Sailing in Croatia

About 120 bottlenose dolphins who reside in the waters of Kvarner region are all known by name! Cheerful and laidback creatures, dolphins like to keep close to home, so they have been studied in this area for nearly three decades. In 2006, their habitat got an upgrade, as the area was proclaimed the first Dolphin Reserve in the Mediterranean Sea.

44.6807° N, 14.3703° E

When beams of sunlight squeeze into the cave through a single crack in its ceiling, magic happens: the entire space becomes colored in an intensive, translucent blue light and all the objects inside get a silver glow. Hence the name – the Blue Cave. This magnificent natural phenomenon on the island of Biševo is well-worth a visit from Vis or Split.  

 42.9784° N, 16.0111° E

A spoonful of honey encapsulates time on the island of Šolta. Here, bees feed on wild rosemary, creating a unique and widely praised flavor of the island’s honey – in fact, internationally awarded multiple times. The island's first cooperative started operation in 1875, but today, the centuries-old traditions of beekeeping and honey making rest in loving hands of several local families.

43.3870° N, 16.2875° E

Fresh catch is delivered daily to the chef of Toto's restaurant on Palmižana. Savor his classic Dalmatian masterpieces, then stretch your legs with a stroll through the restaurant’s own botanical garden. Started a century ago by the owner’s grandfather, the arboretum will engage all your senses, with the scents of the typical Mediterranean herbs, like rosemary and lavender, the joviality of exotic cacti and beauty of the palm trees lining the seafront.

43.1630° N, 16.3923° E

Untouched and pristine, Vis offers a plentitude of opportunities to experience the true Mediterranean joys first-hand. Awaken your inner child by jumping off the many cliffs along its shores! Whether at the famed Stiniva, repeatedly proclaimed one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, or off a small rock in a secret bay, Vis offers more than one chance to get back to innocence.

43.0240° N, 16.2084° E

Lighthouse Tajer is Croatia’s only lighthouse made entirely of metal. Outsourced from France during the Austro-Hungarian rule, it took months to assemble prior to starting operation. Still today, it stands as a tribute to the finest craftsmanship of the era - none of its iron bolts had to be changed from the installation in 1876 to the present day.  

43.8828° N, 15.2209° E

Shaved barren by the gusts of bura wind which roll off the slopes of Velebit Mountain, the northern shores of Pag Island appear like a deserted moonscape. But look beyond and you’ll find millennial olive groves of Lun, taste famed sheep cheeses of Gligora, and enjoy an entirely unique face of Croatia.

44.4985° N, 15.0316° E

Beams of sunlight sneak into the cave through the cracks in its ceiling. Traveling through the sea, they reflect against the algae-covered floor, filling the entire space with an emerald-colored light. Echoing in birds’ song and the meditative beat of water drops, this moment inside the Green Cave feels like all of nature’s glory captured in a single heartbeat.

43.0178° N, 16.2265° E

The sea and the sky come together in a spectacular play of blues and greens in the heavenly lagoon on Budikovac Island. Just across from Milna, Budikovac is within easy reach from Vis.

Don’t expect to meet too many inhabitants, though, as only one person resides on the island full-time.  

43.0262° N, 16.2427° E

A corner of the world which abounds in diversity just like a family does, the Croatian coast is a filigreed web of close-knit islands, each sharing common traits, but unique in its own way. Each shoreline has its own tale, each town a saint, each tower a legend and each town an admirer.

The southern Dalmatian region stretches between Split and Dubrovnik and is ideal for family cruising. The islands sit close to one another, so a plethora of experiences remains within reach at all times, making it easy to adapt itineraries to different family dynamics. Spend time together, but pursue personal interests as well, sparking up the conversation at dinner time. From sleepy Mediterranean towns and relaxed island-hopping to action-packed hikes, bikes, and beaches, to life’s simple pleasures like morning dips in hidden bays, whatever your family’s vision of quality time may be, this region warrants a good time for all.