Yacht Charter Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik was once centre of one of the major empires of the Mediterranean called the Ragusan Empire and was a force to be reckoned with for 700 years. Napoleon Bonaparte destroyed the power base in the early 1800s before his own defeat when it then came under the Austro-Hungarian Empire followed by Yugoslavia before independence came in the 1990s.

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Yacht Charter Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik was once centre of one of the major empires of the Mediterranean called the Ragusan Empire and was a force to be reckoned with for 700 years. Napoleon Bonaparte destroyed the power base in the early 1800s before his own defeat when it then came under the Austro-Hungarian Empire followed by Yugoslavia before independence came in the 1990s.

Unlike Split, Dubrovnik was targeted in the civil war of the 1990s, being shelled heavily and much of its original Old Town was destroyed. When peace came Croatia invested heavily in its rebuilding and while largely the old walls, cathedral and various palaces' survived shelling, much of what you see is rebuilt and is now a Unesco world heritage site. If you have time do take the cable car up Mount Srd to enjoy the panoramic views and see the Museum of the Croatian War of Independence at the top.

Even so, the Old Town of Dubrovnik is no caricature of its former self but a living, breathing artefact of Middle Ages architecture. Many who know Croatia view it as one of the crown jewels of the Adriatic. If you have the time then consider spending a night or two in a hotel in the city before or after your yacht charter, you won't be disappointed.

There are two major yacht marinas that serve Dubrovnik - ACI Dubrovnik and nearby ACI Veljko Barbieri Slano - from where you can head off on your sailing adventures northwest and up through the Croatian islands and along its coastline.

Explore Dubrovnik By Renting A Yacht

Thanks to its old status as a major trading hub for the Adriatic, Dubrovnik has a rich maritime history and a beautiful port. Do visit the ancient forts that were built to defend the city, and relax near the Orlando Fountain on the Placa and watch the world go by.

You can hire boats or do a short day sail to the Elafiti Islands (Elaphiti islands) just offshore. Three of the six main islands are inhabited with just 1,000 full time inhabitants between them with plenty of secluded beaches. Two are car-free, enabling you to walk or cycle without the noise and worry of traffic. These have a reputation of producing great sailors who plied the seas near and far for many a century.

Being close to the southern tip of Croatia, almost every destination in Croatia you will visit will be somewhere to the north of the city. Within a week's range depending on your boat is the other major historic city of Split and even the Kornati Islands with their national park should nature be your thing.

Further afield in the north is Zadar and once you leave southern Dalmatia, the landscape changes and it is generally less busy.

How To Get To Dubrovnik

There are a number of daily direct flights to Dubrovnik from London, Edinburgh, Manchester and Birmingham. The airport also now has well developed international links from most other major European hubs and countries. Once in Croatia you will then need to take a taxi or shuttle bus into the city if headed to ACI Dubrovnik or a taxi ride to ACI Slano if you're boat rental is based there

Marinas In Dubrovnik

There are two major marinas serving Dubrovnik, these are ACI Marina Dubrovnik and ACI Marina Slano . These are easily accessed from the local airport, and have a large number of yachts for charter based at each.

ACI Dubrovnik: The state owned marina ACI Dubrovnik is just 6 kilometres from the Old Town with good all round facilities and a supermarket on site for provisioning with taxis and buses available which run between the old town and the marina.

Berth Characteristics:

380 berths

Max Length 75 m

Max Draught 5 m

There's also a restaurant/bar along with waste collection services and laundry services.

ACI Marina Slano: ACI Veljko Barbieri Slano is 35km away from Dubrovnik old town while still in Dubrovnik county. Though quieter than ACI Dubrovnik this is in an extemely pretty part of the adriatic away from the tourist hordes with plenty of amazing walks. Taxis are available to travel between the old town and the marina

Berth Characteristics:

193 berths

Max Length 25 m

Max Draught 13 m

There's a supermarket and restaurant here for replenishing stocks along with laundry services if needed.

Suggested Sailing Routes From Dubrovnik

There are multiple options available on your boat charter from Dubrovnik, below we list a of the main areas to consider. Depending on if you want silence and the sound of nature or a more human, energetic vibe on a Dubrovnik yacht charter you can have both those needs met. One of the main things to take into account with sailing in Croatia is that because of the amount of islands and the relatively short distance between the sailing, it is primarily line of sight with plenty of island hopping available along this part of the Adriatic sea

Dubrovnik To Korcula: Cruise up to Kortula from Dubrovnik working your way along the Croatian coast or via the island of Mljet while taking in the very best of the Adriatic.

