The Most Amazing Waterfront Towns in Croatia

Yacht charters are all about visiting some wonderful places, exploring them to the fullest before setting off to your next destination.

Nothing beats mooring up stern-to a town quay and watching the world go by, before stepping ashore to experience the best of local culture, cuisine and nightlife.

The central Dalmatian Coast is probably HELM’S favourite place to spend a summer week, idling short distances between beautiful bays and fascinating towns.

Whether chilling out in Brac, swimming off Solta or partying in Hvar, this region has something for everyone.

Here are our top 5 waterfront towns in the central Adriatic:

1. Hvar
2. Korcula
3. Stari Grad
4. Vis
5. Komiza

Space is at a premium in Hvar Town, and it's easy to see why. An absolutely delightful place to moor up, this buzzing town is home to beautiful architecture, boutique shops and great bars and restaurants.

Little wonder it's known as the St Tropez of the Eastern Mediterranean!

The impressive Spanish fort towers over the town and gives incredible views out over the Adriatic. A perfect place to watch a pink and gold sunset over the stunning Pakleni islands.

Hvar really lights up at night, and we recommend checking out Kiva Bar and the Carpe Diem Beach Club for a taste of Croatian nightlife.

One of the highlights of Croatia! Korcula is a definite must-see. Full of Venetian buildings, it is believed to be the birth place of the explorer Marco Polo (which they don’t let you forget.. you see his name everywhere!)

There's a lovely walk up the tower in the Cathedral of St Mark, which boasts a good view of the town. We recommend strolling around the ramparts overlooking the water, and turning down some of the many herringbone alleys that lead to the main square. A truly amazing place to visit.

There are loads of excellent restaurants here. Our favourite is probably (you guessed it) Marco Polo, just off the main square.

Sitty pretty on the northern coast of Hvar, Stari Grad is a serene little town with lots of great restaurants and some burgeoning nightlife.

Stari Grad has something of a colourful village charm to it, from the palm trees lining the streets, to the many old stone houses and 15th century Dominican monastery.

Surrounded by a dense, sprawling pine forest and fields of lavender, Stari Grad is well know for its local produce, and a must visit for foodies in search of good cuisine.

Very well sheltered, with berths spanning the bay, the lovely city of Vis is a great place to stop off overnight.

The oldest major settlement in Dalmatia, Vis was established in 397 BC, and maintains some of its old-world charm even to this day. the island was actually a military base until about 15 years ago, and so is largely untouched by tourism compared to its neighbours.

While here, we recommend a visit to the Museum of Vis, where they have many amazing artefacts, including a 4th century BC bronze head of the goddess Artemis.

For dinner, head to Rokki's Peka - they do the best peka we've ever had. You need to book in advance, but they will come and collect you and drop you back at your yacht.

The Adriatic's oldest fishing village, Komiza offers spectacular seafood and breathtaking buildings.

Komiza, fringed by imposing hills, is home to a unique waterfront castle, and is a great place to try Vis’ famous wine with some fresh seafood

We recommend taking a boat from Komiza across to the nearby island of Bisevo, famous for its amazing Blue Grotto.

A beautiful town well worth a visit, but beware Monday nights, which can get very rowdy when the Yacht Week parties roll into town!