Before you Sail to Croatia: Insider Info on the Marinas of Split and Zadar

Croatia’s Adriatic Coastline has achieved well renowned fame for its beautiful sailing conditions. It features thousands of islands to explore as well as safe anchorages and harbours. There are also a good number of on-land attractions including Dubrovnik with its medieval walls and the cosmopolitan city of Split.

Like any coastal nation Croatia has different sailing regions, each offering varied attractions according to your taste and preferences.

As you chart your journey it’s always great to know where you’ll moor each night and what you can reasonably expect from each place you stop- is the town within walking distance, will you be able to buy provisions or grab a drink at a bar?

We recently returned from a trip to Croatia in which we documented the pros and cons of the marinas in and around Split and Zadar, and we’re ready to share this important insider information with our readers!  Read on for the inside scoop and be sure to contact us for further details.

Beginning our journey……

Split
This marina has many yachts and narrow pontoons in the main part, with a more open side closer to the city. It offers a very basic local shop and supermarkets within walking distance. You can walk to the city centre for restaurants and nightlife but driving into town through the traffic takes time.

Kastela
Here you’ll find a local shop and supermarkets within walking distance. It is located just 20 minutes from the Split airport (SPU). There is just one place in the marina for coffee and food and Kastela doesn’t have much more even if you get a taxi in.

Baska Voda
This is a nice town to start or end a charter in, located opposite the east end of Brac Island. There are small local shops in the village and you can go to Makarska for bigger shops. Here you can get away from the crowds and remain very close to a nice town near your yacht.

Krvavica (Marina Ramova)

This small marina is not near a town but does have a small restaurant with bar. It is located over an hour from the Split airport. The closest place to provision would be Makarska.

Trogir

This is a great place to start from, very picturesque and close to the airport. There are various places to provision within walking distance. It is close to the airport and in the old town there are lots of restaurants and bars. During high season it can take longer to get over the two bridges into town but walking may be faster.

Seget Donji

This new marina is located 1 km from Trogir. It is quite spacious and nice, with a restaurant, bar and swimming pool inside the marina. There is a small shop in the marina as well as larger supermarkets within walking distance. One could also walk along the main road to Trogir (although it is not actually in Trogir) and it is easily accessed from the Split airport.

Agana

It is important to note that this is marina is exclusive to the Sunsail and Moorings charter companies.  It has a supermarket in the marina which closes early on Sunday and can get busy, so pre-provisioning is recommended. You can also stop at a supermarket on the way. It is far from larger towns like Trogir and Split but still onl 20 minutes from the airport, with a small town with restaurants and bars.

Kremik Marina (near Primosten)

This is a large and rather lifeless marina but does serve its purpose (as it was purpose built) and has good facilities. Primosten and therefore provisions is a taxi ride away, in fact a taxi is the only way to get out of the marina.

Sibenik (Mandalina Marina)

This marina features a small shop and a supermarket within walking distance for ambitious walkers, although it may be easier to get a taxi. The marina is inland and positions you to go to the islands around Split, the Kornati Islands or Skradin waterfalls. Sibenik is a great town to visit, accessible by a taxi or water ferry.

Murter (Jezera ACI)

Lovely peaceful town to start from, especially if you’re headed for the Kornati islands. If you’re on a two-week charter you could still go further south. The marina features a supermarket and the the small town has restaurants and bars. The surroundings are picturesque. It is a bit further from Split and Zadar than other marinas but the tranquility may be worth it.

Zaton

Zaton could feasibly be referred to as Sibenik although it is a good 10 minutes away by taxi. The town of Zaton is a 10 minute walk from the marina; you may wish to take a taxi there although you would need to call one. In Zaton you have some small restaurants and shops to provision. I nice small tranquil place to start from.

This is a good base from which to visit Skradin, the Kornati islands or Split islands although it is essentially in the middle of nowhere and there is not much in Zaton.

Pirovac
This is a good base for heading off to the Kornati islands, although it is essentially a pier off a deserted car park. Ther are restaurants and bars in the small town, and it is located further from Split and Zadar airports than other marinas. One can take a small walk around town, and facilities are limited as it is more of a jetty than a marina.

Biograd na Moru (Kornati Marina, north and south, and Sangulin Marina)

This makes a good town to start from and is a fairly big marina. There are many places to provision. Most charter companies here are based in the Kornati Marina, It is close to the Zadar airport but allows you to avoid having to go to Sukosan marina, which is massive and purpose built.

Sukosan (Marina Dalmacija)

As mentioned, this purpose built marina is huge, with 1200 charter berths and 500 private berths. You can find all kinds of food for daily use in the marina. The marina or village (500m) also offer a baker, butcher and some fruit and vegetable shops. Here there are admittedly good facilities charter companies have big offices here. It is also close to the airport, but it is too big to be at all charming and you’ll need to get a taxi into Zadar to go out on the first or last night of your trip.

Rogoznica (Marina Frappa)

A mostly private marina, here you’ll find a supermarket, swimming pool and bar. It is a step above your standard charter base and a well appointed full service marina ideally located on the coast line, although 30 minutes from Split airport.

Vodice (Vodice ACI)

A nice small lively town to spend two nights in if desired, it is also very convenient for visiting the Kornati Islands. You’ll find a supermarket, bars and restaurants but it is fairly far from both the Zadar and Split airports. The Split airport may be the closest, at about 40 minutes driving distance. In the summer months the bars are quite lively and some guests may find marina a bit noisy at night.

Having just visited the region (and with its beauty still fresh in our minds!) we are happy to help you chart a course in Croatia that stops off at the best marinas. Contact us today.

2015-01-21 18:04:36.000