The thing about Croatia’s coastline is that it ambushes you with moments that burn themselves into your memory forever. Even after a decade of sailing these waters with guests, our team still gets that flutter of excitement when we raise anchor for a Dubrovnik to Split journey.
Here at Corsario Yachting, we’ve spent years perfecting this route. It’s the perfect blend of busy harbors and hidden coves, Michelin-star restaurants and tiny family konobas. Some days we’ll be surrounded by superyachts, others we won’t see another soul.
Day 1: Dubrovnik
Day one starts in Dubrovnik, and honestly, there’s no better place to begin. We’ll usually pick you up at the marina around 11am, get you settled on board with a welcome drink, and then figure out where to drop anchor.
You’ve got two options here – we can anchor right by the city walls or find somewhere quieter if you’re looking to ease into vacation mode. Most of our guests choose to stay near Old Town though. There’s something magical about sipping your evening aperitif on deck while those massive walls glow in the sunset.
If you’ve watched Game of Thrones, you’ll be doing double-takes all day – “King’s Landing” is everywhere you look. But even if you couldn’t care less about the Lannisters, those perfectly preserved medieval streets will stop you in your tracks.
We recommend taking a walk along the city walls before you come with us on board – yeah, it’s touristy, but for good reason. The best time is to go early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid both crowds and heat.
For dinner, we can either arrange something special onboard or point you toward Restaurant Nautika or Proto. Just let us know if you need reservations; in high season, they’re essential.
Day 2: Mljet
After breakfast, we’ll pull up the anchor and head to Mljet, about a 3-4 hour sail depending on winds.
Mljet is massive, but weirdly, fewer than 500 people live here. The locals joke that they all know not just each other, but each other’s grandparents’ dating history.
About a third of the island is a National Park, and it’s centered around these two saltwater lakes. They’re so still that perfect reflections make it hard to tell what’s sky and what’s water. There’s a tiny island in the middle of the bigger lake (yes, an island on a lake on an island – very inception) with a 12th-century monastery.
Local legend claims Odysseus got shipwrecked here and hung out for seven years.
While we’re anchored here, you’ve got options. You can rent a bike (the best way to explore), organize kayaks to paddle to St. Mary’s Island, or walk through the national park.
For dinner, we recommend Restaurant Pomena or Konoba Nona Ana. Both serve up those simple-but-perfect Croatian dishes – fresh fish, local olive oil, vegetables.
Day 3: Korčula
Day three takes us to Korčula. The locals claim Marco Polo was born here, which the Venetians find hilarious since they insist he’s theirs. Whether it’s true or not, Korčula town has this sophisticated, slightly Italian vibe that feels different from anywhere else in Croatia.
The coolest thing about Korčula town is how it’s built. The streets branch out like fishbones, which isn’t random – they designed it so the cold winter winds get blocked, but summer breezes flow through perfectly.
Don’t miss climbing the bell tower at St. Mark’s Cathedral. It’s a tight squeeze up those stairs, but the view makes you forget about your claustrophobia real quick.
For dinner, you’ve got choices. LD Restaurant is Michelin-starred and deservedly so. Konoba Belin does more traditional stuff, and the owners treat you like long-lost family.
After dinner, grab cocktails at Massimo Bar on top of one of the defense towers. They hoist drinks up via pulley.
Day 4: Hvar
After a peaceful night in Korčula, we set sail for Hvar – party central of the Adriatic.
Hvar isn’t just for the party crowd – that’s actually a common misconception. The island has been welcoming visitors since ancient Greek times, and they’ve had a few thousand years to perfect the art of hospitality. The main town climbs up from the harbor in a series of stunning limestone tiers, and the fortress at the top gives you a view that’ll fill up your camera roll.
If we arrive early enough, you can go ahead and hike up to the fortress. From up there, you can see the Paklinski Islands – a scattered chain of small islands with some of the most secluded, beautiful bays you’ll find anywhere. This is often where we’ll head after you explore the town, dropping anchor in a quiet cove away from the crowds.
The beauty of having your own yacht is that you can experience both sides of Hvar – join the beautiful people at Hula Hula Beach Bar for sunset cocktails if that’s your scene, but then retreat to your private floating oasis when you’ve had enough.
