--- title: "Croatia vs Greece for a sailing holiday" description: "Croatia or Greece for a sailing week? Winds, distances between islands, charter and mooring costs, cruising tax, licences and season, side by side." url: https://olasail.com/croatia/croatia-vs-greece/ updated: 2026-10-07 --- > The Markdown copy of https://olasail.com/croatia/croatia-vs-greece/, from OlaSail, a planning reference for sailing in Croatia, not for navigation. Every page: https://olasail.com/llms.txt [Report a change](https://olasail.com/about/corrections/#page=Croatia%20vs%20Greece%20for%20a%20sailing%20holiday) # Croatia vs Greece for a sailing holiday Pick Croatia for short hops between close islands and a breeze that builds through the day: our seven-day loop from Split is 123 NM, and its longest day is 28 NM. (Measured by us, 5 Oct 2026) (Measured by us, 25 Sep 2026) Pick Greece only once you know which Greece: the southern Ionian gives a gentler week, and the Aegean's summer meltemi asks more of the crew. (From the operator, 29 Sep 2026) (From the operator, 30 Sep 2026) 123 NM in 7 days (Measured by us, 5 Oct 2026) 11 NM Lefkas to Meganisi (From the operator, 30 Sep 2026) Force 4 to 6 the usual meltemi, July and August (From the operator, 30 Sep 2026) Photo: “SREBRNA - panoramio” by [sanja mm](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SREBRNA_-_panoramio.jpg), [CC BY 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), resized All 28 facts on this page name their source, the latest checked on 7 Oct 2026: 9 from the operator, 7 from official sources, 7 measured by us and 5 from third-party sources, such as pilot books and magazines, so treat those 5 as a guide. See every source 9 From the operator (operator) 7 Official source (official) 7 Measured by us (measured) 5 Third-party source (third party) Written by [Domagoj Franc](https://olasail.com/about/people/domagoj-franc/), editor. Reviewed by [Ivor Benko](https://olasail.com/about/people/ivor-benko/), skipper (Croatian skipper's licence, category C). Published 7 Oct 2026. Choose by the crew you have - A first charter week, or children aboard: Croatia's central islands or Greece's southern Ionian. Our [first week from Trogir](https://olasail.com/routes/first-week-short-hops/) is 62 NM, with a longest day of 14 NM. (Measured by us, 7 Oct 2026) (Measured by us, 7 Oct 2026) In the Ionian, Apeiron Yachting's one-week Ionian route gives Lefkas to Meganisi as 11 NM. (From the operator, 30 Sep 2026) - A crew who wants stronger wind: the Aegean in July and August. Sunsail's Athens guide says the meltemi blows from the north to north-west, usually Force 4 to 6, picks up at noon and can reach Force 7 at full strength. It is consistent through July and August, doesn't blow every day but can last up to five days, and can be much stronger off the lee side of the islands. (From the operator, 30 Sep 2026) - A one-way week: Croatia. [Split to Dubrovnik](https://olasail.com/routes/split-to-dubrovnik/) is 148 NM through [Vis](https://olasail.com/places/vis/), [Korčula](https://olasail.com/places/korcula/), [Lastovo](https://olasail.com/places/lastovo/), [Mljet](https://olasail.com/places/mljet/) and Šipan. (Measured by us, 7 Oct 2026) - Two weeks: [the two-week loop from Split](https://olasail.com/routes/two-weeks-from-split/) is 293 NM and reaches Lastovo and Mljet. (Measured by us, 7 Oct 2026) ## Croatia and Greece side by side Greece here means two areas, because they sail so differently: the southern Ionian and the Cyclades in the Aegean. | Question | Croatia | Greece | | --- | --- | --- | | Summer wind | The maestral is the usual summer north-westerly, in settled weather. It builds from the sea through the morning, is strongest in the afternoon and dies away in the evening. (Third-party source, 26 Sep 2026) | Ionian: lighter mornings and sheltered water in the southern Ionian. (From the operator, 29 Sep 