Dubrovnik
& the Elaphiti.
Southern Croatia's headline destination. Walled-city anchorage, then six Elaphiti islands an hour off the bow.
A yacht charter from Dubrovnik gives you the most photographed stretch of the Adriatic — UNESCO walled city, the green Elaphiti islands, Mljet national park lakes, and Korčula's Marco Polo old town. Two charter bases serve the region: ACI Marina Dubrovnik (Komolac, 6 km inland up the Rijeka Dubrovačka) and Marina Frapa Cavtat for late-summer arrivals.
Dubrovnik airport is 25 minutes from both marinas. Most charters here run as point-to-point weeks toward Split — a one-way fee applies — or as a circular loop using the Elaphiti, Mljet and Korčula as the day-sail targets.
Where to base — Dubrovnik vs Cavtat
ACI Marina Dubrovnik (Komolac) is the larger charter fleet and the easier Saturday turn-around. The marina sits 15 minutes by taxi from the old town walls, and the bay itself is sheltered from the open sea — good for arriving guests who want a quiet first night. Marina Frapa Cavtat is smaller, prettier, and 10 minutes from the airport. Both feed straight onto the Elaphiti route.
For one-way charters ending in Split, we typically pick up in Dubrovnik (Saturday) and drop in Marina Kaštela the following Saturday, with optional Korčula and Vis stops mid-week. One-way fee is added on the quote.
The week — Elaphiti, Mljet and Korčula
Saturday — board after 17:00 in ACI Dubrovnik or Cavtat, dinner in the old town (book Restaurant 360 a week ahead in peak). Sunday — short hop to Šipan or Lopud (Elaphiti). Monday — Mljet national park, pick a mooring buoy in Polače and tender to the two saltwater lakes for the afternoon. Tuesday — Pomena (western Mljet) for the swim-everywhere day. Wednesday — Korčula old town, dinner ashore. Thursday — Lastovo if weather permits (dark-sky reserve, no light pollution at night). Friday — slow drift back via Šipan or the Elaphiti for the last night. Saturday — return Dubrovnik by 09:00.
The whole loop fits a 7-day charter. For 10 days, push west to Vis or south-east to Boka Kotorska (Montenegro) — bring passports and declare the route at check-in.
Best months to charter from Dubrovnik
June and September are ideal — sea 22–25 °C, settled mistral winds, smaller crowds at the city walls. July and August are the most stable but Dubrovnik harbour fills with cruise ships from 10:00 to 18:00 — plan ashore visits early morning or after 18:30. Late October still works for sailing but most konoba restaurants on the smaller islands wind down by mid-October.
Watch for the Jugo (SE) — a wet, warm autumn wind that brings 25–35 knots and choppy seas; the Elaphiti channel and Mljet south coast both get exposed. Bora (NE) is rarer in the south than around Split but builds quickly when it does.
What's included with a Dubrovnik yacht charter
Same base inclusions as Split (yacht, sails, electronics, linens, dinghy, first-day cleaning). End-cleaning and tourist tax are separate. Mljet park fees: ~€20 / person / day inside the protected zone — payable at the park entrance or pre-bookable through our office. Korčula transit log is filed once per week; we handle it.
Optional add-ons identical to Split: hired skipper (€220 / day), hostess (€180 / day), provisioning. For multi-generation family weeks we often recommend a full crew (skipper + hostess) — Dubrovnik / Mljet / Korčula has more shore time than most Croatian routes, and the hostess shoulder load is real.
The Dubrovnik evenings
The old town walls are walkable in 1.5 hours — go at 17:30 when the sun is still warm but the cruise crowds have thinned. Dinner at Nautika or Restaurant 360 is the high-end option; for the konoba experience try Konoba Lokanda Peskarija on the harbour. Cavtat is 25 minutes south by car (or a 30-minute morning sail) — Restaurant Bugenvila is a Michelin-recognised option for one quieter dinner.
If your week starts on a Friday evening, Dubrovnik old town is the right place to spend the night ashore before the boat. The atmosphere doesn't quite repeat anywhere else on the coast.
Dubrovnik & Elaphiti — questions answered.
How much does a yacht charter in Dubrovnik Croatia cost?
For a 4-cabin Bavaria 46 sailing yacht in shoulder season: €4,200–€5,800 per week bareboat. Peak season (15 July – 20 August): €7,000–€9,500. A 4-cabin Lagoon 42 catamaran: €7,500–€10,500 shoulder, €12,500–€16,000 peak. Dubrovnik typically runs ~10 % above Split because the marina capacity is smaller. Skipper €220/day, hostess €180/day, plus fuel, mooring buoys and Mljet park fees.
Can I do a one-way charter Dubrovnik to Split?
Yes. One-way Dubrovnik → Split is the most common 7- or 10-day route — we drop the boat in Marina Kaštela or ACI Split. One-way fee is €700–€1,200 depending on yacht size and is paid at the start of the charter. The reverse direction (Split → Dubrovnik) is equally common.
Do I need a skipper for a Dubrovnik charter?
For bareboat, you need a recognised sailing licence (ICC, RYA Day Skipper) + VHF + recent open-water experience. For first-time crews on this coast, we recommend a hired skipper — Dubrovnik harbour entry and Korčula channel both have specific traffic patterns the skipper navigates without thinking. Hostess add-on is worth its rate for family weeks with shore-side cooking on Mljet or Lastovo.
Are Mljet national park fees included?
Park fees (~€20 per person per day inside the protected zone) are separate from the charter rate. Pre-bookable through our office or paid at the park entrance when you anchor. The fee covers tender access to the lakes, the monastery on Veliko Jezero, and the marked walking paths.
Is Dubrovnik suitable for a family with small children?
Yes — the route is gentler than Split (more shore time, fewer marina-only nights). Pomena and Polače on Mljet have shallow, sheltered swimming bays. The Elaphiti islands are small enough to walk in an afternoon. We recommend a fully crewed catamaran for families with under-5s — the captain handles routing, the hostess handles provisioning and tender shuttles. Old-town visits are 90-minute slots in stroller-unfriendly stone alleys; plan around the kids' nap schedule.
Should I plan a Dubrovnik to Montenegro day?
A day-trip to Boka Kotorska (Kotor or Tivat) is doable on settled weather — Cavtat to Kotor is 25 NM. Bring passports for everyone on board, declare the route at check-in (some bases require it 48 h ahead), and budget for the Montenegro entry vignette. For a one-day visit it's usually not worth the paperwork; for a long weekend at the start or end of the week, it adds a memorable chapter.
600+ yachts based in Dubrovnik
Browse the live fleet — catamarans, sailing yachts, motor yachts and gulets, bareboat or fully crewed. Filter by dates and group size; we'll quote within hours.
Live availability · 72 h free cancellation · No booking fees
Plot the Elaphiti week — we'll quote within hours.
Dates, group size, preferred yacht style. We reply with available boats, marina, and a transparent quote.