For dinner, you can head towards Mediterraneo Dine & Wine. They have phenomenal seafood and a wine list that showcases why Hvar wines are starting to win international awards. Konoba Dva Ribara is our backup recommendation – more traditional, family-run, and the grilled squid is always perfect. If you want something really special though, we can arrange a vineyard tour and dinner inland – just let the crew know early so we can set it up.
Day 5: Vis
Day 5 brings us to Vis. Vis was actually closed to foreigners until 1989 – it was a Yugoslav military base, and nobody got in without permission. This turned out to be the greatest unintentional preservation strategy ever. While other islands were developing resorts in the 70s and 80s, Vis just… sat there, frozen in time.
The result of that is this Mediterranean life as it existed 50 years ago. Stone houses with wooden shutters. Old men playing cards in the square at 10am. Fishermen selling their catch directly from their boats.
While we’re here, don’t miss St. George’s fortress – now home to a restaurant with tables positioned for sunset views. The military tour is fascinating too – they’ll take you into underground tunnels and submarine hiding spots from the Cold War.
For swimming, we’ll try to go to the Stiniva Cove if the weather allows. It’s this hidden beach accessed through a narrow opening between cliffs.
Come dinner time, you can check out Konoba Pojoda or Villa Kaliopa. The latter is set in an actual botanical garden, and eating under the stars surrounded by palm trees is incredible. Don’t leave without trying Vugava, the local white wine that’s been grown here since ancient Greek times. It’s got this honey-meets-minerals thing happening that pairs perfectly with seafood.
Day 6: Komiža
Day 6 keeps us on Vis, but we’ll move around to Komiža – a fishing village. Their traditional wooden boats called “falkuša” were designed centuries ago specifically for long-distance fishing expeditions to Italy, and a few old salts still use them.
The town has this wild backstory of rebellion. Throughout history, while Vis Town cooperated with whatever empire was ruling (Venetians, Austrians, etc.), Komiža always just kept doing their own thing. This independent streak is still evident in the locals.
The biggest attraction here is a day trip to the Blue Cave on nearby Biševo island. It’s this sea cave where, at specific times of day (usually mid-morning), sunlight reflects through the water, turning the entire cave this surreal blue color.
It looks like someone installed special effects lighting, except it’s just physics doing its thing. Fair warning though – in high season, there can be lines of boats waiting to get in. We’ll help time it right.
For dinner, Jastožera is an absolute must-do. It’s an old lobster holding pen converted into a restaurant – literally built over the water with traps underneath. Their specialty is lobster, caught that morning and grilled simply with olive oil and herbs.
Day 7: Milna/Split
On our last day, instead of rushing straight to Split, we’ll make a detour to Milna on Brač island. This little fishing and shipbuilding village has one of the most protected natural harbors in the Adriatic, which is why sailors have been seeking refuge here for centuries.
The cool thing about Milna is that it gives you one last taste of island life before heading back to the relative hustle of Split. We’ll find a quiet bay nearby for a final swim stop – that last chance to jump into the Adriatic from the back of the yacht.
We’ll time our arrival in Split for late afternoon, which gives you a chance to settle in and then head out to explore the city if you’re up for it. Split is wild – it’s a modern city built in, around, and on top of a 1,700-year-old Roman palace.
Diocletian’s Palace isn’t a museum or roped-off ruins; people actually live and work inside it. There are apartments where one wall might be 17 centuries old, with satellite dishes mounted on ancient Roman columns. It’s this bizarre, beautiful collision of ancient and modern.
For your last night, you’ve got options. Some guests like to have a final dinner onboard, while others prefer to hit the town. If you’re going out, Chops Grill does excellent steaks (a nice change if you’ve had seafood overload), and Konoba Nikola serves traditional Dalmatian cuisine that’ll ruin you for Croatian food anywhere else.
Your home on the sea
Throughout this journey, your floating home will be the Corsario Yacht, so let us tell you a bit about her, because she’s not just any yacht.
We’ve had billionaires on board who own much larger vessels but still choose to charter with us because Corsario has something special. She’s got that classic sailing yacht profile that turns heads in every harbor. But she’s also got all the modern comforts you’d expect in a luxury hotel.
Are you ready to write your own Adriatic story? Reach out to us. We can customize this exact route or explore our other popular journeys: Split to Split, Split to Dubrovnik, Kotor to Split, Split to Zadar, or Dubrovnik to Dubrovnik.