Sailing from Split: a 7-day loop to Hvar, Brač, Makarska
Sailing from Split means short, sheltered legs between Brač and Hvar, the two big islands of central Dalmatia, with the mainland mountains always in sight. A typical week crosses the Split Gate to Milna, spends a night at Hvar town or the Pakleni Islands, explores Stari Grad bay and the north coast of Hvar, calls at Bol and Zlatni Rat, and returns via the Makarska Riviera. Most legs are 10 to 16 nautical miles.
Where to charter a yacht for Split, Hvar and Brač?
See all yachts in and around the city on our Split page. It also lists the boats of Marina Kaštela in Kaštel Gomilica, one of the largest marinas in this part of the Adriatic, a few miles north-west of Split. East of the city, look at Stobreč, and further along the coast at Makarska and Baška Voda. For other areas, browse all of Croatia. You can book charter yachts from these bases on Ship O'Hoi, bareboat or with a skipper; charter weeks usually run Saturday to Saturday. To sail bareboat, the skipper needs a licence the charter company accepts: read our guides to the boat licence in Croatia and the ICC certificate. If nobody on board has one, hire a skipper or book a crewed yacht.
A 7-day sailing itinerary from Split
The loop starts at the ACI marina in Split's city port; from Marina Kaštela add about 4 to 6 nm on the first and last day. Distances are rough chart estimates: plan every leg with up-to-date charts, a pilot book and the morning forecast.
Take a look at Split from the sea first. The city grew out of the palace Emperor Diocletian ordered built in 293 AD, and the bell tower of the Cathedral of St. Domnius rises above the old town. Split is also a busy ferry port: according to ACI, ships leaving have the right of way, and anchoring in the port is forbidden except in an emergency.
Day 1: Split to Milna, Brač (approx. 12 nm)
Round the Marjan peninsula and head south to the Split Gate (Splitska vrata) between Brač and Šolta, with the islet of Mrduja in the middle, about 2.5 nm west of Milna. Milna lies at the head of a long bay on Brač's west coast, which ACI calls the largest and best-protected bay on that side of the island, sheltered from all winds. Overnight in ACI Marina Milna (open all year) or the town harbour. Tip: steer for the church bell tower at the head of the bay.
Day 2: Milna to the Pakleni Islands and Hvar town (approx. 10 nm)
Cross south to the Pakleni Islands off Hvar town, a protected landscape since 1972. ACI Marina Palmižana (April to end of October) lies in its namesake bay on Sveti Klement, the largest island, 2.4 nm from Hvar. Mind Baba Rock north of the entrance; the southern approach between Borovac and Sveti Klement is under 5 m deep and unlit. Hvar town harbour has only about 15 yacht berths and 15 mooring buoys, according to the Port Authority, which counts up to 2,000 arrivals in a summer. Tip: if the harbour is full, stay at Palmižana and take a taxi boat to town.
Day 3: Hvar town to Stari Grad (approx. 15 nm)
Sail west round Cape Pelegrin and into Stari Grad bay on the north coast, about six nautical miles deep. Greeks from Paros founded the town in 384 BC, and the Stari Grad plain is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The nautical harbour (120 berths) is in the centre, next to the Tvrdalj castle. Tip: the Port Authority recommends Tiha cove for anchoring; anchoring and fishing are forbidden on the south side of the bay because of the invasive alga Caulerpa taxifolia, which spreads on anchors and nets.
Day 4: Stari Grad to Vrboska or Jelsa (approx. 15 nm)
Follow the north coast east. Vrboska sits at the end of a narrow, fjord-like inlet, with small bridges across its canal. ACI Marina Vrboska (open all year) gives good shelter from all winds; the lighthouse on the islet of Zečevo marks the approach. Next door, Jelsa's harbour has three breakwaters and 54 yacht berths, according to the tourist board. Tip: fill up with fuel in Vrboska, which has a fuel station for boats.
Day 5: Jelsa to Bol and Zlatni Rat, then Makarska (approx. 7 + 17 nm)
Cross north to Bol on Brač's south coast. Just west of town, Zlatni Rat reaches almost half a kilometre into the sea, its tip changing shape with waves and currents. Anchor well off the beach for lunch, then continue east past Sumartin to Makarska, in a natural bay between the Osejava and Sveti Petar peninsulas under Biokovo. Overnight in the town harbour. Tip: if the day feels too long, stay in Bol's small harbour, which has a fuel station.
Day 6: Makarska to Baška Voda and Pučišća (approx. 5 + 10 nm)
Follow the Makarska Riviera north-west. (Tučepi, just south-east of Makarska, is an alternative: 25 visitor berths with lazy lines by a 4 km pebble beach.) Baška Voda's harbour takes boats up to 24 m. Then cross the Brač channel to Pučišća, a deep bay on Brač's north coast known for white stone: the stonemasons' school still works there, and the Veselje quarry is said to have supplied stone for the White House. Overnight on the town quay. Tip: the coast under Biokovo is a known bura spot (see winds below), so leave early if bura is forecast.
