Sailing Split to Dubrovnik: A One-Way Week Itinerary
Sailing from Split to Dubrovnik is the classic one-way week in Croatia: you never sail the same water twice. In seven days you cover roughly 140 nautical miles, from the Pakleni Islands off Hvar to Korčula's walled old town, the remote Lastovo Nature Park, the lakes of Mljet National Park and the Elaphites, before handing the yacht back in Dubrovnik. Most legs are 17 to 38 miles, leaving time to swim and explore. The route works as well in reverse.
Where to charter a yacht for a Split to Dubrovnik week?
Start at the yacht charter bases in Split and finish at the boats in Dubrovnik, or browse every base on our Croatia boat rental page. Charter weeks usually run Saturday to Saturday. A one-way charter means the yacht ends the week away from its home base, so not every boat or date allows it and a one-way fee may apply: check availability and the fee with the charter company before you plan the week. To skipper bareboat you need a licence the charter company accepts (see boat licence in Croatia and the ICC); otherwise hire a skipper or book a crewed yacht.
A 7-day sailing itinerary from Split to Dubrovnik
The legs below assume a Saturday start in Split and a Friday evening return to the Dubrovnik base. All distances are approximate; plan every leg with up-to-date charts and a pilot book.
Day 1: Split to Hvar and the Pakleni Islands (approx. 20–22 nm)
Leave Split and head south past Šolta and Brač to the Pakleni Islands, a chain of wooded islets just off Hvar town. Overnight: ACI marina Palmižana on the north-east coast of Sv. Klement, the largest Pakleni island, 2.4 nm from Hvar; it is open from April to October. If you pick up the boat late, a shorter first hop is Milna on the west coast of Brač (approx. 11–12 nm), where ACI also runs a marina. Tip: Palmižana is seasonal, so outside April to October plan on Milna or another harbour your pilot book recommends.
Day 2: Hvar to Korčula town (approx. 35–38 nm)
The longest leg of the week runs east along the south side of Hvar and into the channel towards Korčula. Korčula town, a stone old town of narrow streets and palaces on the UNESCO tentative list, promotes itself as the island of Marco Polo. Overnight: ACI marina Korčula, right next to the historic centre and open all year. Tip: the town faces the Pelješac channel, where car ferries shuttle between Orebić and Dominče on Korčula; keep a good lookout and cross their track at right angles.
Day 3: Korčula to Lastovo (approx. 17–20 nm)
On the way, stop at Lumbarda at Korčula's eastern tip, known for grk white wine from sandy vineyards and some of the best sandy beaches in Dalmatia. Then cross south to the Lastovo archipelago, 14 km south of Korčula. Overnight: one of the nature park's buoy fields, such as Škoj od Zaklopatice on the north coast (15 buoys) or Skrivena Luka in the south (15 buoys). Tip: buy the park's vessel ticket online before you arrive; the buoy fee is paid separately to the rangers.
Day 4: Lastovo to Mljet, Pomena (approx. 21–24 nm)
Sail east across open water to the western end of Mljet, which is a national park. Overnight: Pomena harbour, where the park allows berthing at the quay and anchoring in Lokva bay and towards the islet of Pomeštak. Tip: the vessel ticket covers the boat only; to walk to the lakes you also need visitor tickets.
Day 5: Pomena to Polače (approx. 5–6 nm)
A short hop leaves the day free for Mljet's two saltwater lakes, Malo jezero and Veliko jezero, and the Benedictine monastery on St Mary's islet; footpaths link both Pomena and Polače with the lakes. Overnight: Polače, where berthing at the quay and anchoring in Luka Polače bay are allowed. Tip: only park boats carry visitors on Veliko jezero, so do not take the dinghy there.
Day 6: Polače to the Elaphites and Dubrovnik (approx. 33–36 nm)
Coast east to the Elaphites: Šipan, the largest, with the villages of Šipanska Luka and Suđurađ, then Lopud with the sandy Šunj beach for a swim stop. Anchor only where charts allow, clear of seagrass. Overnight: ACI marina Dubrovnik in Komolac, about 6 km up the Rijeka Dubrovačka inlet from the old town, open all year. Tip: check the marina's approach notes; depths in the narrower parts of the inlet are 3 to 5 m.
