmatian winemaking and sample some excellent labels.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Dalmatia, Croatia
A blend of Italian and Middle European cuisine, with plenty of fresh fish and seafood, eating out in Dalmatia is always a treat.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Vis, Dalmatia, Croatia[32.7 miles]
A magical sea cave, illuminated with an amazing shade of luminescent blue at midday when the sun’s rays enter via by a partial submarine hole in the cave entrance.
Best for ages: 8+ | £25
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
Hvar, Dalmatia, Croatia[10 miles]
A beautiful pebble beach with a super-trendy beach club, boasting a lounge bar, DJ and restaurant in a magical setting among the pines. The club opens daily from June to September.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Hvar, Dalmatia, Croatia[10.5 miles]
An archipelago of 21 blissful car-free pine-scented islets, famed for secluded coves and fine pebble beaches, with excellent reef and wreck diving.
Best for ages: 6+ | Free
Hvar, Dalmatia, Croatia[19.3 miles]
Taste some of Hvar’s best wines in a cellar modelled on the ancient Roman dining rooms used by the Emperor Diocletian. Hvar’s top winemaker.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Brac, Dalmatia, Croatia[22.3 miles]
A photogenic 500m-long cape of fine golden shingle, that changes shape with the tide. Lined with sunbeds and good for watersports, it’s a great family beach.
Best for ages: 4+ | Free
