Sail Croatia: discover the best city ports

The best ports to cast your anchor as you sail Croatia in your Click&Boat rental…

At the crossroads of several civilizations, Croatia will offer you a rich and diverse culture, beautiful landscapes and a dream climate. Whilst you sail 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 surrounding islands to really make the most of your Croatia boat 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 recognizable by the Roman and Venetian ruins of its peninsular Old Town, making it a fascinating destination to discover the city’s rich history.

Today, the city also has a large harbour, where you can dock a rented boat. This is a great means to visit the nearby numerous islands and to 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 when you sail Croatia

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

Several imposing church buildings constitute the Church of St. Donatus. The Cathedral of St. Anastasia is especially interesting and is the largest church in Dalmatia. It was built 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. It dates back to the early Christian period, and is extremely well-preserved. It is a symbol of Zadar. Today, the churche of Saint Donat hosts various events, such as classical music evenings, as the acoustics in this building are very good.

Dubrovnik

Whilst you sail Croatia, make sure to visit Dubrovnik.

Dubrovnik is in the southern region of Croatia, and is also known as the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’. In the city there are many beautiful spots to visit, and the area also serves as a location for various well-known films and series, attracting thousands of 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 famous filming sites.  Renting a boat in Dubrovnik is a great way to get to know the city and the surrounding area, so you can take in the best tourist sites and at the same time relax on the sea and enjoy your Croatia boat trip.

Ports in Dubrovnik

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

Sightseeing in Dubrovnik for when you sail Croatia

In the Middle Ages, it was common to build walls around cities. The Dubrovnik City Wall is one of the best preserved defensive walls from the Middle Ages, and is registered as a World Heritage Site. On the mainland side, the wall has a width of 4-6m, with the sea-side wall 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 them 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, the capital of Dalmatia, is the second-largest city in Croatia. The city is surrounded by a mountainous landscape and is located directly on the Adriatic Sea. It has also been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has many beautiful places to visit on your Croatia boat trip.

Split has several small islands which are easy to reach with a motor or sailboat. If, whilst you sail Croatia, you rent a boat on 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 wonderfully at these little paradises in the Adriatic, away from the city life and from the stress.

Ports in Split

• 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 for when you sail Croatia

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 near the emperor’s birthplace as a place to spend his final years. At the same time, the location of the building was strategically chosen, as it was constructed in the middle of the Roman Empire. Since 1979, the palace has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You can visit many parts of the palace. These include the Golden Gate, the Silver Gate, the Bronze Gate and the Iron Gate; as well as the cathedral, the temple, vestibule (an antechamber to the imperial apartments) and the cellars.

The Marjan, a wooded, protected park, is another site not to be missed. Surrounding the Marjan are the zoological and botanical gardens, which provide for a relaxing picnic or otherwise.

There is a small church in the park, St. Jere Church. It stands in a very idyllic spot, and is surrounded by greenery. From Marjan Nature Park, you also have a wonderful view over Split and the Adriatic Sea. And if you’re brave enough to climb up the mountain, you’ll find a spectacular view at the top.

With its many islands and islets close to the coast, Croatia is a perfect destination for sailing. Visit Click&Boat to hire a boat, sail Croatia and begin your Croatia boat trip now!