Sports and leisure activities Croatia

Budget & Tips

With its extensive coastline, Croatia is an ideal destination for seaside fun, whether you're looking for idleness or an active vacation by the sea. The Adriatic is often calm, offering the opportunity for numerous aquatic activities, starting with swimming. The terrain? Numerous beaches, often with free facilities for youngsters (giant buoys, offshore barge for diving), pebble coves, a little less sand, rocks and pontoons where you can comfortably set up your towel. Locals leave their towels on the spot during their lunch break. Watch out for sea urchins in the water and transparent pine sap on the rocks!

Climbing, mountaineering, skiing. The Paklenica region (central Velebit mountains) is renowned for its climbing. Every spring, a major international competition, Big Wall Speed Climbing, is held here, bringing together climbers from all over the world. A little further south, in the Omiš region, you can climb the cliffs of Biokovo. Finally, a number of natural sites have been developed in Istria and on the islands of the Gulf of Kvarner. For skiing, the Papud mountains or Sljeme, near Zagreb, offer the best slopes.

Scuba diving. Croatia, like its Mediterranean neighbors, is a country of sailors, fishermen and divers. The Adriatic has low-amplitude tides, and the translucent seawater offers excellent visibility down to 30m. With average salinity for the Mediterranean, the sea is shallow to the north and in central Dalmatia. After the Palagruža sill, the deep waters of the southern Adriatic basin begin. Ask at the various diving centers about local diving spots. One of the most sought-after diving spots, the Kornati National Park, is a protected area with a limited number of sites open to divers. Fishing has been banned here since 1980. In its clear, clean waters, you can already come across protected species with a mask and snorkel.

The first diving schools were set up on the Kvarner Gulf islands of Krk and Cres. Today, there are clubs all along the coast and on the islands, from Istria to the Montenegrin border, of all sizes, from the family business with its own boat and oxygen tanks to the European group. All instructors must be qualified. With them, you can decide whether to make your first dive or take a course to improve your skills. Diving schools often offer diving packages, including transfers and accommodation, or even half-board. Example prices for one or two boat trips with equipment: €40 to €70.

Surf sports. The weather conditions on the Croatian coast and the daily wind cycle are often favorable for windsurfing, kayaking, paddleboarding and kitesurfing. The latter is very popular on the islands of Brač or Korčula. Several clubs organize stays and courses during the summer season. For sailing courses, ask at the harbor master's offices or marinas where you are staying.

Rafting and freshwater diving. Rafting is practiced on the Zrmanja, Krupa, Kupa, Mrežnica, Dobra and Cetina rivers. Levels vary, but the sport is accessible to all, with experienced guides on hand at all times. From €30 (including equipment).

Boating and yachting. At each of the 22 marinas, boat rental companies offer their services, whether you're a frigate enthusiast or just a yachtsman. For more information, contact your local tourist office or visitwww.aci-marinas.com. For information, a 5 m motorboat for up to 6 people can be rented for €50 to €80 per day (boating license required), with the services of a skipper at around €160 in summer.

Yoga. Over the past few years, wellness courses in Croatia have become very popular, especially on the Adriatic coast in summer. A number of clubs and agencies offer themed stays, which include the opportunity to discover the country and immerse yourself in nature.

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Diving in the national parks is allowed to accompanied divers, registered in a school or club. Subject to obtaining a permit from the port authorities, solo diving is also allowed. A complete list of diving clubs is available from the Croatian Federation (www.diving-hrs.hr).

For sailing, a boat license is required.

Main events

Very open to their natural terrain, Croatians offer an annual calendar of sporting events in which trained travelers can participate. For example, foot races on the island of Korčula(hiking route), in Novalja (Life on Mars Trail Race) or in Zadar (Wings For Life), bicycle or kayak races on the island of Krk (Islands MTB race, Adventure Race Croatia), the Marco Polo Challenge triathlon in Korčula and mountain treks (Highlander Velebit or Medvednica). Most original of all, the Ston Wall Marathon along the fortified walls of Ston near Dubrovnik, which have been compared to the... Chinese Wall.

Further information: https: //croatia.hr/fr-fr/evenements/

Tourist traps

In Zadar, on the quayside, many excursionists offer a day at sea to the Kornati National Park for around €65-70 a day. But if you leave from the port, you'll need 2 hours each way just to get close to the large marine park. That's a lot of time spent on the boat. Better to go to the islands near Zadar! The scenario is repeated in Split, although the classified archipelago is even further away! If possible, it's better to take the road and spend a few days in the ports closest to the Kornati Islands (Šibenik, Vodice, Tisno or Murter), so you can spend more time there.

On the Adriatic coast you'll discover, before diving, you'll need to pay close attention to the rocks hidden in the water.