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Yacht Charter Croatia

With hundreds of islands and 6,000km of untouched coastline, there is a lot to explore on sea and land on a beautiful, lush Croatia yacht charter. Search to find your ideal yacht, with or without a Captain and Crew, or read on for more inspiration.

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Types of boat to hire

Temperature

Croatia's Adriatic coast enjoys a Mediterranean climate of hot, dry summers and cool, rainy winters. Summer temperatures range on average from 26°C - 30°C, while shoulder months (May and September) tend to be 22°C - 28°C

Average Winds

The Croatia charter area is blessed with consistent and gentle winds, generally NW 10 - 20 knots. There are several variances though like the Bura and the Jugo - see more below!

Currency

On 1 January 2023, Croatia joined the Euro (€), which will make holiday currency a lot more straightforward. They also joined the Schengen area on the same day.

When To Go

The Croatia sailing season runs May to October – the best weather is from June to September, while July and August can get pretty busy!

Best towns to start a yacht charter in Croatia

These are Borrow a Boat's pick of the top charter towns across the Dalmatian Coast and wider Croatian Adriatic Sea. Select from sailing yachts, catamarans or motor yachts and enjoy peaceful anchorages, sensational national parks, lively party islands, and glorious sailing weather!

Also Discover

Zadar yacht charter marina

Best Sailing Areas in Croatia

Croatia's main sailing areas can be divided into four categories, heading south to north up the Adriatic:

  • South Dalmatia
  • Central Dalmatia
  • Kornati islands
  • Istria & Kvarner Gulf

The north of Croatia tends to be quieter and more unspoilt, while Central Dalmatia is the primary charter hub and includes bustling towns, gourmet restaurants and wonderful watersports. Wherever you go, you're sure to enjoy secluded bays, your pick of sandy beach, and some of the best sailing available in the Mediterranean.

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Central Dalmatia (Split)

If you've never been to Croatia before, we recommend you charter from the Split area and sail around Central Dalmatia to islands like Hvar and Mljet.

This is the main charter hub of Croatia, and is a hive of activity in the peak summer season, but you can still find the odd quiet anchorage if you're seeking some solace at anchor under the stars.

Hvar is famed for its nightlife and beaches. Hvar is also blessed with the Pakleni island group, ideal for a more chilled-out night at anchor under the stars. Also worth a visit is the beautiful Stari Grad.

Explore Central Dalmatia

Dubrovnik old town dock Croatia

Southern Dalmatia (Dubrovnik)

The cruising area immediately south is also worth considering, with simple line of sight navigation between the varied Elaphiti islands, just outside the glorious walled city of Dubrovnik.

Highlights include the gorgeous Mljet National Park, where you can anchor in a beautiful bay, explore by paddleboard and relax in peace.

Explore Dubrovnik

Kornati islands aerial

Kornati Islands (Zadar)

For a longer charter, consider a route out of Zadar in north Dalmatia and sail further afield via the Kvarner gulf and Kornati island, perhaps even south to nearby Montenegro either along the Croatian coast or island hopping along the way.

Zadar also has a well developed marina network and is the main point of access to the Krka National park and the northern sailing areas of Croatia.

One place you shouldn't miss is the Kornati archipelago which is a large nature reserve with stunning views and unspoiled landscape.

You can sail from a number of mainland cities to these islands including Šibenik, Zadar, Tisno and Biograd and anchor for the night in a quiet bay.

The Bay of Telascica, just north of the Kornati National Park (and a National Park in its own right) is outrageously beautiful, with unique geological formations, flora and fauna.

You shouldn't miss the shallow, salt water lake called Mir there too. You can moor in the bay to explore its wonders or stay in Sali, to the NW on the same island.

Explore Zadar

Croatia anchorage

Istria (Pula)

Far to the north and close to the Italian border, Rovinj on the Istrian Peninsula (and not far from Venice in Italy) has an awesome coastline with high cliffs and rocky shores. It is said to be one of the most romantic cities in the country.

The sailing area is sensational, and includes the Brijuni National Park, once President Tito's private island chain, but now open to tourists to explore.

The Rovinj Archipelago of small islands outside the city is something to behold too You can charter direct from Pula's marina to the south.

