Dalmatia is the most popular tourist destination in Croatia due to its crystal clear waters, splendid white-sand beaches and a wide variety of islands. With its archipelago of 1208 islands of all sizes, it is also the largest tourist area in the country. But travellers do not only find coasts and islands in Dalmatia. Its fascinating historical towns attract more and more fans of nautical tourism.
Read more information about yacht charter in Dalmatia on the following tabs: About Dalmatia, Dalmatia weather. Get some inspiration from the Dalmatia itineraries tab and start planning your next sailing itinerary, read detailed descriptions of Dalmatia sailing destinations, or read our Dalmatia sailing article.
Croatia’s most beautiful parts and natural wealth can be found in Dalmatia. So it is no surprise that the area is one of the most popular tourist attractions of the Mediterranean region. Paying a visit to the Adriatic Sea can be an awesome experience in itself, as everyone can find something to their taste and choose between the crystal clear sea and the rocky, pebbly or sandy beaches. Nature enthusiasts will not regret visiting the region either, because most beaches are surrounded by green forests or even pines. A fascinating view – everything in one place. Once there, it would be a crime not to explore Dalmatia.
Location of Dalmatia
Dalmatia occupies nearly 21% of Croatia’s territory; it is a region of approximately 11 960 km2. Its northern border is at the island of Pag, while the southern borderline expands to Dubrovnik and Montenegro.
Geographical features
There is a large number of mountains and valleys in its territory, but the amount of ports is even more significant! Dalmatia has more than 350 ports; you can see the territorial breakdowns under the tab above our information section. An archipelago consisting of more than 1200 islands can also be found here.
The most beautiful beaches in Dalmatia
By the beaches of Dalmatia, we also mean the most popular Croatian beaches. Regardless of which region we choose for our holiday, we will definitely find a nice stretch of beach. And if we rent a boat or a yacht, several of these beaches become accessible.
Vela Plaza-Baska:
This is probably the most famous beach in Croatia. It is located in the southern part of the island Krka. It can be found in a nearly 2 kilometre-wide, secluded bay. The island has gradually deepening waters and a pebbly beach.
The Queen’s Beach – Nin:
Nin is in the northern part of Dalmatia. Its sandy beach has a coastline of about 8 kilometres; the nicest part is at the village called Sabunike. It was named after the wife of the first Croatian king who loved this area above all the other parts of the region.
Punta Rat-Makarska:
This beach is located on the Makarska Riviera in the town of Brela. It was once included in a list of the 10 most beautiful beaches by Forbes magazine. Punta Rat’s speciality lies in its crystal clear water and the thick pine forest surrounding it. It has a pebbly beach that is fairly sandy near the sea.
Lovrecina Bay – Brac Island
The island of Brac can be found in the center of Dalmatia. It is a special spot, as all you can find here is a beach and the remains of a monastery. Its whole coastline is covered by red terrain which paints the water red as well.
The largest cities in Dalmatia
Besides the beaches, the cities of Dalmatia are also worth visiting. You can find the most popular and diverse cities of Croatia here.
Zadar:
If we are planning on a round-trip, we might want to consider Zadar – the northern bastion of Dalmatia – to be the starting point. We can easily reach several famous sights from here, for instance, the Plitvice Lakes or the Telascica National Park. Along with hiking adventures, it is a good idea to visit the Church of St. Donatus as well, which is the symbol of the city.
Split:
The largest city of Dalmatia. Diocletian’s Palace can be found here; the building is 700 years old and is protected by UNESCO. The city is famous for its beautiful beaches and islands as well. More information about the city of Split.
Trogir:
A small coastal town with a medieval atmosphere, located a few kilometres from Split. You can see traces of the Renaissance era on its buildings, and the city itself has a rich cultural heritage. The main sights are the city walls and the UNESCO protected castle.
Dubrovnik:
One of the main characteristics of the city is the 2 kilometre-long wall that surrounds the whole town. It is often referred to as the city of culture, mainly because of the Dubrovnik Summer Games, taking place on a stage on the 37 meter-high St. Lawrence Fortress. More information about Dubrovnik.
National parks and islands:
The region also has the most wonderful national parks in Croatia. The two most famous ones are the Kornati National Park and the Krka National Park. The Kornati archipelago is amongst the world’s largest island groups. The national park includes almost 140 – mainly uninhabited – islands. The Kornati islands are a must-visit destination in terms of cruising opportunities. The Krka is the most beautiful karstic river in Croatia; the mouth of the river offers an amazing view.
