Discover the best ports to cast your anchor as you cruise Croatia…

At the crossroads of several civilizations, Croatia will offer you a rich and diverse culture, beautiful landscapes and a dream climate. During your cruise in Croatia, the ports of Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik offer excellent destinations to dock. The marinas are clean, modern and comfortable and each will offer you easy access to the city and also the surrounding islands to really make the most of your trip.

Zadar

Zadar belongs to the region of Dalmatia, which shapes the southern half of Croatia. It is a port city with direct access to the Adriatic Sea. Until the late 18th century, the city of Zadar was a fortress and is mostly recognisable by the Roman and Venetian ruins of its peninsular Old Town. Here you can explore the city’s fascinating rich history and heritage.

Today, the city also has a large harbour, where you can dock a rented boat. This is a great means to visit the nearby islands and experience another side of the area. From Zadar, you can easily take tours to Pag, Biograd na Moru or Dugi otok.

Ports in Zadar

• Port of Zadar
• Old City Port
• D-Marin Marina
• Marina Zadar
• New Passenger Port of Gazenica

Sightseeing in Zadar

For a day trip, it is well worthwhile to visit the National Park of Plitvice, situated just an hour and a half from Zadar. This park is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers breathtaking views of the Dinaric Mountains. Here, you can enjoy forest walks, and the 16 interconnected terraced lakes, cascading into one another.

The Church of St. Donatus consists of several imposing buildings. The Cathedral of St. Anastasia is especially interesting and is the largest church in Dalmatia. They built it to honour Anastasia of Sirmium, one of the patron saints and a martyr of early Christianity. In the immediate vicinity of the cathedral stands the Basilica of St. Donat. This church is from the early Christian period and is extremely well-preserved. It stands as a symbol of Zadar. Today, people use Saint Donat for various events, especially classical music evenings, because the building has excellent acoustics.

Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik, known as the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’, sits in the very south of Croatia. In the city of Dubrovnik, there are many beautiful spots to visit. The area also serves as a location for various well-known films and series, such as Game of Thrones, which tends to attract many visitors to the city.

Islands close to Dubrovnik include; Lokrum, Lopud, Mljet, Korčula. Each offer their own share of beautiful scenery, beaches, historical monuments and even some famous filming sites.  

Sailing in Dubrovnik is a great way to get to know the city and the surrounding area. It allows you to take in the best tourist sites and at the same time relax on the sea and enjoy the Croatian sun.

Ports in Dubrovnik

• Old city harbour Dubrovnik
• Trading port in the district of Gruz
• Marina ACI Marina

Sightseeing in Dubrovnik

In the Middle Ages, it was common to build walls around cities. The Dubrovnik City Wall is considered as the best preserved defensive walls from the Middle Ages. Because of this, the Wall is also registered as a World Heritage Site. On the mainland side, the wall has a width of 4-6m, with the sea-side wall measuring 1.5-3m thick. The highest point of the wall reaches up to 25m. There are also five fortresses inside the city wall, three of which are integrated directly into the wall and two of which stand alone. Today, you can visit the walls and experience a great view of the city and the Adriatic Sea.

In the old town, there are many nice shops, cafés and restaurants where you can sit comfortably and watch the hustle and bustle go by. Here, you will see many impressive buildings, such as the Dubrovnik Cathedral, which is well worth a visit.

Split

Split is the second-largest city in Croatia and is often referred to by the locals as the capital of Dalmatia. The city is surrounded by a mountainous landscape and is located directly on the Adriatic Sea. It has also been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has many beautiful places to visit.

Split has several small islands, which are easy to reach with a motor or sailboat. If you decide to sail in Split you can do a day trip to Brač, Hvar, Šolta or Čiovo, giving you the opportunity to experience less touristic areas. The islands are very green and a little less inhabited. Here, you can find beautiful small beaches, some of which are less visited by other tourists. So you can relax and unwind at these little paradises along the shores of the Adriatic Sea.

Split ports, Croatia:

• The port of Split
• Sumartin ferry port in Brac
• Supetar ferry port in Brac
• Hvar harbor
• Rogač, main ferry port in Solta
• Maslinica marina in Solta
• Stomorska has the oldest port in Šolta and a marina
• Marina in Ciovo

Sightseeing in Split

The Diocletian’s Palace is a very well-preserved monument from Roman times. Diocletian was the Roman emperor from 284 to 305 AD. The palace was constructed as the emperor wanted a palace near his birthplace to spend his final years. At the same time, the location of the building was strategically placed, as it was in the middle of the Roman Empire. Since 1979, the palace has been a named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Many parts of the palace are very well-preserved, so that you can visit.  These include the Golden, the Silver, the Bronze and the Iron Gate; as well as the cathedral, the temple, vestibule (an antechamber to the imperial apartments) and the cellars.

Another site not to be missed is The Marjan, which lies to the west of Split and is a wooded, protected park. Surrounding the Marjan are the zoological and botanical gardens, which are the perfect spots for a relaxing picnic. In the forest of Marjan itself, you can walk and enjoy nature. It is a shady spot right by Split and is definitely worth a day trip.

There is a small church in the park, Sv. Jere Church, standing in a very idyllic spot, surrounded by greenery and is worth a visit. From Marjan Nature Park, you also have a wonderful view over Split and the Adriatic Sea. Those brave enough to climb up the mountain, will be rewarded with by a spectacular view.

With its many islands and islets close to the coast, Croatia is a perfect destination for cruising. Visit Click&Boat to rent a boat for your Croatia cruise and get ready to drop your anchor in some of the most beautiful cities in Europe!