Getting around by boat and ferry Croatia

First passenger port in Croatia. Maritime traffic is dense and well organized. Jadrolinija, Adriatica and SEM-Marina provide the bulk of passenger transport. The Jadrolinija agency (information and purchase of ferry tickets) is located in the ferry terminal. Ferries to and from Ancona and Pescara (Italy), Dubrovnik, Šibenik, Zadar, Rijeka operate all year round (night crossing). The Blue Line company (Splitours agency) now operates low cost ferries between Split and Ancona (with a stop in Hvar).

On the southeast side of the harbor, 1 km from the old town, the marina enjoys good protection from the wind. It has recently been refurbished to suit the clientele of the Grand Hotel Park, a luxury hotel just opposite. Boaters enjoy the best views of Rovinj's historic center. On-site services include harbor master's office and reception, currency exchange, laundry, café-restaurants, free Wi-Fi, specialized stores and boutiques, and nautical repair equipment.

4-5 times a day in summer, a ferry runs between Makarska and Sumartin. A good option for arriving on the island of Brač in 1h30, or even 2 h of crossing. The small port of Sumartin is tranquil, with crystal-clear seas and calm tourism. The problem for travelers without vehicles is getting to Bol. While Supetar is well served by bus, only minibus cabs take you to Bol. There are also Makarska-Bol catamaran crossings (P Line Cie).

On the northwest coast of Istria, in a naturally deep and sheltered cove of the Bay of Novigrad, a first-class marina has been built. It is very well designed, perfectly conceived in terms of the layout of the quays (365 berths and 50 dry berths), and offers a wide range of activities and facilities, paying special attention to wealthy yachtsmen staying at the Hotel Nautica just opposite. For them, there is a popular gastronomic table in the evenings, wellness facilities and concerts.

This huge marina, in the hollow of the bay, is famous in the Gulf of Kvarner. It welcomes yachtsmen, with a harbour master's office open all year round, several services, boat maintenance and repair, a dry dock, a laundry, a car park, a restaurant, seasonal rentals (boats, accommodation on land), a large hotel, a café-bar-restaurant, free wifi, tennis courts, a pharmacy, shops... In short, a whole district reconstituted around the marina and the shipyards!

In the south of the bay, this is an urban marina with 129 berths and a modern technical and sanitary infrastructure. It offers boaters services available 24 hours a day. Check-in is at the reception desk, which closes at 9 p.m. in summer and 3 p.m. in winter. For boat repairs and maintenance, there's a service station and a 5-t crane on site. Possibility of taking a course to obtain a Croatian boating license (Sunny Way Agency).

A marina in front of the historic city which is open from April to October (VHF channel: 17). Another marina, Supetarska Draga 454, well sheltered in an inlet in the north of the island (Kampor), is more extensive. Open all year round, it has 328 berths and 53 spaces for dry boats. Nearby, all the equipment for boaters, the captain's office, repair for equipment, shops, cafés-bars-restaurants.

Several routes to and from Dubrovnik, most of them by car ferries. From late May to late September, the company sails daily by catamaran between Split, Bol (Brač), Hvar, Korčula and Dubrovnik.All year round, the company operates ferries to the Elaphite Islands and from Orebić (Pelješac) to Korčula (Dominče), as well as to Prapatno (Pelješac) on the Ston side and Sobra (Mljet).From early June to late September, the company operates ferries from Vela Luka (Korčula) to Lastovo, Hvar and Split. There is also a ferry service between Dubrovnik and Bari.

In the extension of Kneza Branimira Avenue, a large marina close to the Zvončac residential area. A wide range of facilities are available for yachtsmen who own their own boat or wish to hire one. 318 berths, a reception, boat rental/sales and service agencies, a repair and maintenance workshop, disabled-accessible sanitary facilities, a shopping center, cafés and restaurants.

To the south-east of the town centre, in the extension of the sea promenade(riva), this recently renovated marina offers many services for boaters (sanitary facilities, reception, Internet access, bar-restaurant). The Venezia Line company connects the ports of Istria with Venice. Jadrolinija, Adriatic Lines and Jadroagent provide rotations to the islands of the Gulf of Kvarner (Unije-Susak-Mali Lošinj-Ilovik-Silba) as far as Zadar. Many cruise operators offer day trips to the Brioni archipelago or the Gulf of Kvarner.