The dalmatian climate
The region has a Mediterranean climate. The summer, which begins in May, is hot and dry. The mean annual temperature is over 15 °C. This means that the Croatian beach will provide a pleasant holiday for the whole year. Still, most tourists visit Dalmatia in June and July, in the middle of summer, and the sunny weather is guaranteed. We will have a pleasant time in August and September as well; the temperature of the sea and the air is still nice, but the beaches are less crowded. Dalmatia weather information.
Rent a boat in Dalmatia
Dalmatia has several ports; whether we prefer a boat or yacht rental, we can arrange a wonderful round-trip. As an ideal trip, we should consider the Trogir-Split-Hvar (including the Pakleni Islands) Korcula-Dubrovnik route (including Lokrum Island and the Elaphiti Islands).
There are more than 350 ports in Dalmatia. Some of the most equipped are:
Ports in Southern Dalmatia:
Marina Cavtat
The port in the western part of the old city can accommodate boats up to 60 metres long. The depth of the water is 1.5–4 metres. Even though the port is well-protected, we should still be careful with the western wind. Information about sailing in Cavtat, or rent a boat in Cavtat.
ACI Marina Dubrovnik
The port, which can be found 6 kilometres from the famous old city of Dubrovnik, offers 425 berths on the water and 140 on the land. They accommodate yachts with a maximum length of 60 metres. The well-equipped port welcomes sailors during the whole year. They provide water, electricity, shower cabins, currency exchange and laundry services; if you get hungry, you can also choose from several restaurants.
Port of Dubrovnik
The port is located only 3 kilometres away from the old city of Dubrovnik. They don’t have any limits in terms of yacht size; the depth of water is 42 metres. You can find everything that you may need in the near vicinity including cosy cafés and restaurants. Information about sailing in Dubrovnik, or rent a boat in Dubrovnik
Ports in Central Dalmatia:
Ports of Milna
Milna has 3 ports and can accommodate more than 300 boats. The largest is ACI Marina Milna, offering 170 berths for boats up to 40 metres. The depth of the seabed is 6 metres. You can choose from many quality services here, and you can refuel. Marina Vlaska is on the northern side of the Bay of Milna. It has 71 berths for boats up to 25 metres. The depth is 15 metres. Yacht Club Milna has 100 berths for boats up to 30 metres. The depth is 3 metres. Information about sailing in Milna, or rent a boat in Milna
Port of Supetar
Supetar’s outer port is reserved for ferries and commercial vessels. In contrast, mostly smaller boats and yachts use the inner basin. The depth of the seabed at the entrance is 6 metres, 5 metres in the outer basin, and 3-4 metres in the inner basin. Information about sailing in Supetar, or rent a boat in Supetar
Marina Bol
The port of Bol is located on the southern coast of Brač Island, about halfway between Milna and Sumartin. Because of its small size, it can be hard to find a free berth during the main season. The depth of the water is 6–7 metres near the entrance and 2 metres at the pier. They provide drinking water, electricity, laundry as well as cafés and restaurants. Information about Bol sailing, or rent a boat in Bol
Port of Split
The ACI Marina Split is a port with 348 berths for boats up to 90 metres in length. A breakwater protects it from strong waves and southern winds. The depth of the seabed is 8 metres. The port has a restaurant, a bar, a laundry, and a refuelling station. There are restaurants, bars, laundries and a fuelling station. Information about sailing in Split, or rent a boat in Split
Port of Podstrana
The Marina Lav is part of the Le Meridian Lav hotel complex. It can accommodate 74 boats up to 40 metres in length. The depth of the seabed is 2-2, 8 metres. There are drinking water, electricity and 24-hour security.
Information about sailing in Podstrana, or rent a boat in Podstrana
Makarska Harbour
The Makarska Harbour has a 225 metres long breakwater that provides excellent protection against winds and waves. The maximum depth of the seabed is 4, 8 metres. The harbour offers quality services, and there is even a refuelling station. Information about sailing in Makarska, or rent a boat in Makarska
Port of Hvar
This popular docking place of Hvar Island provides protection against the northern wind. However, southern and northwestern winds can cause significant waves. They offer several high-quality services including fuelling. Information about sailing in Hvar, or rent a boat in Hvar
Marina Stari Grad
The port of this cosy town can accept a total of 150 boats. The depth of the water is 13 metres near the entrance, and 4–5 metres at the town pier. They offer cafés, restaurants and an information office as well. Information about sailing in Stari Grad, or rent a boat in Stari Grad
Ports in Northern Dalmatia:
Marina Zadar
You will find the town’s port in the central part of the shores of the Adriatic, in the centre of Zadar. They have 200 berths and 100 on-land facilities. They offer access to water, electricity, and they have shower cabins, laundry service, groceries and restaurants as well. The port – which has a Blue Flag certificate – also has a fuel station. Read about Zadar sailing
Marina Preko (Ugljan)
This marina, accommodating 95 boats, can also be found on the island of Ugljan, only 4.8 kilometres from Zadar. Only yachts with a maximum length of 20 metres are allowed. The depth of water is 2 metres. You can find laundry, restaurants as well as a fuel station here.