Day 7: Pučišća to Split or Kaštela (approx. 15 nm)
Cross the Brač channel back to base. With time to spare, detour to see Omiš from the sea, where the Cetina river meets the Adriatic below the old pirate towers of Fortica and Mirabela. Tip: ask your base when the yacht must be back and refuelled.
| Leg | Distance | Overnight | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split – Milna | approx. 12 nm | ACI Marina Milna or town harbour | Split Gate and Mrduja |
| Milna – Pakleni Islands / Hvar | approx. 10 nm | ACI Palmižana or Hvar town (berths, buoys) | Hvar town by night |
| Hvar – Stari Grad | approx. 15 nm | Stari Grad nautical harbour | Greek town and UNESCO plain |
| Stari Grad – Vrboska / Jelsa | approx. 15 nm | ACI Vrboska or Jelsa harbour | Vrboska's canal and bridges |
| Jelsa – Bol – Makarska | approx. 24 nm | Makarska harbour | Zlatni Rat |
| Makarska – Baška Voda – Pučišća | approx. 15 nm | Pučišća town quay | Makarska Riviera and Brač stone |
| Pučišća – Split | approx. 15 nm | Base marina | Omiš and the Cetina from the sea |
Rules and safety around Split, Hvar and Brač
- Hvar town and the Pakleni channel: the navigation safety ordinance (Narodne novine 52/2025, art. 67) bans anchoring within 0.6 nm of the islet of Galešnik off Hvar harbour and closes the channel to large ships and superyachts. Use the harbour's berths and buoys (Split-Dalmatia Port Authority) or ACI Palmižana.
- Pakleni Islands: a protected landscape and part of the European ecological network for Posidonia seagrass, sea caves and reefs. Anchor on sand, not on seagrass.
- Beaches and speed: the same ordinance bans anchoring less than 150 m from a natural beach or 50 m from the rope line of an organised one, and mooring to the shore inside bathing areas. Within 300 m of the coast, in narrow channels and at harbour approaches the limit is 8 knots. Lines must not damage shore vegetation, so don't tie up to pines.
- Ferries: Jadrolinija ferries run from Split to Supetar and Stari Grad, catamarans to Hvar town, Milna, Bol and Jelsa, and a ferry links Makarska with Sumartin. Keep clear of their routes and harbour entrances.
- Paperwork: the crew list is filed electronically before departure and kept on board (NN 42/2017, art. 22). The Ministry of the Sea requires a certificate for anyone operating a boat or yacht in Croatian waters. Ask your charter company which fees, such as the vignette and tourist tax, are included.
- Licence: in Croatia you need a recognised licence to drive any rented motorboat or to skipper a bareboat yacht, however small the engine. For bareboat you also need a VHF radio certificate. An ICC valid for coastal waters is accepted. With a hired skipper, you need neither. Details in our boat licence guide.
- Winds: the weather service DHMZ (climate of Croatia) names Kliška vrata (the pass above Split), Vrulja and the Makarska coast among the known spots for the gusty north-easterly bura. The jugo, a steady south-easterly, is strongest in the channels between islands and mainland. Summer usually brings a north-westerly on the open sea (the maestral) and a daily sea breeze.
Best time to sail from Split
The season runs roughly from April or May to October. The ACI marinas in Split, Milna and Vrboska are open all year, but Palmižana closes at the end of October. DHMZ notes that bura and jugo are more frequent and stronger in the cold part of the year, though a summer bura can also disrupt sea traffic, so check the forecast every morning in spring and autumn. Midsummer is the busiest time: with up to 2,000 arrivals a summer in Hvar harbour, plan to arrive early or book a marina berth.
FAQ
Can I moor in Hvar town harbour?
Yes, but space is tight: about 15 yacht berths and 15 buoys. Anchoring is banned within 0.6 nm of the islet of Galešnik off the harbour, so the alternative is ACI Palmižana, 2.4 nm away, with a taxi boat into town.
How far is it from Split to Hvar by sailing yacht?
Roughly 20 to 22 nm through the Split Gate, a comfortable day sail. The itinerary above breaks it up with a night in Milna.
Is Kaštela or Split the better base?
Both work. Marina Kaštela, sheltered by the Kozjak mountain and about 7 km from Split airport, adds a few miles on the first and last day. The ACI marina in Split is by the old town.
Can I anchor off Zlatni Rat?
Yes, but keep more than 150 m from the shore of a natural beach, as the ordinance requires, and pick sand rather than seagrass.
Which winds should I watch out for around Split?
Bura (north-east), gusty below Kliška vrata and along the Makarska Riviera, and jugo (south-east), which builds up in the channels. Both are more common outside summer.
More sailing guides for central Dalmatia
For the outer islands, read sailing from Trogir to Šolta and Vis; for a one-way week south, our Split to Dubrovnik sailing itinerary. And before you go: what to bring on a yacht charter.
