7-day Croatia sailing itinerary from Split: Brač, Hvar, Vis, Lastovo and Korčula
By Erik Ljungqvist, professional skipper · 29 September 2026 · 5 min read
Short answer: my favourite week out of Split is a round trip: Split → Milna (Brač) → Hvar → Vis → Lastovo → Korčula → Stari Grad (Hvar) → Split, with a stop at Bol's famous beach on the way home. It's about 150 nautical miles, mostly easy 2–3 hour sails, with one longer open-water day out to Lastovo. You get a perfect first-night harbour, the Adriatic's party town, two wild outer islands, a medieval walled town, one of Europe's oldest towns and one of Croatia's most famous beaches.
I've sailed my whole life and skippered across the Mediterranean. This is the route I'd give a friend. Distances are approximate sailing distances; times assume a relaxed 6 knots.
The route at a glance
| Day | Leg | Distance | Sailing time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | Check in at Split, then Split → Milna (Brač) | ~12 nm | ~2 h |
| Sunday | Milna → Hvar | ~11 nm | ~2 h |
| Monday | Hvar → Vis | ~15 nm | ~2.5 h |
| Tuesday | Vis → Lastovo | ~40 nm | ~6–7 h |
| Wednesday | Lastovo → Korčula | ~19 nm | ~3 h |
| Thursday | Korčula → Stari Grad (Hvar) | ~31 nm | ~5 h |
| Friday | Stari Grad → Bol (day stop) → Split | ~6 nm + ~20 nm | ~1 h + ~3–3.5 h |
Most charters in Croatia run Saturday to Saturday: you check in on Saturday afternoon, return the boat on Friday evening and leave on Saturday morning. Check the exact times with your charter company.
Saturday: Split → Milna, the first-night trick
Here's a skipper's trick: if your check-in and boat briefing are done by late afternoon, don't sleep in the base marina. Sail to Milna. It's only about 2 hours across to the west end of Brač, and it gives you a whole extra day on the water.
Milna is super. It's a beautiful, deep natural harbour with a little stone village around it, one of the best first nights you can have. If you check in too late, leave on Sunday morning instead and make Milna your lunch stop on the way to Hvar.
Sunday: Milna → Hvar
Hvar is the most famous island on the coast: a beautiful old town under a hilltop fortress, lively bars and restaurants, and the Pakleni islands just offshore. In peak season Hvar town harbour is crowded and expensive. Many skippers anchor or take a buoy in the Pakleni islands and take a water taxi into town for the evening.
Monday: Hvar → Vis
Vis is the wild one. It was a military zone closed to foreign visitors until 1989, and it still feels less developed than the islands closer to the mainland. Stay in Vis town or sail round to Komiža on the west side, where trips run to the Blue Cave on the islet of Biševo. Go early to beat the queues.
The thing most visitors miss: rent a scooter and ride inland. The island's vineyards and the small local restaurants away from the harbour are the real Vis.
Tuesday: Vis → Lastovo (the long day)
This is the big open-water leg: about 40 nm, 6–7 hours. Leave early and pick a day with good wind. It's worth it. Lastovo is one of the most remote inhabited islands in Croatia, and it's protected as a nature park: clear water, quiet bays and very few other boats. I'd always rather break the trip to Korčula here than do it in one long day.
Wednesday: Lastovo → Korčula
A relaxed 3-hour sail to Korčula town, a walled medieval town on a peninsula and one of the prettiest places on the Adriatic. Arrive early in the afternoon to explore the old town before dinner.
Thursday: Korčula → Stari Grad (Hvar)
Sail back west to Stari Grad, on the north side of Hvar at the end of a long, sheltered bay. Founded by Greek settlers in the 4th century BC, it's one of the oldest towns in Europe, and the ancient fields behind it, the Stari Grad Plain, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's a much calmer, more local evening than Hvar town, and a lovely last night out.
Friday: Stari Grad → Bol (day stop) → Split
A short hop of about an hour across the channel to Bol on Brač, home of Zlatni Rat, the famous beach that changes shape with the wind and currents. Anchor off for a morning swim and lunch; Bol is just a day stop, not a place to spend the night.
Above it rises Vidova Gora, the highest peak on any Adriatic island.
Then it's a last 3-hour sail back to Split. Fill up with fuel before returning the boat. Most charter companies want you back in the marina on Friday afternoon or early evening, so leave Bol by early afternoon.
Adapt to the wind, not the plan
The best itinerary is the one you change. In summer the maestral usually fills in from the northwest in the afternoon, which is great sailing, so use it for the longer legs. The bura (a strong, gusty northeasterly) and the jugo (southeasterly, bringing swell) can change a day's plan quickly. When they're forecast, swap days around, shorten a leg or stay put in a protected bay.
I've written more about why local knowledge matters so much in bareboat, skippered or crewed, including the day a storm over our home marina turned into the best dinner of the trip.
What this week costs
For the full budget (charter fee, marinas, buoys, fuel and tourist tax), see my catamaran charter cost guide for Croatia. On this route, the most expensive nights are usually Hvar town and Korčula town in peak season. Mixing in anchorages and buoys keeps the week affordable.
Plan it with Veezent
Tell Veezent's AI concierge "Split, a week in June, 6 people, this route" and it will find boats that fit, show the all-in price and hold one while your crew decides.
Notes: Distances are approximate straight-line distances plus a margin for the sailed route, calculated for Split (ACI marina), Milna, Hvar town, Vis town, Lastovo (Zaklopatica), Korčula town, Stari Grad and Bol. Always plan with up-to-date charts and forecasts.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good 7-day sailing route from Split?
A skipper's favourite round trip is Split – Milna (Brač) – Hvar – Vis – Lastovo – Korčula – Stari Grad (Hvar) – Split, with a stop at Bol's Zlatni Rat beach on the last day. It's about 150 nautical miles, mostly 2–3 hour sails, with one longer open-water day from Vis to Lastovo.
How many hours a day will we sail?
Most legs are 2–3 hours at a relaxed 6 knots. The exceptions are Vis to Lastovo (about 40 nm, 6–7 hours) and Korčula to Stari Grad (about 31 nm, around 5 hours).
Can we leave Split on the Saturday we check in?
Often, yes. If your check-in and briefing are done by late afternoon, many skippers sail the short hop to Milna on Brač the same evening. It's about 2 hours, and it gives you an extra day on the water.
What is the best time of year for this itinerary?
June and September give warm sea, steady afternoon breezes and quieter anchorages. July and August are hottest and busiest, especially in Hvar.
Can a first-timer sail this route?
With a skipper, absolutely. Bareboat, it suits sailors with some experience; the open-water legs to Vis and Lastovo are where local knowledge of the wind matters most.