Explore Pula

Kornati islands croatia sunset

Why Charter in Croatia?

This glorious Mediterranean country caters for every taste, from the old walled city of Dubrovnik to all-night clubbing in Hvar. You may also just want to chill out in a quiet anchorage with just your companions and sea life for company.

Croatia is ideal for pottering about on a boat thanks to many destinations being just a few hours' sail away, and with its gentle breezes in most of the boating season you won't have to be too energetic in getting where you're going.

Croatia yacht charters offer unrivalled choice of bareboat, skippered or fully crewed yacht charter options, with a full spectrum of wind, cuisine, nature available. There are a variety of boats to hire too - you could wish to hire a catamaran, a monohull yacht or a motorboat charter. There are about as many options for yacht hire in Croatia as there are sailing holiday budgets.

Fully Crewed, Skippered Yacht or Bareboat?

You don't need to know how to sail to rent a boat in Greece as you can go for a skippered boat rental where the skipper can get you wherever you want to go. If you're more confident and have the relevant licences, you can go for a bareboat rental. Skippered charters are available on nearly all boats as an optional extra.

When using Borrow A Boat you can filter all boat searches to be with or without skipper depending on what you are looking for, and below we cover some of the main points to consider for your boat hire

bareboat sailing

Bareboat Yacht Charter

Bareboat charters offer qualified and experienced sailors the ultimate freedom to explore where they want, when they want.

You are the captain, you plan the route, and you are ultimately responsible for the safety of the boat and all of your crew.

For skilled sailors, a bareboat charter is lower cost and gives more privacy for you and your charter guests.

Many sailors prefer to helm the boat and choose their own course, and provided you have the knowledge and relevant qualifications you can skipper (typically up to 54 feet/16.5 metres in length) yourself.

If you want to sail without a skipper (bareboat yacht charter) then you will need relevant qualifications like RYA Day Skipper/International Certificate of Competence (ICC) or the ASA 104 Bareboat certificate.

Browse Bareboats

Moorings skipper and guests

Skippered Yacht Charter

A skippered yacht charter gives you the advantage of being able to get afloat without having to invest in getting sailing qualifications beforehand.

You will pay €190 per day extra for the skipper, as well as their food and a tip at the end.

A skippered yacht charter or crewed motor yacht will cost you a little more but you get the peace of mind of having someone aboard who knows the waters and can get you safely to all the destinations you want.

The skipper will also know some of the best places to go to meet your needs, from picturesque swim spots to the finest restaurants. You can relax and let the skipper do their thing, guiding you around the Adriatic's best bits.

Browse Skippered Yachts

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Crewed Yacht Charter

A fully crewed yacht charter provides absolute luxury. The captain and deck crew are responsible for handling the navigation of the yacht, while the interior crew look after your every need, preparing gourmet meals and refreshing drinks and providing the highest level of service to help you enjoy a spectacular holiday.

Sample local culture and entertainment alongside organised activities or simply relax in luxuriously appointed cabins and salons, before exploring dive and snorkel sites in your limousine tender.

Your captain and crew will take care of all navigation, organisational, catering and housekeeping. Leaving you and your guests free to relax knowing that you will receive first-class service and attention from embarkation to the day you leave.

Our unrivalled network of global yacht brokers ensures we have access to an extraordinary range of luxury yachts and superyachts - of every size and fitout.

We take care of every detail of your charter and ensure that you and your party's requirements are fulfilled.

Browse Crewed Yachts

Catamaran Charter in Croatia

Do you need a licence to charter in Croatia?

If you are on a crewed charter, gulet or skippered yacht charter you do not need a license to sail a yacht. This is also the case when you are renting a small motorboat without a cabin for a day trip around the local islands or beaches.

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

International Certificate of Competence (ICC): 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 Greece, 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 and The Bareboat Cruising Certificate is also accepted in many cases.

Catamaran charter Split

Best times to hire

July and August are the busy months and high season for a boat rental. Regardless of the time of year you will often find very quiet anchorages wherever you sail away from the main urban centres.

As a rule the most expensive time is in July and August but it's cheaper in school-time such as May and September.

For a quieter, less crowded experience, September is the best time of year as the weather is excellent and the seas are still warm.

