Sail the Northern Adriatic Sea

Istria and the Northern Croatia Coast: Best seen by Boat

The Croatian coast has a complex character, and its northern zone offers quite a contrast to the popular sailing waters further south. Until the end of World War II, the Istria Peninsular was ruled by Italy, and Venetian influences are all around in the local architecture. The natural splendour of the northern Croatian islands put them in a league of their own, while easily accessible towns and villages on the mainland offer all the culture, shopping and nightlife one could wish for.

The Istra Peninsula coast is often referred to as 'the Riviera of Croatia' (or one of them anyway!). This is a fascinating place to explore on a sailing holiday, with great facilities and attractions ranging from the most peaceful island getaway to the modern resort dining and entertainment experience.

Over time just about every European power has had a go at claiming this region. They have all made their mark and left their influence.  It's Venice without the swamp, its Tuscany with less cheese, but most of all it's Croatia's 'best kept secret'. The only way to unravel that secret is to explore it by boat, and discover places you wouldn't read about. 

This region of Croatia does not support the large charter boat fleets of more established cruising regions to the south. But there are still plenty of excellent local operators who we deal with. If we can't find the right boat based in the locality, we can relocate one to suit your itinerary.

A practical seven-day itinerary from Pula takes you north to Istria's coastal towns and cities, where you'll enjoy good sailing with lots to see and do. Then for a contrasting experience, explore the Losenj Island group, which lies between the mainland and the Kornatis. Read more about sailing the northern Adriatic Sea.

Our client reviews about charter sailing in Croatia

Rating: 5 / 5
The Wave was wonderful! We had 3 couples and the skipper so we each had a berth. We cooked several meals in the kitchen and kept a fresh mint and basil plant in the the window! Our skipper and my husband are both sailors so we sailed the boat as much as the wind and time would allow and very much enjoyed that. Of course the black water issue is not great, but we managed.

All the islands along the coast of Croatia are worth checking out. We had 2 weeks to explore the beautiful towns and coves and recommend hitting the towns during the day to sightsee and pick up supplies then find a quiet cove to anchor for the night. Split was very crowded and might have been better visited in the fall after the cruise ships taper off.

Sail Connections' service was really great! We felt guided through the process, of which we knew nothing about before. We were met in Slano by Cristina, who was so good to help us. Our skipper was excellent even tho we had a bit of a language barrier, He was careful, fun, and joined us on all of our excursions and was willing to explore and find places he had never been. Joyce, USA, Aug 17th, 2019
Excellent internal layout for cruising, spacious living area, opening rear panel made for al-fresco living, closed only when in port, for security. The old cities of Dubrovnik and Trogir and Split with their history and achitecture, the beautiful anchorages in secluded bays, the clear warm water for swimming, the island walks. Your service was very good. Keyran, Australia, Jul 31st, 2016
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