Yacht Charter in Istria: Croatia's Green North

Istria is Croatia's green, Italian-flavoured peninsula in the far north — and for anyone driving down from Italy, Austria or Slovenia, it's by far the quickest coast to reach. The sailing here is gentler and the distances shorter than in Dalmatia, which makes it good for long weekends and less experienced crews.

Where to sail

• Pula — the main base, with a vast Roman amphitheatre over the harbour.
• Rovinj — arguably the prettiest town on the coast, a Venetian-looking huddle on a point.
• The Brijuni islands — a national park just off Pula, safari-park history and quiet anchorages.
• Poreč, Novigrad and the Limski fjord — a dramatic green inlet worth a day.

Who Istria suits

Istria is calmer water and a coastal cruise rather than the island-hopping of the south, so it fits crews who want shorter days, easy sailing and good food ashore (this is Croatia's gastronomy and wine region). It's also the sensible pick if you're combining the boat with a road trip. For the classic island-hopping experience, head to Zadar or Split instead.

Browse boats in Istria for your dates below.