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The Climate

Expect gentle winds and warmth along Croatia's coastline for most of your stay during the season between May and October.

Expect temperatures to be around 14 degrees centigrade /57 degree farenheit as a minimum in May - Northern Europeans will be in their tee shirts. Come July and August it can average 28 degrees centigrade/82 degrees farenheit - still much cooler than Turkey or Greece at that time of year. October sees similar weather to that in May.

There are several winds that appear that can enliven or soak your trip. Below are five of the main ones:

The winds of Croatia

Bora (NE)

This is a cold, dry north-easterly wind that falls off the mountains close to the coast. You can tell it is coming thanks to clouds forming over the top of mountains that are over 400m high, but is highly localised - if you are more than 4km from the mountains you will hardly notice it.

Jugo (SE)

This is a south-easterly that brings wet weather when there is a high pressure area over the Adriatic. This can sit for days at a time but thanks to the wind direction it brings warmth too.

Mistral (NW)

The Mistral or Maestral is a north-westerly sea breeze that lifts in the morning and dies in the evening - almost perfect conditions for day sailing. It is particularly prevalent in July and August - right at peak sailing holiday season.

Tramontana (N to NW)

This is a rare northerly mountain wind that brings cool winds to the seas. Do be ready to either reef or luff up as the gusts can be very powerful.

Yacht Charter Croatia

How much does it cost for a Croatia Yacht charter?

This really depends on your budget, at the upper end of the scale you can hire superyachts and skippered luxury yachts which means you can enjoy a level of luxury that would beat almost any cruise liner afloat. Monohulls are typically around €250/day upwards.

You will need money for insurance too - this can be in the form of a refundable damage deposit on your credit card or by buying non-refundable insurance for the holiday in advance.

If you are paying for a skipper, expect to pay €190 per day, and you will need to feed them and tip them at the end of the holiday.

On top of these fees, you will need food, restaurant money (again this is down to what you wish to spend), beverages, fuel for the week and mooring fees.

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Frequently asked questions
Is Yacht hire in Croatia Legal?

Yes. Yacht hire in Croatia is legal, it's a fast-growing industry but still smaller than some neighbouring countries. You may need certain qualifications to sail particular types of boats, check with the charter company to confirm these details

What kind of Yachts can I hire in Croatia?

You can hire a sailing superyacht, a motor superyacht, a sailing catamaran or a motor catamaran, a motor cruiser or monohull sailing yacht combined with small motorboats for days trips. It all depends on the experience you want from your holiday.

What should I consider when hiring a Yacht?

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.

What are the best time to hire a Yacht in Croatia?

Book ahead if you want a high season holiday (July and August). More boats are available for less outside these months. September is quieter but the weather is great and the seas are still warm.

Do you have to pay a deposit when hiring a Yacht in Croatia?

You will typically pay 50% up front on booking the yacht hire and the balance on arrival. You will either pay a security deposit with your credit card on departure or can get insurance covering damage in advance. In some cases (such as the recent Covid situation) your yacht charter company may be more flexible but this depends on the individual charter companies themselves.

What happens if my Yacht breaks down?

If you are at sea and in danger, call MAYDAY on VHF Ch16 or ring the coast guard on your phone if you have reception. If you have a mechanical fault and can make it to or are on a mooring you will be able to phone a help line number given by the boat charter company.

What should I think of before I hire a Yacht in Croatia?

You should consider do you have the experience to handle the yacht charter or boat hire before you book and where do you want to go along with what the weather will be like. Bring warm weather and cool weather clothing if it looks like the weather can be cool as well as warm and remember at sea it can be cool on most evenings.

What Qualifications Do I need to hire a boat or yacht?

If you want to sail without a skipper then you will need relevant qualifications like RYA Day Skipper/International Certificate of Competence (ICC)/ASA 104 Bareboat certificate or the US Sailing Certificate. For small 'day boats' or if you choose to have a skippered on board your yacht charter you typically don't require licences.

Do I need a visa to visit Croatia?

If you live inside the European Union, Switzerland or Norway you do not. If you are from a country outside of this region then check with the Croatian Consul or Embassy in your country.

Build your own unique trip!