Best Anchorages in Croatia – Hidden Bays & Safe Moorings

Ask ten Croatian skippers for their favourite anchorage and you will get ten different answers – and all of them will be good. Our coast is full of bays where you can drop the hook, swim before breakfast and fall asleep to nothing but cicadas and halyards. The art is knowing when a bay is perfect and when it is better to choose the next one.

This guide is not a complete pilot book. Instead, it is a handpicked list of anchorages that work well for charter crews, combined with practical advice on holding, depths, wind directions and fees. Use it together with your plotter, local charts and our Adriatic Sea and Weather guide, and you will sleep much more peacefully at anchor.

How to Think About Anchorages in Croatia

In Croatia you will find three main options for overnight stops: marinas, town quays with moorings and anchorages with or without buoys. Many bays are run by concession holders who maintain mooring buoys and charge a fee, while pure anchor-only bays are less common in busy regions but still exist.

Before we dive into specific regions, remember a few basics:

• Check the chart and depths – know your yacht’s draft and comfortable anchoring depth range.
• Think about wind shifts – a bay protected from afternoon maestral may be open to night-time bora.
• Respect local rules – in national parks like Kornati, anchoring is allowed only in designated bays or on buoys.
• Have a marina backup – on some nights, especially with strong bora or jugo forecasts, it is smarter to stay in a marina or solid town quay. Our Charter Conditions page covers responsibilities around weather.

Anchorages in Central Dalmatia (Split, Hvar, Brač, Vis)

Most guests start from Split or Trogir. Within a few hours you can reach sheltered bays on Šolta, Brač, Hvar and Vis. Here are a few anchorages many crews enjoy, always to be checked again against current charts and conditions.

Šolta – Šešula & Nečujam
Šešula, near Maslinica, offers good protection from maestral and decent holding, with konobas that provide mooring lines or buoys. Nečujam on the north side is wide and open, better in settled weather. Many Split-based routes spend the first or last night here – see our itineraries from Best Sailing Routes in Croatia.

Brač – Lučice & Bobovišća
Lučice, on the south side of Brač, is a beautiful bay with branches and buoys, well protected from westerlies. Bobovišća, on the north-west, is more like a fjord-like inlet with moorings and limited anchoring space, but very calm at night.

Hvar – Pakleni Islands
Around the Pakleni islands near Hvar you will find many managed bays with buoys. Karpe and Vinogradišće are popular but busy; look carefully at depths and space. In strong southerlies, consider more protected options on the north side of Hvar or return towards Brač.

Vis – Rogačić, Stončica and bays near Komiža
Vis has a more open-sea feel. Rogačić, just north of Vis Town, offers mooring buoys in a quiet setting. Stončica has a sandy bottom but is exposed to northerlies. Around Komiža on the west, several coves provide anchor or buoy options in settled weather. Full details and town info are on our Vis Island page.

Anchorages in Northern Dalmatia and Kornati

Between Zadar and Kornati the coast breaks into hundreds of islands. This is one of the best areas in Croatia if you love quiet bays and simple konoba moorings.

Dugi Otok – Sakarun and Veli Rat area
Sakarun is famous for its turquoise water and sandy bottom, but it is exposed to north and west winds. Use it for daytime swims rather than overnight in stronger maestral. Nearby coves around Veli Rat provide more protection.

Kornati National Park bays
Within Kornati, anchorages like Vrulje, Opat, Levrnaka and Ravni Žakan combine buoys with small restaurants. Depths often drop quickly, so follow recommended mooring lines and buoy fields. Holding is usually on sand and rock patches – always dive on your anchor if possible.

Pašman and Žut channels
Between the mainland and long islands you will find several quieter bays with good shelter from westerlies and maestral. These are great stops on a Zadar round trip, especially for families who want calm nights after a day of sailing.

Anchorages around Šibenik and the Island Archipelagos

The area near Šibenik is full of smaller islands – Zlarin, Prvić, Kaprije, Žirje and many more. Distances are short, which makes this region ideal for relaxed anchoring holidays.

Zlarin and Prvić bays
Zlarin and Prvić offer both small town quays and anchor spots nearby, usually in 5–12 metres. They are well protected from typical summer winds and perfect first or last nights for family crews.

