One-Week Itinerary: Split to Dubrovnik by Sail
The classic central-to-southern Dalmatia run. 120 nautical miles, 7 stops, each with a reason. Here's the honest version, not the marketing version.
Split to Dubrovnik is the canonical Dalmatia charter route. It's popular for good reason: you cover the islands most people have heard of (Hvar, KorÄŤula, Mljet), end at a UNESCO walled city, and the sailing legs are short enough to allow proper afternoons ashore.
Total distance: around 120 nautical miles. Realistic daily sailing: 15-25 nm, leaving time to drop anchor by 2-3 pm.
This itinerary is one-way (you'll pay a €200-400 one-way fee to your charter operator) and starts at Split or Trogir marinas.
Day 1 (Saturday), Boat handover, overnight in Split
Charter turnaround in Croatia is Saturday afternoon to Saturday morning. You'll check in between 5-7 pm, do the handover (2 hours), provision at a local supermarket, and sleep in the marina.
Don't leave the marina on Saturday evening. You're tired from travel, daylight is fading, and you need the night to finish provisioning and orient the crew.
Distance: 0 nm. Overnight: ACI Split or wherever you picked up the boat.
Day 2 (Sunday), Split → Hvar Town (25 nm)
A slightly long first leg, but necessary to get south. Cast off by 10 am. Route: south out of Split channel, around the western tip of BraÄŤ (pass Milna for a coffee stop, 12 nm), then SE to Hvar Town (13 nm further).
Hvar Town is Croatia's party island. Stari Grad, on the north side, is the quieter alternative for families or couples who prefer old-town atmosphere to DJs.
Marina options: Hvar town quay (€150-250/night, first-come), ACI Palmizana on Sveti Klement across the bay (€100-180, 20-min tender ride to town).
Anchorages: Zaraće (south side of Hvar), Vinogradišće on Sveti Klement, free but limited holding.
Ashore: Spanjola fortress hike for sunset, dinner in the old town. If you want the full scene, walk to Carpe Diem.
Day 3 (Monday), Hvar → Vis (22 nm)
SE crossing to Vis island, the most remote inhabited island in central Dalmatia. Closed for decades as a Yugoslav military base, only opened in 1989, feels preserved.
Route: around the south tip of Hvar past PalmiĹľana, then 22 nm SSW to Vis Town or KomiĹľa on the west coast.
Vis Town is on the protected east side, quieter. KomiĹľa on the west is the classic fishing village, more picturesque, more exposed to Jugo.
Marina: Vis Town has a small ACI marina (~€100-150/night). Komiža has a town quay (first-come, €50-80).
Ashore: Tito's Cave (WW2 bunker hike from KomiĹľa), Stiniva Bay on the south coast (rated by many as Croatia's most beautiful beach, go at dawn before day-trippers arrive). Evening: Pojoda or Roki's restaurant in Vis Town for lobster spaghetti, 90% of charter crews do this.
Side trip: Blue Cave on Biševo Island, worth a morning. Go early (before 10 am) to avoid the tourist boats.
Day 4 (Tuesday), Vis → Korčula (30 nm)
The longest day. Set off by 9 am. Route: ESE from Vis, pass south of Lastovo (optional overnight if you want off-grid, stunning but adds a day), then north to KorÄŤula Town. Total 30 nm.
KorÄŤula is the walled medieval town on the north side of KorÄŤula island, sometimes called "little Dubrovnik" for the architecture.
Marina: ACI Korčula (€120-180/night), or anchor in Luka Bay on the south side and tender in.
Ashore: walk the city walls at sunset (Moreška sword dance performed on Thursdays in peak season), eat at Filippi or LD Restaurant.
Day 5 (Wednesday), Korčula → Mljet (18 nm)
SE to the western tip of Mljet (Pomena), where you enter the Mljet National Park, saltwater lakes, monastery on an island in the middle of the big lake, hiking trails.
Mooring: national park charges €30-60/night for moorings in Polače or Pomena. Alternative: anchor in Okuklje on the south coast (outside park boundary, no fee).
