I recently visited Zadar in Croatia during a family holiday. It is a lesser visited gem on the Dalmatian Coast and highly recommended. Apparently it’s also a great place to head to by yacht to explore the city and the nearby Kornati Islands. This article reveals why.
The Adriatic sea
The Adriatic is laden with natural coves and inlets, while small fishing villages offer a place to dock and stop for a freshly prepared meal. The tourist industry has grown significantly over the past decade, but it’s still possible to book a yacht charter to (almost) secret, offshore delights. Zadar and the Kornati Islands are a gem for sailors.
Zadar, a city steeped in history
You can easily find a number of yacht charters that take off from Marina Borik. This 3000-year-old city is well worth spending a couple of days in. Explore St. Mary’s Covent houses art that dates back to the 8th century and St Donatus, which is a simple Romanesque church built only a century later, near the site of a much earlier Roman forum.
Zadar is filled with pleasant walkways that lead you through historic sites, as well as numerous cafes and restaurants that serve up the catch of the day.
Not all is quaint and family-friendly though. You’ll want to avoid the areas of the waterfront that are home to the clubs that serve a younger crowd looking for something livelier.
Sailing around the Kornati islands. Pic credit: Sporki.
89 incredible islands
Just south of Zadar, Kornati National Park offers divers an unforgettable experience. Grottos and small coves are dotted all around the 89 islands, which are now protected in order to preserve the natural beauty and wildlife.
There are plenty of places to lay anchor in a yacht and if you don’t have a scuba diving licence, snorkelling among the archipelago’s 850 animal species is still exciting.
Note that local authorities have taken action to protect Kornati’s wildlife and any 13 metre vessel is required to pay for a permit. The price is around €30 per day.
Zut, a tiny paradise
Zut is a paradise, albeit a tiny one. This island is uninhabitable – barren from centuries of slash-and-burn farming, a practice in which forests are burned down to make room for farming. The little bay is a perfect place to lay anchor and take a break from the sails.
The water in the bay is as still and clear as a pool, and the island’s only restaurant serves visitors during the high season.
Exploring the Kornati Islands is an experience worthy of any great bucket list. The historic towns and cities that make up the Dalmatian coast offer something for everyone, and yacht charters are easy to book once you arrive in Zadar.