Destination Guide: Greece or Croatia?

Greece and Croatia are our two most popular yacht charter destinations, and it’s no surprise why, with a combined 11 sailing areas, each with their own unique flora, fauna, culture and history.

Both of these glorious Mediterranean hot spots offer all the essential ingredients for a perfect summer sailing holiday – beautiful coastlines, islands to explore, idyllic anchorages, crystal clear waters and a rich cultural heritage.

So, which should you choose for your yachting holiday?

It’s a question we are often asked and while we would encourage you to try both, we thought it would be helpful to give you a brief guide to the key differences between the two.

If you’re going to be at the helm and are fairly inexperienced sailor, then the Dalmatia islands in Croatia or Ionian in Greece could be your best option.

And although longer passages are possible, much of the sailing is easy with line of sight navigation, and fairly light conditions.

Croatia offers good mooring facilities with town quays, marinas and mooring buoys, making easy parking for most.

For the more seasoned sailor looking for consistent wind, larger sailing areas and more diverse regions, then Greece's Cyclades islands, Dodecanese, or Saronic Gulf could be perfect for you.

Skippered or crewed yachts also available; where you can sit back, relax and enjoy the beautiful islands while your crew do all the hard work!

You will easily find both in Croatia and Greece.

The Kornati archipelago in Croatia consists of 147 largely uninhabited islands just waiting to be explored for example, while the beautiful Sporades Islands of northern Greece are wonderfully unspoilt by tourism.

On either location, you will never feel hemmed in by other tourists as a chartered yachting holiday gives you the freedom to escape the hordes on land and drop anchor in your own secluded cove.

Croatia is the relative new kid on the block in terms of tourism, but has been quick to develop the infrastructure required to cope with its growing popularity as a tourist destination.

It boasts some great marinas with excellent facilities for sailors, including a wide selection of boats to choose from for your holiday. You will need to pay mooring costs though.

In Greece it is normally free to moor overnight, but facilities – such as the provision of water – are not always available in some of the smaller ports.

But this shouldn’t put you off. Greece’s laid-back and welcoming atmosphere is a huge draw, and free mooring is not to be sniffed at!

Greece and Croatia are steeped in history, culture and stunning architecture – from the beautiful medieval walled city of Dubrovnik to the simple white houses of the Cyclades islands in Greece.

Almost every Greek island has some connection with the Ancient World – whether it was an entrance to Hades or a stop off for an Ancient Greek god. Many have ancient ruins too, so it’s worth checking those out.

If you’re a fan of elegant ancient, medieval and Renaissance treasures, then Croatia won’t disappoint.

Buildings such as Diocletian’s Palace in Split and the Cathedral in Sibenik remain spectacularly intact, while other exceptionally attractive hotspots include Korcula, Trogir and Zadar.

In recent years Croatia has developed into a popular European hot spot for summer music festivals, so would make a good choice for a group of friends looking to mix cosmopolitan nightlife into their holiday itinerary.

Greece has its hedonistic side too – particularly on the islands of Mykonos, Santorini, Poros and, of course, in Athens.

But generally speaking nightlife in Greece revolves around evenings in bars and tavernas, and perhaps a local disco!

We hope our brief guide has been helpful.

Ultimately, picking a holiday destination is very subjective, but we can guarantee that you won’t be disappointed with either!

Read our destination guides to learn more about yacht charters in Greece and Croatia.