Thanks to its natural shallow gully, an important marina is located in the Gulf of Kvarner. Boaters who use it know that they will find good protection for boats, a large capacity(461 berths, 70 dry berths), maintenance and repair services, and water quality that is often rewarded. The proximity of the old port and the lively, authentic quays that hug the bay add to its appeal.

This agency operates fast catamarans, which run between the port of Gruž and the ports and piers of southern Dalmatia. With its five fast catamarans, TP Line covers five routes: Dubrovnik, Korčula, Lastovo; Dubrovnik, Šipan, Sobra and Polače (Mljet), Korčula, Lastovo; Dubrovnik, Pomena (Mljet), Korčula, Hvar, Milan (Brač), Split; and further north Split-Hvar and Makarska, Bol (Brač), Hvar, Vis, Split. Online purchasing and mobile app also available. Book in advance and arrive at least 15 minutes before boarding.

The Federation of Croatian Sailing Clubs and Marinas has its headquarters in Rijeka. In this agency or on the Internet, you can obtain all the practical information on all the sailing bases along the Adriatic coast and the islands. You can book your berth, with prices varying according to the overall length of the boat, the time of year, the length of the stopover and the package chosen. In 2019, the rehabilitation of the Rovinj marina won several awards.

The port of Gruž is where gigantic cruise ships arrive and depart, as well as ferries to Italy (Bari), the Dubrovnik archipelago (Elaphite Islands, Lastovo), the Pelješac peninsula (Korčula) and the fast catamaran for Mjet. Passenger transport, with or without vehicles, is provided by the national shipping company Jadrolinija and the private company TP Line, which means plenty of people and traffic on the quays during the summer months.

Indispensable Roko! Ratko Ojdanić of his real name, this skipper and owner of a taxi boat is the kind to arrange everything. Roko knows the region like his pocket and the archipelago of Korčula in particular. There is no water transfer or activity that escapes him! Want to take a tour of the Korčula archipelago? Go fishing? To rent a boat? To travel to Lastovo or Split? Or need a housing? Roko will answer all your requests.

The national ferry company Jadrolinija charters a ferry from Prapratno (Pelješac) to Sobra in all seasons. The trip takes 45 minutes, and it is possible to take your car with you. There are several ferries per day. Please note that in the summer, the number of available places for cars on Croatian ferries may be limited due to the large number of tourists. It is not possible to reserve a seat in advance, so you must arrive well in advance at the boarding point. If you miss the last ferry, you will have to stay on the island.

The local shipping company (Rapska plovidba d.d.), which is based on the island, is mainly engaged in connecting Rab with the mainland. The departureruns all year round between the port of Rab and the port of Tovarnele (Lun), on the northern part of the island of Pag. The boat carries passengers and bicycles only. No cars or motorised two-wheelers. The rate of weekly rotations increases in the summer season, and the boats can quickly be full. The return trips can also be disrupted if the weather is bad, but this is rare in summer.

Ljubo Gamulin, his father Jadran and their partners have only one passion: the Mediterranean, on which they have been sailing for decades. Jadran, who founded the agency, has been working as a skipper since 1968 and has won several competitions. His son Ljubo has been sailing for a living since 1989, and has also won regattas. Father and son rent out sailing boats (for a minimum of six people) and offer skipper services. The boats are located in the Dubrovnik marina as well as in the Orsan marina in Lapad (city center).

From the historic port and the new port near the airport (Zadar Gaženica), two shipping companies provide year-round passenger transport to the Zadar archipelago.

Jadrolinija offers round-trip ferries to Preko, Brbinj, Molat, Sestrunj, Zverinac, Bršanj, Mali Lošinj, Silba, Olib, Premuda and Ist. Catamarans also serve Molat, Brgulje, Zapuntel, Ist, Iž, Rava, Rivanj, Sestrunj, Zverinac, Božava and Brbinj.

G & V Lines, with its fast catamarans, also runs services from Zadar to Iž, Rava, Sali, Zaglav, Sali and Bršanj.

This Italian shipping company - which celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2023 - has a strong presence in the Adriatic Sea. During the tourist season from May to the end of October, its ferries and catamarans run between the Italian, Slovenian and Croatian coasts. Fast crossings between Venice-Piran (Slovenia) or Venice-Umag, Rovinj, Poreč or Pula, in Istria. Several times daily in summer. Book online or at the company's sales outlets in the ports served. Before departure, it's best to check online that the boat will be docked...