2026) Aegean: the meltemi, Force 4 to 6. (From the operator, 30 Sep 2026) | | A typical hop | Longest day on the Split week: 28 NM. (Measured by us, 25 Sep 2026) | 11 NM, Lefkas to Meganisi. (From the operator, 30 Sep 2026) 19 NM, Naxos Port to Paros. (Third-party source, 30 Sep 2026) | | A catamaran in July | Angelina Yachtcharter's Bali 4.1 catamaran Escape I (12.35 m, 2019) at Marina Trogir lists at €3,750 for the week from 15 May 2027, €8,350 from 24 Jul 2027 and €5,350 from 18 Sep 2027, before early-booking discounts (€2,813, €6,680 and €4,280 after them). (From the operator, 7 Oct 2026) | Ionian Charter lists its Lagoon 40 catamaran (2018 to 2023) at €7,500 for a week from 11 Jul 2026 and €9,000 for a week from 25 Jul 2026, before obligatory extras (end cleaning, linen and towels, outboard fuel) and discounts. (From the operator, 30 Sep 2026) | | A night in harbour | ACI Marina Palmižana: €140 a night for a 12 m boat in July and August. (From the operator, 7 Oct 2026) Vis town quay: About €119.15 a day for a 12 m monohull on the town quay in 2026: the county's port fee of €60 and Gradina Vis's port charge of €59.15. (Measured by us, 26 Sep 2026) | At Corfu Port Authority's Category A ports, the high-season daily stern-to tariff for a monohull up to 12.5 m is €27 without a reservation or €41 with a reservation. (Third-party source, 29 Sep 2026) | | Tax on the boat or crew | €1.33 a person a night. (Official source, 7 Oct 2026) | €33 or €8 per metre, each calendar month, depending on boat length. (Official source, 30 Sep 2026) | | To skipper a charter | An ICC counts, if marked C for coastal. (Official source, 25 Sep 2026) | Istion's 2024 Greek bareboat terms say a bareboat charter in Greece needs at least one certified sailing-yacht skipper and one experienced crew member, both over 18. The co-skipper should hold Competent Crew or equivalent, or sign a sailing-experience declaration. The local port authority approves qualifications on departure day, and commonly rejects certificates limited to daylight, to coastal waters under 20 NM from shore, to one region such as the Adriatic, to motor boats, or to a shorter boat than the one chartered. (From the operator, 30 Sep 2026) | | Season | Ultra Sailing says its Croatia charter season usually begins in April and winds down toward the end of October. (From the operator, 29 Sep 2026) | Sail Ionian's 2026 season runs from 29 March to 30 October; its high season is 12 July to 29 August. (From the operator, 29 Sep 2026) | ## Is Croatia near Greece? No. The two countries don't share a border: Montenegro and Albania lie between the Croatian coast and Greece's Ionian islands. That makes them two separate charter trips. You fly into Split or Dubrovnik for Croatia, and into Preveza, Corfu or Athens for Greece, rather than sailing from one to the other in a week. ## The winds: maestral against meltemi The summer wind decides what kind of week you get, more than the country does. In Croatia, the maestral is the usual summer north-westerly, in settled weather. It builds from the sea through the morning, is strongest in the afternoon and dies away in the evening. (Third-party source, 26 Sep 2026) [Bura, jugo and maestral](https://olasail.com/croatia/weather-and-winds/) explains the winds that can change a Croatian week, and how to read the forecast for them. The southern Ionian is the closest match to that pattern. Sail Ionian says the water between Lefkas, Meganisi and mainland Greece is sheltered from swell and strong winds; mornings tend to be Force 2 to 3, building to Force 4 to 6 in the afternoon. (From the operator, 29 Sep 2026) The Aegean is different. The Etesian is a stable, intense regional wind in the Aegean during summer. (Official source, 29 Sep 2026) Sunsail's Athens guide says the meltemi blows from the north to north-west, usually Force 4 to 6, picks up at noon and can reach Force 7 at