Split is the perfect city to start your summer cruise, thanks to well-equipped ports and transit harbors. The second largest settlement in Croatia, the people in Split have a slow-moving vibe and are relaxed and friendly, even in the peak months of the summer tourist season. The hospitality you will encounter while sailing will knock you off your feet.
Why choose Split as your starting point?
The sun, sea and sand offer plenty of opportunities for a great sailing experience while in Split – a city which is full of fun, new and exciting things to do. With Latin roots and an Adriatic heritage, Split is a beauty of a city, protected by UNESCO. The waters around Split are mostly calm and warm, perfect for a bareboat charter, if you have a sailing license. If not, it is not a problem to hire a skipper in Split.
What to do and what to visit from Split?
Short trips to the surrounding islands of Brač, Korčula, Vis and Hvar are popular with tourists around Split, but these excursions leave plenty of free room for boat renters to find a secluded bay or a quiet cove. Underwater caves, such as the Blue, Green or Kings cave, are common around these islands and are a great snorkeling spot as well as being unbelievably pretty. There are also numerous extreme sport activities available in the vicinity of Split: canyoning, rock climbing and rafting and cave diving. The architecture of old Split is a shining example of predominantly roman influence on this city. Diocletian`s palace is the main attraction in Split, built by the roman emperor Diocletian, who sought to spent the last years of his reign in the vicinity of the town where he was born. Considering the dimensions and well-preservedness of the palace, it is one of the most important findings of roman architecture in Dalmatia. Other noted architectural attractions include the cathedral of St. Duje, protected by an Egyptian sphynx and built on the exact spot of Diocletian`s mausoleum. Moving on to the fortress of Gripe, built as protection against the Turks and the church of St. John, built on the site of the former Jupiter`s temple. There are, of course, the numerous petite Marianic churches, scattered across the Marjan forest-park, each with its own history and tale to tell. Not to forget the Iron Gate, church of St. Francis, St. Anne`s monastery or Splitksa Peshkarija, the only fishmarket in the world without any flies, built near a live sulfuric well. The historic old core of Split is also full of museums, galleries and manifestations of all kinds: cultural, performative, musical, audio-visual, with Peristil, the heart of Diocletian`s palace, being the main stage for most of the attractions. No reason to miss a chance to breath fresh mountain air and to see the mountains of Biokovo and Mosor. The grace of which the harsh desolate krš terrain blends with green hinterland scenery at the mountain bases is a sight to behold. Gastronomy is one of the core strengths of Split and the surrounding area. Rosemary, basil, garlic, parsley and olive oil are the secret ingredients that make Split cuisine the mouthwatering experience that it is. Natural herbs and spices combined with freshly caught fruits of the sea make bite seem like a little splash of sea and every meal a Mediterranean adventure. Fish is more important than livestock to most local people and so they take special care in preparing fish in many different, ingenious ways. Crabs, oysters and other shellfish are prepared in a broth called Buzara - very tasty! Split is a city with a buzzing night-life, be it festivals, clubs, cultural events or wild nights out - Diocletian nights in the basements of the palace, the Split Cultural Summer and numerous fisherman and pirate nights, to name a few.
When to sail in Split?
All of central Dalmatia, including Split, is characterized by a mild climate with prevailing wet winters and dry and hot summers with lots of sunshine. The nearby mountains offer protection against potentially disruptive weather elements coming from the more mountainous terrain further north-east. The warm Mistral wind, blowing from the west, is a messenger of good weather, whilst Jugo brings with it rain and Bura cold. The average air temperature in summer is 26 degrees Celsius, with maximum reaching as high as 38 degrees. Cooling off in such extreme heat is hardest to do in July and August, when average sea temperatures are 27 degrees Celsius, but for the rest of the year, the sea around Split is a reasonable source of refreshment.