The crown jewel of the Croatian Adriatic is the city of Dubrovnik, surrounded by mediaeval stone walls not to be missed when sailing in the south of Croatia. Many sailors begin their exploration of the Croatian coast in Dubrovnik, and whether you're sailing around the nearby Elaphiti islands, or your route takes you south to the Mljet National Park or west to the Pelješac peninsula (a kind of a homeland of Croatian wine production), there will be plenty of reasons to enjoy yourself. You will discover even more reasons if you visit the most remote Croatian inhabited island and nature park, Lastovo, or the mediaeval Korčula, hiding the finest varieties of Croatian white wines, among other things. Would you like to taste fish delicacies typical for the depths of the Croatian southern sea, such as the grouper, experience the five-centuries-long tradition of preparing pasta, or sample the famous oysters from Ston? If gastronomy isn't your thing, you might want to combine sailing and hiking. Or sailing and diving, windsurfing, or kitesurfing on the sandy banks of the Neretva river? Although some consider this area just a stop on their way to further explore the Croatian coast, others find it to be a source of pleasure for all of the senses. This is the area with the fewest marinas in Croatia, which many deem to be an additional reason for enjoying their stay.
Visitors to this area should spend at least one day in Dubrovnik, and sailors who rent vessels often spend the day before or after their sailing trip in the city, which perfectly complements their journey. For visitors arriving by sea, the Komolac marina or the Gruž anchorage are good options for visiting the city, while a nice alternative used by many visitors coming to Croatia from the south is the charming town of Cavtat. The first must-see destination in the vicinity of Dubrovnik are the Elaphiti islands, an archipelago with excellent anchorage and mooring sites, such as the island of Šipan, which also boasts an excellent gastronomic offer. The new ACI marina in Slano is an alternative starting point for the visitors to the Dubrovnik area. Sailors like to continue their journey towards the Mljet National Park, the lush green beauty completely covered in dense pine forests, with sheltered coves on the northern side of the island, some of them, such as Prožura, reminiscent of small lakes. Due to the frequent pirate attacks in its history, Mljet is the only one of the inhabited Croatian islands with no coastal towns, which certainly doesn't make it any less charming. Apart from visiting
CROATIA Full of sailing
Croatia: A Sailing Paradise
the national park, you can also relax on the sandy beaches in the south of the island, as well as the lovely coves on its southwestern coast. Continuing your journey to the nearby Korčula, a beautiful mediaeval island whose architecture was greatly influenced by Venice, you will encounter a small archipelago and the sandy beaches of Lumbarda, a true paradise for anyone who can visit by boat. The beauty of the town of Korčula complements the beauty of the interior of the island which is the home to the most famous traditional Croatian variety of wine, the Pošip, but also to the more exotic (at least when it comes to the Croatian wine scene) Grk. The only dilemma encountered by sailors is which side of the island to sail. Our advice? Sail all the way around. Its northern and more indented
southern coast aren't as popular among visitors as some other nautical gems in the Adriatic. If you visit the south of Korčula, it will seem as if the far-away island of Lastovo is right in front of you, and all the efforts to reach it will most certainly be worth it. You will discover an extremely indented coastline, and this island is known for good fishing, as well as being a good place to enjoy freshly caught lobster. We would like to add that a pleasant hike to the largest (and eponymous) town of Lastovo is a welcome break from staying on your boat, and you will be able to enjoy unique architecture and an atmosphere of a town frozen in time.
The entire Pelješac peninsula could be considered one long hidden route of unprecedented beauty and innumerable possibilities to enjoy the coast and the interior of the peninsula, known for producers of world-renowned excellent wines. Towns on Pelješac with a nautical infrastructure are Orebić, whose marina can receive smaller vessels, and Trpanj, situated in the north-western part of the peninsula across the Neretva river delta, another Croatian coastal gem, particularly popular among kite surfers. On the other side of the peninsula you will find the so-called Boka Falsa area, between the Elaphites and Ston, where you can enjoy peaceful mooring and isolation a stone's throw from Dubrovnik. The Lastovnjaci islands on the north-eastern side of Lastovo are another infrequently visited little paradise. However, you should remain mindful of the weather, since it is prone to change quickly in this area. You need to be even more careful if you wish to visit the uninhabited island of Sušac, with lovely coves on the southern coast, the unyielding lighthouse on its highest peak, and its only inhabitant: a shepherd whose flock of sheep may become a source of a delicious meal.