full strength. It is consistent through July and August, doesn't blow every day but can last up to five days, and can be much stronger off the lee side of the islands. (From the operator, 30 Sep 2026) On a meltemi day, plan to reef early. That suits a crew who wants to sail hard, and it tires a crew who came to swim. ## How far will you sail between islands? Short hops leave time to swim and to reach the next harbour before the afternoon rush for berths. Croatia's central islands sit close together. [Our first week from Trogir](https://olasail.com/routes/first-week-short-hops/) is 62 NM, with a longest day of 14 NM. (Measured by us, 7 Oct 2026) (Measured by us, 7 Oct 2026) [Seven days from Split](https://olasail.com/routes/split-seven-days/) is 123 NM, with a longest day of 28 NM, including the open crossing to Vis. (Measured by us, 5 Oct 2026) (Measured by us, 25 Sep 2026) In the Ionian, Apeiron Yachting's one-week Ionian route gives Lefkas to Meganisi as 11 NM. (From the operator, 30 Sep 2026) In the Cyclades the islands are further apart: the Municipal Port Fund of Naxos gives Naxos Port to Paros as 19 NM. (Third-party source, 30 Sep 2026) ## Which is cheaper, Croatia or Greece? For the boat itself, not much separates them in July. The nights in harbour and the taxes are where the two differ. The boat. A charter catamaran in late July lists at €8,350 a week in Croatia and €7,500 to €9,000 in the Ionian (the table above has the boats and weeks). (From the operator, 7 Oct 2026) (From the operator, 30 Sep 2026) These prices are for different years and different boats, so compare quotes for the same boat and the same week before deciding. The nights. A night in a Croatian marina or on a town quay costs more than most crews expect: ACI Marina Palmižana charges €140 a night in July, 12 m boat, and Vis town quay €119.15 a day on the quay in 2026, 12 m boat. (From the operator, 7 Oct 2026) (Measured by us, 26 Sep 2026) In Greece, what you pay depends on who runs the port. Greek local-government law imposes dues for anchoring, lying alongside, stern-to mooring and special berthing in municipal ports, at amounts set by a 2004 joint ministerial decision. The municipality or its port fund collects them and may set the payment procedure. (Official source, 30 Sep 2026) At Corfu Port Authority's Category A ports, the high-season daily stern-to tariff for a monohull up to 12.5 m is €27 without a reservation or €41 with a reservation. (Third-party source, 29 Sep 2026) Croatia's buoy fields and free anchorages bring a week's total down, and [what a Croatia sailing week costs](https://olasail.com/charter/cost/) prices every night on the Split route. The taxes. In Croatia, €1.33 a person a night aboard a charter boat. The ordinance sets 10 kuna, and the euro act turns it into euro at the fixed rate. Those aged 12 to 18 pay half; children under 12 and a charter boat's professional crew don't pay. (Official source, 7 Oct 2026) Charter guests pay tourist tax for every night aboard, and it is paid before the boat leaves the base. (Official source, 25 Sep 2026) Greece charges the boat instead. Greece's TEPAI cruising fee applies to private and professional leisure vessels over 7 m in Greek territorial waters, regardless of flag. It is charged by calendar month: €33 for a boat over 10 m and up to 12 m, or €8 per metre from the first metre for a boat over 12 m. (Official source, 30 Sep 2026) On a charter, ask whether the price already includes it. ## Mooring: buoys and marinas, or your own anchor Both countries moor stern-to, but the bow is held differently. The RYA says crews are likely to meet Med mooring in Greece and Croatia: usually stern-to, with the bow held off by a lazy line or the boat's own anchor. (Third-party source, 29 Sep 2026) In Croatia, marinas and most busy town quays have lazy lines, so the bow line is waiting for you. Many bays have buoy