With 550,000 boat arrivals and 3.6 million overnight stays in 2024, nautical tourism in Croatia stabilised at the previous year's high level. However, the number of boat tourists from Germany fell by more than five per cent compared to 2023. One reason for this is the rise in prices for food, services and, in particular, moorings. In many small village or town harbours, you now pay around 100 euros per night for a 12-metre charter boat - often without sanitary facilities and with only intermittent electricity and water connections.
Investments despite stagnating figures
Despite stagnating visitor numbers, Croatia continues to invest in the expansion of its nautical infrastructure. As private and chartered yachts have been growing in size for years, the focus is on expanding berths for yachts between 15 and 25 metres in length. In addition to a few new marinas, the main focus is on adapting existing harbours.
In our Area overview Croatia you will always be up to date on what is changing in the dream area on the Adriatic.
Major Porto Baroš project in Rijeka
The largest current investment project is the conversion of the former industrial port of Porto Baroš in Rijeka into a luxury marina with 230 berths for yachts up to 19 metres. The investors are the Croatian marina chain ACI and the German Lürssen Group. Contrary to the original plans, the project has been delayed: ACI Chairman Kristijan Pavic now expects completion at the end of 2026 and commissioning for the 2027 season.
Extensions to existing marinas
Marina Polesana in Pula has been extended by a 230-metre-long floating dock and now offers 400 berths for yachts up to 25 metres. Marina Punat on the island of Krk, one of the largest on the Adriatic with 1,400 berths, has invested in a new restaurant and a 540-tonne travel lift for wide motor yachts and catamarans. From 2025, a mobile robot will be used here for the first time for luggage transport and routine work.
New berths in city harbours
Additional berths for guests are being created in several city harbours. The harbour of Krk will have a closed harbour basin with new floating jetties thanks to pier extensions. In Baška on Krk, around 72 new guest berths are to be built by the end of 2025. The popular town of Omiš at the mouth of the Cetina will have a 350 metre long waterfront promenade with 70 mooring places for guests for the first time.
New marinas in planning
In addition to the expansion of existing harbours, completely new marinas are also being planned. In Sveti Filip i Jakov, north-west of Biograd, the Molum Marine Club with 126 berths is being built and is due to open for the 2025 season. A new marina is also planned for Šešula Bay in the west of the island of Šolta, although its construction has been delayed.
Summarised version:
Berth prices:
- City harbours: approx. 100 euros per night for a 12-metre yacht
- Buoy fields: sometimes over 100 euros even for small boats
New berths 2025:
- Marina Polesana: 400 places up to 25 metres
- Molum Marine Club: 126 seats
- Omiš: 70 guest berths
Planned projects:
- Porto Baroš Rijeka: 230 seats up to 19 metres (completion 2026)
- Baška: 72 new guest berths (by the end of 2025)
Special features:
- Marina Punat: New 540-tonne travel lift, use of a robot from 2025
