Catamaran hires in Dubrovnik and the rest of South Dalmatia

Visit an impressive fortress city and several lush green islands in the Adriatic Sea

Dubrovnik is, without a doubt, one of the most impressive cities in South Dalmatia and the small islands off the coast are also worth a visit if you want to profit from exposure to untouched natural beauty. You will also find plenty of konobas here (small Croatian restaurants serving a wide range of local delicacies).

A paradise for anyone who loves to witness culture and nature first-hand

Dubrovnik is an area that is not just rich in typical Mediterranean natural beauty. It also has a rich cultural heritage and many different areas that are easily within sailing distance. If you want, you can even take trips to Montenegro to experience yet another country from the water. 

Things you can’t miss during a catamaran hire in Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik and the surrounding area

You will start your catamaran hire in Dubrovnik at the ACI Marina Dubrovnik, located at Komolac, at the end of the Rijeka Dubrovacka fjord, about two nautical miles from the city. The marina is fully serviced, with a supermarket, a fantastic restaurant, a café, a beer bar, a laundrette, a swimming pool, tennis courts and playgrounds, a hair dressing salon, a massage parlour, and even an internet café. You can reach the old town easily by bus from the marina.

During your catamaran hire in Dubrovnik, you should also make sure you visit the impressive Lovrijenac Fortress, on the striking 37-metre-high cliff. This fortress is the subject of many legends and is said to have been built within 3 months. Since the 11th century, it has protected the city of Dubrovnik against the attacks of the Venetians. A key symbol of freedom within the city, you can even find the words "NON BENE PRO TOTO LIBERTAS VENDITUR AURO" (Freedom will not be sold for all the gold in the world) carved in stone over the front door. Nowadays, a number of plays are performed here on what is said to be the ‘most beautiful stage in Europe’ throughout the summer.

Main attractions to visit within the city during your catamaran hire in Dubrovnik

While in Dubrovnik, you should absolutely take advantage of the cable car, which offers a ride up Mount Srđ. The ride starts in the old town and takes just 5 minutes. From the peak, you will have unparalleled panoramic views of the old town and the nearby island of Lokrum. Food and drink are readily available here, with two terraces and a snack bar to choose from. The whole trip should cost around €10.

Stradun

This is the most beautiful and important street, located in the heart of the old town, and is also known as Placa Luza. The name Stradun originates from the Venetians and means ‘Big Street’. Today, you will find a plethora of small shops, galleries, and souvenir shops on Stradun, as well as a wide variety of restaurants and cafés in the streets branching off. In the evening, the whole area is transformed into an open-air stage and promenade. Be sure to soak in the infectuous atmosphere while enjoying a glass of wine or an espresso in one of the many street cafés.

Dubrovnik Summer Festival

Every year, starting on the 10th of July, you can look forward to Dubrovnik’s oldest music and theatre festival, during which every inch of the city is transformed into a stage. Enjoy this unique festival for something truly unforgettable.

Synagogues and Churches

There are a range of different churches in Dubrovnik, each one with a different story and beautiful architecture that is a joy to behold. In the treasury of Dubrovnik Cathedral, you will find a collection of relics of St Blasius, who has been the patron saint of Dubrovnik since 972.

The city wall and towers

Dubrovnik’s city walls are about 2 km long and consist of the main wall, 16 towers, 3 forts, 6 bastions, 2 corner forts, 3 outer walls, 3 moats, 2 outer forts, and 2 drawbridges. Most of the wall still looks exactly the same as it would have done between the 12th and 17th centuries, when it was designed and built, and remains to this day an incredibly impressive structure.

Restaurants, food, and wine

Dubrovnik’s restaurants and konobas offer up a wide range of local delicacies to all who visit. You should make sure you try the fresh fish specialties, served with homemade olive oil, during your catamaran hire in Dubrovnik. The local orange case is also absolutely delicious! Maybe you can even take home a jar or two of the marmalade, one of the delicacies for which this spectacular city is most famous.

Great dining options

These are a couple of the best restaurants to stop by during your catamaran hire in Dubrovnik:

Restaurant Zoë, Kardinala Stepinca 31, Dubrovnik Tel. +385-20 44 04 84

Restaurant Mediterraneo, Kardinala Stepinca 31, 20000, Croatia, Tel. +385 20 440 100

Dubrovnik’s swinging nightlife

If you want to dive into a bustling nightlife, you should visit Club EastWest, located on the Banje Beach by the sea. You can also visit Club Lazareti, which has a stage and an outdoor terrace with a fantastic view of the city harbour.

The Elaphiti Islands and other larger islands within the region

Lokrum

The island of Lokrum is another area with a rich history, as well as being home to a protected nature park with tropical and subtropical vegetation. In the 11th century, Benedictine monks founded a monastery on the island and planted a large garden, full of exotic plants. When the island was sold in 1798, the monks had to leave and cursed all future owners of the island.

Then, in 1839, Habsburg Archduke Maximilian Ferdinand bought the island and made it his summer residence. Empress Elisabeth was also a guest on the island during this period and legend has it that she threw her lacklustre pearls into the sea here, hoping it would restore them to their original glory. Unfortunately, she was then the victim of an assassination attempt and never returned to the island. To this day, the pearls have not been found.