Dubrovnik to Split: Depending on your boat type this is possible but you'll need a fast boat (the two towns are around 300 kilometres apart) and you won't be stopping much along the way. One popular stop along this route is Hvar if you fancy some bustling nightlife or the quieter Pakleni islands which are close by but there are plenty of other Dalmatian islands with secluded coves along the way if you fancy a stop before this.

Types Of Yachts To Hire In Dubrovnik:

Both of the marinas that serve Dubrovnik can serve vessels of up to 40 metres. That means you have almost the full range of yachts to charter out of the city.

Motor Cruiser: These can range from a 10 metre boat that a family of four can bareboat charter or motor yacht to a 40 metre superyacht where you can relax and have every wish catered to by the crew. As a mid-range option we also list a number of motor catamarans that are spacious yet can be bareboat chartered as well.

Sailing Catamaran: A sailing catamaran will have a lot of space and things like en suite showers and heads in every cabin. They have twin engines in the hulls, allowing for great manoeuvrability in port, and are very quick when the wind is aft of the beam.

Monohull Sailing Yacht: Ranging in size from a modest, 10 metre vessel that can accommodate a group of six comfortably yet at a reasonable price to a 20 metre luxury yacht, you can find a monohull to suit every need for your sailing holiday.

Speedboat: These are day boats without cabins and can be used for fishing or simply getting out to the Elafiti Islands on a day trip. Some are very quick on the water - others more suitable for a harbour tour.

Do You Need A Licence To Hire A Yacht In Dubrovnik

If you are on a gulet or skippered yacht charter you do not need a license to sail a yacht out of Dubrovnik. This is also the case where you are renting a small motorboat without a cabin for a day trip around the dalmatian coast and local islands.

You do need a license if you are on a bareboat yacht charter, here are some examples of sailing qualifications:

International Certificate of Competence:This is issued on request by your European sailing authority and you should automatically qualify with certain national sailing qualifications.

RYA Qualifications:If you have the following qualifications you will be able to take a bareboat charter out of Dubrovnik, these include Day Skipper (sail or motor endorsement), Coastal Skipper or Yachtmaster.

American Sailing Association (ASA): The ASA 104 Bareboat certificate is commonly accepted.

US Sailing: The International Proficiency Certificate is widely accepted in Croatia and The Bareboat Cruising Certificate is also accepted in many cases.

Best Times To Hire A Yacht In Dubrovnik

The sailing season runs from late April to October with July and August being the busiest months for yacht charter. The ACI Marina chain also adds 20% to their berthing fees at this time of year. If you can charter outside of the peak period you will find it far quieter and less expensive. When a cruise ship is docked in Dubrovnik, its passengers will fill the Old Town. If you can time your visit outside of the times cruise ships are in, then you will find your visit to the city a lot more relaxed. The climate is mild most of the sailing season with occasional rain showers.

Sailing Weather In Dubrovnik

April and May:There will be occasional rainy days but temperatures sit between 22-28C or higher. Winds are generally NW, 10-20 knots

June-August:You'll be unlucky if you see any rain, though it could be welcome in the summer heat! Temperatures are from 26C and up to the mid 30s. Wind are generally NW 5-10 knots

September-October: In this part of the world it rains more in October and the temperature falls away to 10 degrees C in the evenings, though it can get up to a comfortable 20C on an autumn day. Winds can get up to 20 knots.

How Much Does It Cost To Hire Yachts In Dubrovnik

Budget is a big thing where it comes to hiring a yacht out of Dubrovnik. It is not the most expensive city in the world to charter a yacht from, thanks to the still quite new yacht charter industry in the country.

A motor cruiser can cost anything from €400 a day for a 10 metre yacht but €40,000 a day will get you a 40 metre superyacht with crew catering to your every need. The prices differ from season to season so expect to pay considerably more in July/August.

A sailing catamaran will cost from €500 a day and up depending on the size and what luxuries you want on such a vessel. A monohull sailboat will cost anything from €120 a day to several hundred Euros a day depending on what you want.

A speedboat hire can cost as little as €50 for a half day.

With the exception of a superyacht (that must be professionally crewed) you can pay extra for a skipper and or crew at rates starting from €150 a day on top of the basic yacht charter.

Frequently asked questions
What should I consider when hiring a Yacht or Boat?

The main points to consider are what is your budget, have you got the necessary sailing experience and qualifications to manage the boat if it's not going to have a skipper, whom you are taking sailing, where exactly you wish to go and what will the weather be like on the proposed dates of your trip.