D-Marin Dalmacija (Sukošan)
Croatia’s largest marina has 1200 sea berths and 300 land berths for ships. The marina can accommodate ships up to 40 m in length, and superyachts in transit up to 80 m. D-Marin Dalmacija is one of the best-equipped marinas in the Adriatic. There is a café, a bar, restaurants, a beach club, a maintenance and repair shop, and a grocery store on site. Also, there is a fuel station available. Information about sailing in Sukosan, or yachtcharter Sukosan
Marina Kornati (Biograd na Moru)
The marina of Biograd, which also has a Blue Flag certificate, can accommodate 705 boats with a length of up to 23 metres. The entrance is 40 metres wide, and the maximum depth is 6.5 metres. They have a 24-hour security service, boat maintenance and a fuel station. There is also a restaurant with a capacity of 370 guests.
Marina Veli Rat (Dugi Otok)
The idyllic marina is located in Panthera Bay, in the northern part of Dugi Otok. They can accommodate 200 boats, and they provide protection against the wind and flows. You can acquire services such as currency exchange, there is a small shop, and you can also rent a car or a bicycle.
ACI Marina Žut (Kornati)
The marina, located in the northeastern part of the Kornati archipelago, offers 120 berths for boats up to 40 metres long. They are open between April 1st and October 31st. In case the Bora is strong, it is recommended to anchor in the northern dock or use the mooring buoys. If the other strong wind, the Jugo is present, it is much more pleasant to anchor on the southern dock.
D-Marin Mandalina (Šibenik)
One of the biggest advantages of this beautiful marina is its convenient location. It is only a few km away from the historic centre of Šibenik. Moreover, it is protected against winds and waves. D-Marin Mandalina is awarded with five Golden Anchors and a Blue Flag Certification. It has 429 seas and 50 land berths. Of these, 79 are designed specifically for superyachts. This is the only port in Croatia that can accommodate superyachts up to 140 m. The depth of the seabed is 5, 5 m. Refuelling is among the quality services of the port.
If you get hungry, there is a bar, a restaurant, and a grocery store on site. Information about sailing in Sibenik, or yachtcharter Sibenik
Dalmatia is a real gem in the Adriatic region. There are wonderful beaches, cities with attractive culture and dozens of islands to visit here. It is probably worth organizing a longer trip so that we can explore as much as we can, and have a truly unique experience.
Read about Dalmatia sailing routes or choose another yacht charter in Croatia
The climate diagrams are based on 30 years of hourly weather model simulations. They give good indications of typical climate patterns and expected conditions (temperature, precipitation, sunshine, and wind). The “mean daily maximum” (solid red line) shows the maximum temperature of an average day for every month for Dalmatia. Likewise, the “mean daily minimum” (solid blue line) shows the average minimum temperature.
The wind rose for Dalmatia shows how many hours per year the wind blows from the indicated direction. The diagram for Dalmatia shows the days per month, during which the wind reaches a certain speed.
Yacht rental dalmatia.Rent a boat in Dalmatia!
Brac sailing itinerary
Day 1. Supetar (Brač-island) – Stomorska (Šolta-island) 16, 98 km (10, 55 mi), Day 2. Stomorska (Šolta-island) – Vis (Vis-island) 42, 07 km (26, 14 mi), Day 3. Vis (Vis-island) – Vela Luka (Korčula-island) 44, 90 km (27, 90 mi), Day 4. Vela Luka (Korčula-island) – Lovište (Pelješac-peninsula) 42, 09 km (26, 15 mi), Day 5. Lovište (Pelješac-peninsula) – Sućuraj (Hvar-island) 22, 07 km (13, 72 mi), Day 6. Sućuraj (Hvar-island) – Sumartin (Brač-island) 32, 84 km (20, 41 mi), Day 7. Sumartin (Brač-island) – Pučišća (Brač-island) – Supetar (Brač-island) 39, 31 km (24, 42 mi)
