Sailing Croatia in 2019: Everything You Need To Know

Dive deep into fresh turquoise waters, discover epic cliff jumps and sail away into a new horizon day in, day out; the reality of sailing Croatia is just as dreamy as it sounds. And with every new sunset and sunrise casting its light across endless oceans and rugged island-scapes, sailing Croatia’s Adriatic coast is enough to make your day job fade away into a distant memory.

And then there’s all of the non-sailing stuff, including the opportunity to discover local culture, customs, adventure and cuisine. If you’re looking for a unique way to explore this treasure of the Balkans, then you’ll love the perfect balance of R&R and adventure that comes with a sail Croatia trip. Which is why we’ve put together this useful guide, to help you plan your trip including the best things to do, see and eat in the country – all that along with the dreamy sundowners and swim stops while sailing Croatia of course.

If you’re not already drafting a no-frills out of office message for your 2019 Croatia sailing adventures, you probably will be after reading this.

Destination Croatia: 6 Must-Visit Spots

Let’s start with the must-visit destinations while sailing Croatia. And because sometimes, a photo says it all, here’s a few of our favourite snaps by guests to give you a flavour of each destination. Luckily, you’ll visit all of these on a MedSailors Voyager trip. Just saying…

Pokonji dol Beach & Mekicevica Beach, Hvar

Relax in full-on turquoise waters at Poking dol or take a short hike around the headland to discover the little gem Mekicevica Beach.

Photo credit: @chelseaoake

Mljet Island

Explore the beautiful saltwater lake – Veleko Jezero – via mountain bike, take a small boat to the monastery in the middle of the lake, where you can swim in pristine waters at this national park.

Photo credit: @frasertakesphotos

Dubrovnik

Explore the old town, take a refreshing dip or cliff jump outside the old city walls, explore beautiful little streets and cool down with some seriously delicious ice cream.

" View this post on Instagram "

Goodbye Croatia. You have, as always, filled my summer with beautiful moments around amazing people in some of the most breathtaking places. Until next time. Cue the GoT theme and roll credits…

A post shared by Ryan Brown | Lost Boy Memoirs (@lostboymemoirs) on Jul 5, 2018 at 10:37pm PDT

Photo credit: @lostboymemoirs

Stari Grad, Hvar

Experience an evening in an organic farm where all the food and drink you consume is from that very farm – including a wine tasting and sunset over the vineyard.

Photo credit: @mandyceline

Korcula

Enjoy cocktails atop an ancient watchtower and discover the alleys of quaint old Croatian streets. Enough said.

Photo credit @frasertakesphotos

Vis

Visit the famous Blue Grotto for all of the underwater feels, or simply stroll the old streets or wander the rolling hills of Vis.

Photo credit: @polkadotpassport

Less Talk, More Do: The best things to do in Croatia

Besides sailing Croatia, there’s adventure plenty on offer for your 2019 adventure. It’s worth adding a few extra days or even a one week before or after your Croatia sailing trip for mainland explorers.

Hike in Plitvice Lakes

Take a hike around the lakes and gaze in awe at the clear emerald waters of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Start early to avoid the mass crowds.

Swim in waterfalls at KRKA

Explore this national park by foot, boat and car. Grab some food from a supermarket before the day begins and prepare to find a beautiful lunching spot. Be sure to take a dip by the falls in the swimming area.

Cliff Jump in Kaminjak

South of Pula and a bit more off the beaten track, this national park will have you kayaking, windsurfing and cliff jumping into the pure turquoise water.

Take a GOT tour in Dubrovnik

If you’re a fan (who isn’t?) you’ll love a Game Of Thrones walking tour in Dubrovnik as you discover King’s Landing, among other recognisable sites.

Climb Mt Srd in Dubrovnik

You can take a cable car to the top or a short hike to the top of Mt Srd. If you hike, start your climb about one hour before sundown to take in the sunset over Dubrovnik.

A spectacular sunset hike up Mount Srd is a must-do in Dubrovnik.

Photo credit: @tannedtonedtravelled

Scoff it: Must-Try Local Foods

Soaking up a destination to its fullest inevitably involves getting fully stuck into the local grub (score! Eating is the best). And while Croatia might not have famous dishes like its neighbours in Italy, it’s got some really tasty contenders which will see you savouring the locality via your taste buds. Be sure to try these.

Burek

A filo pastry savoury treat filled with spinach or meat. Find these at a local bakery and try for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack!

Mussels

Fresh from the sea, you won’t find them much tastier than that right? Order these at a seafood restaurant for optimum flavour.

Black Risotto

Made using squid ink, this is an impressive one for the Insta shots. Look out for this dish on menus in dinner restaurants.

Fritule

Look out for this sweet treat in a local bakery… this doughnut ball will settle any sugar cravings.

Other Top Tips

Getting Around

There are loads of options when it comes to island hopping including gullet, ferry, and sailing yacht. With swim stops in seriously awesome spots and a unique way to view the country with other solo travellers, small groups of mates and couples alike, we obviously think sailing Croatia is the best though!

Fly In, Fly Out

There are four main international airports in Croatia – Zagreb, Pula, Split, and Dubrovnik. Depending on your trip you can either book a return flight or be flexible and book a flight into one airport and out of another.

Currency

Croatian Kuna – check the latest currency conversion for your currency here!

• Zdravo – Hello
• Doviđenja – Goodbye
• Hvala vam – Thank you
• Pivo – Beer
• Vino – Wine

A few local words for you!

BYO

Our boat, your home. Although we provide meals, you can also bring your own food and drinks on board for your own snacking needs and alcoholic supplies. We recommend going to a local supermarket before your trip to get your supplies.

Take to the helm!

If you want to learn to sail, you can on a Medsailors trip! Just let your Yachtmaster qualified skipper know you’re keen and you can get stuck in – you’ll be a deckhand in no time.

Now, how about that out of office…?

Choose from sailing our Croatia Discovery or Croatia Voyager route in 2019. But be quick, spaces are already selling fast! Head to medsailors.com to find out more.