Today, the former monastery houses a restaurant, which you can eat in for a unique dining experience.

On the east coast of Lokrum, you will find the small port of Portoc, from which there is a path leading to the ruins of a fortress. From this fortress, you can profit from amazing views of both Lokrum and Dubrovnik. You can also visit ‘Mrtvo More’, a small saltwater lake in the south of the island, which acts as a natural saltwater swimming pool.

The Elaphiti archipelago is located just a few nautical miles northwest of Dubrovnik and consists of 13 islands in total. Only the three larches ones (Kolocep, Lopud, and Sipan) are inhabited.

Lopud

Lopud is covered in all sorts of vegetation, including trees, shrubs and palm trees and is the second largest of the Elaphiti Islands. One of the most beautiful anchorages here is Sunj Bay, but you do have to beware of the Jugo/Sirocco winds. When these are blowing strongly, you should anchor your catamaran in the northwest bay of the island.

From here, you will have a beautiful view of the island of Šipan. On the north side of the bay, you will find a small harbour protected by two piers. A full range of utilities are available in the village of Lopud and you will also find freshwater springs all over the island.

Šipan

Šipan is the largest island in the archipelago. Back when the Romans inhabited the island, they build two towns which still exist today - Šipanska Luka and Sudurad. These two towns are home to picturesque harbours that are popular anchorages for a number of impressive vessels during high season. Some of the regular visitors to these harbours include Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and many other actors, musicians, and politicians.

Above the village of Šipanska Luka, you will find a Renaissance castle, from which you can profit from magnificent views of the island. On top of this, you can also visit the former summer residences of the Dubrovnik nobility and a number of beautiful churches and monasteries. With so much to see, you should definitely make this one of the stops during your catamaran hire in Dubrovnik.

Mljet

The most notable thing to see on Mljet is the national park, with its rich selection of flora and fauna. In the centre of the national park, you will find two natural saltwater lakes, where Benedictine monks from Apulia built a monastery in the 12th century. They dug a branch canal to operate their mills, which is why the lakes are now connected to the sea.

You will find free anchorages in Pomena at the pier of the Konoba Barba Ive restaurant as long as you reserve a table for dinner. This is one of the most convenient anchorages if you want to visit the national park and saltwater lakes on foot.

Luka Polace is another great place to anchor, given that it is sheltered on all sides due to the surrounding forested mountains. This is especially popular during the high season.

According to Greek mythology, Odysseus is said to have been stranded on Mljet on a fateful voyage that saw him run into a sea nymph by the name of Calypso, who held him captive there for seven years.

Korčula

The town of Korčula is located on the east side of the island, along with its ACI Marina. In order to get a berth in high season, you will have to make sure you arrive early. You will also find most of Korčula’s key sites here, such as the Cathedral of St. Mark, the Bishop’s Palace and its treasury, and Marco Polo’s house, which can be found near the cathedral. Although unproven, it is said that Marco Polo was born in Korčula in 1254 and you will have the opportunity to view a collection of old maps and documents in his house.

Vela Luka is the largest town on Korčula, and is located on the west side of the island. As long as you can secure a spot on the town pier, you should be protected from all winds here.

Restaurants and bars in the old town

Korčula is home to many fantastic restaurants. The Konoba Adio Mare can be found in the centre of the old town, right next to Marco Polo’s house. Here you can sample a selection of national dishes and local wines. The restaurant Kanavelic is also worth a visit, serving a selection of different seafood dishes and the Konoba Marinero offers different regional specialities.

To make the most of Korčula’s nightlife, you should visit the Tramonto Cocktail Bar. From the terrace, you can enjoy a fantastic view of the harbour with all of the boats. Dos Locos is a bar that is especially popular among youngsters, while at Dnodna bar, you will have the opportunity to mingle with locals and fellow sailors.

Lastovo

You will find Lastovo around 24 nautical miles south of Korčula and around 22 nautical miles west of Mljet. You can find the small harbour town of Ubli in the southwest of the island.

During the Yugoslavian era, the island was a restricted military area and an important base for the Yugoslav army. You can still see many of the old bunkers on the island today.

In 2006, the island was declared a nature park, along with several of the surrounding islands. Today, Lastovo is best known for its blue lagoons and for serving the best freshly caught lobster in the entire Adriatic.

The Peljesac Peninsula

This peninsula stretches all the way from Ston to Cape Lovište and is about 71 km long and 6 km wide. Peljesac is connected to the mainland with a narrow land bridge from the village of Mali Ston. Many different fruits and other foods are grown here, such as olive groves, fig trees, grapes, almonds, oranges, pomegranates, and mandarins. The peninsula is famous for its Dingac wine region, which is one of the most important wine-growing areas in the whole of Croatia. Here, some of the most luxurious wines are made from the Plavac Mali grape.

You can find fantastic moorings and anchorages for your catamaran hire in Dubrovnik in this region in:

• Loviste
• Trpanj
• Drace
• Brijesta
• Luka
• Mali-Ston
• Tjpanje
• Trstenik
• Orebić
• Zuzljana