Croatia has the largest nautical fleet in the world. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering its stunning coast, clean blue sea, and numerous islands.

But what about the marinas? How does the infrastructure cope with so many ships sailing the Croatian coast?

In this blog, we bring you the advantages and disadvantages of marina offerings in Croatia.

Marinas in Croatia – what do the numbers say?

Croatia has more than 50 marinas, evenly distributed along its coastline. Very high concentration of these marinas can be found in Dalmatia and the Kvarner region.

With 22 marinas in their system, ACI marinas are the most recognizable marina brand in Croatia. They are trusted by more than 400 thousand sailors and their marinas can be found along the entire Adriatic coast. These marinas offer a variety of facilities and tailored services for sailing enthusiasts.

In addition to ACI marinas, there are also other privately-owned marinas about which we will talk about later in this blog.

Overall, marinas in Croatia continuously invest in improving and expanding their facilities to meet the modern needs and expectations of nautical guests. However, there is a space for improvement.

We asked an expert from the nautical sector, Selma Čmelik, for an opinion on the state of nautical tourism and marinas in Croatia. As a founder and editor-in-chief of charter.hr, a unique platform for nautical charter tourism in Croatia, she was our first “go-to” instance.

Selma Čmelik, founder and the CEO of charter.hr

“Generally speaking, the number of marinas in Croatia, considering the number of boats and the demand, is too small. We certainly need more marinas.

Most marinas are well-equipped in terms of berths and some service facilities such as travel lifts, repair services, showers, and laundries.

However, the problem is the lack of additional amenities such as shops with a more luxurious brand offering or entertainment facilities. This results in marinas not providing value for money, which is a significant issue in Croatia.

Additionally, marinas in Croatia lack proper infrastructure for sewage tanks, which is currently a pressing problem”, says Čmelik.

What types of marinas can be found in Croatia?

Olive Island Marina, Ugljan

Croatian marinas are categorized according to the Regulations on the Classification and Categorization of Nautical Tourism Ports.

The most recognizable category is the marina – “a specially built and arranged sea or water space with a shoreline”.

Marinas offers berth services, accommodation for tourists on boats, and a supply of food and beverages. They also provide additional amenities for a pleasant stay at sea.

In addition to marinas, in Croatia you will find:

• Nautical anchorage – provides space equipped for safe anchoring of vessels, but usually without permanent berths or additional services.

 • Nautical docking – offers a basic infrastructure for mooring vessels, with a minimal level of additional amenities.

• Storage areas for vessels – are designed for the safe storage of vessels that are not in use.

• Dry marina – includes land-based space for storing vessels out of the water, often with transport and maintenance services.

Additionally, marinas in Croatia are grouped based on the quality of services and facilities. This categorization uses a classification system similar to the hotel industry, with ratings from two to five anchors. This system allows sailors to easily choose a port or marina that best suits their needs. They can opt for basic services or a luxury experience.

What are some of the best marinas in Dalmatia?

According to a 2023 study, the highest number of vessels in transit that used sea berths was in the Split-Dalmatia and Šibenik-Knin counties. Zadar County also stands out as an exceptionally attractive destination for sailors.

We asked Selma Čmelik to tell us, what are, in her opinion, the most notable marinas in Dalmatia. She enlisted three marinas: Marina Dalmacija in Sukošan, Olive Island Marina on Ugljan Island, and Marina Baotić in Seget Gornji, near Trogir.

Marina Dalmacija, Sukošan – the largest marina on the Adriatic coast

D-marin Marina Dalmacija, Sukošan

This marina, located in Sukošan, near Zadar, is the largest marina on the Adriatic coast. With a capacity of 1,036 berths, including those for superyachts up to 70 meters at the transit dock, this marina accommodates vessels of all sizes. D-Marin Dalmacija can accommodate boats with a draft of up to 6 meters. It provides facilities for all sailors, ensuring safe and comfortable anchorage.

Selma Čmelik says that “Marina Dalmacija invests significantly in development, although they could improve in creating a more concrete solution for lifting large boats, a better wastewater disposal system, and more entertainment and leisure amenities”.

Olive Island Marina – quality-oriented family marina

Olive Island Marina, Ugljan

Olive Island is a small family marina situated in Sutomiščica, on the Ugljan island, just across the city of Zadar. It is small but it has “high-quality service, good restaurant offerings, and entertainment programs”, says Selma Čmelik. Quality is of great importance to its owners so you can count on tasteful food, made with fresh, local ingredients as well as excellent and dedicated service.

Marina Baotić, Seget Donji – marina with great infrastructure

Marina Baotić is situated near the historic city of Trogir and less than 10 minutes away from the international airport Split. It has 400 moorings for boats with a length of 6 to 60 meters. According to Selma Čmelik, Marina Baotić is a “complete marina with good infrastructure, excellent restaurant and shop offerings, and accommodation in luxurious apartments. However, they could improve in shops with luxury brand offerings”.

Marina Kornati – a trailblazer in Croatian nautical tourism

Marina Frapa, Rogoznica

According to sailors’ preferences and expert evaluations, the following marinas also stand out: Marina Punat on the island of Krk, ACI Marina Rovinj, and Marina Frapa Rogoznica. All three of these marinas were awarded for their excellence in this year’s Days of Croatian Tourism.

2024. was a milestone year for Marina Punat. Celebrating its 60th anniversary, the marina was also honored with this year’s Annual Tourism Award for “Marina of the Year.” One of Marina Punat’s standout features is its outstanding location.

Marina is situated on the island of Krk, the closest island to Central and Western Europe. It is easily accessible thanks to its direct connection to the mainland via a bridge which makes it an ideal choice for sailors who want to sail often. Also, it is nestled in a well-protected bay and it has a superb security system.

Another Marina situated in the eastern part of the Croatian coast is ACI Marina Rovinj. The marina offers a stunning view of the old town and provides top-notch amenities for its guests. Also, the marina is equipped with devices for discharging fecal and oily waters, as stated on their website.

Finally, Marina Frapa Rogoznica is situated in the central part of sunny Dalmatia, in Rogoznica County. This marina was awarded 15 times as the best Croatian marina and this year it got another award – the silver Nautical Sail Award. Marina Frapa has 462 fully equipped berths in the sea and 150 berths on dry dock. There you can also enjoy in their hotel resort as well as local and international gastronomical delicacies.

Marina Frapa, Rogoznica

There is another interesting Croatian marina worth mentioning that is currently under construction. This marina is situated in a charming little place between Zadar and Šibenik, Sv. Filip i Jakov. It will have 127 berths for boats under 12 meters as well as external berths for larger ships.

Sveti Filip i Jakov is a great place for a peaceful life or holiday. It has all the important amenities but is also a drive away from a larger city such as Zadar. This new marina makes it a great choice for sailors who are looking for a property on the Adriatic coast.

If you need help in finding a property by the sea that will allow you to enjoy sailing activities, contact us, and we will help you find the one!

Photo: Marina Frapa, Olive Island Marina, Marina Kornati – Borič Kačan, D- marin archive.