fields; elsewhere you can anchor where it isn't forbidden. [Med mooring and lazy lines](https://olasail.com/moorings/med-mooring/) walks through the manoeuvre, and [anchoring in Croatia](https://olasail.com/moorings/anchoring-rules-and-fees/) covers the rules and fees. On Greek town quays you usually drop your own anchor and reverse in. Practise it before the first busy harbour. ## Licences and paperwork Check the rules for the country you're sailing, not the one you're from. Croatia publishes the certificates it accepts. The Ministry of the Sea's list of foreign certificates it recognises for skippering Croatian-flagged boats and yachts. (Official source, 25 Sep 2026) An ICC issued under UN Resolution 40 counts for private use or bareboat charter, if its "valid for" box shows C for coastal waters. Its other limits still apply. (Official source, 25 Sep 2026) [The Croatia licences guide](https://olasail.com/croatia/licences/) separates the law from what a charter company may ask for. In Greece, for a UK-flagged boat, the RYA says evidence of competence is required; a suitable ICC is generally accepted, and foreign licence holders should carry the supporting consular note and a Greek translation. (Third-party source, 29 Sep 2026) Charter companies also say what a Greek bareboat crew needs. Istion's 2024 Greek bareboat terms say a bareboat charter in Greece needs at least one certified sailing-yacht skipper and one experienced crew member, both over 18. The co-skipper should hold Competent Crew or equivalent, or sign a sailing-experience declaration. The local port authority approves qualifications on departure day, and commonly rejects certificates limited to daylight, to coastal waters under 20 NM from shore, to one region such as the Adriatic, to motor boats, or to a shorter boat than the one chartered. (From the operator, 30 Sep 2026) Ask your charter company which documents it needs from both of you before paying the deposit. ## Season and busy harbours The charter season covers about the same months in both countries. In Croatia, Ultra Sailing says its Croatia charter season usually begins in April and winds down toward the end of October. (From the operator, 29 Sep 2026) In the southern Ionian, Sail Ionian's 2026 season runs from 29 March to 30 October; its high season is 12 July to 29 August. (From the operator, 29 Sep 2026) July and August are the busiest months in both. [Best time to sail in Croatia](https://olasail.com/croatia/best-time-to-sail/) compares the Croatian months by wind, crowds, sea temperature and price. ## Help keep this page right Found something different on the water this season? Tell us what you found. We check it with the source before anything changes. [Report a change](https://olasail.com/about/corrections/#page=Croatia%20vs%20Greece%20for%20a%20sailing%20holiday) [Other ways to help](https://olasail.com/about/contribute/) ## Sources 28 facts from 24 sources, last checked 7 Oct 2026. [Angelina Yachtcharter: Bali 4.1 "Escape I", Marina Trogir (ex SCT)](https://www.angelina.hr/en/yacht/catamaran-bali-41-escape-i-trogir-marina-trogir-exsct/307), Price box, 7 days from 15 May, 24 Jul and 18 Sep 2027 (A charter catamaran, one company) (From the operator, 7 Oct 2026) [ACI Marina Palmižana's price list for 2026](https://aci-marinas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ACI_Palmizana_prices.pdf) (Palmižana: the marina price) (From the operator, 7 Oct 2026) [Sunsail: Athens base guide](https://assets.sunsail.com/uploads/2026/04/SS_Athens_eGuide_063025.pdf), Local weather systems, Meltemi, page 24 (The typical strength of the meltemi in July and August) (From the operator, 30 Sep 2026) [Apeiron Yachting: The Small Ionian Route](https://apeironyachting.gr/routes/small-ionian/), Day 1, Lefkas to Meganisi (A neighbouring overnight hop in the Ionian) (From the operator, 30 Sep 2026) [Ionian Charter: Yacht and