UNESCO Heritage and History of Dubrovnik
The city of Dubrovnik, with its historic center and preserved city walls, magnificent towers and bastions, is a jewel of the world's cultural heritage and a symbol of Croatian tourism
Particularly impressive are the Ston walls from the 14th century, stretching over 5.5 kilometres
In Lumbarda, you can moor off a sandy beach and enjoy a traditional variety of wine, the Grk, over 2,000 years old
One of the best-preserved mediaeval towns in the Mediterranean is Korčula, also known as the birthplace of Marco Polo, the world-famous traveller
The Festivity of St. Blaise (Festa svetog Vlaha), the patron saint of Dubrovnik, has been included in UNESCO's Intangible Heritage list
The Lastovo Carnival (Lastovski poklad) is a traditional carnival that has been held for centuries to commemorate the successful resistance against Catalan pirates
Nature and Culinary Delights in Dubrovnik
The steep sunny hills of the Pelješac peninsula and its sandy soil rich in minerals are perfect for the production of the most praised Croatian red wine, the Dingač
One of the most interesting and easily accessible underwater archaeological sites is the sunken ancient port of Polače on the island of Mljet, where you can see the wreckage of an ancient ship and a large number of amphorae
Spila Nakovana, a cave and an Illyrian sanctuary on the Pelješac peninsula, is a genuine treasure trove from the Neolithic era. A large quantity of ceramic dishes was discovered in the cave, around a stalagmite in the central part of the cave, as well as ivory pieces with zodiac signs, the world's oldest astrologer's board
The Ston Saltworks is the oldest one in Europe, and it still maintains its appearance and production methods. Historians claim that salt has been harvested in Ston, with the help from sunlight, sea, and wind, since the Illyrian times, almost 4,000 years ago
The Mljet National Park encompasses the western part of the island of Mljet with two deep bays - Veliko Jezero and Malo Jezero - while the isle in the center of the bay Veliko Jezero is home to a 12th century Benedictine monastery
You can reach Odysseus' Cave in the Mljet National Park by a smaller boat or swimming, and according to legend, Odysseus himself took shelter in the cave following a shipwreck
The Neretva river delta is a unique wetland area with a special ornithological and ichthyological reserve
It takes over 4 hours to sail to the Lastovo nature park, which is precisely why it has preserved its untouched appearance and peace
The gastronomy of Dubrovnik was strongly influenced by the Mediterranean, Oriental and Continental cuisine, which led to the creation of delicacies such as the Ston oyster, butarga (dried fish spawn), lobster, žrnovski makaruni (traditional pasta), eel, frogs, birds such as the Eurasian coot, as well as the desert wine Prosecco and the Plavac Mali, Pošip, Dubrovnik Malvasia and Grk wines
The Korčula ACI marina is located right next to the historical old town of Korčula, surrounded by impressive towers and walls. Korčula is famous around the world as the birthplace of Marco Polo, the renowned explorer and traveller. The island is surrounded by 19 smaller islands with gorgeous beaches, each of them a genuine treat for sailors. The marina can accommodate yachts up to 40m in length, and two charging stations (22KW) have recently been installed in the vicinity of the reception, one of them Tesla Only and the other Tesla Universal.
Marina Solitudo: Yacht Facilities and Diving Center
The marina for yachts is in front of the hotel, and within the hotel is a diving center with a diving school. The Hotel Solitudo is situated in the little town of Pasadur, in a place where two of the most beautiful coves (Velo and Malo Lago) join on the island of Lastovo. Right by the hotel is berthing for approximately 30 yachts with connections for electricity and water, whilst the fuel pump is located in the town of Ubli which is about 3 km (1 nautical mile) from the hotel.
