Croatia

The mainland and larger islands off the Dalmatian coast have attractive towns and villages, the relics of several civilisations, and some dramatic national parks. The scenery ranges from the rugged barrenness of the Kornati Islands, still partly affected by the occasional bora, to the lush green of Mljet and its nearby islands. Mountains form a backdrop to most places, those behind Split being particularly striking. The water is crystal clear - an advantage of having no sandy beaches. There are hundreds of anchorages, some fields of moorings in the more popular anchorages, plenty of (rather expensive) marinas, good yacht support, and plenty of winter layup choices. From mid-July to the end of August the area is hectic with yachts visiting from Italy. Charter turn-rounds crowd many marinas on Fridays and Saturdays - good days to visit some of the popular attractions with nearby anchorages.

This northern corner of the Adriatic is a holiday playground for Italy and eastern Europe, with much tourist development and a lively café life. Italian is widely spoken, and many towns have kept their old Italian character. Marinas and harbours are closely spaced making day sailing easy. Before departure from Slovenia for Croatia, non-EU passport holders should have their passports stamped to prove they have left the Schengen zone. Entry into Croatia is closely controlled, and yachts should report to the first available port of entry to obtain a cruise permits.

This page describes the Adriatic in general, and leads to more detailed pages about each cruising region. The sea is 420nm long and 100nm wide. The high spot is cruising Croatia, which should not be missed. There is a marked difference between the high standards of food and service in Italy, compared with the more simple standards along the eastern shores. There's more unsettled weather in the Adriatic than in other parts of the Mediterranean - with winter frosts in the north.