catamaran prices for Greece 2026](https://www.ionian-charter.com/pricelist), Catamarans, Lagoon 40 row; period B to 25 Jul and period A from 25 Jul (A July charter week for a 40 ft catamaran in the Ionian) (From the operator, 30 Sep 2026) [Istion Yachting: Bareboat charter booking terms and conditions, Greece 2024](https://www.istion.com/assets/istion_bb-terms-2024-gr-%26-hr_pf-retail.pdf), Section 25, Sailing Qualifications, pages 6 to 7 (Istion's skipper and co-skipper requirements for a Greek bareboat charter) (From the operator, 30 Sep 2026) Show all 24 sources Show fewer sources [Sail Ionian: South and North Ionian sailing area](https://www.sailionian.com/holiday-planning/sailing-area-south-north-ionian-sail-ionian-lefkada-greece/), Navigation and weather and Cruising Area (Summer wind in Sail Ionian's southern cruising area) (From the operator, 29 Sep 2026) [Ultra Sailing: charter season in Croatia](https://blog.ultra-sailing.hr/en/boat-winter-maintenance-how-we-prepare-our-charter-yachts-for-the-new-season/), Winter maintenance of our Charter fleet in Croatia, opening paragraph (The charter season at Ultra Sailing) (From the operator, 29 Sep 2026) [Sail Ionian: Frequently Asked Questions, 2026 season dates](https://www.sailionian.com/holiday-planning/faq/), Frequently Asked Questions, When is low, mid and high season? (Sail Ionian's 2026 charter season) (From the operator, 29 Sep 2026) [Changes to the charter ordinance, Narodne novine 73/2020](https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2020_06_73_1416.html), Article 3 (The tourist tax rate, who pays tourist tax, and when) (Official source, 7 Oct 2026) [AADE: Frequently asked questions for e-TEPAI](https://aade.gr/dl_assets/etepai/etepai_faqs_en.pdf), Questions 11 and 16 to 19, pages 4 to 7 (The Greek cruising tax for private and charter yachts) (Official source, 30 Sep 2026) [Greek Local Government Code: Articles 421 and 422, port dues](https://ta.ypes.gov.gr/vivlio-d/meros-b/kefalaio-ib/arthro-421), Article 421, paragraphs 1 to 3; Article 422, paragraphs 1 to 3 (Whether Greek municipal town quays and port-zone anchoring can be charged) (Official source, 30 Sep 2026) [European Commission Joint Research Centre: Offshore wind climate analysis and variability in the Mediterranean Sea](https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC103693), Abstract, the sentence naming stable and intense regional winds (The Etesian wind in the Aegean) (Official source, 29 Sep 2026) [Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure: list of recognised foreign certificates (Priznate isprave), table of 21 May 2026](https://mmpi.gov.hr/UserDocsImages/dokumenti/MORE/More%205_26/TABLICE%20MoU%20HR-EN%2021-5_26/TABLICA%20MoU%20HRV%2021-5_26.pdf) (The ICC, the list of recognised licences) (Official source, 25 Sep 2026) Our route tool: our planning line by sea, with varying clearance near the coast and harbour approaches, along our planned line (drawn 26 Sep 2026; day 3 through Tatinja, joined from the solver's legs, on 5 Oct 2026) (Distances and hours for every day, the longest day) (Measured by us, 7 Oct 2026) Our route tool: our planning line by sea, with varying clearance near the coast and harbour approaches (Distances and hours for the Split to Dubrovnik route in South Dalmatia, distances and hours for the two-week route from Split in South Dalmatia) (Measured by us, 7 Oct 2026) Our route tool, along our planned line (redrawn 25 Sep 2026; days 3, 6 and 7 through our plan's stops, joined from the solver's legs of 26 Sep 2026, on 5 Oct 2026) (Distances and hours for every day) (Measured by us, 5 Oct 2026) Our sum of the county port authority's fee and Gradina Vis d.o.o.'s 2026 port charge, both collected in the port (Vis town: a day on the town quay, in all) (Measured by us, 26 Sep 2026) Our route tool, along our planned line (The longest day) (Measured by us, 25 Sep 2026) [Municipal