No Shoes, Just Views: Sailing Croatia’s Coastline.

As an avid traveler who has been to nearly 30 countries, I always find it nearly impossible to tell people my favorites. I have always been a beach girl at heart, but while studying abroad I fell in love with exploring other cultures and cuisine as well. There’s one place I’ve been that has curated the perfect storm of everything I wanted in a warm European getaway- Croatia. Croatia’s beaches are a stunning mix of crystal-clear waters, hidden coves, and rocky shores, perfectly paired with a vibrant culture rooted in centuries-old coastal towns, Mediterranean flavors, and a laid-back, sun-soaked way of life.

As college was winding down, my friends and I had always dreamed of traveling to Europe together post-grad. One of my roommates is from Croatia, and we heard stories of all the summers she’s spent in her small beach town growing up. Luckily, our dream became a reality when one of our friends hit the jackpot, finding a UK-based company that offered sailing drips down the coast of Croatia.(linked below)

Go Croatia Sail

We were definitely a little hesitant choosing a company not based in Croatia, but we were happy to find that the entire crew was super familiar with the country. They offered countless tips on exploring, and even set up excursions for the group at the various stops of our cruise. This company offers several different routes in Croatia, ranging from 4-8 days, as well as trips for different age groups. For instance, my friends and I decided to join a 35-and-under cruise. We loved this because we knew we would be with tons of other like-minded people around our age who would love to enjoy the fun nightlife with us! This company also runs cruises in Greece, Montenegro, and Turkey, and I will undoubtedly check these out in the future. 

Our group ultimately decided on the 4-day sail from Split to Dubrovnik, as we all had travel plans with different groups before and after the trip. This cruise included embarked form Split, and included stops in a small vacation town called Makarska, the island of Mljet National Park, and Dubrovnik. I will say I was sad to miss Hvar, but the longer cruises stop here if that’s somewhere you want to explore! 

We absolutely LOVED this trip. Every single day was full of adventure, and I’ll cover just some of the amazing things we got to experience in a more detailed itinerary below.

Day 1: Sailing from Split to Makarska

We arrived and boarded the boat pretty early in the morning, beyond excited for what was to come. Once everyone got there (our boat capacity was around 30 people), the crew had about an hour-long safety and information talk, and we were then given welcome shots to begin the journey! One other important note- the cruises for this company are half-board, which means that breakfast and lunch are both included in the price of your cabin. This was amazing, and definitely helped those of us traveling on a budget! However, certain excursions, dinners, and any alcohol was an extra charge to your room, which you paid before disembarking the last day. I still thought this was a very cost friendly option to explore Croatia, though I will say the alcohol tabs can run up, so be careful!!

Day one was full of tanning on the upper deck of the boat, and swim stops in gatorade blue water on our way to the first destination. We were sailing during the first week of June, so the water was a tad cold, but not unbearable. Many of us still swam for hours at a time. 

Once docked in Makarska, we found tons of delicious restaurants, and some cute bars downtown. Unfortunately, the famous “cave rave” club at this stop wasn’t open yet as the summer season doesn’t kick off till mid-June, so something to keep in mind if you’re hoping to experience this. Croatia’s biggest party months are July-August, but we still had a ton of fun in June!

Day 2: Makarska to Mljet National Park

The boat leaves Makarska early the next morning to ensure you have ample time to explore Mljet that afternoon. We sailed for a few hours and arrived around lunch. The food, by the way, AMAZING! Every meal came with a main entree such as pork or fresh fish, and a side such as salad, soup, potatoes, or bread. The staff were excellent, and one night they even heated up leftovers for us when we came back from a late night out! 

Mljet surprised us in the best way possible. The island was quiet but untouched. It was a short hike to the main lake area, where everyone was swimming, and there was even a natural lazy river section where you could just float on your back from one lake to the other. The water was a beautiful light blue, and this was such a relaxing part of the trip. There was also an option to rent bikes and explore, and our friends who did this loved it as well. 

Day 3: Sail to Dubrovnik

After a relaxing day in Mljet, Dubrovnik is the perfect end to this Adriatic cruise. We arrived in the early afternoon after our last swim stop, and spent some time exploring the stunning Old Town. One hidden gem we came across here was a cliffside bar named Buza Bar. While Buza was not open due to our early June timing, we found tons of other young people there for the same reason we were- cliff jumping. Buza has several different height options for cliff jumping, though many just come to relax and lay in the sun if jumping isn’t for you. 

Most of our group also chose to embark on one of the more popular excursions this last night- a sunset zipline over Dubrovnik. It’s a pretty long drive up the mountain, but the experience was well worth it. We went on a few lines, and then the guides provided us with mini bottles of wine to watch the sunset from the cliff sides. This was an amazing experience and I’d highly recommend it to anyone interested. 

After ziplining, our entire boat threw a party that last night and we headed straight for Club Revelin, a club inside a castle in Old Town. We absolutely loved this nightclub. The people were great, and it was not as expensive as we expected, as our friends were able to secure a table with a bottle service for only 80 euros. I believe we went on a weeknight, and we still had a fabulous time, so i can’t even imagine how amazing this place is during high season. 

Day 4: Explore Dubrovnik

We did need to leave the ship pretty early the next morning, as the crew cleans the boat up for its next group of guests, but I did have time to explore the city on my own this last day before heading off on my next adventure. My favorite thing I did this last day was undoubtedly walking the city walls. Every step you find an incredible new view, and there were even locals selling amazing trinkets along the way. This took me a little over an hour, and it’s definitely a lot of steps, so I’d wear comfortable shoes and dress light as it gets hot up there under the sun. 

After exploring the walls and taking another stroll through Old Town, I stumbled upon this cute little beach area called Beach Šulić. I spent a bit of time here swimming and laying in the sun before heading back to the boat to pick up my bags and make my way to the airport. I’m sure there are many small beach options just outside of the city, but I loved this one and would have spent all day here if I could. 

Farewell & Happy Sailing!!

Well, that’s a quick summary of one of my favorite trips I’ve ever taken. Sailing through Croatia isn’t just a vacation; it’s an adventure that immerses you in the heart of the Mediterranean. The friendly locals, the coastal beauty, and the timeless allure of this country create an experience that’s hard to beat. As you leave the waters behind, you’ll undoubtedly find yourself planning your next Croatian adventure!

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