Croatia has four UNESCO World Heritage Sites accessible from the sea, and the Dalmatian coast is lined with architecture that survived the 20th century better than almost anywhere else in Europe — Venetian campaniles, Roman palaces, and medieval city walls that still function as the boundaries of living towns. The challenge is not finding things to see but choosing which ones to build a passage around.
Diocletian's Palace, Split
The Emperor Diocletian retired to his home province of Dalmatia in 305 AD and built himself a fortified palace on the waterfront at Split. What followed is one of the most extraordinary pieces of urban continuity in the world: the palace walls were never demolished, and the town of Split simply grew up inside them. Today, 3,000 people live within the palace precincts; the Roman basement halls contain a market, the emperor's mausoleum serves as the cathedral, and the peristyle — his ceremonial courtyard — is an outdoor café.
Allow at least three hours to walk the Old Town properly. The basement halls (entry around €10) contain a good exhibition on the palace's history. Split ACI marina is a 15-minute walk from the palace entrance.
Hvar Town
The main square (Trg Sv. Stjepana) in Hvar Town is the largest piazza in Dalmatia — surrounded by the 16th-century cathedral, a Venetian arsenal with an early theatre above it (one of the oldest in Europe, still in use), and a loggia used as a café. The Venetian fortress (the Fortica) on the hill above the town offers views across the entire Pakleni Islands channel. Entry to the fortress is around €8. Hvar Town is consistently busy in summer and its nightlife is well-known; for a quieter overnight, the Pakleni Islands immediately offshore have several peaceful anchorages in clear water.
Trogir Old Town
A small island connected to the mainland by a bridge, Trogir contains a medieval town of extraordinary completeness — a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Cathedral of St Lawrence (13th century, with a west portal by the sculptor Radovan that is considered the finest piece of Romanesque sculpture in Croatia), a Venetian loggia, a 15th-century clock tower, and a ring of walls that are almost entirely intact. The whole old town can be walked in an hour but deserves longer. Entry to the cathedral treasury is around €5.
Sail into Trogir Town Marina (VHF 17) or anchor south of the island in the channel. The old town waterfront has some alongside mooring for small boats.
Krka National Park
The River Krka falls in a series of travertine waterfalls through a gorge 70km inland from Šibenik. The national park's main attractions — the Skradinski Buk waterfall complex and the Visovac island monastery — are accessible from Šibenik by a national park boat that runs year-round (included in the park entry fee, around €30 in season). Swimming at the waterfalls was permitted until recently; check current regulations as they change seasonally. From a berth in Šibenik ACI marina, the national park boats depart from the town quay.
Dubrovnik Old City
The walled city of Dubrovnik is at the southern limit of the standard Dalmatian charter circuit and requires an additional two to three days from Split. The city walls (2km circuit, entry around €35) and the old town within them are perfectly preserved — Baroque churches and palaces, the Rector's Palace, the Franciscan monastery with its 14th-century pharmacy, and the Stradun (the main street, polished to a shine by centuries of foot traffic). Arrive by boat at Dubrovnik ACI marina (3km from the old town, shuttle bus runs regularly) or at the ACI marina on the island of Lopud, a short ferry ride from Dubrovnik — the better base in July and August when the city itself is extremely crowded.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Diocletian's Palace free to enter?
A: The palace precincts and streets are publicly accessible at all times — there is no entrance gate. Individual sites within (the basement halls, the cathedral, the Ethnographic Museum) charge separate entry fees. You can walk the whole old town freely.
Q: How far is Dubrovnik from Split by yacht?
A: Around 120 nautical miles. A direct passage takes 18–20 hours. Most crews take 3–4 days, stopping at Hvar, Korčula (another stunning walled old town), and Mljet National Park on the way south.