Port Fund of Naxos: Distances from Naxos Port](https://www.portofnaxos.com/index.php?Itemid=273&id=104&lang=el&option=com_content&view=article), Distances from Naxos Port table, Naxos to Paros row (A neighbouring overnight hop in the Cyclades) (Third-party source, 30 Sep 2026) [Corfu Port Authority: Port tariffs, Government Gazette B 7044/2024](https://www.corfuport.gr/files/184/%CE%91%CE%BD%CE%B1%CE%BA%CE%BF%CE%B9%CE%BD%CF%8E%CF%83%CE%B5%CE%B9%CF%82/1vFT2jnT8zllkjXEWdeJ89GLfJAnDeJA4/Port-Tariffs.pdf), Government Gazette B 7044/20.12.2024, pages 75494 to 75495, table F (The daily stern-to tariff at Corfu Port Authority Category A ports) (Third-party source, 29 Sep 2026) [Royal Yachting Association: Med mooring, stern-to](https://www.rya.org.uk/boating-abroad/med-mooring-stern-to/), Med mooring, opening paragraphs and the sections on lazy lines and anchoring (Med mooring in Greece) (Third-party source, 29 Sep 2026) [Royal Yachting Association: Greece, country-specific advice](https://www.rya.org.uk/boating-abroad/country-specific-advice/greece/), Evidence of competence, paragraphs 1 to 3 (Evidence of competence for a UK-flagged boat in Greece) (Third-party source, 29 Sep 2026) [University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Geophysics Department: Vrijeme i klima hrvatskog Jadrana: maestral](http://jadran.gfz.hr/maestral.html), "Maestral" page, paragraphs 1 and 2 (The maestral) (Third-party source, 26 Sep 2026) Photos on this page - Srebrna bay, south-east coast of Vis. Photo: “SREBRNA - panoramio” by [sanja mm](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SREBRNA_-_panoramio.jpg), [CC BY 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), resized - Ždrilca, Pakleni islands, off Hvar town. Photo: “Zdrilca - panoramio” by [Dejan Sekuloski](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zdrilca_-_panoramio.jpg), [CC BY 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), resized - Pakleni islands, off Hvar town. Photo: “Pakleni otoci - panoramio (4)” by [Dejan Sekuloski](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pakleni_otoci_-_panoramio_(4).jpg), [CC BY 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), resized - ACI Marina Trogir, Čiovo shore of the Trogir channel. Photo: “Trogir marina 053” by [Ante Perkovic](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Trogir_marina_053.jpg), [CC BY 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), resized - Marina Punat, Krk. Photo: “Sailboat leaving marina Punat” by [Yacht Rent from Croatia](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sailboat_leaving_marina_Punat_(19497124969).jpg), [CC BY 2.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), resized (From the operator) (Official source) (Seen by us) (Seen by a sailor) (Measured by us) (Sources disagree) (Third-party source) [How we check](https://olasail.com/about/how-we-check/#labels) 28 facts, last checked 7 Oct 2026. [See every source](https://olasail.com/croatia/croatia-vs-greece/#sources) [The Croatia week in this comparison Seven days from Split The measured route, with a named stop and a Plan B for every day. See the route](https://olasail.com/routes/split-seven-days/) ## Keep planning [All guides](https://olasail.com/guides/) [Sailing in Croatia Best time to sail in Croatia Which month suits your crew: wind, crowds, sea temperature and prices](https://olasail.com/croatia/best-time-to-sail/) [Charter planning What a sailing week really costs The boat, marinas, buoys, fuel, food and the deposit, added up](https://olasail.com/charter/cost/) [Sailing in Croatia Do you need a licence to sail in Croatia? What the law asks of a skipper, and what charter companies ask](https://olasail.com/croatia/licences/) [Moorings Med mooring, step by step How to moor stern-to on a town quay or in a marina, pick up a buoy and tie ashore](https://olasail.com/moorings/med-mooring/)