Exploring Croatia: Seven days sailing the Dalmatian coast

Croatia has been a hot destination in recent years, thanks to both social media and Game of Thrones – and it’s not hard to see why. I ventured to the beautiful Mediterranean country over the summer for a six-night, seven-day sailing experience with MedSailors and the trip quickly became one of my all-time favourites in Europe. The clear blue water, gorgeous towns, and delicious food were all highlights, as was the nod to pop culture history thanks to the hit HBO series.

Sailing: The options

One thing that’s great about MedSailors is it specializes in group sailing trips for those between the ages of 20 and 35. No travel buddy? No problem – you’ll meet plenty of fun people on the trip who also love to travel. This is your cue to take the trip.

Accommodations vary based on the boat you pick, which are all different-sized catamarans. There’s the Economy Yacht for the more budget-conscious traveller, the more mid-range Premier Catamaran, and, on the more luxe end, the Superior Yachts and Catamarans.

It all comes down to space: we opted for the most bougie of the bunch, the Superior Yacht, which included a private bedroom and bathroom with plenty of indoor and outdoor boat space – but you truly can’t go wrong with any of the options. The only thing we’d say is keep in mind that the smaller boats will have shared bathroom space, so if that’s not your jam, you’re going to want to go for the Superior Yacht. At the end of the day, you’re there to see Croatia, which has one of the most beautiful coastlines on the globe.

Each boat is helmed by a skipper, who will take you to the best spots in and around the island, as well as coordinate breakfast each morning. Of note, there’s also plenty of food options in the various towns and you can bring your own snacks and drinks. Our skipper Tony made our trip with his expertise in the Croatian region thanks to many summers sailing across the country.

Prices start at $1,282 and go up to $2,955 depending on selected accommodation, but there are also early bird booking rates if you lock in before the end of March.

Where we went and what we did

While there were a couple of different route options, I chose to do the Croatia Dubrovnik Voyager route because yes, I did watch Game of Thrones and was curious to see some of the famous shooting sites. We stopped in plenty of delightful towns along the way, eventually finishing up in Trogir, adjacent to the famed Split.

Dubrovnik

Or King’s Landing? I stayed in an Old Town for a night to experience the lively old town, which is something I’d recommend to anyone before setting sail. We stumbled across the hilariously named Lady Pi Pi – which has since garnered TikTok fame for its tongue-in-chic name and amusing statue, which is a literal “lady pi pi.”

The adorable outdoor terrace offers an exquisite view of the old town while guests chow down on grilled Mediterranean fare.

With an interest in Croatian history and Game of Thrones, my friends and I booked a detailed tour via Dubrovnik PolaWalks on Airbnb Experiences that covered both topics. The cobblestone streets of Dubrovnik are incredible, and the place truly feels like you’ve entered a different time. Even if you don’t watch the show, don’t sleep on this place!

Once it was time, we headed over to the dock to meet our skipper and fellow passengers before setting sail to the first destination – the nearby Sipan for a swim.

Mljet National Park

If you love to bike (yes, there are also e-bikes) or hike, this is the place for you. Cycle up through this gorgeous park to check out the incredible salt lakes in the center. After a picnic, we jumped into a kayak to check out the extraordinary views before having a seaside dinner. Of note, this is the only coral reef in the region so don’t miss out.

Korcula

This medieval town was eventually taken over by the Venetians and is famous for being the birthplace of Marco Polo. Exploring the stone streets and staircases was a highlight of the trip, particularly the views at the Massimo cocktail bar, which required a ladder to access.

People watching with an espresso at Caffe Bar STEP was also a highlight. From there, our group jumped into a last-minute wine tasting at Bokar – with absolutely no prior knowledge that some Croatian wine is, indeed, quite good (I can’t say the same about Greek wine).

Loviste

Loviste was the most rustic stop on our adventures, with perhaps some of the best swimming in Croatia. While the town was more limited in options, we did have a solid pizza at Restoran Teuta overlooking the ocean, as well as gelato at the local Croccantino.

Hvar

Hvar is the most famous island in the Dalmatia region, which many liken to Santorini in Greece. We started the day with a magical swim before heading to town for some exploring.

There are plenty of gorgeous places to take photos, which I recommend doing around sunset. Grab an afternoon coffee and pastry at Nonica, which serves up one of the best cheesecakes I’ve had in Europe. We then headed to dinner at Dalmatino Steak & Fish Bar for some traditional Croatian cuisine – one of the best meals on our trip – before grabbing a nightcap at the historic Palace Elisabeth.

Stari Grad

While notably sleepier than Hvar, despite being on the same island, this beautiful town is something out of a fairy tale. I loved walking through the cobblestoned streets with green doorways and simply just enjoying the scenery.

The sweet FREDYs Food Bar was a memorable spot to grab lunch, a latte, and fresh juice before our fun group dinner at the nearby HORA winery.

Split

We ended our trip in the nearby Trogir, another lovely town full of beautiful architecture and sights. The trendy, pink-and-green adorned Franka was the only restaurant I hit twice on the trip – once for breakfast, once for dinner – and it was truly that good.

We quickly headed over to Split for more sightseeing by day two. Built over 1,700 years ago, the Diocletian’s Palace was the crown jewel of this city – and also where Dany kept her dragons in Game of Thrones. After exploring, grab lunch at the nearby Fig. Klis Fortress is another destination to add to your agenda. Be prepared for the hike, but the views will be well worth it.

What to pack

Packing for a boat trip can be a little different than your usual summer getaway, as you’ll need to be prepared for water living for an entire week. My essentials include:

swimsuits (bring more than one)
sunglasses
sunscreen
towel
light and breezy clothing
comfortable walking shoes
eSim card
portable charger
biodegradable soaps and shampoos

Happy sailing!