HR-20290 LASTOVO, Pasadur b.b. +385 (0)20 802 100 • +385 (0)20 802 444 www.hotel-solitudo.com • 42° 45' N; 16° 49' E [email protected]
- HR-20260 KORČULA
- +385 (0)20 711 661 • +385 (0)20 711 748 www.aci-marinas.com • [email protected]
- 42° 57,5' N; 17° 8,5' E
- HR-20232 SLANO, Slanica
- +385 (0)20 414 392 • +385 (0)51 271 824
- www.aci-marinas.com • [email protected]
- 42° 40' 13.7" N; 18° 7' 23.4" E
ACI Marina Slano: Sailing Hub Near Dubrovnik
The latest ACI marina, named after the founder of the ACI marina chain Croatian cook, was built in Slano near Dubrovnik. The marina has 200 moorings in the sea for vessels up to 20 meters in length, but larger boats can be tied in transit. The facilities complementing the marina include a swimming pool, restaurant, service office, charter agency and wi-fi. The marina is ideal for exploring the Dubrovnik archipelago towards the Elaphiti islands, the Mljet National Park, Korčula and Dubrovnik, and as such is every sailor's indispensable route. This ACI Marina also has two Tesla Only charging stations with power of up to 22 kW, and one Tesla Universal charging station with power of up to 22 kW.
ACI Marina Dubrovnik: Luxury Yacht Facilities
One of the most beautiful and best Adriatic marinas waits for you only six kilometres away from the fascinating Dubrovnik old town, at the delta of the river Ombla. ACI marina Dubrovnik can accommodate yachts up to 60 meters in length, and the quality of service has been recognized in the 'Tourism Flower - Quality for Croatia' campaign, which has named it the best marina in the 250 to 450 berth category for the last five years. The marina offers additional amenities for sailors and visitors, such as Golf Range courses, and it is equipped with two Tesla Only charging stations and one Tesla Universal charging station.
- HR-20001 DUBROVNIK, Mokošica, Na skali
- +385 (0)20 455 020 • +385 (0)20 451 922
- www.aci-marinas.com
- [email protected]
- 42° 40' 13.7" N; 18° 7' 23.4" E
Thanks to abundant protected areas on the sea and steady winds, Croatia is a true paradise for sailors. For many, sailing means simply navigating the sea, and a large number of sailors come to Croatia to enjoy recreational sailing competitions. However, Croatia is also a host for a large number of athletes who enjoy the sport of sailing at the highest level, from Olympic classes upwards. Assessing the wind and sea currents, the pleasure of piloting under full sails and competing against opponents, and later socialising with them in the evening at the marina, are an indispensable part of sea activities in the Croatian Adriatic. Also, when the weather conditions inland are perfect for skiing, Croatia offers you the opportunity to sail. Its location at the heart of Europe makes it an attractive destination for numerous fans of the sport. It comes as no surprise that over five hundred regattas at various levels of competition are held here annually. The youngest participants can enjoy competing in junior and Olympic class regattas, since world or European championships are held almost every year. The Croatian Olympic team is one of the most successful sailing teams in the world. The quality of Croatian sailors is the main reason why foreign sailors come to Croatian training camps, enjoying favourable sailing conditions throughout the year. Olympic sailing is reserved for talented junior athletes, but there is a large number of sailors who enjoy sailing on yachts in club regattas or highly popular navigation regattas held visiting the most beautiful corners of the Croatian coast. All types and categories of yachts can participate, but commonly yachts sail in the Open division or in the ORC system of handicap racing. The Mrduja Regatta is the oldest and largest regatta in Croatia, first held in 1927, and it brings together over 2000 sailors and about 300 yachts. National sailing championships are also held for neighbouring countries for which the Croatian Adriatic is the closest (and favourite) sea. Croatia is also a popular destination for business regattas, where the applied skills and the spirit of sailing can be used to improve business relations in wondrous natural surroundings off the Adriatic. This is also facilitated by the excellent nautical infrastructure in marinas and a good transport connectivity across Croatia. You can participate in various regattas in Croatia, such as separate competitions for catamaran sailing boats or traditional local wooden boats. Regardless of the type of sailing competition you choose, you are sure to find something that suits you and you will also have the opportunity to meet lots of sailing fans who enjoy competition as much as you do.