Ashore: rent a bike in PolaÄŤe, cycle the 3.5 km to the big lake, swim, kayak to the monastery island. Plan at least a half-day for this.
Day 6 (Thursday), Mljet → Elafiti (Šipan) (20 nm)
E along Mljet's south coast, then N to the Elafiti archipelago. Ĺ ipan is the largest Elafit island, small marina at Ĺ ipanska Luka, quiet fishing village feel.
Anchorage: Ĺ ipanska Luka is protected. Alternative: PolaÄŤe on Lopud or Lopud Bay.
Ashore: walk across Šipan (1 hour) to Suđurađ for a different village. Šipan is famous for olive oil, buy a bottle to take home.
Day 7 (Friday), Elafiti → Dubrovnik (10 nm)
Short final leg SE to Dubrovnik. Most operators want you in their marina by 5 pm Friday so they can start the Saturday turnaround prep.
Marina: ACI Dubrovnik is 4 km north of the Old Town (you'll taxi or bus in for the evening). Alternative: anchor off Lokrum Island just outside the city and tender in, romantic but requires an anchor watch.
Ashore: walk the city walls (arrive before 4 pm to avoid cruise-ship tide), sunset drink at Buža Bar on the outside of the walls. Dinner at Proto or 360°.
Boat handover: Saturday morning, 9 am. Clean the boat, hand over keys, taxi to Dubrovnik airport (DBV, 30 min).
Distances and daily sailing time
| Day | Leg | nm | Sailing hours (6 kn avg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | Split → Hvar | 25 | ~4 h |
| Mon | Hvar → Vis | 22 | ~3.5 h |
| Tue | Vis → Korčula | 30 | ~5 h |
| Wed | Korčula → Mljet | 18 | ~3 h |
| Thu | Mljet → Elafiti | 20 | ~3.5 h |
| Fri | Elafiti → Dubrovnik | 10 | ~2 h |
| Total | 125 nm | ~21 h |
That leaves ~6 hours a day for swimming, lunch stops, exploration.
Variations
- Add KorÄŤula's wine country: spend a second day on the south side (Lumbarda) to visit Grk wine makers.
- Add Lastovo: skip Elafiti day, sail SW from KorÄŤula to Lastovo (20 nm), explore this ultra-quiet island, then E to Mljet or direct to Dubrovnik (25 nm).
- Reverse direction: Dubrovnik → Split. Slightly harder (you're often sailing into prevailing Maestral), but ends at the bigger city with better flight options.
- Add Bosnia and Herzegovina: from Dubrovnik you can sail N to Neum (Bosnia's tiny coastal town) for a 1-night novelty. Border paperwork required, your charter operator must know.
Practical notes
- Fuel: budget €200-350 for the week. Most diesel in Dalmatian islands, top up at ACI marinas.
- Water: shower discipline on the boat. Top up water every 2-3 days.
- Shopping: Split and Dubrovnik have full supermarkets (Konzum, Tommy). Between, expect village shops with limited selection.
- ATMs: larger towns (Hvar, KorÄŤula, Dubrovnik). Smaller islands, cash only from boat or bring EUR.
FAQ
Q: Can we do this itinerary in a catamaran? Yes, cats are actually preferred for the shallow Mljet Lakes entry. Check your catamaran's draft (typically 1.1-1.5 m).
Q: What about weather? Maestral from Split to Dubrovnik is typically N to NW, useful behind the islands, occasional close-hauled legs. Bura risk mainly in spring/autumn. Always check 48-hour forecast before committing to a long leg.
Q: How much cash do we need? For a crew of 4-6: €800-1,200 in cash (Croatia is 80% card-accepted but marina transit fees are sometimes cash-only; anchorage mooring ball fees always are).
Q: Do we need to book marinas in advance? In peak July-August, ACI marinas (Split, PalmiĹľana, KorÄŤula) take reservations 2-4 days ahead, worth it. In shoulder season, call them the morning of.
Q: Can we skip one of these stops? Each is stand-alone. Skipping Vis removes the most adventurous day; skipping Mljet removes the best nature day. KorÄŤula and Dubrovnik are non-negotiable for the classic route.