Kakan, Kaprije and Žirje
Between these islands you will find several simple anchorages with clear water and sandy patches. Some bays have seasonal restaurants with moorings; others are pure anchor stops. Because of their layout, many are comfortable in maestral but more open to strong southerlies, so always combine them with the latest forecast from our Weather Conditions Croatia guide.

Southern Dalmatia Anchorages from Dubrovnik

Sailing from Dubrovnik brings you to green islands and clear water. Anchorages here can feel more remote, with fewer boats than around Split and Hvar.

Elaphiti Islands – Šipan, Lopud and Koločep
Šipan has several well-protected inlets with moorings and space to anchor in suitable depths. Lopud offers nice anchor spots under the hillside, while Koločep has small coves suitable in settled conditions. These islands are great for the first or last night on a Dubrovnik route.

Mljet – Polače and Pomena
On Mljet, Polače is one of the most popular anchorages: a long, deep bay with good shelter from most winds and mooring lines run by restaurants. Pomena, at the park entrance, also offers moorings and some anchoring space. When visiting Mljet National Park, always check current park rules and fees.

Quiet Spots in Istria and Kvarner

In the north, around Istria and Kvarner, anchorages tend to be a little farther apart, but you are rewarded with a different landscape and often fewer charter boats.

Cres and Lošinj bays
Cres and Lošinj islands have several secluded coves with clear water and good holding, especially on their leeward sides. Depths can be greater than in central Dalmatia, so be mindful of scope and chain length.

Rovinj and Brijuni area
Near Rovinj you can find anchorages with beautiful views of the old town and nearby islands, though protection is variable. The Brijuni area has strict park rules – check the latest information before anchoring or taking a buoy.

Practical Tips: Holding, Depths, Fees and Safety

Good nights at anchor start with good preparation. Here are some practical tips I repeat to every crew:

• Check your anchor and chain before leaving the base; do a test drop in a safe depth on day one.
• In most Croatian bays, look for sandy patches for best holding; avoid pure weed or rock where possible.
• Use plenty of chain – 4–5 times the depth in calm conditions, more if stronger winds are expected and space allows.
• After setting the anchor, back down slowly and take a transit on shore to confirm you are not dragging.
• Respect buoy and park fees; they support maintenance and safety in popular bays.
• In uncertain forecasts, choose a more conservative option – marina, town quay or a bay with better all-round protection.

When to Choose a Marina Instead of an Anchorage

Even the most anchorage-loving skipper has nights when a solid mooring feels better. Consider marinas, ACI clubs or town quays instead of anchor when:

• Strong bora or jugo is forecast and you are not fully confident about your anchoring skills.
• You need reliable shore power, water and a long hot shower after several days at anchor.
• Crew members want to explore towns like Split, Makarska Riviera, Zadar or Dubrovnik in the evening.
• You have an early check-out the next morning – see our Check-in & Check-out guide.

Balancing a week between marinas and anchorages usually works best – for comfort, safety and crew morale.

Planning Your Week Around Bays and Anchorages

When you plan a route using our Itinerary Library, think of anchorages as the “jewels” of the week. Decide which bays you really want to experience – a Pakleni sunset, a quiet Kornati cove, a night in Polače on Mljet – and then build daily legs that make those nights easy rather than stressful.

Combine this approach with realistic distances and weather awareness from Adriatic Sea and Weather. That way, when you finally drop the anchor, you are arriving early, relaxed and with plenty of daylight left to enjoy the bay.

Next Steps – Routes, Boats and Local Skippers

If reading about these anchorages makes you want to jump straight into the dinghy, you are not alone. The next step is to match your dream bays with a realistic route and the right yacht.

Start with our Best Sailing Routes in Croatia and Itinerary Library. Then explore yachts under the Yacht Charter Croatia hub – from comfortable Catamarans and classic Sailboats to fast Motor Yachts.

If you prefer to relax while a professional handles anchoring decisions, consider a skippered charter or even a crewed yacht. In your enquiry through Get a Quote, simply mention a few of the anchorages from this page that caught your eye. We will help you build a week that strings them together into a safe, beautiful route.

With the right mix of bays and harbours, Croatia becomes more than a line on the chart – it becomes a chain of favourite anchorages you will remember for years.