Read more about Brac sailing, or choose from Brac sailing destinations
Hvar island sailing itinerary
Day 1. Stari Grad (Mooring Bouys) – Bol 15, 59 km (9, 69 mi), Day 2. Bol – Sućuraj 47, 28 km (29, 38 mi), Day 3. Sućuraj – Lovište 22, 07 km (13, 72 mi), Day 4. Lovište – Vela Luka 42, 09 km (26, 15 mi), Day 5. Vela Luka – Komiža 57, 84 km (35, 94 mi), Day 6. Komiža – St. Klement-island (ACI Marina Palmižana) 37, 11 km (23, 06 mi), Day 7. St Klement-island (ACI Marina Palmižana) – Hvar – Stari Grad (Mooring Bouys) 26, 96 km (16, 75 mi)
Read more about Hvar island sailing itineraries, or choose from Hvar island sailing destinations
Vis island sailing itinerary
Day 1. Komiža – Vis (Marina Vis) 19, 71 km (12, 25 mi), Day 2. Vis (Marina Vis) – Stari Grad(Mooring Bouys) 36, 41 km (22, 62 mi), Day 3. Stari Grad (Mooring Bouys) – Bol 15, 59 km (9, 69 mi), Day 4. Bol – Sućuraj 47, 28 km (29, 38 mi), Day 5. Sućuraj – Lovište 22, 07 km (13, 72 mi), Day 6. Lovište – Vela Luka 42, 09 km (26, 15 mi), Day 7. Vela Luka – Biševo-island – Komiža 65, 12 km (40, 43 mi)
Read more about Vis island sailing itineraries, or choose from Vis island sailing destinations
Dubrovnik sailing itinerary
Day 1. Dobrovnik – Lopud 13.65 km (8.48 mi), Day 2. Lopud – Vieste (Italy) 170.26 km (105.79 mi), Day 3. Vieste – Manfredonia 42.31 km (26.29 mi), Day 4. Manfredonia – Barletta 47.31 km (29.40 mi), Day 5. Barletta – Molfetta 28.78 km (17.88 mi), Day 6. Molfetta – Bari 24.96 km (15.51 mi), Day 7. Bari – Bar (Montenegro) 213.70 km (132.79 mi), Day 8. Bar – Budva 29.02 km (18.03 mi), Day 9. Budva – Herceg Novi 35, 62 km (22, 13 mi), Day 10. Herceg Novi – Kotor 25.58 km (15.90 mi), Day 11. Kotor – Cavtat 65.19 km (40.51 mi), Day 12. Cavtat – Sobra 54.16 km (33.65 mi), Day 13. Sobra – Ston 27.46 km (17.06 mi), Day 14. Ston – Koločep – Dobrovnik 39.50 km (24.54 mi).
Read more about Dubrovnik sailing itineraries
Makarka sailing itinerary
Day 1. Makarska – Omiš 31.86 km (19.80 mi), Day 2. Omiš – Kaštel Gomilica 29.28 km (18.20 mi), Day 3. Kastel Gomilica – Stari Grad (Hvar Island) 46.91 km (29.15 mi), Day 4. Stari Grad (Hvar Island) – Vis (Vis Island) 40.14 km (24.94 mi), Day 5. Vis (Vis Island) – Vela Luka (Korčula Island) 44.90 km (27.90 mi), Day 6. Vela Luka (Korčula Island) – Sucuraj (Hvar Island) 57.24 km (35.57 mi), Day 7. Sucuraj (Hvar Island) – Sumartin (Brač Island) – Makarska 46.94 km (29.17 mi)
Read more about Makarska sailing itineraries
Split sailing itinerary
Day 1. Split (ACI Marina) – Kaštel Gomilica 9, 73 km (6, 04 mi), Day 2. Kaštel Gomilica – Trogir (ACI Marina) 15.47 km (9.62 mi), Day 3. Trogir (ACI Marina) – Primosten 38, 16 (23, 71 mi), Day 4. Primosten -Vis (Vis-island) 65, 08 (40, 44 mi), Day 5. Vis (Vis-island) – Stari Grad (Hvar-island) 40, 14 km (24, 94 mi), Day 6. Stari Grad (Hvar-island) – Sumartin (Brač-island) 37, 74 km (23, 45 mi), Day 7. Sumartin (Brač-island) – Supetar (Brač-island) – Split (ACI Marina) 52, 90 km (32, 87 mi).
Read more about Split sailing itineraries
Trogir sailing itinerary
Day 1. Trogir (ACI Marina) – Drvenik Veli 13, 59 km (8, 44 mi), Day 2. Drvenik Veli-island – Primosten 27, 80 km (17, 27 mi), Day 3. Primosten – Murter-island (Marina Hramina) 43, 78 km (27, 20 mi), Day 4. Murter-island (Marina Hramina) – Žirje-island 25, 32 km (15, 73 mi), Day 5. Žirje-island – Rogač (Šolta-island) 63, 39 km (39, 39 mi), Day 6. Rogač (Šolta-island) – Pučišća (Catering Pipo) 38, 09 km (23, 67 mi) Day 7. Pučišća (Catering Pipo) – Split (ACI Marina) – Trogir (ACI Marina) 58, 54 km (36, 37 mi)
Read more about Trogir sailing itineraries, or choose from Dalmatia sailing destinations
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