The Adriatic Sea and coastline makes this place not just a hidden gem, but also an amazing sailing destination. Being less visited by tourists, it can be a real challenge in high season to find a berth, so you should plan in advance your sailing week around the Istrian Peninsula.

Arriving in Pula

You can arrive in Croatia by plane at Pula Airport, being the closest airport to your point of departure, Pula. From the airport you can reach Pula by bus or taxi, and which is just 11 kilometres away, so you should reach the city in about 15 minutes.

Weather around the Istrian Peninsula

Best time to sail in Croatia is from April to October, but best of sunshine you will get from June to August. In the summer, temperatures during the day tend to average 25-30 °C. This warmth extends into September with an average of 24-26 °C during the day. Daytime temperatures in May tend to be 5 °C higher than in April, and already averaging the low-to-mid 20s.

Sea temperature during summer is peaking at 25 °C.

Average wind speed in summer is 6.5 knots and mostly the wind will blow from N-NE, but the best season for sailing is from October to May with an average of 10.5 knots.

Planning the itinerary

Prepare for a one-week, or more, memorable sailing adventure along the Istrian Peninsula, one of the best escapes in Croatia, to spend the summer vacation with your family and friends. Even though in this itinerary there are only 4 legs, take your time, enjoy the landscapes at your own sailing pace, to discover this amazing area.

The starting point is ACI marina Pula in the city with the same name, and you will sail more than 80 nautical miles around one-of-a-kind landscapes, breath-taking cities, amazing cuisine and amazing aquamarine waters. Depending on your yacht type, course and pace, the below information may vary.

• Leg 1 - Pula to Medulin - 16 NM - 3 hours
• Leg 2 - Medulin to Liznjan - 6 NM - 1.5 hours
• Leg 3 - Liznjan to Banjole - 12 NM - 2.5 hours
• Leg 4 - Banjole to Pula - 10 NM - 2 hours

1. Pula to Medulin - Leg 1

Sailing to Medulin

Close to the marina in Pula there are plenty of opportunities to provision your yacht before departure. Leaving ACI marina Pula, you need to head S-SE and you should reach Medulin in about 3 hours. There are two options to find a berth around Medulin, like Marina Medulin or ACI Marina Pomer.

Sightseeing in Medulin

Medulin is a very popular sailing and travel destination and probably one of the most famous location for enjoying a day at the beach. Speaking about beaches, these are the best beaches to visit in Medulin:

• Bijeca Sandy Beach
• Alba Chiara Beach
• Kazela Beach
• Levan Island Beach

Heading to Medulin, on your port side you will have Cape Kamenjak, which offers dramatic, steep cliffs sceneries and amazing beaches. It’s located quite close to Medulin, and you should not miss this natural jewel.

Accommodation when sailing to Medulin

Good accommodation can be found in Medulin, and if you don’t want to spend the night on your boat, our recommendations are: Velanera Hotel & Restaurant**** with starting price from 220 € / night or Arena Hotel Medulin**** from 505 € / night.

2. Medulin to Liznjan - Leg 2

Sailing to Liznjan

Liznjan is only 6 NM away from Medulin, so you should reach the destination in about 1.5 hours. You can find good anchorage around Liznjan, however, during high season, the spot could be quite crowded. If you don’t find a good spot, a good alternative would be to return to Medulin at nightfall.

Sightseeing in Liznjan

There is no wonder that each summer so many captains choose to sail here. This alluring city has plenty to offer, whether you are into discovering amazing natural beauty or trying out more thrilling experiences. Well, you can dive and explore the sunken scout cruiser Cesare Rossarol, ride a bike along the coastline, horseback riding or kite surfing.

If you choose to explore this beautiful location, we recommend visiting the remains of the Roman town Vizace (Nesactium) close to Valura town, and the St. Mary church close to Lizjan, to admire the amazing and best kept mosaic from the early Christian period.

Accommodation when sailing to Liznjan

Good accommodation can be found at Hotel Livadic & Restaurant*** with starting price from 198 € / night or Apartmani B&B*** from 100 € / night.

3. Liznjan to Banjole - Leg 3

Sailing to Banjole

Banjole is 16 NM away from Liznjan and you should reach the destination in about 2.5 hours. You can find good shelter in Porto Volme, if you also want to reprovision your boat. Other good marinas around Banjole are: Marina Veruda and Port Bunarina.

Sightseeing in Banjole

Speaking about hidden gems, Banjole is one of them, and will surprise you with some of the best cooked local dishes, picturesque landscapes and lots of fun activities.

Around the town you’ll find lots of bays and coves, peninsulas and picture-perfect beaches. The advantage of the beaches around Banjole is the pine forest, which can offer you good shade in the hot, sunny days. There are also hiking trails close to the coast, offering some incredible viewpoints along the way and it can be crossed in less than an hour.

Swimming, snorkelling and cliff jumping are the top activities here, perfect if you love the sea and some adrenaline.

Accommodation when sailing to Banjole

Good accommodation can be found at Resort de Mar**** with starting price from 189 € / night and Ribarska Koliba Resort**** from 587 € / night. 

4. Banjole to Pula - Leg 4

Sailing to Pula

Heading back to Pula is a 2 hours trip, so take your time to enjoy the morning and raise the anchor to sail to Pula, because the adventure continues. During summer months the traffic is quite heavy once you get close to ACI marina Pula, so keep an eye on the ferries. 

Sightseeing in Pula

Pula has plenty to offer, so if you have some extra time, you should definitely spend some days to explore this amazing city.

Close to the city you can find the National Park Brijuni, a great place to explore not just for the resorts and golf courses but also for the amazing scenery. You can also take a ferry to the national park and you can book your trip in advance.

One of the must visit places in Pula is the Roman Amphitheatre, the most complete one in the world. It was well preserved because it was used even by the medieval kings for tournaments 1000 years after it served as a tournament arena for romans.

The Roman Forum and the Temple of Augustus are considered important landmarks for Pula. During summertime, the square close to them holds lots of concerts and other cultural events.

Watching proud over Pula, the Kastel Fortress was built by Venetians to defend the harbour and the upper Adriatic Sea. The star configuration walls were a top design back in the days and their design was important for repelling artillery.

Last but not least, the Gate of Hercules is one of the earliest pieces of Roman heritage still standing, and it was part of the town defences during Roman times.

Accommodation when sailing to Pula

Good accommodation can be found at Park Plaza Histria Pula**** with starting price from 592 € / night and Hotel Milan**** from 260 € / night.

Capetanos sailing and general recommendations

For an amazing sailing holiday on the Istrian Coast, we strongly recommend to plan in advance, consult the charts, weather conditions and choose the most suitable time and boat, according to your sailing skills. These four legs can be achieved at your own pace, so why not spending more than one week in this incredible area.
We hope that information in this article will contribute to your decision for your next holiday on the Istrian Coast, one of the top destinations in Croatia and Europe. 

Sailing bugdet calculator / rent boat calculator Istrian Coast

These calculations are performed for one-week charter on a 47 feet catamaran in mid-august and crew of 8. The total may differ depending on many factors like boat amenities and construction year, mooring fees, dinner out, etc.

1-week total	9.660 €
4 cabins catamaran	5.200 €
Skipper (optional)	1.600 €
Food	480 €
Water	80 €
Diesel	180 €
Moorings	670 €
Food out	1.450 €