Day 7: Koločep and check-in in Dubrovnik (approx. 12–14 nm)
Use the last morning for Koločep, the Elaphite island closest to Dubrovnik, then return to the base for refuelling and check-in at the time your charter company gives you. Tip: with the boat back early, you can take a bus or taxi into Dubrovnik's old town for the evening.
| Leg | Distance | Overnight | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split – Pakleni Islands | approx. 20–22 nm | ACI Palmižana | Hvar town across the channel |
| Pakleni – Korčula | approx. 35–38 nm | ACI Korčula | Walled old town |
| Korčula – Lastovo | approx. 17–20 nm | Park buoy field (Zaklopatica or Skrivena Luka) | Lumbarda beaches, remote nature park |
| Lastovo – Pomena (Mljet) | approx. 21–24 nm | Pomena quay or Lokva bay | Mljet National Park |
| Pomena – Polače | approx. 5–6 nm | Polače quay or bay | Saltwater lakes and St Mary's islet |
| Polače – Dubrovnik | approx. 33–36 nm | ACI Dubrovnik (Komolac) | Šipan and Lopud |
| Koločep and back | approx. 12–14 nm | Base | Last swim, check-in |
Sailing the other way, from Dubrovnik to Split, simply reverse the legs. If you would rather include Vis, the western islands are covered in our guide to sailing from Split to Hvar and Brač.
Rules and safety on the Split to Dubrovnik route
- Mljet National Park: every visiting vessel needs a park entrance ticket for the vessel. The speed limit is 5 knots within 150 m of the coast. Avoid Neptune grass when anchoring and use a scope of at least three times the depth. Discharging wastewater, oil or toilet waste and dumping rubbish are forbidden, as is diving in the lakes. The vessel ticket does not include the lakes or land sites.
- Lastovo Islands Nature Park: the park sells a vessel ticket by boat length for one, three or five days, online or in the park. The four buoy fields (Saplun, Skrivena Luka, Zaklopatica, Vejo Lago) are paid separately to the rangers, valid until noon the next day. Crew must stay aboard while on the buoy, and boats must leave if gusts above 20 m/s are forecast. The park asks you to moor to a buoy rather than anchor, and never anchor in Posidonia meadows.
- Speed and beaches: Croatia's navigation safety rules (Narodne novine) limit speed to 8 knots within 300 m of the coast, in narrow channels and at harbour and anchorage approaches. Boats under 15 m keep at least 50 m from the barrier of a bathing area. Anchoring is forbidden within 50 m of bathing-area barriers, within 150 m of natural beaches and where charts mark it prohibited, and you may not moor in a way that damages vegetation on the shore.
- Ferries: the Split channels and the Pelješac channel carry regular ferry and catamaran traffic. Give way early and clearly.
- Weather: the DHMZ marine forecast, issued by the Marine Meteorological Centre in Split, is also published in German and Italian. It warns of strong north-easterly bura gusts, which can arrive even in late September. The south-easterly jugo builds a long swell on this open stretch of the South Adriatic, so check which harbours are sheltered before crossing to Lastovo or Mljet.
- Licence: in Croatia you need a recognised licence to drive any rented motorboat or to skipper a bareboat yacht, however small the engine, and for bareboat also a VHF radio certificate. An ICC valid for coastal waters is accepted; with a hired skipper you need neither. Fees and paperwork are covered in our guide to Croatia sailing rules and fees.
Best time to sail from Split to Dubrovnik
The season runs roughly from April or May to October. The Split, Korčula and Dubrovnik ACI marinas are open all year, while seasonal ones such as Palmižana open from April to October. Lastovo has around 2,700 hours of sunshine a year, with an average of 24.9 °C in August. In high summer, book early and aim to reach popular harbours in good time. Outside high summer the harbours are quieter, but the weather is less settled: DHMZ can warn of strong bura gusts even in late September, so check the marine forecast every morning and keep a spare day in hand.
FAQ
How far is it from Split to Dubrovnik by sailboat?
The route in this guide covers approximately 140 nautical miles over a week. The most direct route is shorter, but the detours to Lastovo and Mljet are the reason to do it.
Can I sail from Dubrovnik to Split instead?
Yes. Reverse the legs, pick up the boat in Dubrovnik and return it in Split. Check one-way availability and any fee with the charter company, as they apply in both directions.
Do I need tickets for Mljet and Lastovo?
Yes. Mljet National Park needs an entrance ticket for the vessel, plus visitor tickets for the lakes. Lastovo Nature Park has its own vessel ticket, and its buoy fields are paid separately. Check both parks' official sites for current rules.
Where is the charter base in Dubrovnik?
It depends on the boat. ACI marina Dubrovnik, for example, lies in Komolac, about 6 km from the old town up the Rijeka Dubrovačka inlet. Your booking tells you the exact base and check-in time.
Is one week enough for Split to Dubrovnik?
Yes, if you accept one long leg (Hvar to Korčula) and keep an eye on the weather. With a spare day for bura or jugo, drop Pomena or the Koločep stop.
Starting in Dubrovnik and staying local? Read our guide to a boat holiday from Dubrovnik.
